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Fiona Griffiths #6
The Deepest Grave
An ancient battle. A dead researcher. And a very modern crime.
It's been more than a year since Detective Sergeant Fiona Griffiths had any sort of murder case . . . when all of a sudden, she gets the call. A local archaeologist has been found bloodily murdered. Her head severed from her body. Her eyes apparently fixed on a fragment of Latin text.
The crime seems to summon the ghosts of Dark Age Britain - and the shade of King Arthur. But why are those ancient enmities alive once again? Why are armed burglars raiding remote country churches? And how many more people will die before these clues are unravelled?
Fiona thinks she knows the answers to these questions . . . but the crime that underlies them all is so utterly unexpected, so breathtakingly audacious in its execution, that it hasn't yet been committed.
This book will be perfect for anyone who's enjoyed the work of Ann Cleeves, Elly Griffiths, or Andrea Camilleri.
It's been more than a year since Detective Sergeant Fiona Griffiths had any sort of murder case . . . when all of a sudden, she gets the call. A local archaeologist has been found bloodily murdered. Her head severed from her body. Her eyes apparently fixed on a fragment of Latin text.
The crime seems to summon the ghosts of Dark Age Britain - and the shade of King Arthur. But why are those ancient enmities alive once again? Why are armed burglars raiding remote country churches? And how many more people will die before these clues are unravelled?
Fiona thinks she knows the answers to these questions . . . but the crime that underlies them all is so utterly unexpected, so breathtakingly audacious in its execution, that it hasn't yet been committed.
This book will be perfect for anyone who's enjoyed the work of Ann Cleeves, Elly Griffiths, or Andrea Camilleri.
488 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 13, 2017
699 people are currently reading
666 people want to read
About the author
Harry Bingham
47 books697 followersHarry Bingham is best known for his Fiona Griffiths crime series, which has drawn rave reviews from critics, authors and readers alike.
If you've read and enjoyed one of Harry's books, make diddle-darn sure that you've signed up to the Fiona Griffiths Readers Club, by hopping right over here:
http://www.harrybingham.com/lev-in-gl...
You'll get a free, lovely welcome gift - and you'll be the very first to know when Fiona Griffiths is back with a further adventure . . .
If you've read and enjoyed one of Harry's books, make diddle-darn sure that you've signed up to the Fiona Griffiths Readers Club, by hopping right over here:
http://www.harrybingham.com/lev-in-gl...
You'll get a free, lovely welcome gift - and you'll be the very first to know when Fiona Griffiths is back with a further adventure . . .
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 264 reviews
April 25, 2017
This is the latest installment in the DS Fiona Griffiths series, one of the most unusual and compelling protagonists in crime fiction. There are occasions in this novel where Fiona's actions and thoughts make me feel uncomfortable but I still think the world of her. Based in Cardiff, Fi is mooching around, pondering on the fact that it has been 462 days since her last corpse, until she arrives at the scene of a body that has been beheaded. The victim is archaeologist Dr Gaynor Charteris, and needless to say Fi is keen to spend time with the head and the body but only gets substantial time to do that at the morgue later on. The case is led by the ambitious DI Bleddyn Jones, a 'by the book' man who does not get Fiona, and is issuing warnings to her before long. This is a story that enters the territory of Welsh Arthurian legends and ancient antiquities.
Charteris has been working on a dig at Dinas Powys, and a number of items have been stolen from there. Fi gets close to Katie, a PhD student working the dig, who is full of useful archaeological knowledge, and as it turns out, is dying from Motor Neurone Disease. There are burglaries in churches in North Wales that involve items relating to the Dark Ages and Arthur. There is growing belief in the existence of Arthur and the discovery of artifacts from that period of history. The investigation leads to a number of academics, a secret group, and a more ruthless, criminal and murderous presence. With a rising body count and a hostage situation, Fiona finds that Katie and her family are endangered and there is nothing she is not prepared to do to ensure they are safe. DI Jones eventually turns out to pull all the stops to support Fiona, although this does not resolve their differences entirely.
Fiona has her own unique character and has mental health issues that look to be returning, they have been exacerbated with her spending time with the dying Katie with whom she is so close. She seems to be able to cope and seeing her friendship develop with Katie is a real joy. There are other terrific supporting characters such as Fi's dad and George Bowen. Her need to commune with the dead to the extent she does is unusual and odd. I still feel squeamish at times though, such as when she wishes she has Gaynor's bloody head with her in a plastic bag. However, it certainly drives her to find justice for her corpses. I loved the blend of ancient Arthurian legends and antiquities with a compelling present day police procedural. The author highlights the contemporary issue of the rising trade in fake and looted antiquities in the novel. Fantastic crime fiction which I highly recommend. Cannot wait for the next one in the series! Thanks to Orion for an ARC.
Charteris has been working on a dig at Dinas Powys, and a number of items have been stolen from there. Fi gets close to Katie, a PhD student working the dig, who is full of useful archaeological knowledge, and as it turns out, is dying from Motor Neurone Disease. There are burglaries in churches in North Wales that involve items relating to the Dark Ages and Arthur. There is growing belief in the existence of Arthur and the discovery of artifacts from that period of history. The investigation leads to a number of academics, a secret group, and a more ruthless, criminal and murderous presence. With a rising body count and a hostage situation, Fiona finds that Katie and her family are endangered and there is nothing she is not prepared to do to ensure they are safe. DI Jones eventually turns out to pull all the stops to support Fiona, although this does not resolve their differences entirely.
Fiona has her own unique character and has mental health issues that look to be returning, they have been exacerbated with her spending time with the dying Katie with whom she is so close. She seems to be able to cope and seeing her friendship develop with Katie is a real joy. There are other terrific supporting characters such as Fi's dad and George Bowen. Her need to commune with the dead to the extent she does is unusual and odd. I still feel squeamish at times though, such as when she wishes she has Gaynor's bloody head with her in a plastic bag. However, it certainly drives her to find justice for her corpses. I loved the blend of ancient Arthurian legends and antiquities with a compelling present day police procedural. The author highlights the contemporary issue of the rising trade in fake and looted antiquities in the novel. Fantastic crime fiction which I highly recommend. Cannot wait for the next one in the series! Thanks to Orion for an ARC.
August 7, 2017
Where do I start with this book?!
Fiona Griffiths: I have loved this character from the first book. She's headstrong, quirky, self-aware, loyal. She's a detective with good instincts. She gets into dangerous situations with good intentions. She has had a serious mental condition in the past. To get her history, read this series from the beginning with Talking to the Dead.
The men: Fiona’s boss, Dennis Jackson, regularly tells her she’s a pain in the arse but he understands her. Bleddyn Jones must supervise Fiona while Jackson is on temporary leave, and he doesn't know how to handle her. Fiona’s father, Tom Griffiths, has been involved in some nefarious activities. He will do anything to protect his daughters, Fi, Ant, and Kay.
The setting: Wales is surely a magical place. No way could I correctly pronounce the place names, but Llanbrynmair, Caersws, Llanymawddwy, and Dinas Powys sound magical in my head.
Story and History: Murder, of course, and uncovering a plot to defraud. Archaeological artifacts, forgeries, King Arthur, Gwenhwyfar, Mordred. I loved the developing friendship between Fiona the Celtic-British and Katie the Anglo-Saxon. Slave! Barbarian! The quest to find Caledfwich (Excalibur).
I will end with the first chapter. It is one of the funniest first chapters I've ever come across. I read it out loud to my husband and had tears in my eyes. If you've ever been bored at work, you'll be able to relate. I'll give you the link to the book at amazon. Use the Look Inside feature to read it. I checked; it's all there. Let me know what you think!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
Fiona Griffiths: I have loved this character from the first book. She's headstrong, quirky, self-aware, loyal. She's a detective with good instincts. She gets into dangerous situations with good intentions. She has had a serious mental condition in the past. To get her history, read this series from the beginning with Talking to the Dead.
The men: Fiona’s boss, Dennis Jackson, regularly tells her she’s a pain in the arse but he understands her. Bleddyn Jones must supervise Fiona while Jackson is on temporary leave, and he doesn't know how to handle her. Fiona’s father, Tom Griffiths, has been involved in some nefarious activities. He will do anything to protect his daughters, Fi, Ant, and Kay.
The setting: Wales is surely a magical place. No way could I correctly pronounce the place names, but Llanbrynmair, Caersws, Llanymawddwy, and Dinas Powys sound magical in my head.
Story and History: Murder, of course, and uncovering a plot to defraud. Archaeological artifacts, forgeries, King Arthur, Gwenhwyfar, Mordred. I loved the developing friendship between Fiona the Celtic-British and Katie the Anglo-Saxon. Slave! Barbarian! The quest to find Caledfwich (Excalibur).
