It is a joy to read the first book in a mystery series that you hope continues through many more titles. This is what I thought when finishing Elly Griffiths’ THE CROSSING PLACES, the debut of series protagonist Dr. Ruth Galloway, a forensic archaeologist who teaches at the fictional University of North Norfolk. Of course, archaeology and detective work go hand in hand, so it’s a little surprising we don’t see more of them in modern mystery fiction.
In this tale, Galloway is called to the desolate site of the Saltmarsh, where some human bones have been uncovered. It turns out that these bones, while human, belong to the long-ago past of the Iron Age and represent a significant archaeological find. The disappointment that is shown by DCI Inspector Harry Nelson at this news prompts some discussion, and it turns out that he had hoped they were the body of a young girl who had been kidnapped a decade ago.
Nelson has been haunted by the disappearance ever since, especially since on a regular basis, he receives disturbing letters taunting him about the girl’s fate. Improbably, but also somehow naturally, Nelson invites Galloway into the case of the missing girl, and she begins to provide valuable information. It is when a second girl goes missing that the danger ramps up considerably.
Griffiths is a pen name for Domenica de Rosa, who has written other mainstream novels, but this is her first crime novel, to be followed by THE JANUS STONE. She has a very natural, flowing style that is pitch-perfect in its description of the unsettling landscape and in its use of realistic dialogue.
One drawback is that it is written in the present tense, which seems unnecessarily distracting, but the good points far outshine the bad. I love the fact Galloway is definitely overweight and isn’t happy about it, but also isn’t going to buy into the current prejudices against the hefty. She’s a super-strong character with vulnerabilities in the right places, seems perfectly human, and an excellent companion to delve into the mysteries of the past and the horrific crimes of the contemporary. This is an excellent beginning to what promises to be a fun series. —Mark Rose
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