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Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway novels (*possible spoilers)

167 replies

Bloodybridget · 01/06/2021 05:05

I've seen Elly Griffiths recommended on MN several times, so I picked up The Chalk Pit the other day. I do think she writes well, and am enjoying her dry humour, but baffled by logistics! The police officers are based in King's Lynn, but they're investigating incidents in Norwich, and seem to be travelling between the two locations in no time at all - which anyone who has spent time in North Norfolk, or even looked at a map, would know is impossible unless by helicopter. Example: two officers are in Norwich getting information, a colleague in KL police station wonders aloud "what's taking them so long" - well, it'll be the hour, minimum, each way on the A47, for a start!

Could it really be feasible that Norwich wouldn't have its own CID department to cover local cases? The author says she spends lots of holidays on the Norfolk coast so she must know how long it takes to get around.

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upinaballoon · 04/09/2021 11:37

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!

FuzzyPuffling · 05/09/2021 20:35

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!

Original poster
Bloodybridget · 06/09/2021 02:54

@Upinaballoon I have now read all but two of the series, but not in order. I don't remember anything about Blue Ted, but my memory is rubbish, or I might just not have read the book in which it's mentioned.

Agree it would be a disaster for Ruth and Nelson to be together as a couple, and I don't think Ruth would agree to it anyway, she would be too scrupulous re Michelle.

The locations and logistics often seem unrealistic - I can't quite pin down where Ruth's house on the Saltmarsh is meant to be, but obviously on the north coast, and as her university is in KL, it would make no sense for her to be taking Kate to school in Wells. EG's notions of journey times around north Norfolk seem way out most of the time.

@fuzzypuffling what do you mean, Cathbad isn't a real person??

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FuzzyPuffling · 06/09/2021 07:11

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?

Phyllis321 · 06/09/2021 07:15

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

SydneyCarton · 06/09/2021 07:42

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 Grin. Plus she has her own little fling as well, it’s not so cut and dried.

Seeline · 06/09/2021 08:08

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.

Turangawaewae · 06/09/2021 08:35

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

Seeline · 06/09/2021 09:00

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

HeddaGarbled · 06/09/2021 09:08

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

Turangawaewae · 06/09/2021 09:45

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

PineappleWilson · 06/09/2021 09:49

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.

Original poster
Bloodybridget · 06/09/2021 13:07

@PineappleWilson there are quite a few disappearing children in the series!

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Original poster
Bloodybridget · 06/09/2021 13:07

I have just ordered the two I haven't yet read from Abebooks. What on earth will I read after that?

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Seeline · 06/09/2021 13:14

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.

SaltMarsh · 06/09/2021 13:34

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. Wink

SaltMarsh · 06/09/2021 13:56

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.

SaltMarsh · 06/09/2021 13:58

Should be The Crossing Places, not Place.

SaltMarsh · 06/09/2021 14:10

The Saltmarsh, henge, King's Lynn police force and University of North Norfolk are all imaginary, as Elly says in the Acknowledgements. She also mentions having read Seahenge by Francis Pryor, about the Bronze Age henge found, as a pp says, at Holme-next-the-Sea.

upinaballoon · 06/09/2021 15:22

I don't live a huge distance away from the places she writes about. Not having been in that area since the 2020 start of Lockdown, I actually went to Wells next the Sea yesterday, but I didn't hunt for the primary school! I'll save that for a day when I'm on my own.

I once went to hunt for a place away from a main road in Norfolk. It was a place which Ruth and Frank went to. I can't remember which book it was in. I think they discovered something there.

It's no different from walking in Bath, with Captain Wentworth and Anne Elliott. You'll be telling me next that they were only the figments of someone's imagination.

Original poster
Bloodybridget · 06/09/2021 15:59

Thanks for getting the thread title amended, @Saltmarsh

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SailYourShips · 07/09/2021 19:47

I used to really like the Ruth Galloway mysteries but the last few I have read have ended with stupid Keystone Kops chases around the marshes with Ruth or some other character in danger and it has really put me off them.

CinnamonSweet73 · 07/09/2021 19:54

I'm just listening to The Ghost Fields on audible (already read them all) and Blue Ted was mentioned! This one though has a different reader than the others and I'm sorry to say I don't like her as much. Cathbad is pronounced as spelled in all the audio versions I've listened to. I love the series, massive comfort read for me. I know it's not too realistic at times but I don't care!

upinaballoon · 07/09/2021 21:04

I think two of you have said that Blue Ted did exist. Thank you for that. It was one of my questions.

SaltMarsh · 08/09/2021 07:23

@Bloodybridget

Thanks for getting the thread title amended, *@Saltmarsh*
Ruth was only just pregnant in my mind and so I tried sticking my fingers in my ears and la-la-la-ing after reading a post with spoilers but strangely it didn't work! Anyway, going back to your OP: what you've got to remember is that all things are NFN (Normal For Norfolk) and they just need to Slow You Down.