I will end with the first chapter. It is one of the funniest first chapters I've ever come across. I read it out loud to my husband and had tears in my eyes. If you've ever been bored at work, you'll be able to relate. I'll give you the link to the book at amazon. Use the Look Inside feature to read it. I checked; it's all there. Let me know what you think!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
June 10, 2020
DS Fiona Griffith is bored. It's been 453 days since her last corpse and she's tired of trying to fill in her days with the minor crimes committed by 'the good citizens of Cardiff' who she finds 'unimaginatively law-abiding'. But then her DCI brings her news of a new murder and it's a good one. Archeologist Gaynor Charteris has been found beheaded in her living room with three ancient spearheads buried in her chest.
I love Fiona. She is such an unusual and inventive character. Suffering from a rare mental illnes as a teenager, she tends to see outside the box and listens to the beat of her own drum. Her DCI, Dennis Jackson has gradually learnt that Fiona can bring valuable tangential thinking to solving crimes, making connections that others don't and gives her some leeway. However, he is currently on leave and she must work with the more straight-laced, by-the-book Bleddyn Jones. Of course it's not long before he's issuing her with warnings.
Gaynor Charteris was involved in a dig at a local Iron Age fort and discovered a number of unremarkable artifacts which have been stolen. Together with a PhD student, Katie Smith, working on the dig they follow a trail of stolen papers that leads them to Arthurian legends and a conspiracy to commit a major fraud. The evidence for a great warrior called Arthur who fought the invading Saxons in Wales and died at a place called Camlann is interesting and well researched. It was great to see the developing relationship between Katie and Fiona, who doesn't make friends easily, and to see them devising an inspired plan to interfere with the criminal conspiracy. There are more bodies along the way and Katie and Fiona's sister Kay are put in jeopardy when they are abducted by the mastermind behind the fraud.
Although Arthurian legends have been somewhat overworked in fiction, it was interesting to learn of his links with Wales and the theories surrounding the places of his battles and death. This is a really well written series with brilliant plots and one of the most unusual investigators in crime fiction. It was also great to see Fiona's Dad (the retired master criminal) in action (and I think we've been left a clue that may lead to Fiona finding out her real origins). If you haven't read any of this series yet, give yourself a treat and start with book one so that you get to know (and appreciate) Fiona's history and personality. I'm now eagerly waiting for book #7 to be published.
I love Fiona. She is such an unusual and inventive character. Suffering from a rare mental illnes as a teenager, she tends to see outside the box and listens to the beat of her own drum. Her DCI, Dennis Jackson has gradually learnt that Fiona can bring valuable tangential thinking to solving crimes, making connections that others don't and gives her some leeway. However, he is currently on leave and she must work with the more straight-laced, by-the-book Bleddyn Jones. Of course it's not long before he's issuing her with warnings.
Gaynor Charteris was involved in a dig at a local Iron Age fort and discovered a number of unremarkable artifacts which have been stolen. Together with a PhD student, Katie Smith, working on the dig they follow a trail of stolen papers that leads them to Arthurian legends and a conspiracy to commit a major fraud. The evidence for a great warrior called Arthur who fought the invading Saxons in Wales and died at a place called Camlann is interesting and well researched. It was great to see the developing relationship between Katie and Fiona, who doesn't make friends easily, and to see them devising an inspired plan to interfere with the criminal conspiracy. There are more bodies along the way and Katie and Fiona's sister Kay are put in jeopardy when they are abducted by the mastermind behind the fraud.
Although Arthurian legends have been somewhat overworked in fiction, it was interesting to learn of his links with Wales and the theories surrounding the places of his battles and death. This is a really well written series with brilliant plots and one of the most unusual investigators in crime fiction. It was also great to see Fiona's Dad (the retired master criminal) in action (and I think we've been left a clue that may lead to Fiona finding out her real origins). If you haven't read any of this series yet, give yourself a treat and start with book one so that you get to know (and appreciate) Fiona's history and personality. I'm now eagerly waiting for book #7 to be published.
May 19, 2017
This is the 6th book in the Fiona Griffiths series by author Harry Bingham. I was given a short story a few months ago by the author as a taster for this series and was instantly drawn to the lead character Fiona Griffiths. My opinion was that this character would make great reading and I was looking forward to reading a full length novel. So when the opportunity came up to read one I was very excited to start it and I wasn't disappointed.
DS Fiona Griffiths is certainly not boring and as a lot of other great detective characters trouble appears to follow her. A gruesome murder is discovered where the victim has been decapitated with an antique sword and Fiona leads the way to uncover the truth.
The victim Gaynor Charteris was an archaeologist excavating a nearby iron-age site. A well liked and respected woman it is not obvious why anyone would want to kill her never mind in such a grotesque way. Fiona finds evidence of a crime that seems to have its origins in King Arthur's greatest battle and she struggles to get her superiors to take it seriously.
Fiona is a very complex character and has her own mental health issues that make her more interesting.
I really enjoyed this book and will certainly read more of this author and this series in particular.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Orion Publishing Group for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
DS Fiona Griffiths is certainly not boring and as a lot of other great detective characters trouble appears to follow her. A gruesome murder is discovered where the victim has been decapitated with an antique sword and Fiona leads the way to uncover the truth.
The victim Gaynor Charteris was an archaeologist excavating a nearby iron-age site. A well liked and respected woman it is not obvious why anyone would want to kill her never mind in such a grotesque way. Fiona finds evidence of a crime that seems to have its origins in King Arthur's greatest battle and she struggles to get her superiors to take it seriously.
Fiona is a very complex character and has her own mental health issues that make her more interesting.
I really enjoyed this book and will certainly read more of this author and this series in particular.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Orion Publishing Group for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
March 31, 2023
“I wait four hundred and fifty-three days, then up pops a beauty”
DS Fiona Griffiths was fairly blasted from her languid disheartening ennui. This was not an ordinary murder. This was a decapitation and a ceremonial execution straight out of the dark ages using genuine weapons of antiquity. But Fiona Griffiths is no ordinary detective and her demonstrably out-of-the-box thinking lead her to the heart of a crime involving priceless antiquities, internet fraud, multiple murders, and the potential solutions to puzzles surrounding King Arthur that historians had sought for centuries. The trouble is, her superiors don’t seem to be willing to buy into her logic and her solution.
No doubt about it. Fiona Griffiths is a serious copper with a serious attitude and a serious dislike of administration, orders and the rule book. But here’s the problem … THE DEEPEST GRAVE is #6 in the series which, to read the other reviews, is wildly successful and wildly popular. So I’ll award a provisional rating of three stars to a workmanlike mystery and police procedural that had moments ranging from exciting and compelling to laugh out loud humour. The side bar essays on British Dark Ages history, weaponry and academia were informative and really quite fascinating. But it’s clear that I’ve got to go back and start at the beginning to become more familiar with the ins and outs, and the whys and wherefores of the development of Griffith’s rather offbeat character.
I’m looking forward to the journey. The debut novel in the series is TALKING TO THE DEAD. (Note to self: Keep in mind the idea that Fiona Griffith’s rather quirky outlook and reactions might be due to her being on the autism spectrum)
Paul Weiss
DS Fiona Griffiths was fairly blasted from her languid disheartening ennui. This was not an ordinary murder. This was a decapitation and a ceremonial execution straight out of the dark ages using genuine weapons of antiquity. But Fiona Griffiths is no ordinary detective and her demonstrably out-of-the-box thinking lead her to the heart of a crime involving priceless antiquities, internet fraud, multiple murders, and the potential solutions to puzzles surrounding King Arthur that historians had sought for centuries. The trouble is, her superiors don’t seem to be willing to buy into her logic and her solution.
No doubt about it. Fiona Griffiths is a serious copper with a serious attitude and a serious dislike of administration, orders and the rule book. But here’s the problem … THE DEEPEST GRAVE is #6 in the series which, to read the other reviews, is wildly successful and wildly popular. So I’ll award a provisional rating of three stars to a workmanlike mystery and police procedural that had moments ranging from exciting and compelling to laugh out loud humour. The side bar essays on British Dark Ages history, weaponry and academia were informative and really quite fascinating. But it’s clear that I’ve got to go back and start at the beginning to become more familiar with the ins and outs, and the whys and wherefores of the development of Griffith’s rather offbeat character.
I’m looking forward to the journey. The debut novel in the series is TALKING TO THE DEAD. (Note to self: Keep in mind the idea that Fiona Griffith’s rather quirky outlook and reactions might be due to her being on the autism spectrum)
Paul Weiss
March 29, 2020
Another great journey into the history of Wales/Britain by Fiona and her team of friends, and pro-Fiona colleagues (not many of them around though). This time a gruesome murder and the discovery of (King) Arthur's sword at an archeological dig drives the narrative.
I can't say I am a Fiona fan myself, but I do enjoy her intelligence and dedication to solving her cases.
I appreciated the author's explanation for the bizarre themes in his books, or in this genre, for that matter, since his plots can become quite grizzly at times. But there's an energy and a positive vibe in his narratives that really resonate with me.
From the blurb:
And so by the way, her dad is a great character.
