The Outcast Dead

The Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries, Book 6

By: Elly Griffiths

Narrated by: Clare Corbett

Length: 9 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

Forensic archaeologist Ruth Galloway has excavated a body from the grounds of Norwich Castle, a forbidding edifice that was once a prison. She believes the body may be that of infamous Victorian murderess Jemima Green. Called Mother Hook for her claw-like hand, Jemima was hanged in 1867 for the murder of five children in her care.

DCI Harry Nelson has no time for long-dead killers. Immersed in the case of three infants found dead, one after the other, in their King’s Lynn home, he’s convinced that a family member is responsible, though others on his team think differently. Then a child goes missing. Could the abduction be linked to the long-dead Mother Hook? Ruth is pulled into the case, and back towards Nelson.

©2014 Elly Griffiths (P)2014 Quercus Publishing plc

Love this series

the character development is so fun an interesting to have the archeology perspective. this book was great but I have to say book five was definitely the funniest.

Another great story by Elle Griffiths

Forensic Archeology with a side of contemporary crime drama at Griffiths best. I cannot get enough of these books.

Jane

I really miss Jane McDowell's narration of the Ruth Galloway mysteries. Her Irish accent for Cathbad is much better for the character as well as the Northern accent voice for Nelson. Hopefully she will return to this series in the near future.

Love this series

I feel like Ruth and Nelson and all the rest are good friends that got somehow caught up in a situation. I love the descriptions of land sand and sea.

One of my favorite authors but the narrator?????

I love this series and have listened to the previous 6 in this series. This is my 6th. The story was great and I love following the exploits of Ruth Galloway and other assorted characters. Always entertaining, they are a great listen.
But......I have to take serious exception to the narrator. During the largest part of the narrative, her voice is so soft I have to turn up the volume...very very annoying when you are listening in the car. It is difficult enough when listening to a foreign accent to begin with. But I could get used to that. She makes the men all sound like complete, stupid dolts. That is not the worst part. All of the children's voices are done at an ear piercing volume. Children do not SCREAM everything they say and yet she reads ALL the children's voices at three times the normal volume.
It totally detracted from the book.

Kept me listening

Wasn’t my favorite story although it’s giving hope that Ruth may end up happy. Some happy endings are good

Glad I stuck with it

I almost gave up during the first half but am glad I stuck with it. Adjusting to the new narrator has been challenging. There are just some voices I can’t relate to - Nelson and Cathbad. The others are ok. Not sure anyone can do better with Kate - I love that little girl but her loud screechy voice is ear piercing. The second half of the book was excellent and what started out to be my least favorite became one of my favorites in the series so far. Great series.

Exhumation of a hanged Victorian Child Murderess

A Victorian Baby Farmer convicted and hanged for the death of a young boy left in her care by his mother is the historic story that Ruth Galloway, forensic physical anthropologist, is dealing with in this, the sixth book in this series. Meanwhile DCI Harry Nelson is investigating the suspicious death of a baby whose parents are both suspects in the child's death.

Children are a big theme in this book in the series, as they have been in past books in this series. Not only is the skeleton of the hook-handed baby farmer Jemima Green, aka Mother Hook, the basis of a local bogy, she is also set to be the subject of an episode of a sensationalistic television show about women who kill.

Anyway this is a better than average story read well by Clare Corbett. She is not idiosyncratic in her style and thankfully does a good job with the accent of a historian from the US who adds some variety to the cast. Many of the characters from previous books make an appearance and the overall story arc does advance a bit.

One of my favorites by Elly Griffiths so far

Nice balance between the character’s personal lives and the core mystery in the book
I always enjoy a story where I can go back and see the clues spread throughout the early chapters.

Reader sucks story is great

As always great story. This reader show not be allowed to read audio books. She scares small children and pets. True story!