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Ruth Galloway #7
The Ghost Fields
The chilling discovery of a downed World War II plane with a body inside leads Ruth and DCI Nelson to uncover a wealthy family’s secrets in the seventh Ruth Galloway mystery.
Norfolk is suffering from record summer heat when a construction crew unearths a macabre discovery—a downed World War II plane with the pilot still inside. Forensic archaeologist Ruth Galloway quickly realizes that the skeleton couldn’t possibly be the pilot, and DNA tests identify the man as Fred Blackstock, a local aristocrat who had been reported dead at sea. When the remaining members of the Blackstock family learn about the discovery, they seem strangely frightened by the news.
Events are further complicated by a TV company that wants to make a film about Norfolk’s deserted air force bases, the so-called Ghost Fields, which have been partially converted into a pig farm run by one of the younger Blackstocks. As production begins, Ruth notices a mysterious man lurking on the outskirts of Fred Blackstock’s memorial service. Then human bones are found on the family’s pig farm. Can the team outrace a looming flood to find a killer?
Laced with dry humor and anchored by perennial fan favorite Ruth, The Ghost Fields will delight fans new and old.
Norfolk is suffering from record summer heat when a construction crew unearths a macabre discovery—a downed World War II plane with the pilot still inside. Forensic archaeologist Ruth Galloway quickly realizes that the skeleton couldn’t possibly be the pilot, and DNA tests identify the man as Fred Blackstock, a local aristocrat who had been reported dead at sea. When the remaining members of the Blackstock family learn about the discovery, they seem strangely frightened by the news.
Events are further complicated by a TV company that wants to make a film about Norfolk’s deserted air force bases, the so-called Ghost Fields, which have been partially converted into a pig farm run by one of the younger Blackstocks. As production begins, Ruth notices a mysterious man lurking on the outskirts of Fred Blackstock’s memorial service. Then human bones are found on the family’s pig farm. Can the team outrace a looming flood to find a killer?
Laced with dry humor and anchored by perennial fan favorite Ruth, The Ghost Fields will delight fans new and old.
370 pages, Hardcover
First published March 15, 2015
2,455 people are currently reading
4,991 people want to read
About the author
Elly Griffiths
79 books8,866 followersElly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway novels take for their inspiration Elly's husband, who gave up a city job to train as an archaeologist, and her aunt who lives on the Norfolk coast and who filled her niece's head with the myths and legends of that area. Elly has two children and lives near Brighton. Though not her first novel, The Crossing Places is her first crime novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,684 reviews
June 8, 2022
Are the books in this series really getting better and better, or am I just becoming a Ruth Galloway fan? Whatever the reason I enjoyed this book enormously, and that is despite the fact that I am usually not keen on books written in the present tense.
It is always good to catch up with Ruth and Nelson and the rest of the crew. There are some shocks in this book about relationships, and a couple of characters I never really liked much anyway are in the doghouse now as far as I am concerned. If anything bad should happen to them in future books I will not be unhappy.
The mystery revolves around a body found in a crashed WW2 plane and a local family. Ruth does a small amount of forensic work, some university lecturing and quite a lot of filming for another TV documentary. There are a few gruesome moments and a lot of problems with the weather. All very exciting.
There is a low key, cliff hanger ending relationship wise. I have to get to the next book asap. Yes I know - I am definitely a fan.
It is always good to catch up with Ruth and Nelson and the rest of the crew. There are some shocks in this book about relationships, and a couple of characters I never really liked much anyway are in the doghouse now as far as I am concerned. If anything bad should happen to them in future books I will not be unhappy.
The mystery revolves around a body found in a crashed WW2 plane and a local family. Ruth does a small amount of forensic work, some university lecturing and quite a lot of filming for another TV documentary. There are a few gruesome moments and a lot of problems with the weather. All very exciting.
There is a low key, cliff hanger ending relationship wise. I have to get to the next book asap. Yes I know - I am definitely a fan.
May 5, 2023
EXCERPT: '...Is this it?'
Her question is superfluous. Three quarters of a wing and half a cockpit lie exposed at the bottom of the shallow pit.
'American,' says Nelson. 'I can tell by the markings.'
Ruth shoots him a look. She thinks that Nelson would have been just the sort of boy to collect models of second world war fighter planes.
'There was an American airbase near here,' says one of the other men. 'At Lockwell Heath.' Ruth recognizes him as Edward Spens, a local property developer whom she encountered on an earlier case. Spens is tall and good looking; his air of authority is only slightly dented by the fact that he is wearing tennis clothes. The third man, dressed in jeans and a filthy football top, stands slightly aside as if to imply that none of this is his fault. Ruth guesses that he must be the digger driver.
She looks at the exposed soil. It has a faintly blue tinge. She kneels down and scoops some earth in her hand, giving it a surreptitious sniff.
'What are you doing?' asks Phil. Clearly he's terrified that she's going to embarrass him.
'Fuel,' she says. 'Can't you smell it? And look at the blue marks on the soil. That's corroded aluminium. Did you have any idea that this plane was here?'
It is Edward Spens who answers. 'Some children found some engine parts in the field long ago, I believe. But no one had any idea that this was buried here, almost intact.'
Ruth looks at the cockpit. Although dented and corroded it looks remarkably undamaged, lying almost horizontally at the foot of the crater. She's no geometry expert but wouldn't you expect the prow of a crashed plane to be at a steeper angle?
'Where's the body?' she asked.
ABOUT 'THE GHOST FIELDS': Norfolk is suffering from record summer heat when a construction crew unearths a macabre discovery—a downed World War II plane with the pilot still inside. Forensic archaeologist Ruth Galloway quickly realizes that the skeleton couldn’t possibly be the pilot, and DNA tests identify the man as Fred Blackstock, a local aristocrat who had been reported dead at sea. When the remaining members of the Blackstock family learn about the discovery, they seem strangely frightened by the news.
Events are further complicated by a TV company that wants to make a film about Norfolk’s deserted air force bases, the so-called Ghost Fields, which have been partially converted into a pig farm run by one of the younger Blackstocks. As production begins, Ruth notices a mysterious man lurking on the outskirts of Fred Blackstock’s memorial service. Then human bones are found on the family’s pig farm. Can the team outrace a looming flood to find a killer?
MY THOUGHTS: I love this series and have become very invested in Ruth's life, with and without Nelson, father of her five year old daughter, Katie. One of the things I love most about Ruth is how realistically Elly Griffiths has chosen to portray her. While she is confident and assured in her professional life, she is anything but in her personal life. She fantasises about being married to Nelson but, in reality, she knows that she would kill him within days. To begin with, Nelson obssesses over Katie and how he thinks she should be brought up, leaving Ruth with the feeling that he thinks she's an inadequate mother. She is much older than the other mothers of Katie's contemporaries, and doesn't relate to their lifestyles. She's not a slim, trim, Lululemon mummy. She thinks wicked thoughts about people, things she would like to say, but doesn't dare. I can totally relate to her.
There is a very complicated family by the name of Blackstock featured in The Ghost Fields. Landed gentry living in a crumbling pile with very little money but a lot of local clout. They come with a good deal of infidelity, illegitimate children, greed, avarice and a certain amount of insanity. There is a family tree at the beginning of the book to help.
Of course the body in the plane is not going to be straightforward. It would seem that the body has been moved there recently from elsewhere. But why? And from where?
This is an excellent mystery set against the ongoing relationship between Ruth and Nelson, and their friendship with Druid Cathbad, and his wife Judy, a policewoman who works closely with Nelson, and who is heavily pregnant with her second child. The American, Frank, makes another appearance. And there are goings on in the background of Nelson's life of which he is totally unaware.
May 2023 I am currently reading this series in the correct order from beginning to end and enjoying it even more this time around. Accordingly I am upgrading my rating from ⭐⭐⭐⭐.4 to ⭐⭐⭐⭐.6
THE AUTHOR: Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway novels take for their inspiration Elly's husband, who gave up a city job to train as an archaeologist, and her aunt who lives on the Norfolk coast and who filled her niece's head with the myths and legends of that area. Elly has two children and lives near Brighton.
DISCLOSURE: I listened to the audiobook of The Ghost Fields written by Elly Griffiths, narrated by Clare Corbett and published by Quercus via Overdrive. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Her question is superfluous. Three quarters of a wing and half a cockpit lie exposed at the bottom of the shallow pit.
'American,' says Nelson. 'I can tell by the markings.'
Ruth shoots him a look. She thinks that Nelson would have been just the sort of boy to collect models of second world war fighter planes.
'There was an American airbase near here,' says one of the other men. 'At Lockwell Heath.' Ruth recognizes him as Edward Spens, a local property developer whom she encountered on an earlier case. Spens is tall and good looking; his air of authority is only slightly dented by the fact that he is wearing tennis clothes. The third man, dressed in jeans and a filthy football top, stands slightly aside as if to imply that none of this is his fault. Ruth guesses that he must be the digger driver.
