Back on top form…
😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
When archaeologist Ruth Galloway discovers what she believes to be the body of a long-dead murderess, her find becomes the subject of a TV documentary on Women Who Kill. Meantime in the present day, a young child has died and DCI Harry Nelson suspects he may have been murdered by his mother. Still haunted by the memory of the death of Scarlet Henderson (The Crossing Places), Nelson is struggling to deal with this case, especially since there is very little evidence to prove how little David died. And when another child is abducted, the tension really starts to mount…
After the slight disappointment I felt with Elly Griffiths’ last outing, A Dying Fall, I thought the Ruth Galloway series might have run its course. But I’m delighted to say that this one is right back up to the standard of the earlier books in the series – a thoroughly enjoyable and well written novel with very strong characterisation throughout. Ruth has always been a great character but had got a bit bogged down in mild misery and angst, especially about her weight. Here, though, her senses of both humour and proportion seem to have re-asserted themselves and she’s enjoying life. Her previous boyfriend Max has disappeared from the scene, with no tears of regret from this reader; and a new romance might be on the cards with Frank, an American historian presenting the documentary – who apparently looks more like George Clooney than any other man in Norfolk! Kate is now a talking toddler, and Griffiths writes very realistically about the pressures of being a working single mother without laying it on too thick.

I still have a couple of grumbles about the series. Firstly, there’s the occasional slightly mystical element introduced which doesn’t work for me, but that’s a matter of personal preference rather than a criticism, and I was glad to see that Cathbad the druid still gets involved, even though he’s now living in Lancashire. My second grumble is more serious, and that’s that Griffiths continues to use the clunky and stilted present tense. To some degree, I forgive her – she was one of the first to start this annoying trend so at least she can’t really be accused of jumping on the bandwagon; but oh, how I wish she and all the other authors who overuse this artificial technique would jump off it now. It’s been done – it’s not original any more.

The plot works well, though Griffiths has of course trodden the ground of missing and dead children before. Through the archaeological strand, we find out about Mother Hook, a (fictional) Victorian baby-farmer – hanged for the murder of a child in her care. Frank, though, thinks she has been the subject of an injustice and is looking for Ruth to help find archaeological evidence that will back up his belief. Ruth’s involvement in the present-day investigation relies too much on coincidence, but that’s always going to be a problem when the main protagonist is not a member of the police, and on the whole Griffiths has made it work much more convincingly this time around. The solution, though, comes out of nowhere – this could not be called a fairplay novel – but it still works and provides a satisfying ending.
Mini-grumbles aside, this is a hugely enjoyable read and it’s great to see both Griffiths and Ruth back on top form, putting this series firmly back onto my list of must-reads. Highly recommended.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Quercus.
FictionFan – Oh, I am so glad to hear this one’s this good. I’m a fan of this series and I do love the Ruth Galloway character. So I’d likely read this even if it wasn’t top form. So good to know it is.
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Yes, I was becoming a bit disillusioned with the series, but this one is right back in the top ranks! Hurrah! 🙂
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Does it get bloody in parts? Seems like the type of book that might get bloody.
Have you ever met George Clooney?
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No, it’s quite tasteful as books about child-killing go…
Many, many times, though admittedly I’ve always been asleep at the time. But I’m as close friends with George as you are, for instance, with…ahem…Mic…
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The reason you liked it isn’t because of GC, is it?
Mic and the professor go way back.
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Well, the idea of a George-lookalike didn’t hurt…
So do George and FF…
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He’s no match for Vin Diesel.
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😆 Thank goodness for that!! (I think the Professor might be jealous of George…)
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He looks like an indian.
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You’ve finally found a man that I don’t think is cute and adorable… 😉
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Hmm…interesting you don’t think so. I was talking about GC. He’s the indian. 🙂
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Nonsense! That’s a gorgeous Celtic face if ever I saw one – Irish or Scottish, for sure. You can tell by the wicked twinkle in the eye.
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For some reason, I haven’t really been able to get into this series – maybe I’ll try again sometime.
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I’ve been up and down with the series, but the good ones are very good and though it helps to know the background, they could be read as standalones, I think. This was one of the ones I’ve enjoyed most.
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I am not reading your review and neither am I speaking to you every again! How dare you get hold of a copy of this before me! I am trying to find a way to exist until publication day comes around when I will be incommunicado for the twenty-four hours it takes me to read it 🙂
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😆 So sorry!! But it’ll be worth the wait…
(Aren’t you in NetGalley, Alex? I could hardly imagine life without it now… )
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I used to be but somehow I let it drop. I must investigate it again. Thanks for reminding me.
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I’m trying to be a bit more selective with it now, but it’s great for getting early copies of some of the big releases.
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Thanks for the lovely distraction of a gratuitous picture of George…sighs..great review as well! On my teetering TBR pile 🙂
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😆 No opportunity to post a pic of George should ever be missed…or Darcy! I hope you enjoy the book – in fact, I’m sure you will.
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The “like” is for the photo of Clooney. Nice. 😀
Me? I’m going to stick with the Laidlaw book. My local bookstore couldn’t get it until the summer, so I ordered it from a bookseller somewhere on the East Coast.
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I’ve often considered forgetting the reviews and just posting a picture of George every day…
I hope you get it. I sometimes forget that all these british books I review might not be available in the US.
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[…] The Outcast Dead (Ruth Galloway 6) by Elly Griffiths […]
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So good to hear she’s found her way again, and a woman murderess well you know what that means – yes you’ve added one to my TBR 🙂
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When I was writing the bit in the review about the Victorian baby-farmer, I was thinking that it might appeal to you! I think you’ll enjoy it… 🙂
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You know me too well FictionFan, a bit of baby farming and I just can’t resist! It has gone on the list and I will let you know 🙂
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[…] addition FictionFan wrote another great review, this one is for The Outcast Dead by Elly Griffiths which not only […]
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So glad to know this is a good one as I do love Ruth and Cathcart and Harry. We have to wait another month or two for it to be released here but I am definitely reading it ASAP
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I enjoyed this one more than the last couple – Ruth’s humour is back on top form and the plot holds together better, I think. Hope you enjoy it when you manage to get hold of it! 🙂
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