I can't say I am a Fiona fan myself, but I do enjoy her intelligence and dedication to solving her cases.
I appreciated the author's explanation for the bizarre themes in his books, or in this genre, for that matter, since his plots can become quite grizzly at times. But there's an energy and a positive vibe in his narratives that really resonate with me.
From the blurb:
It's been more than a year since Detective Sergeant Fiona Griffiths had any sort of murder case . . . when all of a sudden, she gets the call. A local archaeologist has been found bloodily murdered. Her head severed from her body. Her eyes apparently fixed on a fragment of Latin text.So yes, by the time I read the next installment, Fiona might have grown up a little more, but for now, her rebellion against order and authority will have to do :-)
The crime seems to summon the ghosts of Dark Age Britain - and the shade of King Arthur.
But why are those ancient enmities alive once again? Why are armed burglars raiding remote country churches? And how many more people will die before these clues are unravelled?
Fiona thinks she knows the answers to these questions . . . but the crime that underlies them all is so utterly unexpected, so breathtakingly audacious in its execution, that it hasn't yet been committed.
And so by the way, her dad is a great character.
August 6, 2017
I looked forward so much to reading this latest Fiona Griffiths, and now I've finished it..
It was as wonderful as all the other ones. I loved the way the Arthurian legend was woven in. It reminded me of the intense discussions I had with my English teacher whether Arthur had really existed or not when I was about 15.
It was as wonderful as all the other ones. I loved the way the Arthurian legend was woven in. It reminded me of the intense discussions I had with my English teacher whether Arthur had really existed or not when I was about 15.
May 19, 2025
Here we are again with Fiona Griffiths, a DS in the Cardiff police force who struggles with Cotard’s Syndrome . In her youth this condition caused her to question whether she was alive and resulted in a two year stint in a mental health institution. Although she is now able to live in the world normally for the most part, at times Cotard’s interferes with the correct functioning of her senses and causes her moments of disassociation with what is happening around her.
In this book Bingham does not share much of this backstory, which would, I think, make it a challenging read as a standalone. Without this background, Fiona’s fascination with the dead makes far less sense.
Another aspect of Fiona’s past also goes unexplained in this book, although it is integrated into the plot. She is not the natural child of her parents, but according to family legend was found in the back seat of her father’s car when she was two years old. Her father, by the way, was a local criminal mastermind often suspected but never convicted.
All that aside, if you’ve read the earlier books where all this IS explained, you will find this an extremely clever and entertaining mystery where Fiona’s strengths and weaknesses as an investigator are on full display. The plot centers on a many-layered heist involving Arthurian artifacts and the illicit sale of antiquities. Think Ocean’s Eleven but with more violence, including a beheaded corpse.
Published in 2017, this has turned out to be the last book in the series. Bingham has mentioned writing more, but it appears that he has been distracted by other writing-related ventures and no more books have been forthcoming. A shame, because I’d really like to know how Fiona came to be part of the family that raised her, and what traumatic event laid the groundwork for her Cotard’s.
I’ve listened to all the books in the series, and Siriol Jenkins’ narration has been brilliant. Bingham writes in the first person, present tense, and Jenkins captures Fiona beautifully. She also pronounces Welsh place names without hesitation and with an accent that seems authentic.
In this book Bingham does not share much of this backstory, which would, I think, make it a challenging read as a standalone. Without this background, Fiona’s fascination with the dead makes far less sense.
Another aspect of Fiona’s past also goes unexplained in this book, although it is integrated into the plot. She is not the natural child of her parents, but according to family legend was found in the back seat of her father’s car when she was two years old. Her father, by the way, was a local criminal mastermind often suspected but never convicted.
All that aside, if you’ve read the earlier books where all this IS explained, you will find this an extremely clever and entertaining mystery where Fiona’s strengths and weaknesses as an investigator are on full display. The plot centers on a many-layered heist involving Arthurian artifacts and the illicit sale of antiquities. Think Ocean’s Eleven but with more violence, including a beheaded corpse.
Published in 2017, this has turned out to be the last book in the series. Bingham has mentioned writing more, but it appears that he has been distracted by other writing-related ventures and no more books have been forthcoming. A shame, because I’d really like to know how Fiona came to be part of the family that raised her, and what traumatic event laid the groundwork for her Cotard’s.
I’ve listened to all the books in the series, and Siriol Jenkins’ narration has been brilliant. Bingham writes in the first person, present tense, and Jenkins captures Fiona beautifully. She also pronounces Welsh place names without hesitation and with an accent that seems authentic.
January 12, 2018
Tons of reviews already so I'll just add that while this is not my favourite in the series, it's always good to spend time with Fiona. Definitely one of the most original & compelling characters in crime fiction. I really enjoyed the historical angle & loved the twist/surprise info dropped at the end. Bring on #7!
March 1, 2022
The Deepest Grave (Fiona Griffiths, #6) by Harry Bingham.
There have been so many reviews of this book that I'll start by presenting reasons for my addiction to this series.
Fiona is my most important reason for following this series. She's the most unusual main character I've encountered. Her dramatic and unexpected entrance into the Griffiths family and later severe mental illness during her teen years play a haunting part in her life. At times reoccur at the most inappropriate times.
Tom Griffiths, Fiona's dad, and the bond between them. Her sharing of details in this case as well as her Dad's past tear down any barriers that may have existed between them. Her family support is important to me. That sense of belonging in her family's home brings with it a warmth of realism to the story.
Lastly the subject or situation that presents itself in each book. The center of this investigation is the legend of Arthur. Reality or fiction? That brings us to the bizarre murder of Dr. Gaynor Charteris.
File this book under "my favorites". Please read this series in order as names may pop up from previous books that will tie into Fiona's cases.
There have been so many reviews of this book that I'll start by presenting reasons for my addiction to this series.
Fiona is my most important reason for following this series. She's the most unusual main character I've encountered. Her dramatic and unexpected entrance into the Griffiths family and later severe mental illness during her teen years play a haunting part in her life. At times reoccur at the most inappropriate times.
Tom Griffiths, Fiona's dad, and the bond between them. Her sharing of details in this case as well as her Dad's past tear down any barriers that may have existed between them. Her family support is important to me. That sense of belonging in her family's home brings with it a warmth of realism to the story.
Lastly the subject or situation that presents itself in each book. The center of this investigation is the legend of Arthur. Reality or fiction? That brings us to the bizarre murder of Dr. Gaynor Charteris.
File this book under "my favorites". Please read this series in order as names may pop up from previous books that will tie into Fiona's cases.
August 20, 2017
Fiona bemoans the lack of corpses..."The figure is '453'...sheet beneath, there's similar figure, but in black biro, that says, '452'. And so on, all the way back to one that reads '19 December 2014, Rhdwyn Lloyd RIP.' Four hundred and fifty-three days since my last proper corpse." But then she is called to a grisly scene of murder that involved a decapitation. "As usual, no one has bothered to bring a suit that is even remotely in my size, so I go flapping around like someone struggling free of a discarded parachute."
"Three ancient spears in a dead woman's chest. A savage beheading. An island deserted by its Roman protectors. And a case that feels - almost - like it's been worth the 452-day wait."
Fiona's sense of humor is in full force throughout this book. She takes us on a wonderful King Arthur adventure as we visit archaeological digs and possible sites of "possible" battles according to legend. We also learn the steps taken to forge antiquities and more. This book is great fun!
"Three ancient spears in a dead woman's chest. A savage beheading. An island deserted by its Roman protectors. And a case that feels - almost - like it's been worth the 452-day wait."
Fiona's sense of humor is in full force throughout this book. She takes us on a wonderful King Arthur adventure as we visit archaeological digs and possible sites of "possible" battles according to legend. We also learn the steps taken to forge antiquities and more. This book is great fun!
August 3, 2017
I am so happy that I discovered the Fiona Griffiths series back in 2012, because I have been totally addicted to it ever since and it never disappoints! Everyone who has read Bingham’s books will know that Fiona is a very different character. Having suffered from a mental illness in her teens, she still struggles to fit into society, or “Planet Normal” as Fiona calls it, and in times of stress her illness recurs in feelings of dissociation from her own body and a strange connection to her dead victims, which makes her all the more determined to fight for justice for them. With the impulsiveness and sometimes lack of common sense that has characterised her since Book 1 in the series (Talking to the Dead), Fiona usually goes against police protocol to solve her murder cases, which often gets her into trouble with authority as well as putting her own life in danger. However, her intelligence and ability to connect with her victims in ways no other detective can usually brings results, and over the last five books, she has earned herself a grudging respect amongst her colleagues.
