'Night Hawks' is another treat of a read in Elly Griffith's Ruth Galloway series, I envy whoever still has to discover this series (or indeed read this book). In 'Night Hawks,' Ruth has returned to North Norfolk as head of Archeology at the university when Nelson asks her to help with a case where a group of metal dectectorists (the Night Hawks) discover a body, as well as Bronze Age artefacts in the salt marshes. As the stories of Griffith's brilliant usual cast of characters (Nelson, Cathbad, Judy..) develop alongside new characters, the mystery at the heart of the novel in true Griffith style twists and turns and keeps you hooked. A fantastic enjoyable read!

The Night Hawks by Elly Griffiths

A club of metal detectorists, night hawks, are out combing the beaches of north Norfolk for treasures when they come across the body of a young man, washed ashore. DI Nelson suspects he might be an asylum seeker but he soon learns that he was a local boy, recently released from prison. But close to this discovery another is made, a Bronze Age hoard with an ancient body, and it is that which brings forensic anthropologist Dr Ruth Galloway to the scene. Once more, Nelson and Ruth begin to work together. And then there are more deaths. The night hawks call in the police when they hear gun shots at Black Dog Farm – a man has killed his wife and then himself. Nelson suspects there is more to it, as do the locals, as rumours spread that the dead had seen the mysterious harbinger of death, the Black Shuck, a black dog, before they died.

I adore this series, just as I love everything that Elly Griffiths writes (I’ve recently finished her stand alone novel The Postscript Murders and can heartily recommend that as well). Ruth Galloway is one of my favourite people. She doesn’t feel like a fictional character to me. I’m so pleased every time she returns. The Night Hawks is the thirteenth novel in the series and, while you can certainly enjoy it as a stand alone novel, I would really recommend that you read at least one or two (or all!) of the earlier book first. The reason is that the true riches of these novels can be found not in their murder mysteries, although these are certainly enjoyable to unravel, but in their characters – Ruth, Nelson, Ruth’s daughter Kate, Cathbad, Jo, Nelson’s family, Ruth’s University colleagues. Their lives are entwined and complicated and I love them all (except for Ruth’s new colleague David, of course).

The relationship between Ruth and Nelson is one of the very best in any series being written today. We have been put through it as we watch their (not very) merry dance. The tension is great but the reasons against their relationship are just as great. It’s fabulous! And I love Kate. I rarely like children in fiction but I love this one. And I need a Cathbad in my life. He embodies the spirit of ancient wisdom that fills these novels. There is a huge sense of history and the past and, as a former archaeologist of many years, this really speaks to me – the pull of our past and its remains, the significance of the landscape, that tidal zone which mirrors the boundary between life and death.

Which brings me to another reason for this series’ huge appeal – the Norfolk coastal setting. It is glorious! The Night Hawks is set in one of my most favourite areas – Cley next the Sea and Blakeney, places I intend to return to as soon as You Know What lets me. Everything I love about these places is captured in The Night Hawks with an extra helping of something ominous, fearful and frightening. I love the mix of beauty and evil that fills these books.

The Night Hawks is, quite possibly, a cosy crime novel and I love it all the more for it, especially in these days. Everything that I want from a Ruth Galloway novel I found in The Night Hawks. I loved it. And what about Ruth’s new colleague David? Where is that going to go?! I could rave about these books all day and night. You could not find a warmer, kinder series of novels. Instead, I’ll urge you to read them and fall for Ruth, Kate and Nelson and their friends, just as I have.

Other reviews
The Chalk Pit (Ruth Galloway 9)
The Dark Angel (Ruth Galloway 10)
The Stone Circle (Ruth Galloway 11)
The Lantern Men (Ruth Galloway 12)
The Zig Zag Girl (Stephens and Mephisto 1)
The Vanishing Box (Stephens and Mephisto 4)
The Stranger Diaries
Now You See Them (Stephens and Mephisto 5)

I can't believe I haven't met Ruth Galloway before. I can't believe I only got to her by book 13 in the series. And yes, I can't believe I am reading book 13 because I always start at the beginning.

However, thanks to Netgalley, I got this chance to get acquainted with Elly Griffith' writing and her Dr Galloway. Now I definitely need to go back to the beginning. Even though Elly Griffith provides reader with some of the backstory, the most juicy and interesting bits are left out. I do want to know Ruth' story and the story of her relationship with grumpy indecisive Nelson...

