The Chalk Pit: The Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries 9

Another beautiful installment in the Ruth Galloway series, with a riveting storyline that tackles the homeless issue this time and ends without yet again resolving the affairs of the heart between the main characters.

Waiting for the next in the series. This talented author has created characters I care about and think about for many days after finishing each novel. The geography and atmosphere comes alive through her description. I rarely buy books, borrowing instead from the library or kindle unlimited, but I own all of this series and have re-read them many times. Well done Ms . Griffiths. Now get to work quickly on the next...

Elly Griffiths, as so many other reviewers have written, has indeed "done it again"! Her writing is clear and descriptive; her characters are very believable – in fact, all you might wish for when you're looking for a great read. Well done to Ms Griffiths. Of course, along with other reviewers, I can't wait for the next instalment. Clearly, there are more breakers ahead for our doughty heroine, Ruth Galloway.

I gave the Chalk Pit five stars because I enjoyed 99% of it. I love Ms. Griffiths' characters and her ability to come up with one unique plot after another. I also am an archaeology buff. However, I was disappointed in the ending of this novel - it seemed too much like something out of a soap opera - I really expected better from the mind of this writer. Still, I greatly look forward to the next book in the series.

Very weak plot stretched out at a pedestrian pace and annoyingly interspersed with failed attempts at elevating the characters as either meaningful or of interest by the use of snippets of pearls of wisdom to create intrigue!

Very weak plot stretched out at a pedestrian pace and annoyingly interspersed with failed attempts at elevating the characters as either meaningful or of interest by the use of snippets of pearls of wisdom to create intrigue!

Underground civilizations, both ancient and modern-day, have recently become a widespread topic of interest.
Indeed, it is fascinating to speculate on such possibilities as the earth becomes more crowded and less stable. We hear of entire cities developed underground for the super-rich and super-powerful, ready and waiting for them when the nuclear war we all fear comes to pass.
In fact, the subject has become more timely than Griffiths may have realized as she wrote this book.

Griffiths is well-informed on the topic of life underground, both speculative and factual.
She has woven it well into this latest installment of her Ruth Galloway series.

Quentin Swan, an architect, is eager to embrace the underground trend. He wants to open an upscale underground restaurant.
However, during the excavation, human bones are found and this puts a halt to his project.

Ruth Galloway, an archaeology professor at a nearby university, is called in to assist the police with their findings.
As they investigate the matter, Ruth, along with the police detective team of Harry Nelson, becomes quite involved with the "rough sleepers" in the city of Norwich.
A female member of this homeless community has gone missing. Could this be related to the discovery of human bones in the maze of chalk tunnels under the city?
As the plot builds, there are more disappearances, along with the murders of two other rough sleepers.

Ruth and Nelson have a history that has developed in previous books in the series. Although The Chalk Pit is a continuation of their story, as well as those of of several other characters, it reads well as a stand alone.
The book has two story lines: the mystery itself, and the underlying drama of the regular players involved.
I found that these two elements worked fine together and enhanced rather than distracted from the plot of The Chalk Pit.

Griffiths writes at a leisurely pace to begin with.
The Chalk Pit is one of those suspense novels that starts out slowly and picks up the pace at about a quarter through the book.
Then it is steady on until the final wrap-up. As mysteries go, this one is quite satisfying, with surprises at the ending.

Her research is thorough. In this novel we learn a lot about two disparate subjects. There is a compassionate but realistic exploration of homelessness, and a look into the fascinating subject of the life and geography right under our feet.

Griffiths is a pro when it comes to describing details.
Her writing is rich with the everyday particulars of life in Norwich, and of England in general.

I recommend this book for those who enjoy police procedural mysteries in English settings, detailed writing, and a thorough exploration of timely subjects.
Griffiths' more leisurely pace will probably not be as appealing to those who prefer a rapid-fire page turner of a novel.

With The Chalk Pit, Elly Griffiths adds another highly satisfying and intelligent installment to her Ruth Galloway series. The Chalk Pit is the 9th book, and the characters and plot line remain outstanding, likeably quirky and original. The Chalk Pit centers around Norwich’s hidden underground tunnels and the discovery of human bones. Initially the bones are thought to be medieval, but Ruth quickly determines that they are recent, and as a result, DCI Nelson and Ruth must work to solve a murder. Meanwhile, women are going missing and homeless men (rough sleepers as they are called in Norwich) are being murdered. As the story unfolds, Ruth, DCI Nelson and the rest of the crew work to figure out whether these incidents are related and attempt to solve the various crimes.