I was very excited when The Deepest Grave was finally released, and found it to be a worthy continuation of a series I love. True to form, Bingham delivers a most unusual murder case for his protagonist, who has been impatiently counting the days (462) since her last murder case. Set in Wales like its predecessors, the book offers a fair amount of armchair travel to this mystical place, which makes the series even more irresistible for me (I will never forget the tense and terrifying caving scene in The Dead House, Book 5 in the series). Bingham always manages to incorporate a special interest theme into each story, which saw me learning a lot about archaeology, medieval artefacts and the King Arthur legend in this latest instalment. With a brutally beheaded corpse setting the scene, the peppermint-tea-drinking and weed-smoking Fiona has her work cut out for her to solve this murder case before more people are killed, and she does so in the unconventional, thinking-outside-the-square way that has endeared her to followers of the series.
In his blog, author Harry Bingham stated that he wanted his first book to revolve as much around the mystery of Fiona’s character as it does around the crime she’s investigating, and he is staying true to this original idea by revealing little snippets of Fiona’s past in each book in the series. Fans will be pleased to hear that the great cast of supporting characters from Fiona’s work and private life are all back in The Deepest Grave, and that we get to know a few more interesting characters who may feature in future novels (I would love to see Katie back and see how she fares).
Siriol Jenkins’ narration was perfect for Fiona’s voice, and I was very happy that she continued narrating the series!
The Fiona Griffiths series is one of my all-time-favourite police procedural series, and will appeal to anyone who likes unusual murder cases with an oddball detective who doesn’t fit any mould. Bingham’s style to revolve his cases around different, interesting subject matters and incorporating details about the case that broaden the reader’s knowledge base on the subject whilst thrilling and entertaining, have made this series stand out from the fray. Whilst The Deepest Grave can be read as a stand-alone, I highly recommend starting the series at Book 1, which will give all the necessary background into Fiona’s life that makes her character so special. Highly recommended, and I am already looking forward to the next book in the series.
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I was very excited when The Deepest Grave was finally released, and found it to be a worthy continuation of a series I love. True to form, Bingham delivers a most unusual murder case for his protagonist, who has been impatiently counting the days (462) since her last murder case. Set in Wales like its predecessors, the book offers a fair amount of armchair travel to this mystical place, which makes the series even more irresistible for me (I will never forget the tense and terrifying caving scene in The Dead House, Book 5 in the series). Bingham always manages to incorporate a special interest theme into each story, which saw me learning a lot about archaeology, medieval artefacts and the King Arthur legend in this latest instalment. With a brutally beheaded corpse setting the scene, the peppermint-tea-drinking and weed-smoking Fiona has her work cut out for her to solve this murder case before more people are killed, and she does so in the unconventional, thinking-outside-the-square way that has endeared her to followers of the series.
In his blog, author Harry Bingham stated that he wanted his first book to revolve as much around the mystery of Fiona’s character as it does around the crime she’s investigating, and he is staying true to this original idea by revealing little snippets of Fiona’s past in each book in the series. Fans will be pleased to hear that the great cast of supporting characters from Fiona’s work and private life are all back in The Deepest Grave, and that we get to know a few more interesting characters who may feature in future novels (I would love to see Katie back and see how she fares).
Siriol Jenkins’ narration was perfect for Fiona’s voice, and I was very happy that she continued narrating the series!
The Fiona Griffiths series is one of my all-time-favourite police procedural series, and will appeal to anyone who likes unusual murder cases with an oddball detective who doesn’t fit any mould. Bingham’s style to revolve his cases around different, interesting subject matters and incorporating details about the case that broaden the reader’s knowledge base on the subject whilst thrilling and entertaining, have made this series stand out from the fray. Whilst The Deepest Grave can be read as a stand-alone, I highly recommend starting the series at Book 1, which will give all the necessary background into Fiona’s life that makes her character so special. Highly recommended, and I am already looking forward to the next book in the series.
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October 10, 2023
First off, I should say that this is the sixth book in the Fiona Griffiths series. If you’ve never read a Fiona Griffiths book, it’s not absolutely necessary to read all of the prior books to enjoy this one, but I would strongly urge you to read the first book in the series first.
That’s because getting Fiona’s back story is very helpful. After all, it’s not every day that your crime fiction detective has a history of having been institutionalized when suffering from Cotard’s syndrome. What’s Cotard’s? It’s a mental illness in which a person believes he or she is dead. Even if the person knows that’s not true, he or she may suffer from feeling bodily numbness or alienation. In Fiona’s case, though she has (mostly) recovered from her Cotard’s, it has left her with an acute sensation of being in a form of communication with the recently deceased subjects of her murder investigations.
In The Deepest Grave, after a murder drought of over a year, Fiona is thrilled to get a new case. And what a doozy. An archeologist/King Arthur enthusiast named Gaynor Charteris has been found beheaded. Checking into Dr. Charteris’s background leads to a group of King Arthur enthusiasts, the not-so-honest world of trading in real and fake antiquities and an unlikely friendship between Fiona and Katie, a doctoral student who’d been working on an archeological dig with Dr. Charteris.
Katie has recently been diagnosed with motor neuron disease (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease to Americans) and being so close to someone who is not dead but is dying seems to trigger some Cotard’s symptoms for Fiona. That’s a struggle to deal with, along with having to work with a new—she hopes temporary—boss, Bleddyn Jones, who is nowhere near as understanding of her idiosincracies as currently-on-sabbatical boss, Dennis Jackson. And on top of all that, as usual Fiona spends some of her little spare time continuing to try to dig up information on her own real identity and how her retired-criminal adoptive father really came to take her in when she was a baby.
The Deepest Grave was as delightful as the other Fiona Griffiths books. When I first started reading this series, I worried that Harry Bingham would make too much of Fiona’s Cotard’s and that it would be way too woo-woo supernatural. But that hasn’t turned out to be the case at all. Yes, the Cotard’s element is there and there can be some spooky moments with Fiona and dead people, but that’s just a minor note, nowhere near as predominant as the fact that Fiona is sarcastically funny and badass.
I was not expecting to have a historical element in a Fiona Griffiths novel, so all the King Arthur and antiquities stuff came as a pleasant surprise. And the same goes for Fiona’s friendship with Katie, a person who is every bit as prickly and as much of a smart mouth as Fiona. Add to all that Fiona and Katie’s ingenious plan to trap the bad guys, and the increased presence of Fiona’s father, and The Deepest Grave turns out to be one of the most entertaining books I’ve read this year.
That’s because getting Fiona’s back story is very helpful. After all, it’s not every day that your crime fiction detective has a history of having been institutionalized when suffering from Cotard’s syndrome. What’s Cotard’s? It’s a mental illness in which a person believes he or she is dead. Even if the person knows that’s not true, he or she may suffer from feeling bodily numbness or alienation. In Fiona’s case, though she has (mostly) recovered from her Cotard’s, it has left her with an acute sensation of being in a form of communication with the recently deceased subjects of her murder investigations.
In The Deepest Grave, after a murder drought of over a year, Fiona is thrilled to get a new case. And what a doozy. An archeologist/King Arthur enthusiast named Gaynor Charteris has been found beheaded. Checking into Dr. Charteris’s background leads to a group of King Arthur enthusiasts, the not-so-honest world of trading in real and fake antiquities and an unlikely friendship between Fiona and Katie, a doctoral student who’d been working on an archeological dig with Dr. Charteris.
Katie has recently been diagnosed with motor neuron disease (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease to Americans) and being so close to someone who is not dead but is dying seems to trigger some Cotard’s symptoms for Fiona. That’s a struggle to deal with, along with having to work with a new—she hopes temporary—boss, Bleddyn Jones, who is nowhere near as understanding of her idiosincracies as currently-on-sabbatical boss, Dennis Jackson. And on top of all that, as usual Fiona spends some of her little spare time continuing to try to dig up information on her own real identity and how her retired-criminal adoptive father really came to take her in when she was a baby.
The Deepest Grave was as delightful as the other Fiona Griffiths books. When I first started reading this series, I worried that Harry Bingham would make too much of Fiona’s Cotard’s and that it would be way too woo-woo supernatural. But that hasn’t turned out to be the case at all. Yes, the Cotard’s element is there and there can be some spooky moments with Fiona and dead people, but that’s just a minor note, nowhere near as predominant as the fact that Fiona is sarcastically funny and badass.
I was not expecting to have a historical element in a Fiona Griffiths novel, so all the King Arthur and antiquities stuff came as a pleasant surprise. And the same goes for Fiona’s friendship with Katie, a person who is every bit as prickly and as much of a smart mouth as Fiona. Add to all that Fiona and Katie’s ingenious plan to trap the bad guys, and the increased presence of Fiona’s father, and The Deepest Grave turns out to be one of the most entertaining books I’ve read this year.
June 25, 2017
I absolutely, totally love this series. This sixth book is at the same high standard as the others and the story is just as gripping. This time it is all about ancient artifacts and Arthurian legend. I don't want to give away too much of the story. Read it yourself. And if you haven't read any of them yet, go read the whole series. It's brilliant.
