The Night Hawks

Ruth Galloway Mysteries, Book 13

By: Elly Griffiths

Narrated by: Jane McDowell

Length: 9 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's Summary

There's nothing Ruth Galloway hates more than amateur archaeologists, but when a group of them stumble upon Bronze Age artifacts alongside a dead body, she finds herself thrust into their midst - and into the crosshairs of a string of murders circling ever closer. 

Ruth is back as head of archaeology at the University of North Norfolk when a group of local metal detectorists - the so-called Night Hawks - uncovers Bronze Age artifacts on the beach, alongside a recently deceased body, just washed ashore. Not long after, the same detectorists uncover a murder-suicide - a scientist and his wife found at their farmhouse, long thought to be haunted by the Black Shuck, a humongous black dog, a harbinger of death. The further DCI Nelson probes into both cases, the more intertwined they become, and the closer they circle to David Brown, the new lecturer Ruth has recently hired, who seems always to turn up wherever Ruth goes.

©2021 Elly Griffiths (P)2021 Recorded Books

Good premise, characters, atmosphere of the fens

After a hiatus, I caved and bought this title, having skipped several in the series. And once again, coming very near returning it, I decided to hang in!

The main characters and the fens keep me interested, but the fluff, unnecessary PC stuff — a character not using the W word (wife) for fear of insulting an individual whose partner might be a guy? Come ON, that’s over the top. The major issue for me is the writing style in each book: a bit of dialogue, or an event, always followed by an exhaustive explanation of the place, person or action. It becomes infuriating and distracting and ruins the flow. A pity, really, and for me, simpering and unnecessary.

It can't possibly end here!

I thought this excellent series had ended with Book 12, so I was happy to discover that Elly Griffiths continued the story into a Book 13, in which our protagonist Ruth Galloway returns to Norfolk after two years in Cambridge. The books are page-turners and we are left to wonder who-done-it until the final pages, but the real hook of the series is the wonderful recurring characters and their relationships with one another. I also love the vivid descriptions of the salt marshes of Norfolk. I won't include any spoilers here, but the book ends with a cliffhanger and we MUST KNOW what happens next! Here's hoping that Elly Griffiths is hard at work on the next installment!

Another great book in the series

This book is everything you want & expect from this series and advances some important relationships & storylines.

Love this Heroine-Ruth Galloway

This series is so interesting from the standpoint of archeology and the Norfolk coastline especially.

It also touches on modern issues with relationships of all kinds. It hits crimes and police procedure quite well for the layman.

I’ve enjoyed all the different stories and adventures of Ruth and Nelson, and their colleagues and friends. The Druid touch and spirituality issues are really interesting.

Thank you, Elly Griffiths

Really bad narration

I have listened to this entire series and have loved it- until this book. The plot was decent, but the narration ruined it for me. As one other reviewer said, the narrator sounded as if she had too much saliva in her mouth- it’s unfortunately true. I almost couldn’t finish it due to this. She also seemed to pause at strange intervals and was not invested in the story. Perhaps her time as a narrator is drawing to a close? Whatever the issue, I hope the next book will have a different narrator. I am glad I trudged through it though, as I enjoyed the storyline.

Very satisfying , many thanks Ms Griffiths

Another excellent and riveting Ruth and Nelson installment . Never a letdown , love all the characters . Of course I am devoted to Ruth and Nelson , but Michelle is ,in addition ,very appealing with lots of character and and a fully
formed personality , not a two dimensional character .

narrator ruined it

the narrator seemed to have excessive saliva in her mouth and you could hear it as she spoke. completely annoying

Great addition to the Ruth Galloway series

Really enjoyed this book and the continuation of the series. Can't wait for the next book to come out!

loved it

loved every ♥word wished it was longer or that it would never end can't wait for the next one

More than I expected

Many paths converged affecting Ruth and Nelson’s lives. Unexpected, eerie, far-reaching. Familiar characters highlighting that life continues whether you want it to or not.