The Night Hawks is the story of human nature (like most of the murder mysteries). It is about old secrets and festering pain. It is about protecting loved ones no matter what. 

Here you get a bit of everything: archaeology and  history, mythology and new age esoteric, village legends and metal detectorists looking for treasure, family puzzles and destruction of family ties. And the setting, did I mention it is set in Norfolk England. What a dream set of ingredients.  

My introduction into Elly Griffith writing was successful to the point of going back to the very beginning.

Ruth Galloway is back in her cottage in Norfolk. She is now boss of her university department & it is taking a while to get used to it. When a group of metal detectorists find a body she is called in as there are many archaeological sites nearby. Ruth finds herself working with Nelson, the father of her daughter again. Although the body is not an ancient one there are some finds nearby & a new member of her staff is keen to investigate. 

This is a great series of books. I'm ashamed to say I haven't read them all, but it is easy to slip back into the series. The magic to this series is the fantastic characters. I was pleased to see a lot of my favourite Druid, Cathbad! I'm left longing for the next one! Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

Interesting thriller with a bit of everything. Good characters,twists  lots of suspects and the myths and magic of the coast.. A good read.

A group of amateur detectorists come across a body and call in the police.  Nelson calls Ruth Galloway as forensic archaeologist but she is far more excited about the bronze age burial site nearby.  Then the police are called to a murder-suicide at a lonely farmhouse and slowly Nelson begins to realise that the two are linked.
The Ruth Galloway mysteries are just a really wonderful series to devour.  I love the North Norfold setting, there is a passion to the descriptions of landscape and the wide vistas evoke a loneliness and isolation which helps set the scene.  The knowledge of local lore is beautifully interwoven into each tale and the characters are well set and developing with each tale.  Nothing feels rushed or forced, the solutions are clear and do not seem contrived and the entertainment value is really high

As always, Elly Griffiths has written another wonderfully absorbing and clever mystery. I just love following the story of Ruth, Nelson and all the wonderful characters in this series. Start with number one and you will be hooked. I wait impatiently every year for the next one!

Definitely a worthy addition to this series by the author. It was a fast paced book, which i enjoyed reading.

A group of metal detectorists find a body washed up on a Norfolk beach. DCI Nelson is called to the scene and when he sees that the group had also unearthed some buried treasure he calls in Dr Ruth Galloway. The body is quickly identified as a young local man Jem Taylor who had recently been released from prison.
While Nelson is investigating Jem’s death Ruth has her hands full as the new Head of Department at UEA. Soon an apparent murder suicide at Black Dog Farm adds more complications for Nelson. The crimes appear to be linked but he is struggling to work out how.
Nelson has a feeling that the crimes are linked and that the link could be Black Dog farm but how and why would someone kill a young man and a married couple in such different ways. Ruth tries to concentrate on her own problems but finds herself being unwittingly sucked into the case.
I love the frisson between Nelson and Ruth and that in spite of everything Ruth still loves him.

The Night Hawks was as wonderful as all previous books in the series. I can’t get enough of Ruth and Nelson. I’d highly recommend this series to crime fans. Character’s stories just keep you going back for more. Elly Griffiths is a true storyteller. Can't wait for the next book in the series.

The thirteenth book in the series and I’ve read them all, a credit to the author Elly Griffiths as this is my comfort read and the only series I’ve continued.
Ruth has returned to Norfolk and her beloved cottage with daughter Kate, to head the department of her old stomping ground at the University of Old Norfolk.
Once again it is wonderful to become immersed in the old characters, as Ruth becomes involved when a body is found on the beach around the area where some archeological items are found. Lately I haven’t had much time for reading but I found myself immersed one afternoon and the story flowed wonderfully and kept my interest well.
I say this every time....you can read these as a stand alone, I equate them to a gentle murder mystery but you’ll get so much more from them if read in order, as they are very much character driven. And of course I’ll be waiting for the next book with baited breath to see what happens next.......
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.* I should start by saying that I am a bit fan of Elly Griffiths and I adore the Ruth Galloway series. 'The Night Hawks' is number 13 in this series and it did not disappoint. I love mystery stories, but I also love all of the backstory Griffiths provides as we find out about Ruth, Kate, Nelson and all of their friends and family. The book focusses on the apparent murder suicide at Black Dog Farm. Did the farmer kill his wife and then himself, or is the case more complicated again? And why do people keep seeing the Black Shuck around? Is it a sign?
As always a fascinating and engaging read. I can't wait for number 14 in the series!

