-
The House at Sea's End
- Narrated by: Jane McDowell
- Series: Ruth Galloway, Book 3
- Length: 10 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Release date: 01-07-11
- Language: English
- Publisher: Audible Studios
- Whispersync for Voice-ready
Regular price: £19.79
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Summary
A team of archaeologists, investigating coastal erosion on the north Norfolk coast, unearth six bodies buried at the foot of a cliff. How long have they been there? What could have happened to them? Forensics expert Ruth Galloway and DCI Nelson are drawn together again to unravel the past. Tests reveal that the bodies have lain, preserved in the sand, for sixty years. The mystery of their deaths stretches back to the Second World War, a time when Great Britain was threatened by invasion. But someone wants the truth of the past to stay buried, and will go to any lengths to keep it that way... even murder.
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Overall
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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5 Stars377
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4 Stars238
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3 Stars74
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2 Stars25
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1 Stars14
Performance
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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5 Stars348
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4 Stars167
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3 Stars40
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2 Stars13
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1 Stars6
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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5 Stars305
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4 Stars176
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3 Stars65
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- DrLMK
- 18-12-11
Gripping
This was my introduction to Ruth Galloway: I didn't realise this was the 3rd book in the series (1. Crossing Places 2. Janus Stone). However, that didn't matter because the story and characterization are complete: you don't need to have read the first two books to enjoy this one.
I liked the narrative pace, which allowed the complex psychology of the different characters time to unfold. I was also kept guessing about the identity of the murderer. I particularly liked the descriptions of the bleak Norfolk landscape.
Jane McDowell reads well, although her Norfolk accent lapses into a kind of generic Archers-countryfolk accent at times.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ann D
- Newcastle, England
- 05-03-16
My favourite out of the first three!
What did you like most about The House at Sea's End?
Ruth Galloway is a wonderful character (fiesty, feminist, athiest, fallible). In this third book, the tension between her and Nelson builds excellently, and I found the story more contemporary and easier to follow for that.
Have you listened to any of Jane McDowell’s other performances? How does this one compare?
Her narration is generally excellent, but in the first two books in the series, her voicing of Nelson was pretty bad - far to high in tone and a bit manic, not to mention a terrible attempt at the Lancashire accent. Due to this, I couldn't give her narration more than 4* for those books. Here, she has dramatically improved this. The Lancashire accent remains a bit dodgy, but her voicing of Nelson is now really good.
Any additional comments?
Looking forward to the next in the series. I'm off now to buy it!
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Kirstine
- 12-04-17
Beginning to be repetitive but still compelling
This is the third novel I’ve listened to in the series featuring forensic archeologist Ruth Galloway. I definitely benefitted from listening in chronological order as the relationships among the characters develop with time. As in earlier books the formula is a find of the bones of a body (or bodies in this case) from the past that then gets linked to a contemporary crime. The bones in this story are mid 20th Century. I enjoyed meeting familiar characters and hear what was happening in their lives coupled with an interesting historical story. The archeological parts are informative, however I was disappointed that yet another book in the series ends with Ruth’s life being in jeopardy. I appreciate that this is fiction but it has to be reasonably credible and so I find it ridiculous that a university lecturer consulted about the age of bones would invariably end up in fear of her life. The stories are good enough without the frantic endings. However, rather like The Archers the lives of the characters becomes addictive and I will continue with the series even though I suspect I’d be annoyed by the ending.
The narrator is excellent and can turn her voice to many accents.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- EssexSue
- HOCKLEY, United Kingdom
- 06-01-12
Norfolk Gem!
Loved this book as it reminded me of the Norfolk coast and it seemed to have a lot of the locale where we lived in the book. Very good story and well read. I became immersed so deeply it was difficult to take breaks as I just wanted to continue on and on.
If you love a good murder mystery and are in or have lived/holidayed in Norfolk I'm sure you will love this book!
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- HelenM
- 21-02-16
Yet another good story.
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes absolutely, I would advise read the series from the beginning it adds a richness to the characters.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Joanna Phillips
- 20-02-16
Brilliant
Loving this series can't enough - on to the next one hope it's as good as the rest
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- MTM
- 08-02-16
Very good read
Really enjoying this series of book great characters well written and believable storylines love the historical descriptions
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Dr. V. Saunders OBE
- Surrey, England
- 27-09-15
Ely Griffiths - brilliant as always!
This book is the third in the series. They need to be read in order. A brilliant book, fantastically researched and gripping stories. The narrator is excellent and I am definitely looking for the rest of the series. Skilful story with just enough characters, brought in well and plenty of suspense. Definitely did not guess the outcome. But DO read the books in series order to get the full story.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- VIVIEN
- 24-07-15
Very enjoyable
I enjoyed this story very much , and can't wait to see how the relationship between Ruth and Nelson pans out .
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- roving mum
- 26-06-15
Addictive
Several books into the serious I realise the stories are becoming rather similar and highly unlikely ; but this doesn't seem to matter...they're not that relevant they are just hooks on which to hang the ever evolving characters and their relationships. :-)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Sara
- 02-01-15
A Shaky Series Installment
Not sure what to think about this third book in Elly Griffiths' spooky mystery series set in wild coastal Norfolk. I loved the first two books and I save these titles in my library as treats to be enjoyed and looked forward to. I should have known something was up when several other reviewers queried--and I quote here--if Griffiths wasn't going barmy? I confess I had to look up the exact meaning of the term barmy. It may be apt.
