The Chalk Pit
The Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries 9
Published on 13. July 2017
Book
Paperback/Softback
384 pages
978-1-78429-662-9 (ISBN)
Description
'ONE OF MY FAVOURITE CURRENT CRIME SERIES' Val McDermid
'A FIVE-STAR THRILLER' Daily Express
'GOOD WRITING AND CLEVER CHARACTERISATION' Red Magazine
Boiled human bones have been found in Norwich's web of underground tunnels. When Dr Ruth Galloway discovers they were recently buried, DCI Nelson has a murder inquiry on his hands. The boiling might have been just a medieval curiosity - now it suggests a much more sinister purpose.
Meanwhile, DS Judy Johnson is investigating the disappearance of a local rough sleeper. The only trace of her is the rumour that she's gone 'underground'. This might be a figure of speech, but with the discovery of the bones and the rumours both Ruth and the police have heard that the network of old chalk-mining tunnels under Norwich is home to a vast community of rough sleepers, the clues point in only one direction. Local academic Martin Kellerman knows all about the tunnels and their history - but can his assertions of cannibalism and ritual killing possibly be true?
As the weather gets hotter, tensions rise. A local woman goes missing and the police are under attack. Ruth and Nelson must unravel the dark secrets of The Underground and discover just what gruesome secrets lurk at its heart - before it claims another victim.
'A FIVE-STAR THRILLER' Daily Express
'GOOD WRITING AND CLEVER CHARACTERISATION' Red Magazine
Boiled human bones have been found in Norwich's web of underground tunnels. When Dr Ruth Galloway discovers they were recently buried, DCI Nelson has a murder inquiry on his hands. The boiling might have been just a medieval curiosity - now it suggests a much more sinister purpose.
Meanwhile, DS Judy Johnson is investigating the disappearance of a local rough sleeper. The only trace of her is the rumour that she's gone 'underground'. This might be a figure of speech, but with the discovery of the bones and the rumours both Ruth and the police have heard that the network of old chalk-mining tunnels under Norwich is home to a vast community of rough sleepers, the clues point in only one direction. Local academic Martin Kellerman knows all about the tunnels and their history - but can his assertions of cannibalism and ritual killing possibly be true?
As the weather gets hotter, tensions rise. A local woman goes missing and the police are under attack. Ruth and Nelson must unravel the dark secrets of The Underground and discover just what gruesome secrets lurk at its heart - before it claims another victim.
Reviews / Votes
The Chalk Pit is the most intriguing case written by the prolific Elly Griffiths to date. A five-star thriller * Daily Express * Griffiths has become a dab hand at plotting and cranking up the tension. The murders, and the muddled humanity of the characters, keep us turning the pages * Independent * Crime that doesn't sacrifice good writing and clever characterisation for the sake of the plot * Red Magazine * Elly Griffiths writes ever-more ingenious detective stories with a powerful sense of place and a varied cast of sympathetic and unusual characters. Her heroine is a winner * The Times * Griffiths weaves superstition and myth into her crime novels, skilfully treading a line between credulity and modern methods of detection * Sunday Times * Ruth Galloway is one of the most engaging characters in modern crime fiction -- Kate Mosse Griffiths has mastered the art of combining bizarre plots with contemporary relationship issues beautifully * Sussex Life * A spooky and gripping read * Woman * A well-written, eerie thriller * Sun * Excellent writing, excellent plotting, some utterly riveting detail and always a banging good story * Liz Loves Books * Griffiths is a top drawer crime novelist, and Ruth Galloway is the most believable and likeable protagonist in modern crime fiction * Crimesquad *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 197 mm
Width: 128 mm
Thickness: 30 mm
Weight
271 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78429-662-9 (9781784296629)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
02/2017
Quercus
€5.99
Available for download
Person
Elly Griffiths is the bestselling author of the Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries and the Brighton Mysteries. She has won the CWA Dagger in the Library, has been shortlisted five times for the Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year, and longlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger for The Lantern Men. Her new series featuring Detective Harbinder Kaur began with The Stranger Diaries, which was a Richard and Judy book club pick and won the Edgar Award for Best Novel in the USA. It was followed by The Postscript Murders, shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger and Bleeding Heart Yard. Elly has two grown-up children and lives near Brighton with her archaeologist husband.