In the author's note, Harry Bingham explains a bit about why he writes the way he does and justifies his plots and storytelling. It is nice to get a little insight in how he sees his writing, but there is absolutely no need for justification. Yes, some of the stories are a little bit out there and I often call his books "police procedure with a twist", but it is that twist that makes him stand out. He says he is more Conan Doyle than Chandler. Still, Bingham's stories are not that far-fetched and are certainly always interesting and entertaining. For those of you who are into Scandinavian thrillers, they have an edge to them that is more Stieg Larsson (think Lisbeth Salander) than Henning Mankell. I enjoy both, but even though Fiona Griffiths would probably get on well with Lisbeth Salander, Bingham's stories are firmly set in Wales and have their own feel. Bingham is a great storyteller and I highly recommend the whole series, including this sixth book.
In the author's note, Harry Bingham explains a bit about why he writes the way he does and justifies his plots and storytelling. It is nice to get a little insight in how he sees his writing, but there is absolutely no need for justification. Yes, some of the stories are a little bit out there and I often call his books "police procedure with a twist", but it is that twist that makes him stand out. He says he is more Conan Doyle than Chandler. Still, Bingham's stories are not that far-fetched and are certainly always interesting and entertaining. For those of you who are into Scandinavian thrillers, they have an edge to them that is more Stieg Larsson (think Lisbeth Salander) than Henning Mankell. I enjoy both, but even though Fiona Griffiths would probably get on well with Lisbeth Salander, Bingham's stories are firmly set in Wales and have their own feel. Bingham is a great storyteller and I highly recommend the whole series, including this sixth book.
July 1, 2017
Follow Detective Sergeant Fiona Griffiths in her sixth novel working with the South Wales Police from Cardiff. This book can be read as a standalone, which was good as I have not read any of Harry's other books. The Deepest Grave is a murder investigation that is told as a first person narrative, so your focus is all about Fiona.
I am a fan of first person narrative novels and Harry gives you the personality of Fiona straight off the bat. I kept thinking of Nessa from Gavin and Stacey, although Fiona never asks "What's occurring?". I liked how Harry used the local character of Cardiff in his story even though no character had a curry and asked for "half and half".
I liked the setting of this novel as I have lived in Cardiff since 1991. It was a joy to read a novel set on my home turf and although Fiona travels around a lot, Harry makes sure all the locations are real. It annoys me when authors set their stories in fictitious locations. I feel that readers would also enjoy this novel even if they had never visited Cardiff. Harry uses Welsh place names and words in such a gentle way that English born readers, me included, will view the spellings as normal, for example Llanymawddwy and Caledfwlch.
The plot was good and every now and then, Harry would review the progress of the murder investigation to stop the reader forgetting any of the details and flow of the story. The Deepest Grave covers a lot of ground and issues. I found it a pleasant read to go through. The ending is fine and everything is wound up tidy. What I liked most was the author's note at the end when Harry explains the differences in crime thrillers.
I thought The Deepest Grave was an enjoyable, workaday, GOOD read. It gave me what I wanted, a story to roll along with, like reading friends' updates on Facebook. The Deepest Grave gets 4 stars from me but Harry does explain in his author's note how different styles of crime thriller appeal to readers. This reasoning I appreciate and although I vote The Deepest Grave 4 stars, for many readers this could be a 5 star read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Orion for giving me a copy of this book on the understanding that I provide an honest review.
I am a fan of first person narrative novels and Harry gives you the personality of Fiona straight off the bat. I kept thinking of Nessa from Gavin and Stacey, although Fiona never asks "What's occurring?". I liked how Harry used the local character of Cardiff in his story even though no character had a curry and asked for "half and half".
I liked the setting of this novel as I have lived in Cardiff since 1991. It was a joy to read a novel set on my home turf and although Fiona travels around a lot, Harry makes sure all the locations are real. It annoys me when authors set their stories in fictitious locations. I feel that readers would also enjoy this novel even if they had never visited Cardiff. Harry uses Welsh place names and words in such a gentle way that English born readers, me included, will view the spellings as normal, for example Llanymawddwy and Caledfwlch.
The plot was good and every now and then, Harry would review the progress of the murder investigation to stop the reader forgetting any of the details and flow of the story. The Deepest Grave covers a lot of ground and issues. I found it a pleasant read to go through. The ending is fine and everything is wound up tidy. What I liked most was the author's note at the end when Harry explains the differences in crime thrillers.
I thought The Deepest Grave was an enjoyable, workaday, GOOD read. It gave me what I wanted, a story to roll along with, like reading friends' updates on Facebook. The Deepest Grave gets 4 stars from me but Harry does explain in his author's note how different styles of crime thriller appeal to readers. This reasoning I appreciate and although I vote The Deepest Grave 4 stars, for many readers this could be a 5 star read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Orion for giving me a copy of this book on the understanding that I provide an honest review.
January 17, 2021
Fiona Griffiths is bored and playing silly office games. It's been 453 days since there was a corpse for her to ponder. Petty crime is not Fiona's cup of peppermint tea. The dry spell is broken in spectacular fashion. Dr. Gaynor Charteris, a respected archaeologist, is found beheaded in her home with spears embedded in her body. Not your usual crime scene. This murder will lead Fiona down a rabbit hole of stolen ancient antiquities, academic conspiracies and Arthurian legends. Along for the ride is Katie, a Ph.D. student, who was working on a dig with Charteris. Remarkably, Fiona seems to have found a friend.
This case is outside normal police procedural scenarios and right up my alley. King Arthur, Guinevere, Merlin, sold. As always, Harry Bingham fills the pages with dry black humour. Fiona's conversation with a cathedral librarian had me laughing, reminding me so much of painful interactions with a colleague of mine.
Fiona Griffiths is one of my favourite characters in crime fiction. I would highly recommend this series to readers who enjoy British police procedurals. Give Fiona some time to get to know her, this is a series to read in order. She has Cotard's Syndrome, a rare mental illness which influences her comfort level with the dead. Bingham has created a memorable protagonist who makes me laugh. What else can you ask for?
This case is outside normal police procedural scenarios and right up my alley. King Arthur, Guinevere, Merlin, sold. As always, Harry Bingham fills the pages with dry black humour. Fiona's conversation with a cathedral librarian had me laughing, reminding me so much of painful interactions with a colleague of mine.
Fiona Griffiths is one of my favourite characters in crime fiction. I would highly recommend this series to readers who enjoy British police procedurals. Give Fiona some time to get to know her, this is a series to read in order. She has Cotard's Syndrome, a rare mental illness which influences her comfort level with the dead. Bingham has created a memorable protagonist who makes me laugh. What else can you ask for?
June 29, 2018
In the notes by Bingham at the end of the book he says he reads reviews. I'm not sure if that makes me nervous or not. I mean, after all, he's a long way away and can't easily come and punch me in the nose if he doesn't like something I say. And considering the violence he writes about (in this book there is an archeologist who has her head chopped off for god's sake!) there may be reason to worry.
But I'm a brave soul, or maybe stupid, so I'm going to write a review anyway. Ha! Harry Bingham, just ha!
So here is my courageous review.
Fiona Griffiths is so bored she's reduced to killing TRexes at work. (Read the book to find out how that goes.) She hasn't had a homicide to investigate in many, many days. And then it happens; the headless corpse mentioned above and Fi is off and running. And digging. (Read the book to find out what that means.)
Of course Fiona doesn't play by the rules and her new boss has a problem with that. Previous bosses have learned to give her her head and get out of he way. It may not be pretty but she gets the job done.
So what does our intrepid and lovely favorite Welsh female detective get up to in this novel? Oh, just a little headless corpse, another member of academia who is stabbed and left in a canal, a third hung and skewered with a sword from the dark ages. Add a kidnapping of a new friend of Fi's who is not long for this world and to add great injury to insult, Kay, Fi's sister as well.
Needless to say Fi is not happy nor is Tom, her father. Even the vicar is upset. (Read the damn book and you'll see what I mean!)
Adventure, fear, heartache and so much more. And one might question whether Arthur's sword is a realistic plot prop for this story. (You should know by now, read the book to find out what that means.) With the way that Mr. Bingham puts words to paper, yes, yes it is realistic.
I wonder if that's enough to keep my nose from encountering Harry's fist. I certainly hope so.
If you are not familiar with this series but you like police procedurals, suspense, adventure, you're bound to enjoy this.
But I'm a brave soul, or maybe stupid, so I'm going to write a review anyway. Ha! Harry Bingham, just ha!
So here is my courageous review.
Fiona Griffiths is so bored she's reduced to killing TRexes at work. (Read the book to find out how that goes.) She hasn't had a homicide to investigate in many, many days. And then it happens; the headless corpse mentioned above and Fi is off and running. And digging. (Read the book to find out what that means.)
Of course Fiona doesn't play by the rules and her new boss has a problem with that. Previous bosses have learned to give her her head and get out of he way. It may not be pretty but she gets the job done.
