The Stone Circle: The Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries 11 (Ruth Galloway, #11)

by Elly Griffiths

'My favourite series' Val McDermid

DCI Nelson has been receiving threatening letters telling him to 'go to the stone circle and rescue the innocent who is buried there'. He is shaken, not only because children are very much on his mind, with Michelle's baby due to be born, but because although the letters are anonymous, they are somehow familiar. They read like the letters that first drew him into the case of The Crossing Places, and to Ruth. But the author of those letters is dead. Or are they?

Meanwhile Ruth is working on a dig in the Saltmarsh - another henge, known by the archaeologists as the stone circle - trying not to think about the baby. Then bones are found on the site, and identified as those of Margaret Lacey, a twelve-year-old girl who disappeared thirty years ago.

As the Margaret Lacey case progresses, more and more aspects of it begin to hark back to that first case of The Crossing Places, and to Scarlett Henderson, the girl Nelson couldn't save. The past is reaching out for Ruth and Nelson, and its grip is deadly.

• ISBN10: 1786487292
• ISBN13: 9781786487292
• Publish Date: 7 February 2019
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 5 March 2021
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Quercus Publishing
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 384
• Language: English

Reviews

[Mystereity Reviews]

This is one of my favorite series, not only are the plots suspenseful and satisfying, but I'm totally caught up in the Ruth/Nelson drama. I was really happy I was able to get this on Overdrive right when it came out!

There were several plots within this one book, an investigation into the bones of a teenage girl who went missing over 30 years ago, to the current day mystery of a kidnapped infant to the on-going saga of the Ruth/Nelson/Michelle love triangle. I really enjoyed how this book brought the series full circle with the addition of Erik's son, Leif and wrapped up/resolved a lot of elements from each.

I always expect a lot from this series and this book didn't let me down and left me with one of those book hangovers where you can't start a new book because the book you just finished is still haunting you. A great book in a great series!

[annieb123]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

The Stone Circle is the 11th book in the Ruth Galloway series by Elly Griffiths. Released 7th May 2019 by Houghton Mifflin, it's 368 pages and available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook formats.

This is the 11th book in the series and at this point, the characters have taken on a life of their own. Their internal motivations and aspirations are so well defined and 'real' that they feel like living people. I've noticed that for a lot of other series (especially 'serious' series) that the authors have either really hit their strides or developed an acute antipathy for their characters and it generally shows. I detect no whiff of ennui or antagonism in Ms. Griffiths writing toward her characters (even the odious Phil, whom I'd often like to box 'round the ears personally).

It's a really quality series of books. I like that Ruth is intellectual, not wispy and simpering. She is a realist and competent and broad minded, but also vulnerable where her emotions are concerned. I adore slightly goofy but pure Cathbad and his family as well as the interrelations and families which have developed over the course of the books.

This is not really a standalone book. I adore the series and would recommend reading them more or less in order, especially since this book refers very much to the previous books and earlier occurrences. It is possible to understand the plot with this book as an entry point, but be warned there are spoilers aplenty if you read them out of order.

My only hope is that when they cast the characters for TV/film that they don't find some wispy waifish 20 year old to play Ruth. (I'm so in awe of ITV for casting Brenda Belthyn for Ann Cleeves' Vera, that's what I'm talking about)!

Wonderful book, wonderfully well written and engaging series.

Five stars

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.