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"In the next Ruth Galloway mystery, a vision of the Virgin Mary foreshadows a string of cold-blooded murders, revealing a dark current of religious fanaticism in an old medieval town. Known as England's Nazareth, the medieval town of Little Walsingham is famous for religious apparitions. So when Ruth Galloway's druid friend Cathbad sees a woman in a white dress and a dark blue cloak standing alone in the local cemetery one night, he takes her as a vision of the Virgin Mary. But then a woman show more wrapped in blue cloth is found dead the next day, and Ruth's old friend Hilary, an Anglican priest, receives a series of hateful, threatening letters. Could these crimes be connected? When one of Hilary's fellow female priests is murdered just before Little Walsingham's annual Good Friday Passion Play, Ruth, Cathbad, and DCI Harry Nelson must team up to find the killer before he strikes again"-- show lessTags
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I think this is the eighth novel featuring Dr Ruth Galloway, lecturer in archaeology at the University of North Norfolk, and I am impressed at how successfully Elly Griffiths has kept the series moving forward. Her characters are very strong, with a highly plausible frisson of antagonism between them.
Ruth herself is an excellent protagonist, balancing the demands of her professional life with those of a single parent, living in a fairly remote cottage by the sea with Kate, her five-year-old daughter, and Flint, her trusty cat. In addition to her academic role, she has helped the local police on several occasions when old bones have been unearthed, helping to date them, and provide any other forensic evidence that might emerge. Despite show more this, her relations with the local police are awkward, not least because the head of DID, Detective Chief Inspector Harry Nelson is also Kate’s father. While this has never been publicly acknowledged, a growing number of people, including most of Nelson’s colleagues are aware of it.
Also on the fringes of the police circle is Michael Malone, sometime laboratory assistant at the university, but more prominently known as Cathbad, leading light of the local Druid community (more extensive than might be imagined). For reasons too complex to expand upon here, Cathbad has become close to both Ruth and DCI Nelson, despite the strong scepticism initially felt by both of them. In a further complication, Cathbad is also living with Judy Johnson, one of Nelson’s Detective Sergeants.
In this story, Ruth is contacted by Hilary, a friend from her own student days. Although they had both been studying archaeology, Hilary is no longer involved in this field. She has, instead, become an Anglican priest, and when a theological conference brings her to North Norfolk, she re-establishes contact with Ruth. It turns out that Hilary has been receiving some hate mail, including a couple of recent letters that have featured threats if she should choose to attend the conference. Having read of Kate’s previous involvement with some highly publicised cases, Hilary asks for her advice, and the letters are passed on to DCI Nelson and his team.
They take on additional significance when, as the conference approaches, a young woman is found murdered outside the venue in which the conference will be held. As if this were not enough, one the conference begins, one of the delegates who bears an unusually close resemblance to the murdered woman, is also murdered by similar means.
Elly Griffiths’s success with this series lies in her ability to blend her plausible, well drawn characters with soundly constructed plots. The clues are all there for the observant reader … well even for the less observant ones such as myself – I didn’t spot the murdered this time. The tensions between the principal characters, and the challenges that they face in their respective domestic situations, are all very delicately and cleverly moved forward. show less
Ruth herself is an excellent protagonist, balancing the demands of her professional life with those of a single parent, living in a fairly remote cottage by the sea with Kate, her five-year-old daughter, and Flint, her trusty cat. In addition to her academic role, she has helped the local police on several occasions when old bones have been unearthed, helping to date them, and provide any other forensic evidence that might emerge. Despite show more this, her relations with the local police are awkward, not least because the head of DID, Detective Chief Inspector Harry Nelson is also Kate’s father. While this has never been publicly acknowledged, a growing number of people, including most of Nelson’s colleagues are aware of it.
Also on the fringes of the police circle is Michael Malone, sometime laboratory assistant at the university, but more prominently known as Cathbad, leading light of the local Druid community (more extensive than might be imagined). For reasons too complex to expand upon here, Cathbad has become close to both Ruth and DCI Nelson, despite the strong scepticism initially felt by both of them. In a further complication, Cathbad is also living with Judy Johnson, one of Nelson’s Detective Sergeants.
