Synopses & Reviews
“
A Dying Fall, like all of Griffiths’ work, combines an intriguing plot with well-drawn characters—topped by the ever-fascinating Ruth—and a keen sense of place and history. Connoisseurs of thoughtful suspense will revel in its many pleasures.”—
Richmond Times-Dispatch When Ruth Galloway learns that her old university friend Dan Golding has died in a house fire, she is shocked and saddened. But when she receives a letter that Dan had written just before he died, her sadness turns to suspicion.
The letter tells of a great archaeological discovery, but Dan also says that he is scared for his life. Was Dan’s death linked to his find? The only clue is his mention of the Raven King, an ancient name for King Arthur.
When she arrives in Lancashire, Ruth discovers that the bones reveal a shocking fact about King Arthur—and that the bones have mysteriously vanished. The case draws in DCI Nelson, determined to protect Ruth and their eighteen-month-old daughter, Kate. But someone is willing to kill to keep the bones a secret, and it is beginning to look as if no one is safe.
"Another gem packed with offbeat, well-developed characters and a quirky, challenging mystery."—Kirkus
“As with all Ruth Galloway mysteries, the application of forensic archaeology is intriguing . . . readers are in for a really good time with this flesh-and-blood bone expert."—Booklist, starred
Review
Praise for the Ruth Galloway Mystery Series "Elly Griffiths draws us all the way back to prehistoric times…Highly atmospheric." —
The New York Times Book Review "Galloway is an everywoman, smart, successful and a little bit unsure of herself. Readers will look forward to learning more about her." —
USA Today "Ruth Galloway is a remarkable, delightful character…A must-read for fans of crime and mystery fiction." —
Associated Press "Forensic archeologist and academic Ruth Galloway is a captivating amateur sleuth—an inspired creation. I identified with her insecurities and struggles, and cheered her on. " —Louise Penny, author of the bestselling Armand Gamache series "These books are must-reads." —Deborah Crombie, author of the Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James series "[Ruth Galloways] an uncommon, down-to-earth heroine whose acute insight, wry humor, and depth of feeling make her a thoroughly engaging companion." —Erin Hart, Agatha and Anthony Award nominated author of Haunted Ground and Lake of Sorrows "A wonderfully rich mixture of ancient and contemporary, superstition and rationality, with a cast of druids, dreamers and assorted tree-huggers as well as some thoroughly modern villains…A great series." —The Guardian "[An] excellent series…Skillful and engaging." —The Globe and Mail "Griffiths is one of Englands freshest mystery writers. Her novels combine a dramatic sense of place with a complicated mystery, and with each new installment, her character of Ruth Galloway becomes more complex and dynamic." —Curled Up with a Good Book "Griffiths does a lot to humanize forensic archaeology and serves up great dollops of historical details in her Ruth Galloway series…Griffiths is great at conveying the archaeologists passion for finds, forensic or historic." —Booklist, starred review "Griffiths is a true mystery writer." —Ann Arbor News
Review
"The latest captivating and enjoyable Griffiths novel does not disappoint. Set along England's northern coast, the story brings Ruth, an archaeologist whose work with old bones has involved her in several police cases, to a back-water university in Lacashire, where one of her old school friends has been murdered. The victim had been working in a dig that seemed to involve the Raven King, aka King Arthur. . . . The characters are strong and believable, the plot intriguing and well developed, and there is plenty of atmosphere." --
San Jose Mercury-News "Both plot strands make compelling reading, but the way Griffiths interweaves them is absolutely masterful. As with all Ruth Galloway mysteries, the application of forensic archaeology is intriguing. . . readers are in for a really good time with this flesh-and-blood bone expert."—Booklist, STARRED
"Intricately plotted. . . all will enjoy Ruth's largely self-aware sardonic perspective on life, death, and relationships."—Publishers Weekly
"Another gem packed with offbeat, well-developed characters and a quirky, challenging mystery."—Kirkus
Synopsis
Forensic archeologist Ruth Galloway investigates her most heart-stopping case to date after an old university friend and fellow archeologist is murdered in an arson attack.
Synopsis
Forensic archeologist Ruth Galloway investigates a heart-stopping case: an old university friend and fellow archeologist murdered in an arson attack.
When Ruth Galloway learns that her old university friend Dan Golding has died in a house fire, she is shocked and saddened. But when she receives a letter that Dan had written just before he died, her sadness turns to suspicion.The letter tells of a great archaeological discovery, but Dan also says that he is scared for his life.
Was Dan's death linked to his find? The only clue is his mention of the Raven King, an ancient name for King Arthur. When she arrives in Lancashire, Ruth discovers that the bones reveal a shocking fact about King Arthur -- and that the bones have mysteriously vanished.
The case draws in DCI Nelson, determined to protect Ruth and their eighteen-month-old daughter, Kate. But someone is willing to kill to keep the bones a secret, and it is beginning to look as if no one is safe.
Synopsis
Ruth Galloway is shocked when she learns that her old university friend Dan Golding has died tragically in a house fire. But the death takes on a sinister cast when Ruth receives a letter from Dan written just before he died.
The letter tells of a great archaeological discovery, but Dan also says that he is scared for his life. Was Dan’s death linked to his find? The only clue is his mention of the Raven King, an ancient name for King Arthur.
Then Ruth is invited to examine the bones Dan found. Ruth travels to Lancashire–the hometown of DCI Nelson–with both her eighteen-month-old daughter, Kate, and her druid friend, Cathbad, in tow. She discovers a campus living in fear of a sinister right-wing group called the White Hand. She also finds that the bones revealed a shocking fact about King Arthur–and they’ve mysteriously vanished. When Nelson, visiting his mother in Blackpool, learns about the case, he is drawn into the investigation, especially when Ruth and his beloved Kate seem to be in danger. Who is willing to kill to keep the bones a secret?
About the Author
ELLY GRIFFITH's Ruth Galloway novels — The Crossing Places, The Janus Stone, The House at Sea's End, A Room Full of Bones, A Dying Fall, The Outcast Dead, and The Ghost Fields — have been praised as "gripping" (Louise Penny), "highly atmospheric," (New York Times Book Review), and "must-reads for fans of crime fiction" (Associated Press). She is the winner of the 2010 Mary Higgins Clark Award.