The Night Hawks (Ruth Galloway Mysteries)

It’s mid-September 2019 and Ruth Galloway is back at the University of North Norfolk, having left her position at Cambridge, and her boyfriend Frank, and taken over as Head of Archaeology. Other than all of that, nothing much has changed. Her relationship with DCI Harry Nelson is still just as confused as ever, she is back living in her cozy but isolated mid-terraced cottage on the sea, the police continue to use her forensic archaeologist skills, and she still can’t seem to stay out of life-threatening situations.

No sooner has the school term started, than Ruth receives a phone call from Nelson. A body has turned up on a beach. It’s recent, but it is lying on top of what could be an ancient burial. What begins, as it always does, as a routine excavation turns into a foray into local folklore concerning the Norfolk Sea Serpent and the spectral Black Shuck, a legendary giant dog, and harbinger of death. Along with the number of bodies, the suspect list continues to grow and includes Ruth’s annoying new hire, David Brown, who is a member of the metal detectorist group the Night Hawks who seems connected to the deaths in many ways.

Elly Griffiths never disappoints and always provides us with an ending that leaves us wanting more.