The characters in this book are simply fantastic. I love reading about them all and seeing them develop over time as the books continue. Ruth and DCI Nelson’s interactions are always interesting, and for a while I had high hopes that things might resolve themselves in a manner that I would like, but apparently that is for another book. However, that did not lessen my enjoyment of The Chalk Pit. Griffith’s portrayal of the homeless population is empathetic and kind, and the underground tunnels are an intriguing inclusion in the story.

I highly recommend this entire series and specifically The Chalk Pit. Thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

With The Chalk Pit, Elly Griffiths adds another highly satisfying and intelligent installment to her Ruth Galloway series. The Chalk Pit is the 9th book, and the characters and plot line remain outstanding, likeably quirky and original. The Chalk Pit centers around Norwich’s hidden underground tunnels and the discovery of human bones. Initially the bones are thought to be medieval, but Ruth quickly determines that they are recent, and as a result, DCI Nelson and Ruth must work to solve a murder. Meanwhile, women are going missing and homeless men (rough sleepers as they are called in Norwich) are being murdered. As the story unfolds, Ruth, DCI Nelson and the rest of the crew work to figure out whether these incidents are related and attempt to solve the various crimes.

The characters in this book are simply fantastic. I love reading about them all and seeing them develop over time as the books continue. Ruth and DCI Nelson’s interactions are always interesting, and for a while I had high hopes that things might resolve themselves in a manner that I would like, but apparently that is for another book. However, that did not lessen my enjoyment of The Chalk Pit. Griffith’s portrayal of the homeless population is empathetic and kind, and the underground tunnels are an intriguing inclusion in the story.

I highly recommend this entire series and specifically The Chalk Pit. Thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Women are disappearing. Homeless men (the British call them rough sleepers) are getting murdered. A big hole opens up on a road and seems to swallow up a man who looks like Jesus. DCI Nelson and team are seriously busy.

Meanwhile Dr. Ruth Galloway, forensic archeologist, finds modern bones in a medieval tunnel, transforming her dig into a murder investigation. Ruth again finds herself working with DCI Nelson, her once-in-a-blue-moon lover and the father of her little girl Kate.

The complications of the relationships between Ruth and Nelson and his wife, who's just getting over an attraction to a younger man, are endlessly fascinating. It's not a soap opera, though, because personalities are richly nuanced -- and there's a current of wry humor running through it all. Nelson's struggles with his new woman boss are particularly amusing. Jo has inspirational posters on her walls and pontificates while rocking on an exercise ball.

I love these books. I love having an overweight middle-aged heroine who's raising her illegitimate child alone and who excels at her bizarre specialty (old bones).

The plot of this book has a particularly sinister cast, because the murders and disappearances hint at the existence of a mysterious underworld. Norwich is sitting on a network of tunnels left over from chalk mining.

The plot takes us into the world of rough sleepers -- their friendships, their drop-in centers, their stories, their secrets --as well as into the halls of Academia, the homes of the privileged, and the site of rehearsals for a surreal new play based on Alice in Wonderland.

If you're a fan of Dr. Ruth, don't miss this one. If you're new to the series, you can jump in here, but reading the earlier books will enrich this reading experience. The whole series is terrific.

Yet again Elly Griffiths has woven her magic throughout a story of abandoned mining tunnels, murder, the homeless, and the personal lives of those trying to stop a killer. The archaeology and the history of the old chalk tunnels under Norwich are integral to the mystery, but-- as always with Griffiths-- it's the characters who make her Ruth Galloway books something special. Nelson is saddled with a boss whom he refers to as "She Who Must Be Obeyed." In so many books that I read, that's how the boss remains-- a one-note piece of cardboard. Not here in The Chalk Pit. Readers get to see a different side of Nelson's boss that just might change their opinions of her a bit.

Griffiths also puts names and faces to several members of the homeless community in the Norwich area-- what they have to do and where they have to go in order to survive. It is a personal and much-needed look at a maligned segment of many countries' populations.

Even in this serious mystery, we're treated to a bit of levity now and again, as when single mother Ruth mourns the days when she could leave the house with just her small purse and her cell phone-- something all mothers undoubtedly miss. The Chalk Pit's mystery I found to be a bit easier to solve this time around, and the solution did strain my credulity a bit, but this is still a very good read. Be forewarned: while the mystery is solved by book's end, it does end on a cliffhanger involving the personal lives of the two main characters. Fellow fans of this series are going to be as eager as I am for the next book to discover what happens.

