I'm not reading these Ruth Galloway stories in order, but I don't think it matters too much. The underlying saga involving the major protagonists is easy enough to pick up, and the stories can in any case stand alone. Forensic archeologist Ruth learns that her university pal Dan has died in a house fire, and goes to the northern university where he worked to see if she can pick up the professional pieces he left behind. All is not as it seems. Dan was murdered, Ruth gets anonymous threatening messages. Her friend, the father of her child, DI Nelson is in the area on holiday. The plot unfolds from here. Despite dealing in death, with professional animosity, mentally unbalanced protagonists and financial misdoings as part of the mix, this is a perfect holiday read. ( )

A Dying Fall is Book #5 in the Dr. Ruth Galloway Mystery series written by Elly Griffiths.
I am quite ‘hooked’ on this series.
There is an excellent weaving together of interesting characters, detective and police work, tense and intriguing plots with bits & pieces of archeology, history, mythology and mysticism thrown in. Locations are interesting and the descriptions make you want to SEE them, to walk along the salt marshes and beaches of Norfolk.
“When Dr. Ruth Galloway learns that old university friend Dan Golding has died in a house fire, she is shocked and saddened. But when she receives a letter that Dan had sent to her just before he died, her sadness turns to suspicion. The letter tells of a great archeological discovery but Dan also says that he is scared for his life.”
Excellent Read. **** ( )

Dying Fall is book no 5 in the excellent Ruth Galloway series of books. This could be read as a stand alone as each case is different but I highly recommend you read them in order.

This time Ruth, Nelson and my favourite character Cathbad leave Norfolk and go to Blackpool, Lytham and Pendle. This time the case is around bones found supposedly belonging to King Arthur.

Another fun read with Ruth and gang, which certainly has it moments. For me it's all about the characters and as the story progresses over the books it certainly gets interesting. If you have got this far you will know what I'm referring to, if you know you know.

There is still enough in the series for me to continue so will look forward to the next book which I will read shortly. ( )

Ruth hears from a college friend that another of their fellow students has died in a house fire. She recalls Dan Goldman fondly but hasn't seen him for twenty years. The next day she receives a letter from Dan who tells her that he has made an extraordinary discovery but now is in fear for his life.

Ruth is invited by the Dean of Dan's department to come to see if Dan's discovery was as amazing as he thought. Since it is a term break, Ruth gathers her 18-month-old daughter and her friend Cathbad and heads for Lancashire. Unknown to her at the time is that Nelson and his wife are also planning a brief vacation in Lancashire where they will spend time with both their families.

Ruth's first discovery is that the bones she has been asked to look at aren't consistent with being found in a grave from the 400s. In fact, they are the mixed bones of two different people. Kate wonders where the bones actually are, why Dan sent them to a crime lab for analysis, and why he sent of some samples to still another lab, this one in New York.

Ruth has been receiving threatening texts since even before she got to Lancashire which make her worry for her child's safety. The more she looks into things the odder they become. It seems that the university is having an outbreak of white supremacy and whose followers have a strange fascination with King Arthur.

Dan's discovery might be King Arthur but without the bones or the laptop where he kept all his data which disappeared when his house was torched, Ruth has no concrete evidence. Once she tracks down the lab in New York doing the testing something even odder comes to light which could provide a reason Dan was killed. And this new information puts Ruth in even more danger.

This was an intriguing story with an interesting archaeological puzzle. The interpersonal dynamics are also intriguing as Ruth and Nelson try to figure out what kinds of relationship they are going to have. Cathbad also has some decisions to make.

I enjoyed this story and am eager to read the next in the series. ( )

Simply couldn't stand to hear more references to Ruth's past relationships & fast-forwarded to the end to find out whodunit. I can't really put my finger on or else I didn't like it ( )