Book Review: The Night Hawks by Elly Griffiths

What a joy to be back in the world of Dr Ruth Galloway and DCI Harry Nelson. As ever, Griffiths has written a cracking story that I devoured in one (bar a toilet break) sitting. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC copy of this book.

The Blurb

Available here

Dr Ruth Galloway returns to the moody and beautiful landscape of North Norfolk
to confront another killer. A devastating new case for our favourite forensic archaeologist in this acclaimed and bestselling crime series.

The Night Hawks, a group of metal detectorists, are searching for buried treasure when they find a body on the beach in North Norfolk. At first Nelson thinks that the dead man might be an asylum seeker but he turns out to be a local boy, Jem Taylor, recently released from prison. Ruth is more interested in the treasure, a hoard of Bronze Age weapons. Nelson at first thinks that Taylor's death is accidental drowning, but a second death suggests murder.

Nelson is called to an apparent murder-suicide of a couple at the isolated Black Dog Farm. Local legend talks of the Black Shuck, a spectral hound that appears to people before they die. Nelson ignores this, even when the owner's suicide note includes the line, 'He's buried in the garden.' Ruth excavates and finds the body of a giant dog.

All roads lead back to this farm in the middle of nowhere, but the place spells serious danger for anyone who goes near. Ruth doesn't scare easily. Not until she finds herself at Black Dog Farm ...

My Thoughts

I'm torn between waxing lyrical about how joyful it was to reconnect with Cathbad, Judy, Clough and the rest of the team and raving about the shivers that Griffith's sent running up and down my spine every time the mysterious and very threatening Black Shuck was mentioned. 

I love Ruth's prosaic attitude - her calm presence with her not so calm thoughts which we are privvy to. I often wish that once, just once, Ruth would just let  all her dark thoughts come pouring out - I wonder what would happen then. Nelson is Nelson - defiantly down to earth, old fashioned and torn between his professional relationship with Ruth and his personal one. 

The balance between the official investigation into the death of a young lad found washed up by the Night Hawks (a metal detectorist group) and Ruth's inadvertent involvement in the case is delightful. It is this balance between, Ruth's archaeological expertise, Nelson's detective skills and the other worldly presence of myths courtesy of Cathbad and his acquaintances that keep this series as fresh now as it was when I first opened up a Galloway/Nelson book. 

Keep them coming because I'm already having withdrawal symptoms - besides which - Griffiths left us on what could be a massive turning point and I can't wait to see what happens next..