And if you've yet to sample this wonderful series, you need to do something about that, like getting the first book The Crossing Places. You've got a lot of fantastic reading in store for you!

Ruth Galloway is a forensic archaeologist who teaches in the University of North Norfolk, England, and occasionally assists the police with their inquiries. In "The Chalk Pit," DCI Harry Nelson, DS Judy Johnson, and DS Doug Clough investigate the killing of homeless men and the disappearance of Barbara Murray, who "sleeps rough" and is mentally ill. In addition, Ruth excavates human bones found at a construction site and sends them to be tested. Do they date back to medieval times or were they buried more recently?

This ninth book in the Ruth Galloway mystery series has its strengths and weaknesses. Ruth is an admirable, albeit flawed, character. She is dedicated scientist, kind-hearted, a devoted mother to her six-year-old daughter, Kate, and always up for a challenge. However, she is self-conscious about her appearance--she could afford to lose some weight--sensitive about her status as a single mum (she longs to be with the father of her child, although he is unavailable), and can be stubborn. The novel moves along at a brisk pace as the detectives follow various leads and track down witnesses. DCI Nelson, who may be "lacking in charm sometimes, but matchless in an emergency," clashes with his overbearing and unreasonable female boss, broods over personal matters that have no easy solution, and confers with Kate when he is in a bind.

The plot is far-fetched, and the identity of the villain does not ring true, but "The Chalk Pit" is still an entertaining and amusing diversion. We are treated to geographical tidbits about London, especially its underground caverns, and get to know a bit more about Ruth's parents and siblings. The author focuses on the harsh and dangerous existence of those who have no family, job, or fixed address; may be addicted to drugs or alcohol; and are generally shunned by society. "It's so thin, the line between respectability and chaos." For good measure, Griffiths throws in a final twist that will likely complicate Nelson's life immeasurably. Ruth is an expert at keeping a stiff upper lip. She will need all of her inner strength and resilience to face the future with equanimity.

This is the 9th book in the series featuring Ruth Galloway, a forensic archeologist and university lecturer based in Norfolk. While each book is technically a standalone story - and if you're new to the series there is a helpful guide to all the main characters at the end of this book - you will enjoy this far more if you have read the others first. While it centres on a police investigation that starts with a missing woman, half the pleasure of the book comes from developments in the lives of the various characters and that will be lost if they are not familiar to you.

I have mixed feelings about this series. As mysteries they are reasonably interesting but the way that there has to be some archeological element forced in does tend to limit them. While not as quirky in feel as the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, they are more "cosy" crime than "gritty" crime. Elly Griffith's writing style is also very distinctive: she writes in the present tense and tells us exactly what everyone is thinking. Everytime I start one of her books I think this is going to annoy me and then I adjust and stop noticing it.

However I keep coming back, because I like this series. I like the characters. I'm curious to know what's going to happen to them. I enjoy the descriptions of Norfolk and its history. (Sometimes after reading one of these books I use Google Streetview to revisit the territory: this time it was Tombland in Norwich). For me, the series falls into the same kind of category as Paul Doiron's books about Mike Bowditch in Maine or Steve Hamilton's series about Alex McKnight in Michigan - the mysteries in themselves are somewhat formulaic, the characters in themselves don't do enough, but the combination of mystery + characters + setting becomes very endearing.

As The Chalk Pit: A Ruth Galloway Mystery begins, Forensic Archeologist Ruth Galloway is beneath the surface of the ground and not happy about it. She is in one of the many tunnels that are passageways below Norwhich. She does not like small spaces as it is and being underground with the reality of all that soil above her pressing down is making it very hard to cope. The fact that she is down there with Ted is not any help at all even if he is a good guy she has known for years. What brought them underground was the recent discovery of bones in a dirt core sample from a boring machine. Plans for an underground restaurant below The Guildhall are on hold after the police and Ruth were notified of the bones.

As they work in the tunnel that was probably part an old chalk mine, it is clear the bones left behind by the removal of the dirt core are also human and may or may not come from the same skeleton. The tunnel bones are leg bones, an arm bone, and what are probably rib bones. Missing is the skull and any pelvic bones among others which means that identifying the gender is going to be very difficult. The bones also are very clean and have a dull shine to them. While Ted thinks they are medieval, Ruth is not sure.

At the same time as Ruth and Ted are beneath the surface of the ground, DCI Nelson is very much above ground and rather annoyed over various issues. Part of the problem is that he is forced to deal with a new and micromanaging boss who would prefer him chained to a desk and doing paperwork while he would much rather be out working cases. Cases such as the current issue with missing homeless people. Various homeless women are disappearing and there are rumors that they have gone underground.