In this story, Ruth is contacted by Hilary, a friend from her own student days. Although they had both been studying archaeology, Hilary is no longer involved in this field. She has, instead, become an Anglican priest, and when a theological conference brings her to North Norfolk, she re-establishes contact with Ruth. It turns out that Hilary has been receiving some hate mail, including a couple of recent letters that have featured threats if she should choose to attend the conference. Having read of Kate’s previous involvement with some highly publicised cases, Hilary asks for her advice, and the letters are passed on to DCI Nelson and his team.
They take on additional significance when, as the conference approaches, a young woman is found murdered outside the venue in which the conference will be held. As if this were not enough, one the conference begins, one of the delegates who bears an unusually close resemblance to the murdered woman, is also murdered by similar means.
Elly Griffiths’s success with this series lies in her ability to blend her plausible, well drawn characters with soundly constructed plots. The clues are all there for the observant reader … well even for the less observant ones such as myself – I didn’t spot the murdered this time. The tensions between the principal characters, and the challenges that they face in their respective domestic situations, are all very delicately and cleverly moved forward. show less
The eighth book in the Ruth Galloway series is set in Walsingham, a Norfolk village known for religious shrines and a popular destination for pilgrims. DCI Harry Nelson is investigating the murder of a young woman, a patient at a drug rehab facility. Ruth reconnects with a university friend, who is attending a conference in the area. Hilary, an anglican priest, has been receiving threatening letters from someone who clearly objects to women in church leadership. Ruth encourages her to share the letters with the police. Then a second woman is murdered who bears some resemblance to the first, and there’s reason to suspect the letter-writer might also be the murderer.
I liked the change of setting in this novel, both the location and the show more connections to the church, priesthood, and lenten rituals. Similar to an earlier book set in Blackpool, moving outside of Ruth’s immediate neighborhood provides an opportunity to center the crime in a new environment where new themes can be explored. Several new characters also came on the scene and while I suspected one of them was likely the perpetrator, Elly Griffiths kept me guessing up to the reveal. I’m glad I still have a few more books left to enjoy. show less
I liked the change of setting in this novel, both the location and the show more connections to the church, priesthood, and lenten rituals. Similar to an earlier book set in Blackpool, moving outside of Ruth’s immediate neighborhood provides an opportunity to center the crime in a new environment where new themes can be explored. Several new characters also came on the scene and while I suspected one of them was likely the perpetrator, Elly Griffiths kept me guessing up to the reveal. I’m glad I still have a few more books left to enjoy. show less
This was yet another excellent read in the Ruth Galloway series, and it was great to be back with some of my favourite characters. Elly Griffiths kept her cards close to her chest in this one and it was difficult to work out who the murderer was but s/he was definitely on my list of suspects. Some quite important events happened in the lives of the central characters in this one, and I loved how the author took forward one of the storylines, although it is a shame we have to say goodbye to one of the characters. If I was to be picky I would say it would have been even better if we had seen more of Cathbad in this one. I hope Elly Griffiths writes quickly as I have now read all books in this series.
When Chloe Jenkins is found dead near an ancient burial ground in Walsingham, the police investigation reveals she was a guest at the local rehabilitation facility. While it's obvious drugs weren't the problem, it takes them quite a while to find the connection, which was quite obscure. Archaeologist Ruth Galloway has also been called to Walsingham meet with a former classmate, Hillary Smithson, who has now become an Anglican priest. She has been getting threatening notes. The letter writer has a problem with women becoming priests, let alone bishops, which is becoming a possibility. When a second body is found and it turns out to be a women priest, DCI Harry Nelson is certain the two murders are connected.
I really like this series show more and it's one of my favorites. I'm always interested in seeing how the dynamics between Nelson (who is the father of Ruth’s daughter) and Ruth work during each of these books. The regular characters are well-drawn and seem very much like real people. The author gives us a wonderful cast of characters, from the mysterious Cathbad to the very average Clough. I especially enjoy Ruth’s reflections on food and on motherhood, both of which ring so true, and her sense of humor. The plot is woven to incorporate the Passion of Christ re-enactment during Easter and it was an enjoyable, well researched read with plenty of excitement and intrigue. show less
I really like this series show more and it's one of my favorites. I'm always interested in seeing how the dynamics between Nelson (who is the father of Ruth’s daughter) and Ruth work during each of these books. The regular characters are well-drawn and seem very much like real people. The author gives us a wonderful cast of characters, from the mysterious Cathbad to the very average Clough. I especially enjoy Ruth’s reflections on food and on motherhood, both of which ring so true, and her sense of humor. The plot is woven to incorporate the Passion of Christ re-enactment during Easter and it was an enjoyable, well researched read with plenty of excitement and intrigue. show less
Book eight in the Ruth Galloway series and I'm still enjoying this series. In this one Cathbad is cat sitting and sees a woman in blue in a graveyard. He thinks he has had a vision of the Virgin Mary but then a body turns up, a woman in blue.
