The Chalk Pit (Ruth Galloway, #9) in Around the World in 80 Books

Nov 30, 2019 Laura rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: library-request, brit-mysteries, on-dj2, 2019, on-ipad2, lib-has-audio, library, crime-thriller-suspense, on-new-laptop

A little less drama and a lot more plot. Which is working fine for me. Definitely preferred this book to the last two, which seemed to be going toward a soap opera feeling, with so many love triangles, mostly involving married people, which is a sticking point for me and not something I gravitate toward.

Griffiths has created a bunch of characters I really like though, in a setting I love, and so will I continue with the series? That is a definite. The mysteries, for me, are always secondary to A little less drama and a lot more plot. Which is working fine for me. Definitely preferred this book to the last two, which seemed to be going toward a soap opera feeling, with so many love triangles, mostly involving married people, which is a sticking point for me and not something I gravitate toward.

Griffiths has created a bunch of characters I really like though, in a setting I love, and so will I continue with the series? That is a definite. The mysteries, for me, are always secondary to the character development, because I like or love all of the recurring characters. A new character is introduced to the police department in this volume. At first, I didn't really like the person, but as the story continued, I found myself curious to learn more. I should've trusted this author to create even an unlikable character worth following and changing my opinion toward.

There is a theme of homelessness throughout this novel, as two murder victims are "rough sleepers". Readers get little glimpses of several decent human beings who are now without permanent homes and, as an empath, I moved into their stories and experienced them. When it's cold outside, especially, this kind of thing hits home, and I was glad she explored it here. I was also glad she allowed us to get to know some of these characters, rather than them just being generic caricatures. Being homeless doesn't make someone any the less human, and the author's exploration highlighted that, for me.

So, as usual, this series makes me want to rush out and dive into the next one. My intention, however, is never to wait for the next one to be published. So I may have to wait a bit!

The audio performance was, once again, great. She changes voices and intonations convincingly, and the narration never gets in the way of the story. Five stars to the audiobook version.

Definitely a series to consider if you like mysteries with a little humor and light on the violence. The British countryside setting is, for me, a huge plus, and may be for you as well. Recommended. ...more

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Mar 19, 2017 Windy rated it really liked it

Quite a thrilling episode in this series. No historical story linked in as there usually is but quite a bit of intrigue in the personal lives of the main characters

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Jul 11, 2017 Andy Plonka rated it really liked it · review of another edition

The characters are the best part of this series. They have strange problems and life styles like Cathbad(an Irish born Druid) but they make their own sort of weird sense and the history of this part of Great Britain (Norfolk) is interesting.

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