Audiobook Review: The Dark Angel by Elly Griffiths

The Dark Angel
Author: Elly Griffiths
Narrator: Jane McDowell
Series: Ruth Galloway (Book 10)
Publication: Recorded Books (May 15, 2018)
Length: 9 hours and 53 minutes

Description: It’s not every day that you’re summoned to the Italian countryside on business, so when archaeologist Angelo Morelli asks for Ruth Galloway’s help identifying bones found in the tiny hilltop town of Fontana Liri, she jumps at the chance to go, bringing her daughter along with her for a working vacation. Upon arriving, she begins to hear murmurs of Fontana Liri’s strong resistance movement during World War II and senses the townspeople are dancing around a deeply buried secret. But how could that be connected to the ancient remains she’s been studying?

Ruth is just beginning to get her footing in the dig when she’s thrown off-guard by the appearance of DCI Nelson. And when Ruth’s findings lead them to a modern-day murder, their holidays are both turned upside down, and they race to find out what darkness is lurking in this seemingly picturesque town.

My Thoughts: Ruth Galloway along with her daughter Kate and her friend Shona and her son Louis are invited to Italy at the request of an Italian archaeologist Ruth had met at a conference years earlier. He has found some Roman bones, but it looks like some joker is trying to disrupt his dig and ruin his opportunity to be on television.

The invitation comes at a perfect time for Ruth. She's recently lost her mother to a massive stroke. She's also rekindled her romance with Nelson but that is skuttled when Nelson's wife announces that she is pregnant. However, Michelle hasn't mentioned that the baby could have been fathered by her lover who was once a subordinate of Nelson's. 

Meanwhile at home in England, a murderer Nelson put away has been released from prison claiming to have been born again. However, that doesn't explain his lurking outside the homes of police officers who were instrumental in his arrest. 

When there is an earthquake in Italy, Nelson rushes to Ruth and Kate's side and gets there just as the local priest is murdered. Motives could lead back to WWII and the Resistance movement as local feelings are still high on the topic. 

This was another excellent mystery with a rich emotional element. Ruth's feelings for Nelson and his for her couldn't really be any more complicated. 

I bought the Kindle copy. The Audible copy was available to me via Audible Plus. You can buy your copy here.