My reviews are going to be a bit repetitive. I am enjoying the series which has the usual characters, Ruth, Nelson and of course Cathbad. There is still the ongoing saga of Ruth and Nelson thrown in for good measure.
I do still think like all thrillers the ending ventures into thrillerland it doesn't spoil my enjoyment. On to number nine.
My reviews are going to be a bit repetitive. I am enjoying the series which has the usual characters, Ruth, Nelson and of course Cathbad. There is still the ongoing saga of Ruth and Nelson thrown in for good measure.
I do still think like all thrillers the ending ventures into thrillerland it doesn't spoil my enjoyment. On to number nine.
If you're new to this series and wondering if you should give it a try because you've heard people like me raving about it, let me give you one piece of advice: if you're a mystery reader who prefers the crime and its investigation over the characters, you might just want to give this series a miss. Now... it hurt me to say that because I'd love to have everyone read and love these books, but it's true. The characters in Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway series have personal lives that are every bit as rich as the mysteries they solve-- sometimes more so-- and their personal lives can often impinge on the investigation.
In The Woman in Blue, we learn about another location in the county of Norfolk-- Walsingham-- and the place of women in show more the Church of England. It also gives us a chance to see Ruth side by side with a woman with whom she went to university. Ruth-- an archaeologist and single mother to five-year-old Kate, who is the result of one night of passion with the very married DCI Harry Nelson. What a contrast with Hillary, the Anglican priest!
One of the strengths of this series is the relationship between Ruth and Nelson. This is no simple case of infidelity. Griffiths does an excellent job of showing the characters' good and bad points. It isn't a matter of readers blythely choosing which character they believe is hardest done by and cheering him or her on. As time passes, Nelson's wife is becoming a more important character, and no one can tell what the future will bring for any of them. I think Griffiths is superb at showing life in all its complexity.
But how about the mystery, I hear you ask. It's a good one. There may not be much archaeology this time around, but there are several things going on, and one of the tasks readers have is to decide if everything connects to one source... or if there's more than one villain. It's certainly not an easy decision to make!
If you love mysteries with an excellent sense of place, complex and intriguing crimes to solve, and absolutely splendid characters, you'd be hard-pressed to find a series better than Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway. show less
In The Woman in Blue, we learn about another location in the county of Norfolk-- Walsingham-- and the place of women in show more the Church of England. It also gives us a chance to see Ruth side by side with a woman with whom she went to university. Ruth-- an archaeologist and single mother to five-year-old Kate, who is the result of one night of passion with the very married DCI Harry Nelson. What a contrast with Hillary, the Anglican priest!
One of the strengths of this series is the relationship between Ruth and Nelson. This is no simple case of infidelity. Griffiths does an excellent job of showing the characters' good and bad points. It isn't a matter of readers blythely choosing which character they believe is hardest done by and cheering him or her on. As time passes, Nelson's wife is becoming a more important character, and no one can tell what the future will bring for any of them. I think Griffiths is superb at showing life in all its complexity.
But how about the mystery, I hear you ask. It's a good one. There may not be much archaeology this time around, but there are several things going on, and one of the tasks readers have is to decide if everything connects to one source... or if there's more than one villain. It's certainly not an easy decision to make!
If you love mysteries with an excellent sense of place, complex and intriguing crimes to solve, and absolutely splendid characters, you'd be hard-pressed to find a series better than Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway. show less
The eighth Ruth Galloway mystery centers around Walsingham which is the center of an area devoted to Mary, the Mother of God. When Cathbad, who is catsitting in the area, sees a young woman with a blue robe in the graveyard next to his house, his first thought is that he's had a vision of the Virgin Mary.
