Review of The Crossing Places (Ruth Galloway, Book 1)

Author: Elly Griffiths
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Review By: Shana

This initial entry into a mystery series (currently ten books strong) feels like a quieter, British version of the mystery series by Kathy Reichs (famously turned into the American TV series Bones). Instead of a forensic anthropologist and FBI agent we have an archaeologist and detective chief inspector. There are fewer explosions and chases, no gun battles and more limited witty repartee, but you have the contrast of styles between a street smart, tough cop and a slightly out-of-touch academic.  

The plot centers around some child remains found near a pre-historic archaeological site. Dr. Ruth Galloway is called in to offer her expertise on identifying whether the bones are ancient or modern, and DCI Harry Nelson is called in just in case there is a murderer about. The setting of salt marshes is suitably spooky, especially when you add in the archaeological import of the place and the murky history it invokes.  

​Some of the twists and turns were predictable, and there are times that the dialog stretches credulity, but not in the extreme way so many mysteries do. I'm interested in seeing where the series goes and how the pairing of Galloway and Nelson develops.