The Chalk Pit (Ruth Galloway #9) by Elly Griffiths

The Chalk Pit is the ninth book in the Dr Ruth Galloway series by Elly Griffiths, and it ticks all the boxes! It has just the right mix of mystery, archaeology and character-driven plot.

Bones are discovered (of course) in a tunnel under Norwich, and Ruth is called in to determine their age. When Ruth reveals that they are recent, DCI Nelson is heading a murder investigation. Meanwhile, DS Judy Johnson is leading an investigation into a missing local ‘rough sleeper’. Griffiths explores the world of rough sleepers with empathy and humanity, and I think readers will feel very differently next time they pass a homeless person in their city.

Then another women goes missing. There are rumours of a secret community living underground, in a tradition that is said to occur all over the world: complex networks reflecting the cities above. Could this be where the missing women have gone?

There is a great reference to libraries that I must share:

“Libraries are the cathedrals of the modern age. All that knowledge, available for anyone to use. It’s quite a subversive thought.”

Throughout these ongoing investigations, we follow the rather complicated personal relationships of our main characters. If you haven’t read the previous books in the series, you will not appreciate a lot of what is happening between the characters, so I strongly suggest reading these books in order!

Reviewed by Gaby Meares
Murder on a Monday Reading Group