Vivian Q. (bellasgranny) -
I wasn't particularly wowed by this third entry in the Ruth Galloway series. For me, the "mystery" takes a back seat to the relationships between the characters in the book. I really like Ruth's character, especially in her new role as a mother, and look forward to the.next book in the series.
This will be the last book I read by Elly Griffiths (pen name for Domenica de Rosa). I've tried, and failed, to find enough to like and believe about the lead character, Ruth, to have that affinity that leaves one wanting to read the next book in a series. The writer's skills need to be better developed as well.
Joan W. (justreadingabook) reviewed The House at Sea's End (Ruth Galloway, Bk 3) on + 1726 more book reviews
Amazing and great to read mystery. I have enjoyed all the books in the series so far and enjoy getting to know the characters more and more. Each book offers and new mystery with little twists and turns. Great read.
Cathy C. (cathyskye) -
First Line: The tide is out.
Forensic archaeologist Dr. Ruth Galloway has just returned from maternity leave and is discovering how very difficult it is to juggle a newborn baby and the career that she loves. She is called in when a team surveying the effects of erosion on the Norfolk coast find bones in a ravine along the shoreline.
The bones date to World War II, and when Detective Chief Inspector Harry Nelson and his men begin asking questions, a Home Guard veteran reveals the existence of a secret that he and some other old soldiers have vowed to keep "to the death." It would appear that someone doesn't trust the old man because he is killed... and then a German journalist shows up and begins asking his own questions. Someone is insisting that these secrets be kept. With Ruth's help, Harry intends to find that person before anyone else can die.
Although this third book in the series stands on its own well, I would suggest beginning at the beginning because the relationships between the characters grow and develop throughout the books. In some ways this series bears a superficial resemblance to Julia Spencer-Fleming's which features the Reverend Clare Fergusson and Police Chief Russ Van Alstyne, and Griffiths' series is every bit as strong.
Griffiths uses the setting of the crumbling cliffs and shoreline of Norfolk, England, as well as the ages of those who are hiding secrets to add tension and a sense of urgency to the book. In fact, I was so focused on the secretive old men that I completely forgot about trying to deduce the identity of the person who wanted the secrets kept the most.
Although the plot line involving World War II is absorbing, the ever-evolving relationship between Ruth and Harry is just as important. I really enjoyed watching Ruth trying to adapt to being a mother and Harry becoming more and more focused on a fascinating woman whom, not so very long ago, he never would've looked at twice.
Emotions will be coming to a boil. Lines will be drawn. Sides will be taken. And DCI Harry Nelson will continue to need Dr. Ruth Galloway's expertise with bones. This series just keeps on getting better. I've barely finished this book, and I'm already craving the next!
Forensic archaeologist Dr. Ruth Galloway has just returned from maternity leave and is discovering how very difficult it is to juggle a newborn baby and the career that she loves. She is called in when a team surveying the effects of erosion on the Norfolk coast find bones in a ravine along the shoreline.
The bones date to World War II, and when Detective Chief Inspector Harry Nelson and his men begin asking questions, a Home Guard veteran reveals the existence of a secret that he and some other old soldiers have vowed to keep "to the death." It would appear that someone doesn't trust the old man because he is killed... and then a German journalist shows up and begins asking his own questions. Someone is insisting that these secrets be kept. With Ruth's help, Harry intends to find that person before anyone else can die.
Although this third book in the series stands on its own well, I would suggest beginning at the beginning because the relationships between the characters grow and develop throughout the books. In some ways this series bears a superficial resemblance to Julia Spencer-Fleming's which features the Reverend Clare Fergusson and Police Chief Russ Van Alstyne, and Griffiths' series is every bit as strong.
Griffiths uses the setting of the crumbling cliffs and shoreline of Norfolk, England, as well as the ages of those who are hiding secrets to add tension and a sense of urgency to the book. In fact, I was so focused on the secretive old men that I completely forgot about trying to deduce the identity of the person who wanted the secrets kept the most.
Although the plot line involving World War II is absorbing, the ever-evolving relationship between Ruth and Harry is just as important. I really enjoyed watching Ruth trying to adapt to being a mother and Harry becoming more and more focused on a fascinating woman whom, not so very long ago, he never would've looked at twice.
Emotions will be coming to a boil. Lines will be drawn. Sides will be taken. And DCI Harry Nelson will continue to need Dr. Ruth Galloway's expertise with bones. This series just keeps on getting better. I've barely finished this book, and I'm already craving the next!