The book was convoluted and rambling and at times beyond comprehension as it was so outside of what I would consider normal personal and even police behavior. In a way it was like listening to a family member--still half asleep retelling a long mixed up dream they had just had and wanted you to sort out for them. Some things just don't make any sense.
In addition, there are four or maybe even five major errors in the storyline. I can't elaborate here as I hate plot spoilers--but someone--author or an editor should have picked up these problems. I have read other reviews that found errors that I missed and I am not counting those in my list. This gives me further pause.
In the end the story works itself to a neat close but these characters are becoming not just flawed but frankly unlikable. On the whole the book was just too sloppy and careless for my taste. Proceed with caution is my best advice on this one.
31 of 33 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Caroline Langdon
- 01-09-13
I love this series!
Would you consider the audio edition of The House at Sea's End to be better than the print version?
I don't understand the reasoning behind the several negative reviews of this book - I'm typically swayed in my purchase choices by user reviews but having enjoyed the other installments of this series so much, decided to ignore them and go for it anyway....I'm so glad I did! I enjoyed this book just as much as the others! It's a great listen!
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Paula
- 09-05-16
Just Okay -- Not Much More
In addition to some serious plot issues, another major criticism of this book is the narration. While some sections were narrated excellently and eloquently, it seemed to me that way too much emphasis was put on the first word(s) (usually a name) in every succeeding paragraph. These words/names were simply shouted and as such, broke into the pace and flow of the story. As for the story itself, there were just too many gaps for my liking -- I don't want to list them because it might spoil the story for others -- but things just didn't hang together and needed a good bit of backgrounding by the author. As a result, it was difficult to develop any empathy for the characters and in the end, it just didn't matter who survived and who didn't. Story 3 stars; narration 2!
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Robert J. Day
- 02-11-14
Accuracy
Would you consider the audio edition of The House at Sea's End to be better than the print version?
In the books the detectives are reviewing a list of books in chapter 16. the hounds of the Baskerville (sp) as written by " Sherlock Holmes" It was written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
What did you like best about this story?
The story and English characters.
What does Jane McDowell bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
The dialogue and English characters. It is like listening to the radio of my youth.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
Not extreme just comfortable.
Any additional comments?
I write this review to note the accuracy of that one instance and wonder if it was an author's mistake or the narrator's mistake.
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- S. Davis
- 17-03-15
Great book.
I really enjoyed this book. Great storyline and lots of action. I am looking forward to reading the remainder of the books in this series.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
- Sires
- 03-07-11
4 Star Narration, Story Not Up to Par
Jane McDowell who did the excellent narration of the two prior books in this series again does a great job with this third in the series. No complaints about the production.
Ruth's determination to raise her daughter without assistance from the father however is daft. Ruth discovers the problems with dealing with the practicality of child rearing as a single mother while the father clearly wishes to be involved both personally and financially with his daughter. Due to the determination that the relationship must be kept secret things get more and more confused.
Meanwhile in addition to the usual cast of characters, a friend of Ruth's from a prior stint in Bosnia shows up. A woman whose son, husband and parents were killed in the conflict there. Then there are people whose parents and grandparents were involved with WWII and a secret that it seems someone is willing to go to extremes to protect.
Ruth really doesn't have any serious problems with being a single mother as her friends rally around to provide assistance and support. Meanwhile bodies pile up but Ruth doesn't have that much detecting to do. I'm not sure where the author is going with this series, but I am not looking forward to forensic anthropology with a toddler. Unfortunately, at the end of the book I felt that things in the personal story arc were unresolved and I'm not sure I'm really interested in the resolution. Let's have some more archaeology please..
13 of 20 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Janet H. Maddox
- 13-06-14
Enjoyable
Griffiths flawed characters are interesting and ring true. The stories are engaging - enough mystery to satisfy - but the best part is the story of the ongoing characters.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Susan
- 20-02-12
British style of modern mystery story
Would you listen to The House at Sea's End again? Why?
I would happily listen to another story by the same author.
Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?
It had enough twists and turns to keep me interested
What do you think the narrator could have done better?
Narrator did a good job with the array of accents and otherwise did not outshine the story - which is the point.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No
Any additional comments?
This was a comfort book. Nice every day tale of small British towns and the mud found underneath the surface.
3 of 5 people found this review helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 26-09-12
Don't know if I care what happens next
The character development that made me want to continue the series was a real turn off in this book. I don't believe we all have to fatally flawed to be interesting. Every character doesn't have to be a caricature.
Harry and Ruth are turning into a regular little soap opera. I don't know if I'll read the last installment. Lord knows I'm not a writer so take my criticisms as what they are, an average reader with little tase for melodrama.
5 of 9 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Laurie
- 08-08-18
Perhaps I missed the clues
I appreciate the author providing clues to the murderer throughout the book. It gives me a chance to try to figure out the reason for the crime and the person who committed it. I don’t remember any such clues. Perhaps I just missed them.