Audiobook Review: The Chalk Pit by Elly Griffiths

The Chalk Pit
Author: Elly Griffiths
Narrator: Jane McDowell
Series: Ruth Galloway (Book 10)
Publication: Recorded Books (May 30, 2017)
Length: 10 hours

Description: In the ninth Ruth Galloway mystery, Ruth and Nelson investigate a string of murders and disappearances deep within the abandoned tunnels hidden far beneath the streets of Norwich.

Norwich is riddled with old chalk-mining tunnels, but no one's sure exactly how many. When Ruth is called in to investigate a set of human remains found in one of them, she notices the bones are almost translucent - a sign they were boiled soon after death. Once more she finds herself at the helm of a murder investigation.

Meanwhile, DCI Nelson is hunting for a missing homeless woman, Barbara, who he hears has gone "underground". Could she have disappeared into the labyrinth? And if so, is she connected to the body Ruth found?

As Ruth, Nelson, and the rest of their team investigate the tunnels, they hear rumors of secret societies, cannibalism, and ritual killings. When a dead body is found with a map that appears to be of The Underground, they realize their quest to find the killer has only just begun - and that there may be more bodies underfoot.

My Thoughts: The ninth Ruth Galloway mystery was another excellent addition to the series. Ruth is called in to investigate bones found in tunnels under Norwich. Apparently, the area is riddled with tunnels, some of which have been left behind by chalk mining. Ruth believes that the bones were boiled after the person died which could mean cannibalism. 

Meanwhile, DCI Nelson is looking for a missing woman who was a sidewalk sleeper. He also has the deaths of two homeless men, one of whom died on the steps of the police department, to investigate. When a middle class suburban mother of four is abducted, the hunt for missing women heats up. And it comes to a boil when Clough's partner Cassie, an actress, is also abducted.

Ruth and Nelson find their investigations intersecting as they discover that there might be a whole bunch of people living in the abandoned tunnels.

I really enjoyed this story. While I liked the mystery, I equally liked the various relationships in the story. Ruth and Nelson seem doomed to never be able to get together. He's loyal to his wife even though he is emotionally attached to Ruth and their young daughter. He still hasn't told his two older daughters about Kate, his daughter with Ruth. And for Ruth, it seems like Nelson is going to be the love of her life even if they are never able to get together. 

Fans of the series will enjoy this episode.

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