So what does our intrepid and lovely favorite Welsh female detective get up to in this novel? Oh, just a little headless corpse, another member of academia who is stabbed and left in a canal, a third hung and skewered with a sword from the dark ages. Add a kidnapping of a new friend of Fi's who is not long for this world and to add great injury to insult, Kay, Fi's sister as well.
Needless to say Fi is not happy nor is Tom, her father. Even the vicar is upset. (Read the damn book and you'll see what I mean!)
Adventure, fear, heartache and so much more. And one might question whether Arthur's sword is a realistic plot prop for this story. (You should know by now, read the book to find out what that means.) With the way that Mr. Bingham puts words to paper, yes, yes it is realistic.
I wonder if that's enough to keep my nose from encountering Harry's fist. I certainly hope so.
If you are not familiar with this series but you like police procedurals, suspense, adventure, you're bound to enjoy this.
July 24, 2017
THE DEEPEST GRAVE is the 6th Fiona Griffiths book in the series. Without a doubt this is my favorite book of the year so far. I do find it a daunting task, writing reviews...who am I to critique an author? But since authors always have been a huge part of my life, I feel I need to pay them back by writing reviews, especially when I loved a book as much as this one.
I don't necessarily write what the book is about, other reviewers do that very well, so I like to express how a book makes me feel.
Fiona Griffiths is the most kickass heroine since Lisbeth Salander: smart, inventive, daring and also a little crazy. As well as utterly driven, which is difficult for her superiors in the police to put up with. But I find her so compelling; with every book I love her more and in this one, particularly at the end, I want to hug her till her ribs hurt.
The crime, with the legend of King Arthur at it's heart, was a welcome one for me. Who isn't fascinated with the Once and Future King? Whether or not he existed doesn't matter, though I like to think some version of him did. The details, obviously thoroughly researched, are fascinating, I couldn't get enough of the story and was sorry when it ended. There is a great afterword by the author, too.
This is a truly one-of-a-kind series, crime thrillers with a bit of an otherworldly feel that is one of the best I've ever read.
Needless to say, I'm dying for #7!
I don't necessarily write what the book is about, other reviewers do that very well, so I like to express how a book makes me feel.
Fiona Griffiths is the most kickass heroine since Lisbeth Salander: smart, inventive, daring and also a little crazy. As well as utterly driven, which is difficult for her superiors in the police to put up with. But I find her so compelling; with every book I love her more and in this one, particularly at the end, I want to hug her till her ribs hurt.
The crime, with the legend of King Arthur at it's heart, was a welcome one for me. Who isn't fascinated with the Once and Future King? Whether or not he existed doesn't matter, though I like to think some version of him did. The details, obviously thoroughly researched, are fascinating, I couldn't get enough of the story and was sorry when it ended. There is a great afterword by the author, too.
This is a truly one-of-a-kind series, crime thrillers with a bit of an otherworldly feel that is one of the best I've ever read.
Needless to say, I'm dying for #7!
December 13, 2023
12-13-2023: Good grief. I can't believe I didn't realize I had already read this book. None of it seemed familiar! (And so the Alzheimers begins.😂 Or as Fiona would put it: "The High Princess of Planet Nuts has gone completely barking.") I seem to have enjoyed The Deepest Grave quite a bit more in 2019 than I just did in 2023. I had difficulty getting into the story this time until around 40%, but when I got hooked; I was hooked! And, I still adored Fi's dad this time. If you think you might love a book about an abrasive, cannabis-smoking detective who likes communing with the dead, this book is for you! (And hopefully not for me a third time...)
06-12-2019: I love this series, and The Deepest Grave did NOT disappoint me! Gripping! Fascinating! A crime that was as bizarre as Fi, herself. She is such an intriguing and complex character. Impulsive and abrupt to the point of rudeness - and yet innately intuitive. Her abrasive qualities are always tempered by allowances for her mental vulnerability and her gutsy determination to seek out the truth. I like how Fiona has evolved to where she can have a beautiful friendship with Katie, . Fi is completely loyal to her friend, even though being around her makes her ill too. I loved Fi's dad, Tom, in this book, too! Loved him!
In case you couldn't tell ... I loved this book!
06-12-2019: I love this series, and The Deepest Grave did NOT disappoint me! Gripping! Fascinating! A crime that was as bizarre as Fi, herself. She is such an intriguing and complex character. Impulsive and abrupt to the point of rudeness - and yet innately intuitive. Her abrasive qualities are always tempered by allowances for her mental vulnerability and her gutsy determination to seek out the truth. I like how Fiona has evolved to where she can have a beautiful friendship with Katie, . Fi is completely loyal to her friend, even though being around her makes her ill too. I loved Fi's dad, Tom, in this book, too! Loved him!
In case you couldn't tell ... I loved this book!
June 26, 2017
Fiona Griffiths is my favourite wacky police detective. The mystery is a bit of a stretch but I loved the humorous writing and learned a bit about the King Arthur legend.
August 7, 2017
After reading all the Fiona Griffith books I have to say this one is my favorite. It involves the myth behind King Arthur, Fiona has a great new adversary for a supervisor (she hates his beard and power point inside-the-box way of thinking) and we finally get to see her dad in action (been waiting for that for a long time now). In essence, The Deepest Grave is so much fun.
You gotta love a book that starts out with an archeologist beheaded by her own sword. The story takes off from there and I was totally surprised by where it went—dark net, fraud, dead bodies piling up, and an amazing feat of deception pulled off by Fiona herself.
We are introduced to Katie, an intelligent archeology student who understands Fiona and her intuitive weirdness. The supervisor, who immediately butts heads with Fiona, is almost a sympathetic character because all the readers know she butts heads with any authority. Reverend Bowen, man of the cloth, sheep farmer, and totes a rifle like a pro, is a good man to have around when people step over the line. And Tom Griffith-loved seeing that man in action.
It’s a great mystery, lots of detail that requires you pay attention, maybe even know how to pronounce anything in Welsh, that resolves so cleanly and perfectly, even sweetly. And I love the acknowledgements at the end of the book—Bingham explains why and how Fiona is more like Sherlock Holmes than any of the modern post-Raymond Chandler novels out there and it makes total sense. Great addition to understanding Fiona.
Looking forward to the next Fiona Griffith’s mystery.
You gotta love a book that starts out with an archeologist beheaded by her own sword. The story takes off from there and I was totally surprised by where it went—dark net, fraud, dead bodies piling up, and an amazing feat of deception pulled off by Fiona herself.
We are introduced to Katie, an intelligent archeology student who understands Fiona and her intuitive weirdness. The supervisor, who immediately butts heads with Fiona, is almost a sympathetic character because all the readers know she butts heads with any authority. Reverend Bowen, man of the cloth, sheep farmer, and totes a rifle like a pro, is a good man to have around when people step over the line. And Tom Griffith-loved seeing that man in action.
It’s a great mystery, lots of detail that requires you pay attention, maybe even know how to pronounce anything in Welsh, that resolves so cleanly and perfectly, even sweetly. And I love the acknowledgements at the end of the book—Bingham explains why and how Fiona is more like Sherlock Holmes than any of the modern post-Raymond Chandler novels out there and it makes total sense. Great addition to understanding Fiona.
Looking forward to the next Fiona Griffith’s mystery.
January 5, 2023
This is book six in a set about Welsh detective Fiona Griffiths. It can be read as a standalone and is my first encounter with Harry Bingham and Fiona. The story begins with the ritual murder of an archaeologist. It took me a while to get into the story but once it gained momentum I thoroughly enjoyed it. Fiona is an unusual character and it took me a while to warm to her. Some great characters that were well written and developed. Interesting read and lots of interesting information on the history of ancient Britain and the myth of Arthur.
August 18, 2017
I love the offbeat Welsh detective Fiona Griffiths and her literate creator, who, if he quotes someone famous doesn't stop to say "Shakespeare" or "Wordsworth," but trusts readers to get it -- and doesn't care if they don't.
I admit I'm not getting as much of a kick out of the complicated technology in his plots as I used to, partly because so many authors use complicated technology. In this installment, the focus on Arthurian legend was more to my taste. And I was beyond thrilled about the arrest of one really bad guy who has long eluded justice.
Bingham is great at tying up loose ends as his stories conclude, but there are two mysterious things that keep getting carried over to the next novel, and that works fine, too.
The plot: an archaeologist is murdered in a very dramatic way involving ancient artifacts, and Fiona quickly figures out that the death has something to with the woman's Dark Ages dig near Cardiff and is not the work of a "local nutter," as her temporary boss maintains. She works with the woman's assistant, Katie, a PhD. student, to uncover the meaning of the arcane clues, wondering at times if the audience for these clues is actually intended to be the police. And what could that mean?
The characters go deeply into the intersection of the Great Britain's myth and history. We learn a lot from Bingham's research and, as ever, from his descriptions of Welsh weather and countryside. Fiona's gangster father gets to play a larger role in this adventure, and I enjoyed him.
I expected a certain unusual weapon to be used by a different character in a different way, but that part worked anyway.
