Book Review: A Dying Fall by Elly Griffiths

A Dying Fall
Author: Elly Griffiths
Series: Ruth Galloway (Book 5)
Publication: Mariner Books (March 5, 2013)

Description Forensic archeologist Ruth Galloway investigates a heart-stopping case: an old university friend and fellow archeologist murdered in an arson attack.

When Ruth Galloway learns that her old university friend Dan Golding has died in a house fire, she is shocked and saddened. But when she receives a letter that Dan had written just before he died, her sadness turns to suspicion. The letter tells of a great archaeological discovery, but Dan also says that he is scared for his life.

Was Dan’s death linked to his find? The only clue is his mention of the Raven King, an ancient name for King Arthur. When she arrives in Lancashire, Ruth discovers that the bones reveal a shocking fact about King Arthur—and that the bones have mysteriously vanished.

The case draws in DCI Nelson, determined to protect Ruth and their eighteen-month-old daughter, Kate. But someone is willing to kill to keep the bones a secret, and it is beginning to look as if no one is safe.

My Thoughts: Ruth hears from a college friend that another of their fellow students has died in a house fire. She recalls Dan Goldman fondly but hasn't seen him for twenty years. The next day she receives a letter from Dan who tells her that he has made an extraordinary discovery but now is in fear for his life. 

Ruth is invited by the Dean of Dan's department to come to see if Dan's discovery was as amazing as he thought. Since it is a term break, Ruth gathers her 18-month-old daughter and her friend Cathbad and heads for Lancashire. Unknown to her at the time is that Nelson and his wife are also planning a brief vacation in Lancashire where they will spend time with both their families. 

Ruth's first discovery is that the bones she has been asked to look at aren't consistent with being found in a grave from the 400s. In fact, they are the mixed bones of two different people. Kate wonders where the bones actually are, why Dan sent them to a crime lab for analysis, and why he sent of some samples to still another lab, this one in New York.

Ruth has been receiving threatening texts since even before she got to Lancashire which make her worry for her child's safety. The more she looks into things the odder they become. It seems that the university is having an outbreak of white supremacy and whose followers have a strange fascination with King Arthur.

Dan's discovery might be King Arthur but without the bones or the laptop where he kept all his data which disappeared when his house was torched, Ruth has no concrete evidence. Once she tracks down the lab in New York doing the testing something even odder comes to light which could provide a reason Dan was killed. And this new information puts Ruth in even more danger. 

This was an intriguing story with an interesting archaeological puzzle. The interpersonal dynamics are also intriguing as Ruth and Nelson try to figure out what kinds of relationship they are going to have. Cathbad also has some decisions to make.

I enjoyed this story and am eager to read the next in the series.

Favorite Quote:

Neither of her parents shares her passion for the past and her mother is often heard loudly lamenting that Ruth (such a clever girl at school) couldn't have studied something more useful, like nursing or accountancy or full-time religious mania.

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.