She looks at the exposed soil. It has a faintly blue tinge. She kneels down and scoops some earth in her hand, giving it a surreptitious sniff.
'What are you doing?' asks Phil. Clearly he's terrified that she's going to embarrass him.
'Fuel,' she says. 'Can't you smell it? And look at the blue marks on the soil. That's corroded aluminium. Did you have any idea that this plane was here?'
It is Edward Spens who answers. 'Some children found some engine parts in the field long ago, I believe. But no one had any idea that this was buried here, almost intact.'
Ruth looks at the cockpit. Although dented and corroded it looks remarkably undamaged, lying almost horizontally at the foot of the crater. She's no geometry expert but wouldn't you expect the prow of a crashed plane to be at a steeper angle?
'Where's the body?' she asked.
ABOUT 'THE GHOST FIELDS': Norfolk is suffering from record summer heat when a construction crew unearths a macabre discovery—a downed World War II plane with the pilot still inside. Forensic archaeologist Ruth Galloway quickly realizes that the skeleton couldn’t possibly be the pilot, and DNA tests identify the man as Fred Blackstock, a local aristocrat who had been reported dead at sea. When the remaining members of the Blackstock family learn about the discovery, they seem strangely frightened by the news.
Events are further complicated by a TV company that wants to make a film about Norfolk’s deserted air force bases, the so-called Ghost Fields, which have been partially converted into a pig farm run by one of the younger Blackstocks. As production begins, Ruth notices a mysterious man lurking on the outskirts of Fred Blackstock’s memorial service. Then human bones are found on the family’s pig farm. Can the team outrace a looming flood to find a killer?
MY THOUGHTS: I love this series and have become very invested in Ruth's life, with and without Nelson, father of her five year old daughter, Katie. One of the things I love most about Ruth is how realistically Elly Griffiths has chosen to portray her. While she is confident and assured in her professional life, she is anything but in her personal life. She fantasises about being married to Nelson but, in reality, she knows that she would kill him within days. To begin with, Nelson obssesses over Katie and how he thinks she should be brought up, leaving Ruth with the feeling that he thinks she's an inadequate mother. She is much older than the other mothers of Katie's contemporaries, and doesn't relate to their lifestyles. She's not a slim, trim, Lululemon mummy. She thinks wicked thoughts about people, things she would like to say, but doesn't dare. I can totally relate to her.
There is a very complicated family by the name of Blackstock featured in The Ghost Fields. Landed gentry living in a crumbling pile with very little money but a lot of local clout. They come with a good deal of infidelity, illegitimate children, greed, avarice and a certain amount of insanity. There is a family tree at the beginning of the book to help.
Of course the body in the plane is not going to be straightforward. It would seem that the body has been moved there recently from elsewhere. But why? And from where?
This is an excellent mystery set against the ongoing relationship between Ruth and Nelson, and their friendship with Druid Cathbad, and his wife Judy, a policewoman who works closely with Nelson, and who is heavily pregnant with her second child. The American, Frank, makes another appearance. And there are goings on in the background of Nelson's life of which he is totally unaware.
May 2023 I am currently reading this series in the correct order from beginning to end and enjoying it even more this time around. Accordingly I am upgrading my rating from ⭐⭐⭐⭐.4 to ⭐⭐⭐⭐.6
THE AUTHOR: Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway novels take for their inspiration Elly's husband, who gave up a city job to train as an archaeologist, and her aunt who lives on the Norfolk coast and who filled her niece's head with the myths and legends of that area. Elly has two children and lives near Brighton.
DISCLOSURE: I listened to the audiobook of The Ghost Fields written by Elly Griffiths, narrated by Clare Corbett and published by Quercus via Overdrive. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
November 18, 2019
It’s the rare mystery author that can combine a good mystery with engaging characters, a quirky sense of humor and a bit of education thrown in. But Griffiths does it easily. Ruth is just a wonderful heroine and I adore her sense of humor. With a possible large discovery of a Bronze Age burial site, the university undertakes a DNA study. When Cathbad announces he is taking part because he's sure he has ancient druidical blood, Ruth tells him she’s not sure they have a section called Mad Druid.
Meanwhile, Nelson is investigating the murder of a WWII tail gunner, discovered in the cockpit of a buried plane. It’s soon determined that the dead man is Fred Blackstock, a local aristocrat who supposedly died in a plane crash at sea.
As always, the characters feel like friends. In fact, when one of them suffers an attack, I felt a real sense of concern. The personal stories take precedence over the murder inquiry in this book, which was fine by me.
I’m so glad I have discovered this series and can only hope Griffiths continues to write these books for a long, long time.
September 24, 2015
In the seventh series Detective Chief Inspector Harry Nelson and Ruth Galloway, a forensic archaeologist, are notified that a digger has unearthed an old plane from the Second World War II with a dead pilot inside. Galloway immediately determines the dead body did not die in the crash but had recently been placed inside and killed by a bullet through the head. The Ghost Fields is not only a crime novel, but an intricate story evolving around the main characters keeping the reader well entertained. This was an easy light read, with witty dialogue throughout, and is definitely a winner.
December 30, 2023
Despite the strange present tense (it never bothered me until this entry— but it’s true that the tense can be disarming), I enjoyed both the mystery, which included several generations of victims in one prominent landholding family, and the personal tensions in Ruth’s private life.
Lots of characters to keep track of and lots of victims— some just attacked and others killed. Almost an embarrassing amount of related victims.
But never fear, the Norfolk detectives, aided by my favorite archeology professor, solve all amidst a cataclysmic flooding event. Even Cathbad makes a few appearances but it’s Judy and Clough who are featured in secondary threads.
One thing I’ve noticed— water and the sea are a constant in this part of England and in the Galloway series. I think I’m going to add Norfolk to my British bucket list of sites to see.
On to the next mystery.
(Reviewed 9/7/19)
Lots of characters to keep track of and lots of victims— some just attacked and others killed. Almost an embarrassing amount of related victims.
But never fear, the Norfolk detectives, aided by my favorite archeology professor, solve all amidst a cataclysmic flooding event. Even Cathbad makes a few appearances but it’s Judy and Clough who are featured in secondary threads.
One thing I’ve noticed— water and the sea are a constant in this part of England and in the Galloway series. I think I’m going to add Norfolk to my British bucket list of sites to see.
On to the next mystery.
(Reviewed 9/7/19)
December 19, 2016
Two years on from Ruth's appearance on TV and with a book under her belt she is singlehandedly going some way towards "putting the University of North Norfolk on the map", less for its archaeological connections and more for the rising crime rates one suspects! In this seventh outing featuring the forensic archaeologist, Dr Ruth Galloway, once again Elly Griffiths has made great use of Norfolk's historical connections to deliver a hugely satisfying puzzle to unravel. Followers of this series will know that wherever DCI Harry Nelson and Dr Ruth Galloway are involved, archaeology can often dig up many more questions than it answers and that is once again the case here all topped off with a side serving of personal drama along the way.
The Ghost Fields is a brilliantly plotted affair which hinges on the the eminent Blackstock family and their ancestral connections to the Norfolk landscape. Beginning in July 2013, Norfolk building magnate Edward Spens is capitalising on his plot of newly acquired land and pressing ahead with a development of beachfront apartments, much to the chagrin of local environmental opposition. When the digger strikes metal and reveals the cockpit of a military plane housing a dead pilot, DCI Harry Nelson of the North Norfolk Constabulary is called to the site accompanied by Dr Ruth Galloway, who is seconded to the Serious Crimes Unit alongside her university career. When Ruth reveals that the pilots demise was clearly not accidental, as evinced by the bullet wound through the centre of his forehead, work at the site is halted for a full excavation. With inconsistencies surrounding the preservation of the remains there are suggestions that this find could have been deliberately planted to head off development plans. Dogmatic DCI Harry Nelson's interest in what he considers to be a cold case is limited until he receives the results which prove that the body is none other than part of the well-known family who sold the land to Spens, namely the Blackstock clan.
Frederick J. Blackstock left his Norfolk home in 1938 and travelled to America in search of a better life, only to enlist in the American Armed Forces and be billeted to an airbase a stone's throw from his former home. One of three brothers, the youngest of whom is still holding court at Blackstock Hall, Fred was believed to have been shot down at sea and was declared dead... That the family are a mysterious bunch adds to the suspicions and as Ruth uncovers signs of a recent activity in the pet cemetery behind the house, and human remains at the pig farm the family own, working out just what the once eminent Blackstock family have been hiding becomes tougher by the day.. Further upheaval is brought with the appearance of an American TV crew of which Frank Barker numbers, who see as ideal angle for a melodramatic wartime tale of a Norfolk boy returning home and reuniting the American contingent of the Blackstock clan who discover that England is not quite so "temperate" or cosy! It seems foolhardy to raise questions surrounding plot plausibility in this wonderful series, which by and can be overlooked and do not hinder another sublime instalment.
Griffiths' delivers a story which evokes memories of the atrocities of the Second World War and the abandoned airfields which are lain to waste in the aftermath, representing unsettling reminders of the lives that were lost. That the story centres on the family that still reside at Blackstock Hall adds a poignancy to the whole affair with the imposing homestead now reduced to a crumbling ruin providing a suitably atmospheric backdrop. The reality behind "the ghost fields" name is brought home in a fittingly moving tribute.
Unfortunately, the prophesying druid, Cathbad, takes a backseat in proceedings and his absence meant a lack of the spiritual charm that he brings to Elly Griffith's tales. The flipside though is the chance to see some of the ensemble cast taking more shape; notably Cloughie is furnished with real depth. This all shows that the series is becoming much more than just the Ruth and Nelson circus and bodes well for longevity. I am withholding judgement on DS Tim Heathfield, who stills feels somewhat like a square peg in a round hole and epitomises the definition of wooden. I will admit to developing itchy feet as regards the momentum in the Nelson and Ruth chemistry, craving some signs of life after so much treading water and I think Griffiths navigated this hurdle exceptionally well, setting the next instalment up as a potential make or break climax.
The witty first-person narrative is fuelled by effortless humour, often meaning readers feel they are sharing a joke with Griffiths and poking fun at her characters traits and her trademark dry observation is the key. Knowing these characters and their quirks brings a familiarity and the sense that Griffiths is allowing us to share a private joke, whether it be at Phil's failure to comprehend irony or Clough's brush with aristocracy! Griffiths is a born storyteller and a consummate professional when it comes to combining her well crafted characters with an engaging plot. Whilst each of her novels does work as a standalone, it does it a disservice to read without prior knowledge. This is a series best served by reading in order, as the continuing storylines are an essential element of the pleasure! Marvellous.
The Ghost Fields is a brilliantly plotted affair which hinges on the the eminent Blackstock family and their ancestral connections to the Norfolk landscape. Beginning in July 2013, Norfolk building magnate Edward Spens is capitalising on his plot of newly acquired land and pressing ahead with a development of beachfront apartments, much to the chagrin of local environmental opposition. When the digger strikes metal and reveals the cockpit of a military plane housing a dead pilot, DCI Harry Nelson of the North Norfolk Constabulary is called to the site accompanied by Dr Ruth Galloway, who is seconded to the Serious Crimes Unit alongside her university career. When Ruth reveals that the pilots demise was clearly not accidental, as evinced by the bullet wound through the centre of his forehead, work at the site is halted for a full excavation. With inconsistencies surrounding the preservation of the remains there are suggestions that this find could have been deliberately planted to head off development plans. Dogmatic DCI Harry Nelson's interest in what he considers to be a cold case is limited until he receives the results which prove that the body is none other than part of the well-known family who sold the land to Spens, namely the Blackstock clan.
Frederick J. Blackstock left his Norfolk home in 1938 and travelled to America in search of a better life, only to enlist in the American Armed Forces and be billeted to an airbase a stone's throw from his former home. One of three brothers, the youngest of whom is still holding court at Blackstock Hall, Fred was believed to have been shot down at sea and was declared dead... That the family are a mysterious bunch adds to the suspicions and as Ruth uncovers signs of a recent activity in the pet cemetery behind the house, and human remains at the pig farm the family own, working out just what the once eminent Blackstock family have been hiding becomes tougher by the day.. Further upheaval is brought with the appearance of an American TV crew of which Frank Barker numbers, who see as ideal angle for a melodramatic wartime tale of a Norfolk boy returning home and reuniting the American contingent of the Blackstock clan who discover that England is not quite so "temperate" or cosy! It seems foolhardy to raise questions surrounding plot plausibility in this wonderful series, which by and can be overlooked and do not hinder another sublime instalment.
Griffiths' delivers a story which evokes memories of the atrocities of the Second World War and the abandoned airfields which are lain to waste in the aftermath, representing unsettling reminders of the lives that were lost. That the story centres on the family that still reside at Blackstock Hall adds a poignancy to the whole affair with the imposing homestead now reduced to a crumbling ruin providing a suitably atmospheric backdrop. The reality behind "the ghost fields" name is brought home in a fittingly moving tribute.
Unfortunately, the prophesying druid, Cathbad, takes a backseat in proceedings and his absence meant a lack of the spiritual charm that he brings to Elly Griffith's tales. The flipside though is the chance to see some of the ensemble cast taking more shape; notably Cloughie is furnished with real depth. This all shows that the series is becoming much more than just the Ruth and Nelson circus and bodes well for longevity. I am withholding judgement on DS Tim Heathfield, who stills feels somewhat like a square peg in a round hole and epitomises the definition of wooden. I will admit to developing itchy feet as regards the momentum in the Nelson and Ruth chemistry, craving some signs of life after so much treading water and I think Griffiths navigated this hurdle exceptionally well, setting the next instalment up as a potential make or break climax.
The witty first-person narrative is fuelled by effortless humour, often meaning readers feel they are sharing a joke with Griffiths and poking fun at her characters traits and her trademark dry observation is the key. Knowing these characters and their quirks brings a familiarity and the sense that Griffiths is allowing us to share a private joke, whether it be at Phil's failure to comprehend irony or Clough's brush with aristocracy! Griffiths is a born storyteller and a consummate professional when it comes to combining her well crafted characters with an engaging plot. Whilst each of her novels does work as a standalone, it does it a disservice to read without prior knowledge. This is a series best served by reading in order, as the continuing storylines are an essential element of the pleasure! Marvellous.
June 26, 2019
A buried WWII plane is found with its pilot still in the cockpit. But Forensic archaeologist Ruth Galloway soon discover that the man in the plane has been placed there. Who was he and why was he placed inside the plane?
The Ghosts Fields are the seventh book in the Ruth Galloway series and I have read them all so I was quite happy when I was approved from this book over on NetGalley. Actually, I wasn't supposed to read this book now, but I let it get ahead in the queue since I really wanted to read a crime novel and also wanted to read a book with familiar characters.
This book picks up two years after the last book and Ruth daughter Kate now five years old and is starting school. Nelson, Kate's father Nelson is still married to Michelle, but he is as usual quite possessive of both Ruth and Kate. Which in my opinion he has no right to be since he chose to stay with Michelle. This case will bring them together again as they try to find out how the man came to be inside the plane and why after Ruth discover that the man has been dead for years but have been buried somewhere else. Also, when an heiress is attacked it seems that there is someone out there still out for blood...
It felt nice to return to Ruth Galloway world and I was pleased that she has stopped (well not completely) obsessing about her weight. Her "relationship" with Nelson isn't the easiest. Having a child with a married cop isn't easy especially since she hasn't really moved on even though she tries.
I like cold cases and this case with links to a prominent family turned out to be quite interesting and there is a part in this book what made me think of a special scene from the book /movie/TV-series Hannibal though less gruesome...
All and all a good read and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series when it comes out!
I received this copy from the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review!
The Ghosts Fields are the seventh book in the Ruth Galloway series and I have read them all so I was quite happy when I was approved from this book over on NetGalley. Actually, I wasn't supposed to read this book now, but I let it get ahead in the queue since I really wanted to read a crime novel and also wanted to read a book with familiar characters.
This book picks up two years after the last book and Ruth daughter Kate now five years old and is starting school. Nelson, Kate's father Nelson is still married to Michelle, but he is as usual quite possessive of both Ruth and Kate. Which in my opinion he has no right to be since he chose to stay with Michelle. This case will bring them together again as they try to find out how the man came to be inside the plane and why after Ruth discover that the man has been dead for years but have been buried somewhere else. Also, when an heiress is attacked it seems that there is someone out there still out for blood...
It felt nice to return to Ruth Galloway world and I was pleased that she has stopped (well not completely) obsessing about her weight. Her "relationship" with Nelson isn't the easiest. Having a child with a married cop isn't easy especially since she hasn't really moved on even though she tries.
I like cold cases and this case with links to a prominent family turned out to be quite interesting and there is a part in this book what made me think of a special scene from the book /movie/TV-series Hannibal though less gruesome...
All and all a good read and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series when it comes out!
I received this copy from the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review!
October 17, 2018
Loved it.
May 25, 2016
The Ruth Galloway series continues to be one of my favorites. It has what I want and require from a mystery series: an intelligent and sympathetic protagonist; a mixture of mystery and "other", in this case archeology, a personal favorite interest; interesting and developed characters and relationships as well as relationships that grow over time; and of course a mystery that I want answered. Being a long-time Anglophile, the English setting doesn't hurt either!
In this episode, during the clearing of a field in preparation for development, a World War Two era plane is discovered. That in itself is not hugely surprising given how many planes flew out of Britain during the war. The surprise is the body in the cockpit. For further details about the body, I refer you to the book, but I also suggest you begin with the first book in the series, The Crossing Places
In this episode, during the clearing of a field in preparation for development, a World War Two era plane is discovered. That in itself is not hugely surprising given how many planes flew out of Britain during the war. The surprise is the body in the cockpit. For further details about the body, I refer you to the book, but I also suggest you begin with the first book in the series, The Crossing Places
January 2, 2022
I do love to start the New Year with a murder mystery, especially one in a favourite series. Ruth Galloway never disappoints. Or is that Elly Griffiths?
Time has passed since the last book. Katie is five and starting preschool. Ruth has told her it's okay to call Nelson Daddy. Nelson’s wife, Michelle, has apparently decided that what's sauce for the gander is sauce for the goose and she's flirting hard with a younger guy. Judy is heavily pregnant with Cathbad's child. Cathbad is still in the Druid business, but he seems like a pretty good dad and uncle despite that, although he seems to slipping in the prophecy department. Clough is just Clough, eating pies, drinking beer, and playing football. Frank, the American TV presenter is back, wanting to return to Ruth's good graces. She likes him, but how much? Does she want a permanent relationship?
Ruth gets the call when a WWII plane is found with a pilot in the cockpit. But the pilot is known to have bailed before the crash and this body shows signs of being buried elsewhere and posed dramatically just to be discovered. Who is he, why does he have a bullet hole in his forehead, and who is running around creating tableaux with corpses? Can Ruth figure any of this out?
Between a convoluted personal life and a twisty case of maybe-murder, there's a lot of ground to cover. I find these books to be compulsively readable. My only regret is that I will now have to control myself for a while instead of immediately grabbing book eight. I truly do want this series to last!
Time has passed since the last book. Katie is five and starting preschool. Ruth has told her it's okay to call Nelson Daddy. Nelson’s wife, Michelle, has apparently decided that what's sauce for the gander is sauce for the goose and she's flirting hard with a younger guy. Judy is heavily pregnant with Cathbad's child. Cathbad is still in the Druid business, but he seems like a pretty good dad and uncle despite that, although he seems to slipping in the prophecy department. Clough is just Clough, eating pies, drinking beer, and playing football. Frank, the American TV presenter is back, wanting to return to Ruth's good graces. She likes him, but how much? Does she want a permanent relationship?
Ruth gets the call when a WWII plane is found with a pilot in the cockpit. But the pilot is known to have bailed before the crash and this body shows signs of being buried elsewhere and posed dramatically just to be discovered. Who is he, why does he have a bullet hole in his forehead, and who is running around creating tableaux with corpses? Can Ruth figure any of this out?
Between a convoluted personal life and a twisty case of maybe-murder, there's a lot of ground to cover. I find these books to be compulsively readable. My only regret is that I will now have to control myself for a while instead of immediately grabbing book eight. I truly do want this series to last!
December 26, 2020
I’m right back in the groove with this series now. I just love the characters as they continue to grow, change and develop.
On a building development site a digger uncovers what appears to be a WWII airplane in a field and in the plane - the pilot’s body. Only it’s not the pilot. Investigation finds that the pilot was thrown from the plane and died in a field. The body has actually been placed there more recently and he turns out to be Fred Blackstock from a local aristocratic family who was thought to have died at sea in another plane crash.
Unsurprisingly Ruth is drawn into the investigation especially when a TV crew expresses interest in doing a show on the wartime airfields of Norfolk. Ruth also suggests that the Blackstock family’s pet cemetery is worth a look and a dig there, although proving somewhat inconclusive, indicates that Fred Blackstock had originally been buried there. The family comes under increased scrutiny and, although DCI Harry Nelson has his suspicions, he can’t quite work out who the villain is. But then human remains are found at the pig farm belonging to Chaz Blackstock of the youngest generation (the farm, not the remains) and his sister Cassie is attacked. The plot thickens.
This book is less about the crimes and more about the characters. Frank Barker, the charismatic US TV historian is back for the show about the airfields and the relationship between Ruth and Frank is rekindled but what decision will Ruth make when the time comes? And Clough (DS Dave Clough) meets his match with Cassie Blackstock surprising everyone. I really enjoyed this story and I’m straight into the next one. 4.5 stars.
On a building development site a digger uncovers what appears to be a WWII airplane in a field and in the plane - the pilot’s body. Only it’s not the pilot. Investigation finds that the pilot was thrown from the plane and died in a field. The body has actually been placed there more recently and he turns out to be Fred Blackstock from a local aristocratic family who was thought to have died at sea in another plane crash.
Unsurprisingly Ruth is drawn into the investigation especially when a TV crew expresses interest in doing a show on the wartime airfields of Norfolk. Ruth also suggests that the Blackstock family’s pet cemetery is worth a look and a dig there, although proving somewhat inconclusive, indicates that Fred Blackstock had originally been buried there. The family comes under increased scrutiny and, although DCI Harry Nelson has his suspicions, he can’t quite work out who the villain is. But then human remains are found at the pig farm belonging to Chaz Blackstock of the youngest generation (the farm, not the remains) and his sister Cassie is attacked. The plot thickens.
This book is less about the crimes and more about the characters. Frank Barker, the charismatic US TV historian is back for the show about the airfields and the relationship between Ruth and Frank is rekindled but what decision will Ruth make when the time comes? And Clough (DS Dave Clough) meets his match with Cassie Blackstock surprising everyone. I really enjoyed this story and I’m straight into the next one. 4.5 stars.
April 12, 2016
Ghost Fields is the name given to the old World War II airfields in Norfolk. A crashed WWII plane is found during some construction, and there is a body in the cockpit. This book is also about an aristocratic family who have lived in Norfolk for generations and the secrets in their history. And there's also the continuing relationships between Ruth, Nelson, Michelle, Judy, Cathbad, and Clough.
There are surprises in this book! The author consistently shows her characters growing and evolving over the course of the series. I really like where she takes them in this book. The mystery is almost secondary but is solved and explained in the end. Weather plays an important part in the story. It is accurate as the author relates an extreme storm actually occurred in 2013.
I've enjoyed this series so far and eagerly await the eighth book next month.
There are surprises in this book! The author consistently shows her characters growing and evolving over the course of the series. I really like where she takes them in this book. The mystery is almost secondary but is solved and explained in the end. Weather plays an important part in the story. It is accurate as the author relates an extreme storm actually occurred in 2013.
I've enjoyed this series so far and eagerly await the eighth book next month.
May 29, 2016
Although I enjoyed being back in the company of this ensemble of characters, I don't think this was one of Griffiths's stronger plots. Once again, the ending is somewhat ridiculous in that it involves not only Ruth's but just about everyone in the book's running around confronting and threatening each other and plunging into freezing, filthy water. The pictures in my head were slap-stick comical, not dark and threatening. Griffiths should really resist the temptation to build up to these overwrought endings.
I also think that Ruth was a goddamned fool not to take Frank up on his offer to move to the UK. What in the world could any woman not like about Frank???
I also think that Ruth was a goddamned fool not to take Frank up on his offer to move to the UK. What in the world could any woman not like about Frank???
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2015
Middle-aged hanky-panky...
When developers start to dig up a field prior to building houses on it, the work is brought to a sudden halt by the discovery of a buried WW2 plane, complete with partially mummified corpse. Forensic archaeologist Ruth Galloway is called in, and spots something the police have unaccountably missed – a bullet hole in the corpse's forehead. Immediately knowing (psychically) that this wound was not caused during an airfight, she leaps to the conclusion that the man was the victim of murder.
When Elly Griffiths is on form, she's one of my favourite writers, so it saddens me to say that she is most definitely not on form in this book. The fundamental problem with amateur detectives in contemporary novels is that it becomes increasingly difficult for authors to find ways to link them to crimes. Griffiths has got round that in this one by really pretty much ignoring the crime and detection element, and writing a rather tired middle-aged love triangle instead – actually a love star, to be more accurate, since there are a total of five middle-aged people all either getting up to hanky-panky or wishing they could, usually with people other than their partners. Fascinating if anyone still cares whether Ruth and Nelson will ever get together, but I lost interest in that strand about four books ago. Ruth really has to stop hankering over someone else's husband and move on, and in the last book I thought she might actually be about to do so. Sadly not.
The plot is both thin and full of holes, and drags on for ever with Nelson doing absolutely nothing towards actually solving the mystery. It shouldn't really be too hard either. Given that the victim was murdered during the war, then the killer must be either dead or in his late '80s at the youngest – narrows the field of suspects somewhat, don't you think? So since we know from the start by a quick arithmetical calculation that we can exclude almost every character from suspicion, there's not much tension. Except perhaps the tension of wondering how long it will be before Nelson and Ruth suss out what's staring the rest of us in the face. But their inability to work it out means that there's time for another murder to be done, finally expanding the field of suspects and throwing open the possibility that Nelson could start interviews or look for clues or stake people out or... well, something! But no, he sends off for DNA tests and we all wait and wait for them to come back, while the characters fill in the time with some fairly passionless flirting.
Oh dear! I could mention that the reason the body is in the field is silly and contrived, or that to go along with the no detection there is also no archaeology to speak of. I could sigh over the fact that the book is written in the usual tedious present tense (third person) which really is not suited to a book that takes place over a period of months, and which feels even clumsier in this book than usual. Or I could mention that Ruth's low self-esteem and constant self-criticism become increasingly tedious as the series wears on – another thing I thought she was beginning to get over in the last outing. Oh! It appears I just did mention them!
On the upside, Griffiths, as always, creates a good sense of place in this bleak Norfolk landscape, and her characterisation of Ruth is excellent, even if I find the character progressively more irritating. And while the bulk of the book is a drag with nothing much happening except love/lust affairs, the thrillerish ending is well written and enjoyable. But I'm afraid overall I think this is one for die-hard fans only - it's getting hosts of 5-stars, so it must be working for some people. But I think this fan has stopped being die-hard – the standard in the series seems to oscillate wildly from brilliant to pretty poor, and in my opinion it's time to draw it to a close and for Griffiths to move on to something different. Her last book, The Zig Zag Girl, not a Ruth Galloway one, was far superior to this in every way. 2½ stars for me, so rounded up.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Quercus.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
When developers start to dig up a field prior to building houses on it, the work is brought to a sudden halt by the discovery of a buried WW2 plane, complete with partially mummified corpse. Forensic archaeologist Ruth Galloway is called in, and spots something the police have unaccountably missed – a bullet hole in the corpse's forehead. Immediately knowing (psychically) that this wound was not caused during an airfight, she leaps to the conclusion that the man was the victim of murder.
When Elly Griffiths is on form, she's one of my favourite writers, so it saddens me to say that she is most definitely not on form in this book. The fundamental problem with amateur detectives in contemporary novels is that it becomes increasingly difficult for authors to find ways to link them to crimes. Griffiths has got round that in this one by really pretty much ignoring the crime and detection element, and writing a rather tired middle-aged love triangle instead – actually a love star, to be more accurate, since there are a total of five middle-aged people all either getting up to hanky-panky or wishing they could, usually with people other than their partners. Fascinating if anyone still cares whether Ruth and Nelson will ever get together, but I lost interest in that strand about four books ago. Ruth really has to stop hankering over someone else's husband and move on, and in the last book I thought she might actually be about to do so. Sadly not.
The plot is both thin and full of holes, and drags on for ever with Nelson doing absolutely nothing towards actually solving the mystery. It shouldn't really be too hard either. Given that the victim was murdered during the war, then the killer must be either dead or in his late '80s at the youngest – narrows the field of suspects somewhat, don't you think? So since we know from the start by a quick arithmetical calculation that we can exclude almost every character from suspicion, there's not much tension. Except perhaps the tension of wondering how long it will be before Nelson and Ruth suss out what's staring the rest of us in the face. But their inability to work it out means that there's time for another murder to be done, finally expanding the field of suspects and throwing open the possibility that Nelson could start interviews or look for clues or stake people out or... well, something! But no, he sends off for DNA tests and we all wait and wait for them to come back, while the characters fill in the time with some fairly passionless flirting.
Oh dear! I could mention that the reason the body is in the field is silly and contrived, or that to go along with the no detection there is also no archaeology to speak of. I could sigh over the fact that the book is written in the usual tedious present tense (third person) which really is not suited to a book that takes place over a period of months, and which feels even clumsier in this book than usual. Or I could mention that Ruth's low self-esteem and constant self-criticism become increasingly tedious as the series wears on – another thing I thought she was beginning to get over in the last outing. Oh! It appears I just did mention them!
On the upside, Griffiths, as always, creates a good sense of place in this bleak Norfolk landscape, and her characterisation of Ruth is excellent, even if I find the character progressively more irritating. And while the bulk of the book is a drag with nothing much happening except love/lust affairs, the thrillerish ending is well written and enjoyable. But I'm afraid overall I think this is one for die-hard fans only - it's getting hosts of 5-stars, so it must be working for some people. But I think this fan has stopped being die-hard – the standard in the series seems to oscillate wildly from brilliant to pretty poor, and in my opinion it's time to draw it to a close and for Griffiths to move on to something different. Her last book, The Zig Zag Girl, not a Ruth Galloway one, was far superior to this in every way. 2½ stars for me, so rounded up.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Quercus.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
March 25, 2015
Reading a Dr Ruth Galloway, Elly Griffiths novel is like catching up with an old friend, or putting on those comfy slippers after an arduous day on your feet. It is bliss, comfortable and comforting and leaves a smile on your face.
This is the seventh in series that is becoming stronger with her wide cast of characters seemingly able to hold the stage while everything flows wondeerfully through Ruth.
The writer wonderfully reviews the previous interactions in her books without repeating vast pages from these previous novels but if you have read them, you just get it. For example her relationship with her boss - Phil.
"'Ruth!'
Ruth recognises the voice but she's in a good enough mood for it not to be dented by the appearance of her boss, Phil Trent. Even though he is wearing safari shorts.
'Hallo, Phil'
'Found anything else?'
Honestly, isn't one Bronze Age body enough for him? It's one more than he has ever discovered"
Priceless, and sums up their previous inter-relationships perfectly.
"Mrs Galloway is her mother, a formidable born-again Christian living in South London, within sight of the promised land".
Again tells us in a brief nugget how Ruth gets on with her Mum.
The Ghost Fields is a simple story of finding an American plane in an old quarry pit that is being prepared for re-development. Ruth is called to take a look as there is a body in the cockpit dating back to the 2nd World War. Our on the spot archaeologist is troubled by the preservation of the body as in chalky soil it should have decayed more. A bullet in the pilot's head lends more belief that evidence may have been manipulated and when DNA testing reveals the airman's true identity a deeper mystery is revealed.
Focus falls upon the Blackstock family, it is their land where the body is discovered and DNA testing reveals there is an hereditary connection with ancestory.
A cold case/murder investigation needs to be followed up by Nelson and his team of detectives, meanwhile the human interest story is pursued by an American production team who discount facts if they blur the commercial impact of good TV.
It is all beautifully written, a modern Kind Hearts and Coronets at times. But when attacks and deaths occur in the here and now this is a case that needs to be solved quickly especially as Nelson perceives Ruth to be in danger.
This is the seventh in series that is becoming stronger with her wide cast of characters seemingly able to hold the stage while everything flows wondeerfully through Ruth.
The writer wonderfully reviews the previous interactions in her books without repeating vast pages from these previous novels but if you have read them, you just get it. For example her relationship with her boss - Phil.
"'Ruth!'
Ruth recognises the voice but she's in a good enough mood for it not to be dented by the appearance of her boss, Phil Trent. Even though he is wearing safari shorts.
'Hallo, Phil'
'Found anything else?'
Honestly, isn't one Bronze Age body enough for him? It's one more than he has ever discovered"
Priceless, and sums up their previous inter-relationships perfectly.
"Mrs Galloway is her mother, a formidable born-again Christian living in South London, within sight of the promised land".
Again tells us in a brief nugget how Ruth gets on with her Mum.
The Ghost Fields is a simple story of finding an American plane in an old quarry pit that is being prepared for re-development. Ruth is called to take a look as there is a body in the cockpit dating back to the 2nd World War. Our on the spot archaeologist is troubled by the preservation of the body as in chalky soil it should have decayed more. A bullet in the pilot's head lends more belief that evidence may have been manipulated and when DNA testing reveals the airman's true identity a deeper mystery is revealed.
Focus falls upon the Blackstock family, it is their land where the body is discovered and DNA testing reveals there is an hereditary connection with ancestory.
A cold case/murder investigation needs to be followed up by Nelson and his team of detectives, meanwhile the human interest story is pursued by an American production team who discount facts if they blur the commercial impact of good TV.
It is all beautifully written, a modern Kind Hearts and Coronets at times. But when attacks and deaths occur in the here and now this is a case that needs to be solved quickly especially as Nelson perceives Ruth to be in danger.
December 6, 2019
I enjoyed and was grateful for the family tree at the start of the book. I like that this series has this sort of extra information and sometimes maps. I also appreciate the author’s note at the end which explains which places, events, etc. are real and which are fictional.
I liked the mystery. It did get really complicated at the end but I didn’t get annoyed the way I have in another couple of books regarding certain people unnecessarily running into danger.
It’s the main recurring and sometimes new/recurring characters that keep me coming back. Even with love triangles and other soap opera like components I want to keep reading. Even with one or two characters seeming to behave out of character in this book I still really liked it. I like that one character was uncharacteristically wrong about two things.
I appreciated the two year gap between book six and this seventh book. I like Kate even more, now that she’s older and more talkative, and I liked hearing some of what has happened with Ruth without having to read everything in real time. I like that Kate’s parentage is now out in the open. I like Kate and think the kids in these books make them better.
4-1/2 stars
I’m eager to keep reading. I love this series. I am reading these with Hilary and we’re planning to read book 8 later this month.
I liked the mystery. It did get really complicated at the end but I didn’t get annoyed the way I have in another couple of books regarding certain people unnecessarily running into danger.
It’s the main recurring and sometimes new/recurring characters that keep me coming back. Even with love triangles and other soap opera like components I want to keep reading. Even with one or two characters seeming to behave out of character in this book I still really liked it. I like that one character was uncharacteristically wrong about two things.
I appreciated the two year gap between book six and this seventh book. I like Kate even more, now that she’s older and more talkative, and I liked hearing some of what has happened with Ruth without having to read everything in real time. I like that Kate’s parentage is now out in the open. I like Kate and think the kids in these books make them better.
4-1/2 stars
I’m eager to keep reading. I love this series. I am reading these with Hilary and we’re planning to read book 8 later this month.
March 5, 2016
2013 was one of my best reading years ever. It was the year that I discovered Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway series and got to read the first five Ruth Galloway novels one right after the other. It was a blissful reading spring that year. But, once you're up to speed in a series, there is the yearly wait for the next book, and in a favorite series such as this one by Elly Griffiths, it's a hard wait. Once again, it was worth the wait. The Ghost Fields brought to life those characters I missed so much. Archeologist/professor/ Dr.Ruth Galloway, DCI Harry Nelson, Cathbad the Druid, Ruth's daughter Kate, DS Judy Johnson, DS David Clough/Cloughie, American academic/TV presenter Frank Barker, and even Phil Trent, Ruth's weasel boss. These characters have been developed with skilled care by the author, and it is little wonder that they have become like family to readers of the series.
When the remains of a man, later to be identified as those of a member of a prominent family named Blackstock, are unearthed inside an American WWII plane in Norfolk , Dr. Ruth Galloway is called in by DCI Harry Nelson to help discover the chain of events leading to the dead man's death and subsequent placement in the plane, as her first pronouncement is that the victim had been shot in the head and couldn't possibly be the pilot. Thus begins an investigation into the death of Fred Blackstock, originally thought to have died as a part of an American flight crew in the waters off of Norfolk. The connection to what are called the "ghost fields" in the area is a step back into the days of WWII when there were American airfields established in Norfolk.
DCI Nelson has his work cut out for him in dealing with the Blackstock family members who remain at Blackstock Manor, as buried secrets of missing family members and order of inheritance must be sorted. To further frustrate Nelson is the arrival of a television company that is doing a film on the American ghost fields with the focus being on Fred Blackstock who early in his life relocated to America and ironically ended up dying so near his British ancestral home as a part of the American forces. As well as the professional frustration, there is the added personal distraction with the American academic Frank Barker, who will narrate the film. Frank and Ruth have a past together, but before that Nelson and Ruth had a past, and there are a lot of emotions running amok. When another present day murder occurs, the urgency to solve the mysteries of the past is full on.
Griffiths gives us the intensity that always accompanies her stories, as dark secrets come undone and twists of fates surface. There is never a lull in the flow of action and suspense. The author masterfully lets the reader know that danger is right around the corner, but we are wonderfully surprised with it when it strikes. The interplay of the characters and the growth of relationships and understandings throughout the series is a thing of beauty to watch. Ruth Galloway is strong and competent, but she is human, and human have their frailties, too. She is one of my absolute favorite fictional characters. This book in the series is rather a crossroads for Ruth's personal life, and readers will be grateful for Ruth confronting some of her feelings for others.
Fans of Elly Griffiths and this series are going to be most thrilled with this well-plotted mystery that answers so many questions on so many fronts.
When the remains of a man, later to be identified as those of a member of a prominent family named Blackstock, are unearthed inside an American WWII plane in Norfolk , Dr. Ruth Galloway is called in by DCI Harry Nelson to help discover the chain of events leading to the dead man's death and subsequent placement in the plane, as her first pronouncement is that the victim had been shot in the head and couldn't possibly be the pilot. Thus begins an investigation into the death of Fred Blackstock, originally thought to have died as a part of an American flight crew in the waters off of Norfolk. The connection to what are called the "ghost fields" in the area is a step back into the days of WWII when there were American airfields established in Norfolk.
DCI Nelson has his work cut out for him in dealing with the Blackstock family members who remain at Blackstock Manor, as buried secrets of missing family members and order of inheritance must be sorted. To further frustrate Nelson is the arrival of a television company that is doing a film on the American ghost fields with the focus being on Fred Blackstock who early in his life relocated to America and ironically ended up dying so near his British ancestral home as a part of the American forces. As well as the professional frustration, there is the added personal distraction with the American academic Frank Barker, who will narrate the film. Frank and Ruth have a past together, but before that Nelson and Ruth had a past, and there are a lot of emotions running amok. When another present day murder occurs, the urgency to solve the mysteries of the past is full on.
Griffiths gives us the intensity that always accompanies her stories, as dark secrets come undone and twists of fates surface. There is never a lull in the flow of action and suspense. The author masterfully lets the reader know that danger is right around the corner, but we are wonderfully surprised with it when it strikes. The interplay of the characters and the growth of relationships and understandings throughout the series is a thing of beauty to watch. Ruth Galloway is strong and competent, but she is human, and human have their frailties, too. She is one of my absolute favorite fictional characters. This book in the series is rather a crossroads for Ruth's personal life, and readers will be grateful for Ruth confronting some of her feelings for others.
Fans of Elly Griffiths and this series are going to be most thrilled with this well-plotted mystery that answers so many questions on so many fronts.
June 7, 2022
Bodies, bodies everywhere. Bronze Age bodies, 1940’s bodies, pet bodies, and present day bodies. Of course, Ruth is in the thick of it. Not only is she an archaeologist but she is growing into a fine mother, and is coming to some personal realizations as well. I simply love her. This author has really done a great job with her characterization, and I am crazy about all of them-Ruth, of course, but Nelson, Michelle, Cathbad, Clough, Judy, Tim, and even the cat, Flint. A fine, merry cast of characters with a great mystery to boot. This is a wonderful series. It just gets better and better.
November 30, 2020
Elly Griffiths consistently adds layers of interest to her Galloway series by including fascinating historical, archaeological and scientific elements.
"Ghost fields" are the remnants of U.S. air fields that were rapidly built in England after the U.S. entered WWII. "A field was built every three days." According to this book, remnants of these fields still remain in England in some places. There were also "shadow fields" that were built as decoys to divert the Germans away from the actual air fields.
The Bronze Age is also referred to in this book as Ruth has unearthed a skeleton in a new dig. Ruth's boss, Phil, decides that the skeleton Ruth has discovered would generate a bit of publicity for their university if included in an "English Heritage DNA project." The project "has been able to discover if there are any links between prehistoric bodies and the local population." Similar ongoing DNA projects in Britain are described in this interesting article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic...
Kate is now turning five; two years have elapsed since the events of the prior book. Ruth's and Nelson's situation is about the same, Judy and Cathbad are together and Cloughie has a new love interest. As for Tim, I won't add any spoilers. Following these characters as they progress in their personal lives and relationships is like watching a good TV series or soap opera. We want to know what happens next in their lives.
With a multifaceted mystery stretching back to WWII involving three generations of a local family, this book delivers in spades. Again there is a hair-raising climax which involves Ruth, a homicidal madman, and some very bad weather along the Norfolk coast. Engrossing, yes! These books get better and better.
"Ghost fields" are the remnants of U.S. air fields that were rapidly built in England after the U.S. entered WWII. "A field was built every three days." According to this book, remnants of these fields still remain in England in some places. There were also "shadow fields" that were built as decoys to divert the Germans away from the actual air fields.
The Bronze Age is also referred to in this book as Ruth has unearthed a skeleton in a new dig. Ruth's boss, Phil, decides that the skeleton Ruth has discovered would generate a bit of publicity for their university if included in an "English Heritage DNA project." The project "has been able to discover if there are any links between prehistoric bodies and the local population." Similar ongoing DNA projects in Britain are described in this interesting article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic...
Kate is now turning five; two years have elapsed since the events of the prior book. Ruth's and Nelson's situation is about the same, Judy and Cathbad are together and Cloughie has a new love interest. As for Tim, I won't add any spoilers. Following these characters as they progress in their personal lives and relationships is like watching a good TV series or soap opera. We want to know what happens next in their lives.
With a multifaceted mystery stretching back to WWII involving three generations of a local family, this book delivers in spades. Again there is a hair-raising climax which involves Ruth, a homicidal madman, and some very bad weather along the Norfolk coast. Engrossing, yes! These books get better and better.
March 27, 2015
This is my favorite mystery series currently and I love the main character, Ruth Galloway. Galloway is a fortiesh archeologist professor at an university in northern England. She is called in to help on cases when bones are found and the police have no idea how old they are. She is fiercely independent and lives out in the middle of nowhere raising her six year old daughter.
In this installment, a bulldozer makes a grizzly discovery of a WWII airplane with the pilot still instill inside. Galloway is called in and discovers the body is the son of the family living in a nearby manor and he hadn't been piloting that particular plane. How did he get there and why? If that's not enough action, Galloway's friend is having a baby and Cathbad, the friendly druid, is not infallible. Several of his predictions are just wrong. Galloway has a little romance with an American film narrator but Inspector Nelson still has her heart. In all, a lovely story.
Then why only 4 stars? Griffiths makes two swipes at Americans that not only set my teeth on edge but weren't even necessary to the story. They just come out of nowhere and left a bad taste in my sensitive mouth. One was about the machine that uncovered the airplane. Someone said Americans call it a digger and it really upset them. Personally I Have never heard the expression and I'm not sure why the statement was made. The second one was when there was a talk at a party and Dr. Galloway said that many Americans believed WWII was 1941-45. The fact is that Americans know it was a longer war but, for us, our involvement was really that period. Again I don't know why that snide comment was essential. Sometimes it is annoying for all Americans to be depicted as stupid.
I still think this is one of the brightest and delightful mystery series being published.
In this installment, a bulldozer makes a grizzly discovery of a WWII airplane with the pilot still instill inside. Galloway is called in and discovers the body is the son of the family living in a nearby manor and he hadn't been piloting that particular plane. How did he get there and why? If that's not enough action, Galloway's friend is having a baby and Cathbad, the friendly druid, is not infallible. Several of his predictions are just wrong. Galloway has a little romance with an American film narrator but Inspector Nelson still has her heart. In all, a lovely story.
Then why only 4 stars? Griffiths makes two swipes at Americans that not only set my teeth on edge but weren't even necessary to the story. They just come out of nowhere and left a bad taste in my sensitive mouth. One was about the machine that uncovered the airplane. Someone said Americans call it a digger and it really upset them. Personally I Have never heard the expression and I'm not sure why the statement was made. The second one was when there was a talk at a party and Dr. Galloway said that many Americans believed WWII was 1941-45. The fact is that Americans know it was a longer war but, for us, our involvement was really that period. Again I don't know why that snide comment was essential. Sometimes it is annoying for all Americans to be depicted as stupid.
I still think this is one of the brightest and delightful mystery series being published.
December 8, 2019
Read as a buddy read with Lisa Vegan, we read about 50 pages a day at the same time and then discussed.
I really enjoyed this mystery, as with all the books in this series, the mystery revolves around a police investigation and Ruth Galloway who is called upon for archeological knowledge. This mystery features a family called the Blackstocks and some mysterious deaths and attacks on family members. Ruth has a visit from her American friend Frank and Kate celebrates her 5th birthday.
We catch up on the characters after a couple of years break and discover that now everyone knows who Kate's father is and that Judy is expecting another baby.
Although some elements did seem to be there to make it a sensational read and several storylines did seem to go for a soap opera style plot I did enjoy being back with these characters and I did enjoy the mystery. This was a fun book to read as a buddy read as it was interesting to speculate about the motive and who might be responsible.
As with previous books in the series, you do have to suspend belief sometimes as characters walk into danger, again and again.
It's interesting for me to read as I live nearby and know these places well, they are well described and are interesting settings for a book.
I'm looking forward to reading the next book, glad there are several more to enjoy. These are good books to read for escapism, although bad things happen, nothing is graphically described or too disturbing and I think these could be described as a cosy mystery series but they are interesting too, with good characters and some interesting archeological elements and a beautiful setting.
I really enjoyed this mystery, as with all the books in this series, the mystery revolves around a police investigation and Ruth Galloway who is called upon for archeological knowledge. This mystery features a family called the Blackstocks and some mysterious deaths and attacks on family members. Ruth has a visit from her American friend Frank and Kate celebrates her 5th birthday.
We catch up on the characters after a couple of years break and discover that now everyone knows who Kate's father is and that Judy is expecting another baby.
Although some elements did seem to be there to make it a sensational read and several storylines did seem to go for a soap opera style plot I did enjoy being back with these characters and I did enjoy the mystery. This was a fun book to read as a buddy read as it was interesting to speculate about the motive and who might be responsible.
As with previous books in the series, you do have to suspend belief sometimes as characters walk into danger, again and again.
It's interesting for me to read as I live nearby and know these places well, they are well described and are interesting settings for a book.
I'm looking forward to reading the next book, glad there are several more to enjoy. These are good books to read for escapism, although bad things happen, nothing is graphically described or too disturbing and I think these could be described as a cosy mystery series but they are interesting too, with good characters and some interesting archeological elements and a beautiful setting.
August 9, 2015
I've read all of Griffith's Ruth Galloway mysteries over the last few weeks. Things I like about the series: the setting: the idea of real life women's concerns (like arranging child care) as part of a mystery series; the blend of archeology, mythology, and history; and the ongoing stories of the cast of characters. However, the last item is also what I've grown to dislike about the series: while it's fun to see some of the supporting players evolving, there's a sense that Ruth, the central character, is mired in her salt marsh landscape, as frozen in time as the remains she studies.
December 14, 2019
3.5 Stars
It seems as though I have struggled with this series from the beginning. I love, love, love the archaeology mysteries in the books. Love them. I admire Ruth's intelligence and humor but I wish she would either accept her weight or do something about it. (Besides whine.) Shona didn't make an appearance in this book but it drives me crazy that she is supposed to be Ruth's best friend. She seems shallow, vain, and self-centered ... the antithesis of what a best friend is.
So. A solid five stars for the mystery in The Ghost Fields. It was fascinating! And two stars for all of the things that annoy me. Stick a fork in me. I'm done.
It seems as though I have struggled with this series from the beginning. I love, love, love the archaeology mysteries in the books. Love them. I admire Ruth's intelligence and humor but I wish she would either accept her weight or do something about it. (Besides whine.) Shona didn't make an appearance in this book but it drives me crazy that she is supposed to be Ruth's best friend. She seems shallow, vain, and self-centered ... the antithesis of what a best friend is.
So. A solid five stars for the mystery in The Ghost Fields. It was fascinating! And two stars for all of the things that annoy me. Stick a fork in me. I'm done.
January 19, 2021
I usually found the cases very interesting and that's why I keept reading this series as I just don't gel with Ruth or the other characters, I should stop trying to like them to be honest. But what usually saves the book, the case, was just not that Interesting in this and I didn't care for the procedure it this one
October 4, 2022
#7 of the Ruth Galloway novels – a series of crime novels featuring a Norfolk based forensic archaeologist and of particular interest to me given my interests in both Norfolk and archaeology (see my review of “The Janus Stone”).
When interviewed recently about her latest book in the series (#14) and asked for her personal favourite the author said “I have a soft spot for The Ghost Fields. I’ve always wanted to write a book where an ill-assorted group of people are marooned in a country house. It also includes my favourite line: ‘Ruth! Get behind the duck!’”
The setting is the West Norfolk Coast – near to Hunstanton (location of one of the familial legendary exploits of my childhood) and a local gentry family the Blackstocks (for the first time in the series a family tree features as the story ranges across generations of the family) who mainly congregate around their familial Hall.
And the story opens with the discovery of the dead body of one of the family members – who emigrated to the US just before WWII and then returned to Norfolk as a US fighter pilot only to be lost in the war when his Bomber crashes into the sea. The family seem remarkably unsurprised when his body is found in a different WWII plane (one which was known to have crashed but with its pilot ejected) which is excavated as part of a controversial set of digging on some land sold to the Property developer from Janus Stone. Further complications include what seems to be recent excavations in the family’s pet cemetery and some human bones uncovered at a pig farm run by one of the youngest generation of the family at the disused US air base (one of the Ghost Fields of the title – as an aside one such base is only a mile or so from where I grew up and put me off Go Karting for life).
Meanwhile Ruth (and Neldon’s) daughter has started school, Ruth’s television career continues to develop (and her tentative relationship with a US presenter) and she is carrying out a nearby dig for Bronze age bones.
In the last book I remarked on enjoying Tim as a new character and Clough emerging as less of carboard cut out. I perhaps should have remembered the series infatuation with infidelity (and heeded some warning signs in the previous novel) and with the storylines dragging in danger to recurring cast members – as both develop disappointingly this time around. However it was good to see the Cathbad make two errors (one of prophecy and one of judgement).
But ultimately I also felt that this was the first of the novels which seemed to me to resemble perhaps a little too much an episode Scooby Doo for its plot and denoument – and was overall something of a disappointment.
When interviewed recently about her latest book in the series (#14) and asked for her personal favourite the author said “I have a soft spot for The Ghost Fields. I’ve always wanted to write a book where an ill-assorted group of people are marooned in a country house. It also includes my favourite line: ‘Ruth! Get behind the duck!’”
The setting is the West Norfolk Coast – near to Hunstanton (location of one of the familial legendary exploits of my childhood) and a local gentry family the Blackstocks (for the first time in the series a family tree features as the story ranges across generations of the family) who mainly congregate around their familial Hall.
And the story opens with the discovery of the dead body of one of the family members – who emigrated to the US just before WWII and then returned to Norfolk as a US fighter pilot only to be lost in the war when his Bomber crashes into the sea. The family seem remarkably unsurprised when his body is found in a different WWII plane (one which was known to have crashed but with its pilot ejected) which is excavated as part of a controversial set of digging on some land sold to the Property developer from Janus Stone. Further complications include what seems to be recent excavations in the family’s pet cemetery and some human bones uncovered at a pig farm run by one of the youngest generation of the family at the disused US air base (one of the Ghost Fields of the title – as an aside one such base is only a mile or so from where I grew up and put me off Go Karting for life).
Meanwhile Ruth (and Neldon’s) daughter has started school, Ruth’s television career continues to develop (and her tentative relationship with a US presenter) and she is carrying out a nearby dig for Bronze age bones.
In the last book I remarked on enjoying Tim as a new character and Clough emerging as less of carboard cut out. I perhaps should have remembered the series infatuation with infidelity (and heeded some warning signs in the previous novel) and with the storylines dragging in danger to recurring cast members – as both develop disappointingly this time around. However it was good to see the Cathbad make two errors (one of prophecy and one of judgement).
But ultimately I also felt that this was the first of the novels which seemed to me to resemble perhaps a little too much an episode Scooby Doo for its plot and denoument – and was overall something of a disappointment.
May 24, 2023
4.5 stars
June 3, 2020
The seventh book around Ruth Galloway and I find it going downhill.
The mystery wasn't challenging, I knew right from the start what was going on, and there was just one little twist I couldn't have guessed. As in the previous book, there were way to many characters and the writing was lacking structure. An example: in the evening Ruth is being followed by a big black car to her home in a cul-de-sac. Of course she is scared and she rushes to get herself and her daughter inside and then barricades the house and stands watch to see if the car drives off again - end of chapter. The next chapter starts with another setting and when we go back to Ruth, she is watching fireworks from the cottage with Kate, all in peace and no mention of the car passing by again. What? And then we only go back to the car and its driver at the end of the book. This is just one example of the many startling and unnecessary jumps in the storytelling that put me off.
The plot around Ruths' life is starting to get preposterous. Again we are reminded that she is an atheist, while in fact she is not. She is a single mom juggling work and childcare, yet she has the time to get involved in passionate relationships, one after another. All this time she is still in love with Nelson, who has evolved from a nice charming man in the first book to just a brainless brute.
Also, it seems that all characters are incapable of fidelity, and if the author continues like this, we will need a organogram, as to know who fathered which children.
I'm taking a break and will read something else. Maybe one day, if I'm in the mood for some syrupy romance with a thin cover of mystery, I'll come back.
The mystery wasn't challenging, I knew right from the start what was going on, and there was just one little twist I couldn't have guessed. As in the previous book, there were way to many characters and the writing was lacking structure. An example: in the evening Ruth is being followed by a big black car to her home in a cul-de-sac. Of course she is scared and she rushes to get herself and her daughter inside and then barricades the house and stands watch to see if the car drives off again - end of chapter. The next chapter starts with another setting and when we go back to Ruth, she is watching fireworks from the cottage with Kate, all in peace and no mention of the car passing by again. What? And then we only go back to the car and its driver at the end of the book. This is just one example of the many startling and unnecessary jumps in the storytelling that put me off.
The plot around Ruths' life is starting to get preposterous. Again we are reminded that she is an atheist, while in fact she is not. She is a single mom juggling work and childcare, yet she has the time to get involved in passionate relationships, one after another. All this time she is still in love with Nelson, who has evolved from a nice charming man in the first book to just a brainless brute.
Also, it seems that all characters are incapable of fidelity, and if the author continues like this, we will need a organogram, as to know who fathered which children.
I'm taking a break and will read something else. Maybe one day, if I'm in the mood for some syrupy romance with a thin cover of mystery, I'll come back.
April 8, 2024
Alweer een spannend en goed opgebouwd verhaal met Ruth Galloway in de hoofdrol.
January 4, 2021
I really enjoyed this one! Loved all the links made in the Blackstock family and the giant duck was genius!
May 21, 2015
Elly Griffiths' Dr. Ruth Galloway series is one of my must-buys, and it just keeps getting better with each new book. In The Ghost Fields, the weather plays an integral part in the action, first with unrelenting heat and then with endless rain and flooding. Griffiths makes Norfolk come to life, and her choice of title is particularly evocative. This book talks not only of the abandoned air fields of World War II, but other "ghost fields" from centuries past. Ruth is dealing with a Bronze Age burial when the book begins, and there have also been battles fought in the exact same area during the English Civil War.
No, Norfolk is not short of ghost fields, and further questions arise once we're introduced to the Blackstock family. They live in a drafty, ramshackle manor house barely holding its own against the water around it, and the family is just as strange as the ancestral home. A batty grandfather. A pleasant but distant father. A welcoming mother who's filled with unrealistic schemes to turn the house into a moneymaker. A handsome, charming pig farmer of a son who values his privacy. An incredibly beautiful daughter who's determined to make her name as an actress. Each Blackstock is odd in his or her own way, and trying to gather them together is like trying to herd cats. When DCI Harry Nelson throws up his hands and growls that there are too many Blackstocks, you just have to smile ruefully and agree.
But family is an important theme in The Ghost Fields, and it's not just the Blackstocks. Ruth's daughter Kate is five and now in school. Being a good mother is even more important to Ruth than the work she is so passionate about. Nelson has issues with both his family at home and his co-workers. He even realizes that he considers Clough and Judy to be family. Griffiths knows how to keep her readers completely involved with her characters. The mystery and the characters rely on each other.
There's history. There's danger. There's plenty of family feeling, and contrary to a visiting American's belief that "there's never bad weather in England," there's plenty of that as well. By book's end, we may even have sorted out all those Blackstocks.
The only bad thing about finishing The Ghost Fields is knowing that I have to wait for the next book. This series is superb, and this book is the best so far. If you've never met Ruth Galloway, treat yourself. Start at the beginning with The Crossing Places and read each one. You'll be as hooked as I am.
No, Norfolk is not short of ghost fields, and further questions arise once we're introduced to the Blackstock family. They live in a drafty, ramshackle manor house barely holding its own against the water around it, and the family is just as strange as the ancestral home. A batty grandfather. A pleasant but distant father. A welcoming mother who's filled with unrealistic schemes to turn the house into a moneymaker. A handsome, charming pig farmer of a son who values his privacy. An incredibly beautiful daughter who's determined to make her name as an actress. Each Blackstock is odd in his or her own way, and trying to gather them together is like trying to herd cats. When DCI Harry Nelson throws up his hands and growls that there are too many Blackstocks, you just have to smile ruefully and agree.
But family is an important theme in The Ghost Fields, and it's not just the Blackstocks. Ruth's daughter Kate is five and now in school. Being a good mother is even more important to Ruth than the work she is so passionate about. Nelson has issues with both his family at home and his co-workers. He even realizes that he considers Clough and Judy to be family. Griffiths knows how to keep her readers completely involved with her characters. The mystery and the characters rely on each other.
There's history. There's danger. There's plenty of family feeling, and contrary to a visiting American's belief that "there's never bad weather in England," there's plenty of that as well. By book's end, we may even have sorted out all those Blackstocks.
The only bad thing about finishing The Ghost Fields is knowing that I have to wait for the next book. This series is superb, and this book is the best so far. If you've never met Ruth Galloway, treat yourself. Start at the beginning with The Crossing Places and read each one. You'll be as hooked as I am.
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