Eadie B. (eadieburke) -
Book Description
Just back from maternity leave, forensic archeologist Ruth is finding it hard to juggle motherhood and work when she is called in to investigate human bones that have surfaced on a remote Norfolk beach. The presence of DCI Harry Nelson, the married father of her daughter, does not help. The bones, six men with their arms bound, turn out date back to World War II, a desperate time on this stretch of coastland.
Home Guard veteran Archie Whitcliffe reveals the existence of a secret the old soldiers have vowed to protect with their lives. But then Archie is killed and a German journalist arrives, asking questions about Operation Lucifer, a plan to stop a German invasion, and a possible British war crime. What was Operation Lucifer? And who is prepared to kill to keep its secret?
My Review
This was a reread and I enjoyed it the first time and the second time too. I love the characters in this series. They have become like friends and I love as each book is written that we get another peek at their lives. The plot in this book was a bit weaker than the rest but all in all it was a good story. The clues to the killer were a bit late coming and therefore made it hard for the reader to guess until the very end of the book. I will continue with the series and I do recommend reading these books in order as the storyline does build one upon the other.
Just back from maternity leave, forensic archeologist Ruth is finding it hard to juggle motherhood and work when she is called in to investigate human bones that have surfaced on a remote Norfolk beach. The presence of DCI Harry Nelson, the married father of her daughter, does not help. The bones, six men with their arms bound, turn out date back to World War II, a desperate time on this stretch of coastland.
Home Guard veteran Archie Whitcliffe reveals the existence of a secret the old soldiers have vowed to protect with their lives. But then Archie is killed and a German journalist arrives, asking questions about Operation Lucifer, a plan to stop a German invasion, and a possible British war crime. What was Operation Lucifer? And who is prepared to kill to keep its secret?
My Review
This was a reread and I enjoyed it the first time and the second time too. I love the characters in this series. They have become like friends and I love as each book is written that we get another peek at their lives. The plot in this book was a bit weaker than the rest but all in all it was a good story. The clues to the killer were a bit late coming and therefore made it hard for the reader to guess until the very end of the book. I will continue with the series and I do recommend reading these books in order as the storyline does build one upon the other.
Maura (maura853) -
An effective page-turner that, once again, makes good use of the strange, remote setting of Norfolk's north coast, of the historical context of crimes, "ancient" and modern, and of Ruth Galloway's expertise as a forensic archaeologist.
I think Griffiths is settling down in this, the third outing for archaeology professor and amateur detective Ruth Galloway -- characterisation feels less like she is wheeling on cardboard cut-outs to fill the spaces that need filling (Sex-mad BF!! Crazy but lovable guy who thinks he's a druid!) and the relationships between Ruth and the secondary characters, and among the secondary characters, are becoming pleasingly complicated, in ways that hint at rewarding sub-plots for future volumes.
So this was working on 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 for Best Signs of Improvement in a Long-Running Series -- and then I hit the point when Galloway and her off-again, off-again love-interest (and no, that isn't a typo) DCI Harry Nelson are stranded in a spooky old house in a blizzard, in a scene that is completely contrived in order to generate fake tension, introduce a completely implausible suspect (because, so far, all of the suspects are about 90 years old) and ... well, you'll see ...
So that whole blizzard interval -- over-written and very, very implausible -- lost it a whole star, for me. But I'll keep reading the crime-fighting adventures of Dr. Ruth Galloway -- it's good "comfort reading." Like an episode of "Vera," with added archaeology.
I think Griffiths is settling down in this, the third outing for archaeology professor and amateur detective Ruth Galloway -- characterisation feels less like she is wheeling on cardboard cut-outs to fill the spaces that need filling (Sex-mad BF!! Crazy but lovable guy who thinks he's a druid!) and the relationships between Ruth and the secondary characters, and among the secondary characters, are becoming pleasingly complicated, in ways that hint at rewarding sub-plots for future volumes.
So this was working on 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 for Best Signs of Improvement in a Long-Running Series -- and then I hit the point when Galloway and her off-again, off-again love-interest (and no, that isn't a typo) DCI Harry Nelson are stranded in a spooky old house in a blizzard, in a scene that is completely contrived in order to generate fake tension, introduce a completely implausible suspect (because, so far, all of the suspects are about 90 years old) and ... well, you'll see ...
So that whole blizzard interval -- over-written and very, very implausible -- lost it a whole star, for me. But I'll keep reading the crime-fighting adventures of Dr. Ruth Galloway -- it's good "comfort reading." Like an episode of "Vera," with added archaeology.
