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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
Overall, I enjoyed this book very much. Mysteries are a relatively new genre for me (thanks J.K Rowling!) and I had to read an award winning mystery for a class. It was creepy enough to keep me awake and so atmospheric I felt I could clearly see the salt marches in all their gray, bleak, and desolate splendor. The chapters often ended in cliffhangers or major plot developments, which I both appreciated because it encouraged me to keep reading and dreaded because then I had to keep reading.
I also enjoyed the snippets from another characters POV. It doesn't take too long to figure out who they belong to but it gives the reader that extra information the characters don't have, which helped add to the suspense. However, the reader is kept in the dark about the perpetrator and I really experienced the budding distrust of everyone with Ruth.
I intend to read more in this series although one of the last parts of the book did irritate me slightly and give me pause.
Here is the review I did for class:
The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths is the first in a series of mystery novels detailing the exploits of Ruth Galloway, an overweight archaeology professor in England. Ruth lives with only her cats in the desolate and remote Saltmarsh, where she made a significant archaeological discovery. While Ruth is competent, professional, and quick-witted, her thoughts betray her insecurities. She is approached by Detective Chief Inspector Harry Nelson for assistance when a body is found nearby that may be connected to a child who went missing ten years before. DCI Nelson is on the border of obsession with the case and he continues to seek Ruth’s expertise as events progress and gain immediacy. As Ruth investigates, both she and the reader grow increasingly suspicious of the unique characters surrounding her, trapped by not knowing who to trust. The story starts at a leisurely pace before building to a series of quick revelations and an exciting conclusion. The reader is drawn in by the bleak atmosphere, richly described, and the eerie surprises that add to the thrill. This novel is serious in tone and, as a warning to the reader, deals with kidnapped/deceased children.
I also enjoyed the snippets from another characters POV. It doesn't take too long to figure out who they belong to but it gives the reader that extra information the characters don't have, which helped add to the suspense. However, the reader is kept in the dark about the perpetrator and I really experienced the budding distrust of everyone with Ruth.
I intend to read more in this series although one of the last parts of the book did irritate me slightly and give me pause.
Spoiler
She is pregnant? What? That seems like an unnecessary addition but we will see where it goes.Here is the review I did for class:
The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths is the first in a series of mystery novels detailing the exploits of Ruth Galloway, an overweight archaeology professor in England. Ruth lives with only her cats in the desolate and remote Saltmarsh, where she made a significant archaeological discovery. While Ruth is competent, professional, and quick-witted, her thoughts betray her insecurities. She is approached by Detective Chief Inspector Harry Nelson for assistance when a body is found nearby that may be connected to a child who went missing ten years before. DCI Nelson is on the border of obsession with the case and he continues to seek Ruth’s expertise as events progress and gain immediacy. As Ruth investigates, both she and the reader grow increasingly suspicious of the unique characters surrounding her, trapped by not knowing who to trust. The story starts at a leisurely pace before building to a series of quick revelations and an exciting conclusion. The reader is drawn in by the bleak atmosphere, richly described, and the eerie surprises that add to the thrill. This novel is serious in tone and, as a warning to the reader, deals with kidnapped/deceased children.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Nice introduction to the character of Ruth Galloway. Excellent setting and atmosphere, but predictable culprit. Far-fetched ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Body shaming, Child death, Confinement, Violence, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Abortion, Murder
I'm always happy to be introduced to a new mystery series, particularly one with a few volumes stacked up (check), and particularly one with a female protagonist (check), and even sometimes with an amateur sleuth (check). Ruth Galloway is an archaeologist in Norfolk, a lonely province on the shores of the North Sea in England. She is called upon by a local Detective Inspector, Harry Nelson, to inspect some bones that were discovered in the Saltmarsh, a tidal flat. Nelson thinks they may be the bones of a little girl who was kidnapped 10 years earlier, but Ruth discovers they are from the Iron Age, nearly 2000 years earlier than Nelson's disappeared girl. From there, Ruth is drawn into the old investigation, as well as a new one, when another girl goes missing. There is much drama among Ruth's academic friend group, as suspicion lands upon various people. I enjoyed this read, though it did fulfill a couple of tropes I find a little tiresome. One, I guessed pretty early that the guilty party must be someone close to her, someone she trusts, since that's always a factor in the "amateur sleuth" plots. Two, Ruth is described as "overweight," which automatically equates to "unattractive" and "lonely." Ruth doesn't seem to lack for suitors, despite this necessary equation, which I believe is supposed to sort of surprise the reader. Like, Hey, check out the fat girl getting laid! This bugs me, especially when it's female authors doing it. Aside from her constant preoccupation with her own appearance, I liked Ruth, and I definitely got caught up in the story. I'll keep her in my rotation as long as the books last.
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated