The Woman in Blue
Elly Griffiths
I have only read one other Ruth Galloway novel from the eight Elly Griffiths has published. It is fair to say that each novel is stand alone and while each of the characters have ‘history’ from previous stories it is not really necessary to have knowledge of them, even if it does help where the complex relationships are concerned. An example is that between Ruth and DCI Nelson, who had a child together but now live apart. Ruth, however, still burns a candle for him and him her. It is a thread that runs throughout the book.
Dr Ruth Galloway, to give her full title, is a forensic archaeologist who embarks on an adventure that begins when her friend Cathbad sees a ‘vision’ of the Virgin Mary. He accepts it; he is a druid after all, and Walsingham has strong connections to the Virgin Mary and visions come with the calling. But when the body of a woman is found in a ditch it is clear that visions had nothing to do with it and an old-fashioned murder has taken place and Nelson is called in.
Ruth, an atheist, has avoided Walsingham during the 17 years she has lived in Norfolk but then a university friend who is now a priest asks to meet up on the village. It transpires she has been receiving poison pen letters targeting women priests. They all contain references local archaeology and include phrases to a woman ‘clad in blue, weeping for the world.’
Then a second woman is murdered as the village prepares for its annual re-enactment of the crucifixion and the race is on to find the killer before he strikes again.
The Woman in Blue is published on Amazon Kindle.
