Dr Ruth Galloway is working on an archaeological dig at an old burial site when she discovers not just the expected ancient remains but also much more recent bones. These turn out to belong to Margaret Lacey who went missing in 1981.
The findings point to the bones not being at this site the whole time and Ruth sets about trying to find out where they were originally buried while DCI Harry Nelson re-examines the old investigation to find out what happened to Margaret. Meanwhile Nelson’s wife Michelle is about to give birth and he has started receiving strange letters very similar to ones he received during a previous enquiry but that was Erik and he is dead. Are they relevant or just a misdirection?
Was Margarets killer the local “stone man” the police suspected of abduction at the time or is it someone closer to Margaret.
There were no violent confrontations, just a very sad story about a girl who disappeared and the effect it had on her family. and I personally feel this was the right way to tell this story.

This is the 11th book in the Dr. Ruth Galloway series and just as good as the first. This case involves threatening letters, a missing child and more archaeology. If you are looking for a thriller, this is not the book for you. As in the previous books, the story is told slowly but still manages to build suspense and relate a really good mystery. All the usual cast of characters from the series continue in this book and are as quirky and interesting as ever. I love that the writer is not providing an easy answer to the relationship between Ruth and DCI Nelson.....it is a unique and evolving situation and lots of fun to watch. This is one of my favorite series ever and Elly Griffiths has become one of my favorite authors. Between her Magic Man series, this series and a recent stand alone (which I hope becomes a series) I cannot wait for anything she writes! Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader copy for review.

Once again, Ruth Galloway finds herself in an intricate web of murder, child abduction, and a seeming visit from the past, all because she is called in to consult on Bronze Age bones found at a dig. The web also brings her into contact with old friends and her sometimes lover, Harry Nelson. The dig uncovers more than an ancient site; it also reveals the bones of a missing girl (Margaret) from several decades back, a case involving the disappearance of a 12-year old girl. The twists and turns of the investigation lead Nelson and his team seeking to recreate the day of the girl's disappearance, and they come upon the original suspect, a strange man seen talking to the girl and her friend the day she went missing. However, when that suspect is killed, there's another mystery to solve. In the meantime, Nelson's wife, Michelle, gives birth to a son whose parentage was in question, due to Michelle's form affair with a now dead policeman. When the boy's skin color reveals that Nelson is the father, he and his wife enjoy this new addition to the family, with their 2 adult daughters. Somehow, Griffiths manages to involve Michelle in the case of another child abduction, the infant great-niece of the murdered girl (Margaret). The plot is a bit complicated and uneven as the author tries to juggle the crimes, mysteries, voices from the past, and the fallout from dalliances between Ruth and Nelson. While the story provides some resolution and reconciliation at the end, Griffiths leaves the reader wanting to see what happens next in the saga of Ruth and Nelson.

The Dr. Ruth Galloway series is one of my absolute favorites! Ten years have passed since we first met Ruth and DCI Nelson. Ruth, a university professor and archaeologist was called into help the police identify the bones of a young girl, are discovered in a salt marsh. A similar scenario is repeated in this 11th book of the series, the Ruth identifies the bones of young girl found on an archaeological dig, and DCI Nelson’s crew revisits an old missing persons’ case.

Those who enjoy plot-driven action-adventure crime stories will have to look elsewhere. In this series, the characters are as much of a draw as the plots. It's like checking in with old friends. Ruth is not glamorous or girly or badass, in fact, does not subscribe to any common female stereotype. She is a low-key, low-frills, contented introvert, raising her seven-year old daughter as a single parent, without any mommy-culture intensity. She loves her work and excels at it, without exhibiting any over-achiever, perfectionist leanings. Her feelings for DCI Nelson, the father of her daughter, are “complicated,” as his are for her. Each book in the series, shines a spotlight on a different secondary character. In Stone Circle, we learn more about Judy, and how, as a woman on the police force, and the ways in which her experiences, both as a detective and a parent, differ from her male colleagues.

