| | |  | | Home » The House at Sea's End (Ruth Galloway Mysteries) | | | | | | | Description: | | There is already a neat trench in the narrow gap between the tall cliffs. Nelson looks at it with pleasure . . . Then he looks closer. The trench appears to be full of bones.
Elly Griffiths’s Ruth Galloway novels have been praised as “highly atmospheric” (New York Times Book Review) and “remarkable” (Richmond Times-Dispatch). Now the beloved forensic archeologist returns, called in to investigate when human bones surface on a remote Norfolk beach.
Just back from maternity leave, Ruth is finding it difficult to juggle motherhood and work. The presence of DCI Harry Nelson—the married father of her daughter, Kate—does not help. The bones, skeletons of six men with their arms bound, turn out to be about seventy years old, which leads Nelson and Ruth to the war years, 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? | | | Product Details: | | | Average Customer Rating:
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Average Customer Review:
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36 of 36 found the following review helpful:
 Another great mystery novel by Elly GriffithsFeb 04, 2011
By William D. Curnutt
"Pastor Dan"
I have been very pleased with Elly Griffiths series regarding Archeologist Ruth Galloway. I so enjoyed the first two books that I pre-ordered this third book. I was not disappointed.
Griffiths has a wonderful way of developing her characters, holding their character traits through each book and actually building on each trait to make the characters even more inviting and personable as the series moves on.
The mystery itself this time is the find of six skeletal remains along a cliff side at Broughton. These six bodies are discovered by a team that is mapping the coastland and mapping the erosion that is happening. While they are working they find the six bodies which have been exposed because of the failure of part of the cliff and the erosion of the salt water waves against the cliffs.
It is obvious that the six bodies were meant to never be found, but that hasn't happened. Ruth Galloway and Chief Inspector Nelson will team up again to try and solve this mystery.
It is soon realized that the murders are fairly recent since all deaths happened as result of gun shot wounds and five of them appear to be execution style. Who are these murdered men? Who killed them? And why did they kill them?
Ruth is able to determine through carbon tests that the bodies are approximately 50 to 70 years old and that each man has German roots, to the same region in Germany.
As the story unfolds this was a small platoon of German soldiers who were trying to infiltrate England but were discovered by the Home Guard of Broughton Sea. But why were the men executed? That is still the pressing story.
As Galloway and Nelson dig into the story they discover two of the men of the Home Guard are still alive, but not for long. Each of the men dies within the same week. When Nelson has one body exhumed and autopsied it is determined the man was murdered.
Further a German Historian shows up and says he knows who the six men were and why they were there. But, he also is murdered. So, who is now murdering people and trying to keep this story a secret? What are they trying to hide? Or who are they trying to protect?
All the while we are also dealing with Ruth's new life with a young baby, Kate. How will she work and yet raise a child as a single parent.
All of these things plus more are woven together in a story that will keep your attention. I love the way that Elly Griffiths pulls things together. Ties in history as well as archeology and police work. She does a wonderful amount of research and it shows in the depth and realism of her stories. There is also enough tension to keep you on your toes and frankly, you will never guess who the murderer is until the end of the book.
It's fantastic. Enjoy!
14 of 14 found the following review helpful:
Awesome new book from Elly GriffithsMar 04, 2011
By mvb
I can't say much more about the book that the 3 previous reviewers wrote
The book keeps your attention from the first to last page. I read it in one night, couldn't put
it down.
As far as I know this is still only avail in UK, that's where I ordered from and had my book in 2 weeks, was surprised
how fast it got to the states!
If you have not read any of Elly's books, start with the first one, The Crossing Places as this is a series and books are a continuation.
Elly is a great writer. These are not a traditional cozy but are not thrillers either. I'd call them a modern mystery with some suspense in parts of book - just enough to where you don't want to set the book down for 5 minutes.
Looking forward to the next one - I hope there will be many more to come in this series
Mar
17 of 18 found the following review helpful:
From Strength To StrengthFeb 08, 2011
By annie
"earthboundmisfit"
I'm hooked on this series. I dislike reviews that outline the plot so completely that reading the book becomes superfluous so, suffices to say: The plot is interesting and believable, the setting is atmospheric and finely honed, and the characters are "flesh and blood" rather than cookie-cutter people. Ruth Galloway is a realistic and likeable main character; a strong, intelligent woman who knows and accepts her flaws. If you're new to the series, start with "The Crossing Places" and go forward. You'll soon be hooked as well and eagerly awaiting the next installment.
7 of 7 found the following review helpful:
 Too much of a good thingJan 25, 2012
By KnC Books
"kncbooks"
In the third book of her "Ruth Galloway" mystery series, "The House at Sea's End", author Elly Griffith presents us with a complex set of characters: half a dozen buried corpses, three new murder victims, and a host of potential suspects -- all being trailed by a team of law enforcers assisted by a score of secondary characters. It's enough to make your head spin:
"Nelson gets Judy to fax through the list of titles (Ruth is almost the last person in the world still to have a fax machine). Ruth reads through the names while Nelson plays peek-a-boo with Kate. Ruth wishes Clough could see him."
... three sentences reference five characters, two of whom aren't even in the room.
I enjoy character-driven fiction, and I appreciate that even fictional characters have friends, but sometimes less is more. As DCI Harry Nelson says, "Don't make things too complicated." I realize that I read an ARC (prone to typos), but at least one minor character changes names in the story, and it wasn't a plot device. Too many details can play heck with continuity. Locations and timelines in many cases were confusing or even contradictory.
I am a fan of the classic English mystery; Griffith has the setting, the characters, and the crime down pat, there is just too much and the story's readability suffers. "The House at Sea's End" sets the stage, but gets lost in the scenery changes.
7 of 7 found the following review helpful:
The House at Seas EndApr 03, 2011
By M. Minor
"The Mag"
I stumbled on this author by accident. I read her first novel, The Crossing Places, and was hooked. Each book has not failed to grab my imagination. Her main character, Ruth Galloway, a forensic anthropologist,is down to earth, flawed, intelligent,a self doubting human being with a heart of gold. Ruth finds her way through life as best she can. Just like the rest of us.
Elly Griffiths has a voice that stays with me after I put the book down. In this story, on the coast of Norfolk,we are returned to a time of fear and hatrid during WWII. When six decomposed bodies are found by a survey team after the sea eroded away a cliff face, Ruth is called in to help with identification. I don't want to give anything away but I do want to point out that through the authors descriptions I felt the sea spray and the chill of the wind and the grit of the sand in my eyes. I would recommend this book to anyone who injoys a mystery with thoughtful insights, intelligent detail, and a surpising ending.
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