The Ghost Fields by Elly Griffiths

Blurb

The chilling discovery of a downed World War II plane with a body inside leads Ruth and DCI Nelson to uncover a wealthy family’s secrets in the seventh Ruth Galloway mystery.

Norfolk is suffering from record summer heat when a construction crew unearths a macabre discovery—a downed World War II plane with the pilot still inside. Forensic archaeologist Ruth Galloway quickly realises that the skeleton couldn’t possibly be the pilot, and DNA tests identify the man as Fred Blackstock, a local aristocrat who had been reported dead at sea. When the remaining members of the Blackstock family learn about the discovery, they seem strangely frightened by the news.

Events are further complicated by a TV company that wants to make a film about Norfolk’s deserted air force bases, the so-called Ghost Fields, which have been partially converted into a pig farm run by one of the younger Blackstocks. As production begins, Ruth notices a mysterious man lurking on the outskirts of Fred Blackstock’s memorial service. Then human bones are found on the family’s pig farm. Can the team outrace a looming flood to find a killer?

Laced with dry humour and anchored by perennial fan favourite Ruth, The Ghost Fields will delight fans new and old.

Review

I recently had Covid and felt pretty rough and so I needed a comfort read. Elly Griffiths’ books are always my comfort reads. I truly believe that the Dr Ruth Galloway books just keep getting better and better and just when I think they can’t get any better they do. 

I love catching up with my favourite characters in these books and seeing what they are up to. Each book in the series shows a progression in their lives and I just love watching them grow especially Kate. Cathbad as ever is my all time favourite character although I was disappointed that Thing his dog didn’t feature more in this book. Cathbad is such a magical soul and cares for everyone and all things. The world would definitely be a better place if we had more people like Cathbad. Nelson was his usual self in this book which I was pleased about but it still annoys me that he insists on calling Kate, Katie. 

There were a few surprises for me in this book especially around certain relationships but I couldn’t help but think that maybe it was only fair in a certain case. The other surprise was found on a pig farm but I will say no more. 

The historical research in this book was impeccable as per usual and it was really interesting to read about the RAF in WW2 and the different airbases in Norfolk. So much history is left in these abandoned airfields which are called Ghost Fields. 

As usual the scene setting and imagery that Griffiths uses is just sublime and I always pester my best friend who lives in Norfolk about all the places that are mentioned in the story (I want to visit them all). I also thoroughly loved the dramatic weather that featured in this book and it really added to the intensity of the story, although the giant duck boat was an amusing surprise and definitely unexpected. Another 5 Dragon rating for a book from the Dr Ruth Galloway series. 

🐲🐲🐲🐲🐲

Purchase Links

Bookshop.org | Waterstones | WH Smith

(All purchases made using one of the above affiliate links gives a small percentage of money to myself with no extra cost to yourself. All proceeds go towards the upkeep of this blog. Thank you ever so much, your support is gratefully received.)

About the author

Elly Griffiths’ Ruth Galloway novels take for their inspiration Elly’s husband, who gave up a city job to train as an archaeologist, and her aunt who lives on the Norfolk coast and who filled her niece’s head with the myths and legends of that area. Elly has two children and lives near Brighton. 

Etsy

• Instagram
• Facebook

The Book of Days by Francesca Kay

Blurb

Things change; we have to recognise that; the world will not stay still. What we must hope is that the new is better and stronger than the old. Anno Domini 1546. In a manor house in England a young woman feels the walls are closing round her, while her dying husband is obsessed by his vision of a chapel where prayers will be said for his immortal soul. As the days go by and the chapel takes shape, the outside world starts to intrude. And as the old ways are replaced by the new, the people of the village sense a dangerous freedom. The Book of Days is a beautifully written novel of lives lived in troubled times and the solace to be found in nature and the turning seasons.

Review

This is my first book by Francesca Kay and I will be honest I really didn’t gel with the book for the first half and almost gave up several times. I loved the imagery used in the book and the detailed descriptions of the scenery and different seasons but I found the book lacked direction and spent a lot of time meandering around and not really going anywhere. 

Alice is a character who is basically lost which seems strange because her world is so small and isolated. She is desperate for children but she is married to a much older man who is dying and she is trapped on her husband’s estate with no possibility of adventure. When Alice escapes the sick room of her husband she explores the grounds and also spends a lot of time seeing all the improvements taking place on the chapel. The chapel is her husband’s obsession and his plan is to one day be laid to rest in a grand tomb and have prayers said everyday for his soul. It is clear Alice’s husband is worried about his immortal soul but we don’t know why. However, the outside world is about to encroach on Alice’s small and sheltered world and it is not going to go well and her husband’s plan for his immortal soul might not be going according to his wishes. The way people worship and use their churches is about to change and the change will not be gentle. 

There were so many times in this book that I wanted to shake Alice. She is such a gentle soul but her step daughter Agnes is clearly trouble and clearly in need of a firm hand which nobody seems willing to give and to me Alice should have been that firm hand and also put her foot down to how Agnes treated her. Alice just wants to be friends with everyone and nice to everyone and sometimes that just means you get walked over and this happens to poor Alice. 

The thing that saved this book for me was the detail and imagery because the characters and lack of direction really put me off at times. I also didn’t enjoy the latin snippets in the book because I found they detracted from the flow of the text and didn’t really add anything. I give this book 3 out of 5 Dragons. 

🐲🐲🐲

Purchase Links

Bookshop.org | Waterstones | WH Smith

(All purchases made using one of the above affiliate links gives a small percentage of money to myself with no extra cost to yourself. All proceeds go towards the upkeep of this blog. Thank you ever so much, your support is gratefully received.)

About the author

Francesca Kay’s first novel, An Equal Stillness, won the Orange Award for New Writers in 2009. She lives in Oxford with her family.

Etsy

• Instagram
• Facebook