Mystery lovers who appreciate not being treated as imbeciles are sure to like Harry Bingham. I don't think he has ever said, "She shivered -- and not because of the cold."
I admit I'm not getting as much of a kick out of the complicated technology in his plots as I used to, partly because so many authors use complicated technology. In this installment, the focus on Arthurian legend was more to my taste. And I was beyond thrilled about the arrest of one really bad guy who has long eluded justice.
Bingham is great at tying up loose ends as his stories conclude, but there are two mysterious things that keep getting carried over to the next novel, and that works fine, too.
The plot: an archaeologist is murdered in a very dramatic way involving ancient artifacts, and Fiona quickly figures out that the death has something to with the woman's Dark Ages dig near Cardiff and is not the work of a "local nutter," as her temporary boss maintains. She works with the woman's assistant, Katie, a PhD. student, to uncover the meaning of the arcane clues, wondering at times if the audience for these clues is actually intended to be the police. And what could that mean?
The characters go deeply into the intersection of the Great Britain's myth and history. We learn a lot from Bingham's research and, as ever, from his descriptions of Welsh weather and countryside. Fiona's gangster father gets to play a larger role in this adventure, and I enjoyed him.
I expected a certain unusual weapon to be used by a different character in a different way, but that part worked anyway.
Mystery lovers who appreciate not being treated as imbeciles are sure to like Harry Bingham. I don't think he has ever said, "She shivered -- and not because of the cold."
February 26, 2019
Another corker from Bingham with the fabulous Fiona Griffiths. I love the juxtaposition of her Police work and organised crime father - more relevant in this book than the previous ones.
This book has a wonderful historical angle - not always my cup of tea, but it works so well here. At the end of the book Bingham justifies the use of myth/legend/history, and I’d just like to say - nothing needs justifying to me when the stories and characters are as fabulous as this :)
I’d love Fiona to solve the mystery of her childhood - it’s on her mind as usual, but of course she’s busy fighting crime, relishing the dead, and this time making friends and maintaining friendships. Our Fiona is broadening her horizons beautifully! As ever, can’t wait for the next instalment.
My rating strategy:
5 stars = An all time favourite, I could tell you about this 10 years later.
4 stars = Loved this, really gripping/fun/exciting, will remember long term.
3 stars = Definitely enjoyed, might forget quickly though, but happy to read more by the author.
2 stars = Likely to have some good points, but it didn't properly captivate me.
1 star = Not my cup of tea at all, wouldn't return to the author.
This book has a wonderful historical angle - not always my cup of tea, but it works so well here. At the end of the book Bingham justifies the use of myth/legend/history, and I’d just like to say - nothing needs justifying to me when the stories and characters are as fabulous as this :)
I’d love Fiona to solve the mystery of her childhood - it’s on her mind as usual, but of course she’s busy fighting crime, relishing the dead, and this time making friends and maintaining friendships. Our Fiona is broadening her horizons beautifully! As ever, can’t wait for the next instalment.
My rating strategy:
5 stars = An all time favourite, I could tell you about this 10 years later.
4 stars = Loved this, really gripping/fun/exciting, will remember long term.
3 stars = Definitely enjoyed, might forget quickly though, but happy to read more by the author.
2 stars = Likely to have some good points, but it didn't properly captivate me.
1 star = Not my cup of tea at all, wouldn't return to the author.
August 1, 2017
My favorite Fiona Griffiths yet, with the first novel a close second. Hard to tell if I loved it so much for the Arthurian legend and references, which is always a soft spot for me, or for what a bad-a$$ she really shows herself to be in this installment. I wouldn't recommend starting with this book in the series, as the true power of this story is the rich history that Harry Bingham has created for each character, leading them to this point in their own evolution.
One SPOILER (though not a big one): it's about time that Fiona has a true friend. I would have liked to have learned more about her friend's back story, and hopefully that will come out in the next book.
Harry Bingham, I didn't think it could get this good!
One SPOILER (though not a big one): it's about time that Fiona has a true friend. I would have liked to have learned more about her friend's back story, and hopefully that will come out in the next book.
Harry Bingham, I didn't think it could get this good!
August 29, 2017
You'd be hard-pressed to come up with another crime solver as brilliantly unexpected as Fiona Griffiths. In many ways, her personality and abilities match the great Sherlock Holmes himself, so much so that her superior officers in the Cardiff police force soon learn that their major task is to learn when and how to "cry havoc and let slip" this dog of war-- because she is utterly ferocious on an investigation. She has the focus of a laser and simply does not know when to quit. One of the reasons why Harry Bingham's remarkable creation stays so dynamic is due to Cotard's Syndrome (a rare mental illness in which the affected person holds the delusional belief that they are already dead, they do not exist). Believe it or not, this gives her voice a freshness, an immediacy that's addictive.
In many of the mysteries I read, I may briefly mourn the dead person, but then it's time to move on and become part of the investigation. Not so in this series. Due to her unique outlook, they are never forgotten. Fiona brings the dead with her; they look over her shoulder to see if justice is being done. I find their presence very moving.
In The Deepest Grave, the author has written another wonderful, twisty mystery about the market for objets d'art. The book even features a showdown in which Fiona brings along Conscience and Violence as her two sidekicks. A fabulous main character and a wonderful story-- two things that I have come to expect from Harry Bingham. I am so glad that I found this series!
In many of the mysteries I read, I may briefly mourn the dead person, but then it's time to move on and become part of the investigation. Not so in this series. Due to her unique outlook, they are never forgotten. Fiona brings the dead with her; they look over her shoulder to see if justice is being done. I find their presence very moving.
In The Deepest Grave, the author has written another wonderful, twisty mystery about the market for objets d'art. The book even features a showdown in which Fiona brings along Conscience and Violence as her two sidekicks. A fabulous main character and a wonderful story-- two things that I have come to expect from Harry Bingham. I am so glad that I found this series!
January 4, 2018
Best Fiona book yet, and I have loved all of the previous ones.
Fiona is only truly happy when she is working a murder investigation, so it is with great relief when, after about a year and a half's dry spell (not a lot of complicated murder cases in Cardiff), she's assigned to work a murder inquiry under the supervision of her new boss, a by-the-rules powerpoint-driven control-freak one with a creepy beard. When she sees the body of the archaeologist, though, and its head, which has been removed from its shoulders by an antique repro sword and sits perched on a side table in the corner of the murder room, she feels like she has hit the jackpot (so to speak).
In the beginning, I was a little uncertain about the Arthurian aspects, but I should have trusted the author, and Fiona. Bingham wove it and the murder and the investigation together so deftly that, by midpoint, I couldn't remember what I had been concerned about. All his characters - including the countryside of Wales - were as usual compelling and fully dimensional. I especially liked the new characters of Katie and George and even DI Jones, he of the creepy beard. Like another reviewer, I was so happy to get a chance to see her dad in action, and to see DCI Dennis Jackson featured more. This book made me so happy, although I must admit that I cried in a couple of places, especially toward the end.
I also liked the Author's Notes at the end, which is highly unusual for me. I seldom ever read them much less enjoy them.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Fiona is only truly happy when she is working a murder investigation, so it is with great relief when, after about a year and a half's dry spell (not a lot of complicated murder cases in Cardiff), she's assigned to work a murder inquiry under the supervision of her new boss, a by-the-rules powerpoint-driven control-freak one with a creepy beard. When she sees the body of the archaeologist, though, and its head, which has been removed from its shoulders by an antique repro sword and sits perched on a side table in the corner of the murder room, she feels like she has hit the jackpot (so to speak).
In the beginning, I was a little uncertain about the Arthurian aspects, but I should have trusted the author, and Fiona. Bingham wove it and the murder and the investigation together so deftly that, by midpoint, I couldn't remember what I had been concerned about. All his characters - including the countryside of Wales - were as usual compelling and fully dimensional. I especially liked the new characters of Katie and George and even DI Jones, he of the creepy beard. Like another reviewer, I was so happy to get a chance to see her dad in action, and to see DCI Dennis Jackson featured more. This book made me so happy, although I must admit that I cried in a couple of places, especially toward the end.
I also liked the Author's Notes at the end, which is highly unusual for me. I seldom ever read them much less enjoy them.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
July 28, 2022
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
WHAT'S THE DEEPEST GRAVE ABOUT?
It's been 453 days since Fiona's investigated anything to do with a murder, and she's getting impatient for something interesting to do. She's aware that's a lousy way for a police detective to think, and really can't find it in herself to care. The crime scene she's sent to (along with a new DI who is going to make life difficult for her—and she'll repay in kind) will likely make up for that. I'll quickly note that this opening scene just might be the most entertaining opening in the series—and definitely one of the more entertaining I've read this year.
You don't get much more interesting in the 21st century than finding a woman decapitated with three spearpoints thrust into her heart. It makes a bit more sense when they learn their victim is an archeologist and professor, specializing in ancient Wales—but only a little bit.
