Dr. Ruth Galloway is juggling the care of her five-month-old daughter, her relationship with DCI Nelson, and bones discovered on an eroding seashore. These bones are found with tied wrists and gunshot wounds in the back of the neck.

Testing determines that the bones are about 70 years old and from Germany which puts their deaths during World War II. That would be an interesting historical mystery if DCI Nelson doesn't have to investigate suspicious deaths of some of the very few remaining survivors who might know what happened to the men found buried. Someone clearly wants to cover up what happened when these Germans showed up on the coast.

Ruth is also dealing with developing a routine for the care of her daughter Ruth and suffers from mother-guilt when she has to leave her in order to do her work as a forensic archaeologist. Ruth is also trying to find some balance with Nelson who wants to be a helpful caring father but doesn't want to blow up his marriage or ruin his relationship with his almost-grown daughters. It doesn't help the Nelson's wife wants to help Ruth whom she sees, rightly, as a woman a bit out of depth in raising a baby.

This was a great story and entertaining mystery. I love the setting and the characters. ( )

I think what I am enjoying the most of this series is how comfortably Griffiths makes you feel. Sometimes you need a book that is not earth shattering, that is just an interesting story with characters you like. That is how I feel about the Galloway series. Ruth is relatable, I find interesting tidbits in the storyline - things I want to look up and learn about (German invasion in WWII in Norfolk?). Almost like Angela Fletcher, dead bodies seem to pop up around Ruth, and her cottage and its surroundings can be compared to Cabot Cove - but not as chintzy and cozy. Most like misty and foggy and wet. And dark and dead. With friends like a druid, priest, police chief, professors ... things are happening in Ruth's personal life, and at the end of this book things about to get read.

Cannot wait to pick up the next one. Thank god for my public library! ( )

Ruth Galloway

Best one yet! ( )

Not quite up to the first two?

It's good, don't get me wrong, but it's formulaic and when everything unfolds at the end the villain gets the kind of verbal diarrhea we used time see in the old Bond films instead of just getting on with it. And it's always their undoing, isn't it? I've always wondered if real-life serial killers do this.

Otherwise, of course, it was a good read. On to the next one! ( )