Did they go underground on their own or have they been abducted in some way and forced underground? No one seems to know. What is clear is that it seems that a number of homeless people, shunned by those on the surface, may have taken refuge underground in the numerous tunnels and shafts under the area. If so, the question is where did they go?

And are the recent murders of other homeless people connected in some way?

These two storylines as well as some secondary ongoing plot lines drive several mysteries in The Chalk Pit: A Ruth Galloway Mystery. A series that continues to push the characters in new directions and circumstances. That ongoing character evolution is one of the enjoyable aspects of this series. That angle is present here along with plenty of informative history and social commentary.

The Chalk Pit: A Ruth Galloway Mystery is another very good read in the series that began with The Crossing Places.

Material supplied by the good folks of the Dallas Public Library System.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2018

Things are happening beneath the city of Norwich.
A street has collapsed, revealing a scatter of bones and a student has reported seeing a man disappear where the street caved in. These occurrences bring forensic archaeologist Ruth Galloway and DCI Harry Nelson together for their ninth adventure.
Ruth determines some of the bones are modern and appear to have been boiled, spurring speculation of cannibalism. There are rumors of rough sleepers (a British term for the homeless) going "underground," some do disappear, then several are murdered, including one on the doorstep of the police station. When the disappearances expand to include a suburban housewife and then DS Dave Clough's bride-to-be things heat up.
The success of a continuing series depends largely on the growth of the characters and believable plots.
Griffiths provides growth for the tangled relationship of Ruth and Nelson as well as those of her other major characters. Kate, Ruth's and Nelson's child conceived in the first of the series, is now six. Judy and Cathbad are a couple and have a child. And, as mentioned, Clough and Cassie are anticipating marriage. Other elements have been added, including Nelson's new boss, Superintendent Jo Archer, whose efforts for a "fresh start" for the department are getting under his skin.
As to the believable plot, this one stretches the limit a bit in terms of character motivation. Yet it was plausible enough, fitted with sufficient twists and red herrings, to keep me reading and satisfied with how it wrapped up.

I am absolutely enthralled with this series..Too bad I am reading them out of order but eventually I can reread the whole series from start to finish.(Reason: I'm a book reviewer blogger and try to read my favorite authors from NetGalley but sometimes from E-Library loans) I am recommending them to my sister also ( and several hundred others through my blogs)

This is book 9 and I so hated for it to end last night. In addition to the awesome mystery about "Rough Sleepers" and their possible "Underground" Ruth Galloway and DCI Harry Nelson came to an interesting part of their relationship, almost 10 years into it.

So for folks like me who like their mysteries set in other eras or countries, this one is set in Norfolk and Dr. Ruth Galloway is a forensic archeologist who is "seconded" ( assigned to), the serious crime division of the Police department. Ruth herself lives in a remote area on the edge of the salt marsh outside of the town of Lynn and was part of a dig that excavated a wooden henge in past years.

Rough sleepers is what we call homeless in the US and the Underground discussed has to do with a series of tunnels which are partly old chalk pits under the town. Some of the homeless begin to be murdered, one of them who sleeps on the porch of the Police headquarters and is know to many. Then some mysterious disappearances which even touch the police group Ruth works with.

It ends in the underground and you need to start this series now! I recommend starting at the beginning which is "The Crossing Places" and has to do with the discovery and excavation of the Iron Age henge in the salt marsh.
5 Stars definitely

I downloaded this book from Prime Reading and quickly became relieved that I hadn't paid for it. I was immediately put off by the discovery that the entire book is written in the present tense. Since there was no discernible reason for this approach, I could only attribute it to a pointless affectation by the author. After a quick tease of two mysterious occurrences, the novel swung into the introduction of a seemingly endless cast of characters, mostly police officers, and their complicated personal lives. I note that this is the ninth novel in a series. Perhaps if I had gotten in on the ground floor with this crowd, I might have been more tolerant of the recapitulation of their back stories. However, that wasn't the case, so I rapidly grew tired of finding myself awash in their various entanglements and impatient for the mystery plot to get off the ground. When it hadn't by the time I was 15% into the book, I took advantage of the new "return" feature in the Android Kindle app and cleared this loser off my device. If you're already immersed in this series you may feel differently about this book, but if you are new to the series, I suspect you will be as underwhelmed by this novel as I was.