BookBrowse Reviews The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths

BookBrowse:

The first installment in a new British mystery series, set in coastal Norfolk on the North Sea

This first book in a new British mystery series already has lots of fans among our readers. All 17 of our First Impressions reviewers liked the book, and are looking forward to the next installment.

Here's what they had to say:
What's not to love? Archeology, history, mysticism, mystery, suspense, a likable female lead character, the promise of a series, and a pleasing, low-key humor. An easy read, but with enough meat to be interesting (Juliet F). The Crossing Places pairs archaeology with criminal investigation - a good pairing since both disciplines use clues to solve mysteries (Susan). The book is atmospheric without being gloomy, the characters interesting because of their flaws and not the lack thereof. Beneath the mystery plot, the book, as suggested by the title, delves into boundaries: emotional, professional, personal, ethical and, of course, physical. A final plot twist at the end hints at even more upheaval in books to come. I look forward to Ms. Griffiths's next book in the series (Carol C.)

Most of all, readers loved the main character:
The plot is enjoyable, the setting is great, but it is the character of Ruth Galloway that captures my primary interest. I would definitely be interested in reading further books in this series just to see what Ruth is up to (Alan K). She's a delightful, human, and quirky character (Jane D), a person to whom most people can relate; a bit overweight, with a wry sense of humor and with a realistic view of life (Susan H).

Minor criticsisms:
My love for the protagonist will keep me reading the series, but I would love for the author to be braver in how she executes the high-pitched dramatic moments. I skipped some pages. But if you love British mysteries, this series looks to be promising (Tricia L).

The bottom line:
This is a fun and exciting mystery, while also offering interesting tidbits of archeology, ancient cultures, and Norse mythology (Jane D). I am a frequent reader of British mysteries and am always on the lookout for a series new to me. I'm so glad to be introduced to Elly Griffiths and The Crossing Places. I was hooked 20 pages in by the main characters and the locale. And now I am looking forward to seeing the relationships develop and to learn more about the history of this section of England (Betty B).

Series order to date
The Crossing Places (2009)
The Janus Stone (2010)
The House at Sea's End (available in the UK Jan 2011, publication date elsewhere not announced)

This review was originally published in The BookBrowse Review in January 2010, and has been updated for the November 2010 edition. Click here to go to this issue.