Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway novels (*possible spoilers)

When I read the first book written in 2009, The Crossing Place, I was staying in a cottage and place in Norfolk very similar to where it is set. It certainly added something to the atmosphere on those dark nights, with the sea winds blowing in across the saltmarsh. I found Nelson's character a bit too stereotypically Northern. Would he say 'champion,' for example?! After what happened to one cat, I was incredulous that Ruth would leave her other cat free to roam and potentially meet the same fate?! It is 'easy reading' but at times I like being able to switch half my brain off, so that's fine. A good read on holiday, especially being set locally. I must have liked it because I have just started reading the second book, The Janus Stone and ordered some more.

I've asked MNHQ to add 'contains spoilers' to the thread title!

Elly has a website.

The first ten books are also available online as a set in paperback for about £25. Part sets of books 1-5 and 6-10 are also available in paperback.

She has written another series based in 1950s Brighton. I've really enjoyed her more recent series - The Stranger Diaries - but I think there are only 2 of those so far.

ooh, joining this. I picked up the House at World's End in a charity shop and liked it. I didn't want to go back to the earlier books, as I didn't want to read about a child disappreance but I've been intermittantly reading the later novels and have the Night Hawk now. I didn't know that anyone else knew these novels. I love the sound of her house in the marshes.

@seeline me too. I say it 'cath - bad' to myself. But I had Hermione wrong for about 4 books.

I’ve always imagined her living near Holme, where the seahenge was found.

In my head it's exactly as written. Don't think I can change it now, even if it's wrong!

Does anyone know how to pronounce Cathbad? I love the pairing of him and Judy.

I love these books and the stranger diaries. Didn't really get on with the Brighton mysteries. I've just read one of her Italian ones and didn't really like it at all!

I do remember something about Blue Ted coming for a weekend but can't remember which story. Kate went to school in Cambridge when Ruth moved.

I went to Norfolk for the first time last year and returned this year for another holiday. It did make me realise that some of the logistics didn't really work, but I loved visiting places that featured in the books. I think her descriptions in the books are brilliant - I recognised them all.

The one I didn't enjoy was the one set in Italy - just didn't seem to fit in with the rest of the series.

I do like these books, although I seem to have hit a wall with The Chalk Pit, which I’ve had for almost two years and am struggling to stick with.

I quite like the fact that Michelle hasn’t left Nelson, I think it’s more indicative of how a real life relationship might pan out where it’s much more complicated and nuanced than a Mumsnet LTB . Plus she has her own little fling as well, it’s not so cut and dried.

I love ‘em. I know the area and she describes its strange allure very well.

I've always placed Ruth's cottage somewhere around Salthouses or Morston. Quite a way from KL, but perhaps the university is on the Hunstanton side?

I just got into an "interesting discussion" on a FB thread about these books, in which I got thoroughly slated for pointing out that Cathbad is not a real person. I may have upset a few people. Especially when I said that Father Christmas wasn't real either.

Meanie spoilsport me!

Here are two technical questions for those of you who've read them. I have started The Night Hawks, having read the others, but I borrowed them from the library, so don't have them at hand to check up on.

1.When Kate was small and went to school or pre-school, was there a system where the children sometimes took Blue Ted home for the weekend to take care of him, I suppose, until Monday, or am I confusing that with another story completely?

1. In this latest book Cathbad and Judy have moved to Wells-next-the-Sea and they go to the school to pick up Michael and Miranda and Kate seems to be at that school too. Now, on page 27 it says that Ruth has moved Kate back to her old primary school for her last year in primary. So did Kate always go to Wells n t s school? I always imagined the school dash was somewhere in KL but perhaps I confused it with the dash to the child-minder.

Couldn't give a toss if I'm called a pedantic, nit-picking, purist!

I agree that Harry won't leave Michelle and I think there'd be fireworks if he and Ruth lived together. As to requiring him to have an STD test, give the man a break, he's made love to Ruth about three times in ten years!

I love these books too. I like the repeated themes and the developing relationships too.

Nelson will not leave Michelle. He and Ruth would send each other bonkers if they lived together. Or perhaps that's it...Elly Griffiths will document the decline of their relationship too.

Oh I love these too, I had read them all and read the latest then realised I had forgotten some things so I reread the whole series over a 3 week period!!! I don’t know Norfolk so I have no idea how ridiculous the CID and the level of crime is. But I love the history - and finding out about amazing characters like the woman bishop from the Middle Ages.

I get annoyed at all the will they won’t they re Ruth and Nelson and I too cannot understand how his wife is still with him! Or why Ruth won’t go and make a life with someone else. All the other men sounded better than Harry🤔

I picked up the Stone Circle which DH had been given for Xmas (and then failed to read/open) - Loved it and then gradually read them all in order - I say gradually...5 weeks of a newborn and I only have Night Hawks to go. Ruth & Nelsons relationship baffles me slightly (v trauma based) but I'm invested! (with a bit of a crush on Cathbad )

I was always intrigued by Kate's child minder - Ruth was often hours late picking her up, or she'd take her round at weekends at the drop of a hat! Think the child minder is a saint!

You need to start at the being, before Ruth and nelson get together and she meets cathbad .
The crossing places
Janus stone
House at sea's end
Room full of bones
Dying fall
Outcast dead
Woman in blue
Chalk pit
Dark angel
Stone circle
Lantern men
Night hawks (total cliff hanger)

Brighton mysteries
Zig zag girl
Smoke and mirrors
Blood card
Vanishing box
Now you see them

The stranger diaries
Postscript murders

She has also written some children's books
And as Dominenica de Rosa written 3 books

Enjoy!