"Enjoyed it but too much paranormal"
I like the hints of spiritual manifestation in the Ruth Galloway series, but this one went over the top with the Dreamtime journey. The murder mystery was complex enough to be enjoyable and the characters continue to be just neurotic enough. But more archaeology, less paranormal.
"Enjoyable series"
Love this series. Although they are murder stories there is graphic gory murder scenes. Characters are multidimensional and interesting. Stories are interesting and there is always a twist.
"Keeps getting better..."
Her mysteries are wonderfully detailed. Her character cast grows broader and more real with each book in the series. They are very realistic people facing real problems, people that you like and want to see succeed.
"Outstanding Characters"
The mystery in this book is an intriguing one, as are the others in the series. But what makes Griffiths books most enjoyable are the very real - warts and all - characters who make up her cast. In the ability of these flawed people to face the issues in life with dignity and just the right touch of humor lies the real charm of these stories. Hooray for Grffiths. She has provided me many hours of enjoyment.
"Not really investigated by Ruth"
I started the series with this book. And I will give it a go with book one, but I was disappointed. It's called a Ruth Galloway investigation, but she barely investigates anything, and doesn't know what is going on outside her egocentric world most of the time. it's generally accepted that the title character in a mystery book is going to be in the middle of all the action, or fully immersed in finding out what happened, but you're not going to get that with this book. I am hoping that this is an abberation in the series.
"Elly Griffiths' story lines r very interesting."
I like both her print and listening versions.
Her description of the salt marshes always fascinate me.
I would not change anything.
Archeology and Australia come together in an intriguing mystery. Rituals as old as bones reach out from the grave.
"Believe in the Dreamtime or Not"
Ruth's baby, Kate, is a year old. Ruth juggles work and parenthood. A new neighbor from Australia moves next door and will teach at the University. A Saint's coffin will be opened in the Smith Museum. Ruth's Druid friend and the Australian agree that skulls hidden away at the Smith Museum need to be returned to their native land. Lord Smith disagrees, and the story unfolds with two murders. DI Nelson investigates, bringing him in contact with Ruth again. Cultural superstitions and rituals cause Ruth to question what she believes.
"Excellent, entertaining!"
I highly recommend this series because the protagonist seems very real with flaws, hopes, dreams, and fears like the rest of us.
"Disappointing!"
No. I have not read Ms Griffiths previous books, nor could I finish this one. It is rare that I will put a book down before completion, but there was nothing - not the characters, nor story, nor narration, that held my interest. I selected this book because the prior reviews were positive and the Audible Summary was intriguing and similar to other favorite series of the mystery genre by Louise Penny and Jacqueline Winspear. Those series feature principled and cerebral protagonists tackling misdeeds and wicked acts in rural and picturesque settings populated with sympathetic and quirky characters. This novel disappointed on all counts.
I have already started Secret Daughter by Silpi Samaya Gowda. This is a totally different, but favorite genre - the complex, sweeping historical fiction set in distant and mysterious locales. I am hoping it lives up to other favorites including Kite Runner, Cutting for Stone and Shantaram.
No, I do have and follow favorite narrators: Orlaugh Cassidy, Anna Fields, Ralph Kosham, Joe Montegna, Scott Brick, Dick Hill and others.
Sadly, I connected with none of the characters.
No.