Her new DI wants to focus on "highly disturbed" locals, but Fiona knows that's wasted time (she wastes it on command, but still). She finds some other crimes in nearby jurisdictions that involve the thefts of largely (monetarily) worthless historical artifacts and documents from about the same era as the dig that their victim was working. Fi doesn't understand the link or ultimate target of the criminals, but she's convinced there's a link. Interrupting an armed individual in the midst of a similar crime only hardens her view.
Her DI isn't yet convinced but gives her enough rope to hang herself.
And, well, what ensues is both unlike much of what you've read before yet exactly what you should expect from a Fiona Griffiths case.
ARTHUR
One thing that frequently bothers me when I read Crime Fiction is when a significant scientific breakthrough happens—like when Gideon Oliver is part of the discovery of something that alters the foundations of anthropology when Joe Pickett discovers a species hasn't gone extinct after all, or when Robert Langdon does whatever it is that he does to get to the "real history" of something. When Fiona started messing around with Welsh burial sites and people digging around the legend of Arthur, well, that made me nervous.
However, what Bingham does with this setup is ingenious—we get all the research and history surrounding the legend that the above authors (and others) give. But the book isn't about Arthur, it's about looking into him, the artifacts surrounding him—and most importantly, those who are doing the research*.
* This group includes a vicar who is a simply delightful character. A better or more thorough blogger (or just one with better time management skills) would spend some time describing him. I'm going to pretend that I don't so that you get all the joy of disCovery yourself. I'll just say that he starts off being a kick and gets better.
A DIFFERENT ENCOUNTER WITH DEATH
Readers of this series know that Fi has...an interesting perspective on death. This leads to a strange attachment that she develops to the murder victims in her cases. While investigating this particular murder, she befriends a woman with a degenerative and likely terminal illness.
Fiona reacts to this in a way that probably deserves a few paragraphs of analysis from better writers. It felt genuine and troubling—maybe frightening. Which led to some rewarding reflection on Fi's part. In turn, this resulted in some choices on her part that show that Fi's desire to be part of Planet Normal is within reach. It's some of the best character development we've seen from her for a while.
THE AUTHOR'S NOTE
There's a great, great note after the novel about things like choosing to center so much of this on Arthur as well as describing the kind of mystery novel that Bingham is writing, and what kind of character Fi is, compared to others in the genre over the last century or so.
For those looking to really dig into the character of Fiona Griffiths, this is something you need to read (even if it's the kind of thing you tend to skip).
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT THE DEEPEST GRAVE?
In addition to the main story, we get some resolution (some that is encouraging, some that isn't) about some old cases and people throughout this book. Some of Fi's relationships are changing and she's changing with them.
This is both a very clever crime and the way that Fiona counters it is equally clever. There's nothing about this part of the novel that I didn't like (although there was one red herring that I'd have preferred some more resolution). When Bingham's on his game, he's really on it—and this book shows it.
It's been a few years since this came out, which makes me worry that we're not going to see another entry in the series—despite what the material at the end of the book suggests. If so, this is a fitting way to see the series end and it will go out on a high note. If Bingham returns to these, I'll be more than ready—I'm not prepared to say goodbye to Fi just yet if I don't have to.
---
‘Suspicious circumstances, sir? I mean, what? An open window, something missing, that kind of thing?’
‘Well, I don’t know about the windows. That part hasn’t been reported to me. But the uniformed officer currently attending the scene did say that this woman appears to have been beheaded. I daresay there’ll need to be some further forensic work needed before we can be certain, but it appears that the weapon of choice was an antique broadsword. It’s obviously early days, but I’m going to stick my neck out and say that no, Gaynor Charteris probably did not slip on any stairs.'
WHAT'S THE DEEPEST GRAVE ABOUT?
It's been 453 days since Fiona's investigated anything to do with a murder, and she's getting impatient for something interesting to do. She's aware that's a lousy way for a police detective to think, and really can't find it in herself to care. The crime scene she's sent to (along with a new DI who is going to make life difficult for her—and she'll repay in kind) will likely make up for that. I'll quickly note that this opening scene just might be the most entertaining opening in the series—and definitely one of the more entertaining I've read this year.
You don't get much more interesting in the 21st century than finding a woman decapitated with three spearpoints thrust into her heart. It makes a bit more sense when they learn their victim is an archeologist and professor, specializing in ancient Wales—but only a little bit.
Her new DI wants to focus on "highly disturbed" locals, but Fiona knows that's wasted time (she wastes it on command, but still). She finds some other crimes in nearby jurisdictions that involve the thefts of largely (monetarily) worthless historical artifacts and documents from about the same era as the dig that their victim was working. Fi doesn't understand the link or ultimate target of the criminals, but she's convinced there's a link. Interrupting an armed individual in the midst of a similar crime only hardens her view.
Her DI isn't yet convinced but gives her enough rope to hang herself.
And, well, what ensues is both unlike much of what you've read before yet exactly what you should expect from a Fiona Griffiths case.
ARTHUR
One thing that frequently bothers me when I read Crime Fiction is when a significant scientific breakthrough happens—like when Gideon Oliver is part of the discovery of something that alters the foundations of anthropology when Joe Pickett discovers a species hasn't gone extinct after all, or when Robert Langdon does whatever it is that he does to get to the "real history" of something. When Fiona started messing around with Welsh burial sites and people digging around the legend of Arthur, well, that made me nervous.
However, what Bingham does with this setup is ingenious—we get all the research and history surrounding the legend that the above authors (and others) give. But the book isn't about Arthur, it's about looking into him, the artifacts surrounding him—and most importantly, those who are doing the research*.
* This group includes a vicar who is a simply delightful character. A better or more thorough blogger (or just one with better time management skills) would spend some time describing him. I'm going to pretend that I don't so that you get all the joy of disCovery yourself. I'll just say that he starts off being a kick and gets better.
A DIFFERENT ENCOUNTER WITH DEATH
Was there a moment? I always wonder that. Is there ever an exact moment of death? One microsecond you’re there, the next you’re definitely not? People, even doctors, always talk as though that partition exists, but personally I doubt it. I suspect that death creeps over us more gradually than that: an ever-dimming sunset, not a sudden rush into night.
Readers of this series know that Fi has...an interesting perspective on death. This leads to a strange attachment that she develops to the murder victims in her cases. While investigating this particular murder, she befriends a woman with a degenerative and likely terminal illness.
Fiona reacts to this in a way that probably deserves a few paragraphs of analysis from better writers. It felt genuine and troubling—maybe frightening. Which led to some rewarding reflection on Fi's part. In turn, this resulted in some choices on her part that show that Fi's desire to be part of Planet Normal is within reach. It's some of the best character development we've seen from her for a while.
THE AUTHOR'S NOTE
There's a great, great note after the novel about things like choosing to center so much of this on Arthur as well as describing the kind of mystery novel that Bingham is writing, and what kind of character Fi is, compared to others in the genre over the last century or so.
For those looking to really dig into the character of Fiona Griffiths, this is something you need to read (even if it's the kind of thing you tend to skip).
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT THE DEEPEST GRAVE?
In addition to the main story, we get some resolution (some that is encouraging, some that isn't) about some old cases and people throughout this book. Some of Fi's relationships are changing and she's changing with them.
This is both a very clever crime and the way that Fiona counters it is equally clever. There's nothing about this part of the novel that I didn't like (although there was one red herring that I'd have preferred some more resolution). When Bingham's on his game, he's really on it—and this book shows it.
It's been a few years since this came out, which makes me worry that we're not going to see another entry in the series—despite what the material at the end of the book suggests. If so, this is a fitting way to see the series end and it will go out on a high note. If Bingham returns to these, I'll be more than ready—I'm not prepared to say goodbye to Fi just yet if I don't have to.
December 29, 2020
Fiona is uncannily brilliant and it is a treat to read about her machinations. You should be reading this series.
An added bonus in this book was scenes set at the National Cardiff Museum which I visited in 2018. My sister asked me if I thought about Fiona while in Cardiff; surprisingly, I did not but the touristy places I visited were not the crime scenes she frequents.
An added bonus in this book was scenes set at the National Cardiff Museum which I visited in 2018. My sister asked me if I thought about Fiona while in Cardiff; surprisingly, I did not but the touristy places I visited were not the crime scenes she frequents.
February 10, 2018
I knew there were 6 books and right from the beginning and we were told a mystery would be solved. One that Fiona was looking into - who her real parents were, and why was she abandoned as a toddler. Bit disappointed that it wasn’t resolved after all. I’ve no doubt there will be a book 7 and perhaps more, but after reading all six, I would have liked to know.
The story was very good, very enjoyable, but not as good as previous books in my humble opinion.
However, I would definitely recommend these books and I’m sad and glad to have come to the end.
The story was very good, very enjoyable, but not as good as previous books in my humble opinion.
However, I would definitely recommend these books and I’m sad and glad to have come to the end.
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