Fans of archaeological work and the English seaside will enjoy the ongoing stories of Ruth Galloway. Riddled with sexual tension and intelligent humor, Ruth is called upon by Detective Chief Inspector Nelson whenever questionable remains are uncovered. The recurring characters are enjoyable and charming. The relationship issues entertaining. Always a pleasure to catch the next installment!

In the eleventh entry in this excellent series, the bones of a young girl are found in an archeological dig on Ruth's beloved salt marsh. There is more than one eerie coincidence, including the presence of Erik Andersson's look-alike-son and a second - more recent - set of remains. Soon, Ruth and Nelson are thrust together again. Suspenseful, and filled with great characters readers will want to know better.

It seems as though forensic anthropologist Dr. Ruth Galloway and DCI Nelson have come full circle when they body of a young girl is found during a dig and they both receive threatening letters just like the events of the first case the worked together.

I love this series! This 11th book adds more personal insights into many of the supporting characters as well as Ruth and Nelson. I would recommend they be read in order.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Dr Ruth Galloway is back, but this series is as much about her as her circle of friends and colleagues. They are a complex and delightful bunch living in Norfolk. As Ruth is an archaeologist bones are sure to be involved, which may or may not be a result of a crime, but also more contemporary crimes are occurring. This book does tie in with ones earlier in the series so I think it is best to read them in order. It is good to know this series is continuing.

Griffiths never fails to disappoint. Her ability to blend private and professional life with humor, regret, anticipation, and of course, mystery always makes for a great read. The recurring characters are always a delight and the Ruth/Nelson relationship always keeps the reader guessing.

This 11th title in the Ruth Galloway series lives up to its predecessors in terms of mystery, setting integral to plot, and relationship twists. Efforts by Nelson and his team to resolve a cold case draw memories of, and comparisons to, Ruth's earliest adventure on the salt marsh. Those forensic efforts are paralleled by archaeological developments that add to the mystery and tension, especially with the appearance of Leif, son of Ruth's late mentor, Erik, and a mysterious summons, seemingly from beyond the grave. Some of the outstanding questions from the previous (10th) book are resolved earlier than (I) anticipated, thus sparking new developments, interactions and challenges, especially among the younger characters who play a more prominent role in this installment.

One can’t help but savor the deliciously excruciating relationship twists and turns between Ruth and Nelson, the salt marsh setting (one minute sinister, the next inviting) and the mystery combined with history, focusing on lesser-known real-life locations like Stanton Drew. All the subsidiary characters continue to delight: Cathbad is again brilliantly drawn, and it's a pleasure to see Judy further develop -- a spin-off involving this couple would surely be a hit! And as for the arguably most consequential subsidiary character: If the author, in making Michelle a somewhat sympathetic character, is trying to make me feel guilty about disliking Michelle, she's (still) doing a good job of it. One continues to wonder where this Ruth-Nelson-Michelle love triangle is headed -- Except it's not a triangle, because also making an appearance in this book is ... Frank. All of these factors contribute to the success of the newest installment, and leave me wondering how long we'll have to wait until the next!

A cautionary note: I do believe it's important to have read all, or most, of the series in order to fully enjoy each new installment. In this particular case, there are many references to the earliest book, and to fully appreciate the Ruth-Nelson relationship it's necessary to allow each book to build on the previous.

Note: I received an advance reader copy from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt via NetGalley. This is my honest review.
#TheStoneCircle #NetGalley

**Note: I received a free ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for a review.**

**Moderate spoiler warning**

A new book from the Ruth Galloway series is always a treat -- in fact, one of the greatest literary treats of the year for me. The Stone Circle was no different. I devoured it in a few days, and would have done so more quickly had life not gotten in the way. :)

I've just said that The Stone Circle was no different in one respect -- but in another respect, it felt very different indeed. I was surprised that much of the narrative moved from Ruth's perspective to the perspective of many other characters, particularly Judy (who I've always liked). This book felt a bit more of an ensemble piece than others in the past. Some other characters seemed to move away from the center a bit (such as Cathbad -- my perennial favorite, so I hope that he's front and center next time) and others toward the center (such as Nelson's daughter Laura -- a welcome addition).