However, when the same woman is found dead in a ditch, it becomes clear that there is a murderer on the loose. The young woman is Chloe Jenkins, a fashion model who was at a local drug treatment center. Nelson and his team are determined to find out who murdered her.
Ruth gets involved mainly because an old friend who is now an Anglican priest calls her to come look at some troubling letters she has received. Hilary is there for a show more seminar with other female Anglican priests who are looking to become bishops once that is allowed.
When another of the priests is also murdered in the same way as Chloe, Ruth finds herself more involved in the case despite Nelson's wanting her to back off and let him handle the police work. Nelson and Ruth's relationship had come to some sort of equilibrium until his wife Michelle's relationship with Nelson's colleague Tim comes to light.
Nelson and Michelle are at odds until the villain attacks her in a Walsingham churchyard. They decide to try to rebuild their marriage. Tim transfers to another area but doesn't leave until he tells Michelle that he's still in love with her and will always be there for her.
Ruth is left out in this new version of Nelson and Michelle's marriage and is trying to convince herself that she is okay with that. She knows that Nelson and her daughter Kate will always have a relationship and she will have to deal with that.
This was another engaging mystery in the long-running Ruth Galloway series that seems to spend as much time talking about relationships as it does solving crimes. The crime does get solved but the relationships are unresolved. show less
However, when the same woman is found dead in a ditch, it becomes clear that there is a murderer on the loose. The young woman is Chloe Jenkins, a fashion model who was at a local drug treatment center. Nelson and his team are determined to find out who murdered her.
Ruth gets involved mainly because an old friend who is now an Anglican priest calls her to come look at some troubling letters she has received. Hilary is there for a show more seminar with other female Anglican priests who are looking to become bishops once that is allowed.
When another of the priests is also murdered in the same way as Chloe, Ruth finds herself more involved in the case despite Nelson's wanting her to back off and let him handle the police work. Nelson and Ruth's relationship had come to some sort of equilibrium until his wife Michelle's relationship with Nelson's colleague Tim comes to light.
Nelson and Michelle are at odds until the villain attacks her in a Walsingham churchyard. They decide to try to rebuild their marriage. Tim transfers to another area but doesn't leave until he tells Michelle that he's still in love with her and will always be there for her.
Ruth is left out in this new version of Nelson and Michelle's marriage and is trying to convince herself that she is okay with that. She knows that Nelson and her daughter Kate will always have a relationship and she will have to deal with that.
This was another engaging mystery in the long-running Ruth Galloway series that seems to spend as much time talking about relationships as it does solving crimes. The crime does get solved but the relationships are unresolved. show less
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54+ Works 24,499 Members
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Ruth Galloway (8)
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- Canonical title
- The Woman in Blue
- Original title
- The Woman in Blue
- Original publication date
- 2016-05-03
- People/Characters
- Ruth Galloway; Harry Nelson; Cathbad; Hilary Smithson; Tim Heathfield; Dave Clough (show all 26); Chloe Jenkins; Michelle Nelson; Fiona McAllister; Father Patrick Hennessy; Tanya Fuller; Kate Galloway; Stanley Greenway; Paula Moncrieff; Giles Moncrieff; Robin Rainsford; Mike Halloran; Larry Westmondham; Roy Taylor, "Rocky"; Janet Meadows; Gerald Whitcliffe; Justin Fitzroy-Jones; Freya Drew-Hayes; Nirupa Khan; Jan Adams; Father Bill
- Important places
- King's Lynn, Norfolk, England, UK; Walsingham, Norfolk, England, UK
- Epigraph
- Weep, weep, O Walsingham,
Whose dayes are nights,
Blessings turned to blasphemies,
Holy deeds to despites.
Sinne is where Our Ladye sate,
Heaven turned is to helle;
Satan sitthe where... (show all) Our Lord did swaye,
Walsingham, O farewell!
--Ballad of Walsingham, anonymous
sixteenth century - Dedication
- For Giulia
- First words
- 19 February 2014
Cathbad and the cat look at each other. - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)She thinks he says something, but she doesn't catch the words and, before she can ask him to repeat it, Nelson is striding away through the tombstones.
- Publisher's editor
- Wood, Jane
- Original language
- English
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- Reviews
- 58
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- (3.72)
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- 6 — Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, German, Swedish
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- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
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