Cyndi J. (cyndij) reviewed on 9/19/2018 + 1031 more book reviews

Tenth in the series with Dr. Ruth Galloway, a forensic anthropologist in Norfolk England. I read this series for the characters and their stories, not so much for the mysteries. In this episode, Ruth is invited to Italy by an old acquaintance. Professor Morelli has turned up some bones and wants to ask her advice. Galloway's on-again off-again affair with DCI Nelson is off again, now that his wife is pregnant, and she jumps at the chance to do some work and have a little holiday in the process. She takes along daughter Kate and her friend Shona plus Shona's son for company. But it seems the Professor only wants her for publicity purposes, so he can get his TV show back on the air. There are some small but disturbing events that hint at secrets from the past, but all seems well enough until an earthquake. Then the local priest is found murdered in the damaged church. I guessed immediately the secret of the grandfather, although I didn't guess the culprit.
Meanwhile, Nelson learns about the earthquake and immediately books a flight for Italy, leaving his pregnant wife to console herself with her lover - but there are dangers at home too.
It's all worthy of a soap opera but with better dialogue. As usual, I wish for more technical details about the bones that Galloway gets called to examine - Griffiths tends to use Galloway's profession to get her into the scene but then not do much with it. But I thought it was amusing when she realizes she's there because she's famous and not for her knowledge - or even her long ago fling with the professor. Nelson is not acting in a real rational manner, haring off to Italy just because Galloway doesn't answer her phone, so we spend half the novel tense with anticipation waiting for what Michelle will do.
Shona and Cathbad are along but don't do much. In fact I'm not sure why Griffiths put Cathbad in at all, his only role was to provide a friend in Italy so he and Nelson could have a place to stay. I guess the friend also provided an entry into the Italian police for Nelson.
There's a very sad event near the end, I have to say I didn't care for that, but it means there won't be any neat solution for the relationship tangle. Poor Nelson, he's going to need some serious therapy if Griffiths keeps piling stuff on him.
A new reader could start here, because there a little explanation given on the backstory of all the characters, but there's some huge character arcs going on that are best read from the beginning.

Back to all reviews by this member
Back to all reviews of this book
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details