The Stone Circle gave many different perspectives on motherhood: working motherhood, young and old motherhood, willing and unwilling motherhood...without being a book on motherhood. As always, I (a working mother myself) found a great deal to relate to, particularly in Ruth and Judy.

I cannot wait to read more about Ruth's future. Any more details would be too big of a spoiler. :)

A solid effort in a series that has gotten a bit mediocre lately. I've been reading this since the beginning, and I think readers like me will appreciate the return to the themes of the first book.

Another solid entry in Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway/Harry Nelson series. The book echoes events from the first in the series--another cold case involving a missing child, made urgent when a new-born is abducted. Nelson and his team race against the clock as they look for clues which may connect the cold case and the current one and which will allow them to find the missing baby before it's too late. As one expects from Griffiths, The Stone Circle is inhabited by complex characters in complex relationships, invokes a strong sense of place, and provides a page-turning intriguing mystery.

Elly Griffiths is a strong consistent writer, and this is why I return to the Ruth Galloway Mysteries again and again. This time we move strongly on the first Galloway Mystery by drawing on our memories of not only the original story, but all of its main characters. Already I look forward to the next.

In this latest installment in the Ruth Galloway series, we return in many ways to where everything began and it makes for a really good book. There is a juicy, multi-part mystery and a bit of archeology. There also appears to be some closure between Ruth and Nelson after the birth of Michelle’s baby, but things aren’t always what they seem.

In this book, Ruth isn’t whiny (for a change); Michelle isn’t quite perfect; and little Kate is really growing up. Nelson, however, remains the same. As always, though, it’s great to catch up with the charming secondary characters and to visit the Saltmarsh.

I thoroughly enjoy this delightful series and highly recommend this latest installment. My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

One of my favorite series is back with Dr. Ruth Galloway reliving memories of one of her first cases as a child's body is recovered at a dig site starting an investigation with roots in the past.

Ruth is an independent, intelligent woman, strong but vulnerable with skills, both scientifically and intuitive to solve crimes. She is not afraid to get involved when needed and her expertise is put to the test when a cold case resurfaces putting her back in contact with the father of her daughter and the feelings that have never gone away.

A surprising ending, likable characters and a location conveying the dampness and beauty of the salt marshes make this one you will not want to miss.

Archaeology professor Ruth Galloway is called to a Bronze Age burial site, but then identifies a second set of remains as more recent. The search for the murderer of what is soon identified as a young girl begins, with Nelson, Judy, Clough, and Tanya all interviewing people who knew twelve year old Margaret when she disappeared in 1981. Then there are mysterious letters, a missing baby, and another murder, and the police realize that all of their cases may be related. Elly Griffiths is an author that just seems to get better and better—I look forward to reading her skillfully plotted novels with exceptional characters.

Once again Ruth jumps into the fray to help solve a murder.. While a dig is in progress carefully digging through the layers, a newer burial is found right on top of the cist. the archaeologists are interested in. Old memories are dug up for Ruth as Eric, Leif's son is in charge of the dig. Katie knows Nelson is her father, but what happens if his other daughters find out? Ruth is torn between Nelson, who is marries, and Frank. The murder is solved, but not Ruth's love life. Good book all the way around.

I love the Ruth Galloway series: familiar characters, mostly familiar places, a good mystery for tickling the little grey cells! I found The Stone Circle particularly satisfying since the last Ruth Galloway title, The Dark Angel, was set in Italy, a departure from her usual scene of North Norfolk. I enjoyed The Dark Angel and I must say I really don't know how Ms Griffiths manages to keep her stories fresh time and again using the same characters and the same locale, but thankfully, she does! #TheStoneCircle #NetGalley

Elly Griffiths is one of my favourite authors and her latest book in this series did not disappoint.
DCI Nelson has received an anonymous letter relating to the disappearance of a young girl
in 1981. A body is then discovered in an dig and Ruth is called in to analyze the skeletal remains.
Another murder occurs during the investigation and you are kept guessing until the end who the
actual murderer is. The descriptions of the various characters are so well defined that you can visualize them immediately. Thank you for a wonderful read.