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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
This was a very hard book to get into in the begining. I read having no idea what it would be like but it grew on me. Ruth is a fun charector that is full of life, knowledge and yet still open to the world around her. I just love how she is a real women, she's not perfect in shape and good looking but hardworking and down to earth. She see's the world in black and white knowing that life happens in the gray. Nelson is a great pair to Ruth in this book as the Cop unable to solve a murder of a young girl and now the disapperance of another. This book will have you changing your mind on who did it up till the very end and amazed when you do find out.
Horribly fatphobic and the MMC is an asshole
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
adventurous
mysterious
The first of the "Ruth Galloway" forensic archaeologist series, set in England. I liked this and will read more of these! Main character Ruth is an engaging personality, a strong, independent, if occasionally conflicted woman. The mystery was a good one, the plot straightforward, the ending satisfying. There was enough suspense to keep the story moving -- but not enough violence to keep me awake after reading. How nice to have found a new series!
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I've been eyeing this series for ages. I originally decided against it because it is told in third person present. However, I read a page or two in the bookshop and it didn't actually bother me. No, the perspective had nothing to do with my problems with this book. There weren't actually that many. I enjoyed the main character, Ruth Galloway, a single university teacher fast approaching 40. When some bones are found in the marsh, it's the hope that they belong to a child that disappeared some years ago. Ruth is involved by the police as an expert witness. Shortly afterwards, another little girl doesn't come home. My main issue with the book was that it dragged in the middle and that the motive was never really explained. What you've been made to believe in this area - cryptic letters - isn't what it seems.
I will probably try another one eventually. I can be very slow to warm to new detective series, so there is hope yet.
I will probably try another one eventually. I can be very slow to warm to new detective series, so there is hope yet.
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Started out loving it- fascinating setting, strong female MC, interesting story line. But the repeated references to the MC’s weight and (lack of) fashion sense got really old. Plus I absolutely hated the infidelity storylines, which felt unnecessary and fake. Kept reading to find out the mystery, but will not be picking up any other books in this series.
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
I picked this one up because a coworker of mine was always talking about it, and has singlehandedly gotten a good number of our customers to read it too. I heard her talk about it enough that I got curious, and decided to pick it up and give it a try.
This was a solid beginning to a series, I'll give it that. It was an interesting mystery, a good cold case, and a great main character.
The main character, Ruth Galloway, a forensic archaeologist, was so relatable to me. She's introverted, and lives in her own little cottage. She loves her own space and privacy, and has two cats that she loves. She feels put down by her parents, and isn't always super comfortable in her own skin.
My main gripe with the book is that it normalised (and seemed to be completely fine with) people cheating on their spouses. I personally go, no thanks. That is the WORST thing you can do to your spouse.
I'm planning to continue the series, I'll give the next book a chance, but if the cheating continues to be a huge aspect of the character arcs outside of the cases, then I'll have to put it away and DNF the series. But I'll give it a chance to sort out that moral issue before I give up on it for good.
I picked this one up because a coworker of mine was always talking about it, and has singlehandedly gotten a good number of our customers to read it too. I heard her talk about it enough that I got curious, and decided to pick it up and give it a try.
This was a solid beginning to a series, I'll give it that. It was an interesting mystery, a good cold case, and a great main character.
The main character, Ruth Galloway, a forensic archaeologist, was so relatable to me. She's introverted, and lives in her own little cottage. She loves her own space and privacy, and has two cats that she loves. She feels put down by her parents, and isn't always super comfortable in her own skin.
My main gripe with the book is that it normalised (and seemed to be completely fine with) people cheating on their spouses. I personally go, no thanks. That is the WORST thing you can do to your spouse.
I'm planning to continue the series, I'll give the next book a chance, but if the cheating continues to be a huge aspect of the character arcs outside of the cases, then I'll have to put it away and DNF the series. But I'll give it a chance to sort out that moral issue before I give up on it for good.