The Chalk Pit

By: Elly Griffiths

Narrated by: Jane McDowell

Length: 10 hrs

Publisher's summary

In the ninth Ruth Galloway mystery, Ruth and Nelson investigate a string of murders and disappearances deep within the abandoned tunnels hidden far beneath the streets of Norwich.

Norwich is riddled with old chalk-mining tunnels, but no one's sure exactly how many. When Ruth is called in to investigate a set of human remains found in one of them, she notices the bones are almost translucent - a sign they were boiled soon after death. Once more she finds herself at the helm of a murder investigation.

Meanwhile, DCI Nelson is hunting for a missing homeless woman, Barbara, who he hears has gone "underground". Could she have disappeared into the labyrinth? And if so, is she connected to the body Ruth found?

As Ruth, Nelson, and the rest of their team investigate the tunnels, they hear rumors of secret societies, cannibalism, and ritual killings. When a dead body is found with a map that appears to be of The Underground, they realize their quest to find the killer has only just begun - and that there may be more bodies underfoot.

©2017 Elly Griffiths (P)2017 Quercus Editions Limited

More of a soap opera than a mystery. Lousy plot.

This is my first read in the Ruth Galloway series. Although this is #9, I don't think that I suffered enormously not having read the earlier books, since the author fills in the backstory in the course of the course of the telling. I understand why some readers are attracted to this series and become attached to the characters, but I don't care for romance novels at all and, in a mystery having romance, for me, the mystery comes first. It is clearly secondary here, and, in fact, the crime plays a minor role for much of this book. The villains and their motivation for a series of murders and disappearances, when finally revealed, is preposterous. The plot also involves little archaeology.

It isn't that the author is not a good writer; on the whole, her prose is good. The narrator also does a reasonable job. Nevertheless, I won't be reading any others in this series. Just not my type.

Suspend disbelief

Not her best in my opinion. The characters seem to be rushed around with little feel for motivation, especially the murderer. Not much archeological or anthropological material.

Read These Stories in Series Order

I'm a fan of the Ruth Galloway Series. I listened to this one out of order, but it was still enjoyable. I am familiar with all the characters, but it wouldn't have been very interesting STARTING with this book, as the beginning is mostly about the relationships of the main characters. Later, the action or mystery begins.
I found the idea of "homeless" or as the British call them "Rough Sleepers" living under the city most interesting.

They get better and better!

This series just got better and better! Awesome characters and awesome mysteries! I actually want to visit Norwich (all the way from California lol!).

Saul was not a Roman soldier.

Roman soldier Saul has a vision of God on the road to Damascus and changes his name to
Paul.—Saul was not a Roman soldier. Was the author thinking of Marcion?

Light on detection

Any additional comments?

Increasingly this series tends to focus on rather banal family dramas among its central characters. As with the other books in the series, spending time with its characters was quite pleasant, but this storyline was particularly notable for how comparatively little detection actually went on. Mysteries were presented, but solving them seemed to be fairly haphazard, and the main protagonist had more of an accidental (and incidental) relationship to the crimes than in previous books. Sufficiently enjoyable for fans of the series, but this would not be a good one to start with for those new to it.

very good mystery series.

I enjoy these mysteries the stories revolve around historical locations in the UK.
the main characters a forensic archaeologist and a DCI investigate murders . also romantic twist thrown in.

Excellent Read/Performance

Loved this book on several levels- the continued character development as well as the story line. Great set up for the next Dr. Ruth Galloway novel.
Jane McDowell is the perfect narrator.

wonderful book

I love this series can't wait for the next book have re read the series two times

It just ended. And I'm in tears. The good kind.

The series stays as strong as it has been. Looking forward to the next book!