I love this series, it is another great read which had me gripped and couldn't put down once I started.
Looking forward to reading more.

I love Elly Griffiths and Ruth Galloway but this book didnt take me in and engage me as much as usual. Whether it's my frame of mind, I'm not sure, so I won't post on any of the review sites as I think that would be unfair. I normally expect to be hooked straight away and I couldn't get into it enough, I gave it until 20% which I think is enough.

Really enjoyed this book. An easy going style to eat that kept attention throughout the story. Good attention to detail retained interest. Look forward to reading more from this author. Highly recommended.

Although I have read other books by Elly Griffiths, this is my first in the Ruth Galloway series. I appreciate there is quite a back story for all the main characters, but it does not detract from this and can satisfactorily be read as a stand alone.
The tale has a gentle pace combining archaeological digs, Norfolk folklore and modern day deaths to be investigated. All intertwined and well told and involving the relationships between the main characters.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Elly Griffiths/Quercus Books for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

EXCERPT: It's not until there's a shout of 'Tide!' that they realise the waters are almost upon them. Then there's another cry, coming from Troy, a young hawk stationed at the mouth of one of the estuaries winding back inland. His comrades splash over to him, taking care to keep their machines above water.

'There's something . . .' says Troy. 'I almost fell over it.' He's very young, still a teenager, and his voice wavers and breaks.

Alan, an older detectorist, reaches out in the dark to touch his shoulder. 'What is it, lad?'

But another of the hawks is pointing his torch at the ground by Troy's feet. And they all see it, first some clothes swirling in the incoming tide, a movement that gives the appearance of life. But then, caught in a clump of sea grass, a dead body, its arm outstretched as if asking for help.

ABOUT 'THE NIGHT HAWKS (RUTH GALLOWAY MYSTERIES #13)': 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 love this series. It definitely should be read as a series to fully appreciate the ongoing and evolving relationships between the characters.

Ruth is back at UNN, in the top job - head of department - and Frank has returned to America. Her daughter, ten-year-old Kate, is back at her old primary school in her last year before moving on to secondary school. Nelson is under pressure from his boss, Superintendent Jo Archer (Super Jo), to retire. Avoiding her is Nelson's main form of exercise. Cathbad is still raising his and Judy's children and is a practicing Druid. Judy is Nelson's 2-i-c, a DI now who is definitely a woman of two halves. She is an excellent police officer, thorough and dedicated to her job. In her personal life she doesn't much enjoy mixing with other people outside her and Cathbad's tight circle of friends.

The location of this mystery is Blakeney, a name which means Black Island, a place Cathbad describes as 'odd', having 'a lot of psychic energy', and home to the hyter sprites, little spider-like creatures that are said to live in tunnels underneath Blakeney and kidnap children.

Black Dog Farm, said to be home of the Black Shuck, a gigantic black dog with glowing red eyes who is the harbinger of death, has a tragic past, and is now the site of another tragedy.

Elly Griffiths can certainly do atmospheric. Her detailed telling of local legends and the way she weaves them through the fabric of her plots is nothing short of masterful. They add an extra creepy dimension to the already spooky house setting. Add in a dysfunctional family and the stage is set for a gripping and engrossing story that swept me along and had me chafing at the bit to get home from work and finish my read, to find out who was behind these killings and just what their motivation was.

If you have been following my reviews for this series, you will know that my ratings are usually closer to 5 than 4. But there is a loose thread in The Night Hawks left dangling, concerning the dead Doctor's secret room, the activities that were conducted there, and the records contained within. It seemed to me that this was left unfinished and deserved a little more attention than it received from the police.

An excellent addition to the series, that introduces a couple of new characters to the mix. I enjoyed Elly's author's note at the end, and Ruth's biography.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5


#TheNightHawks #NetGalley #ellygriffithsauthor @ellygriffiths

#contemporaryfiction #crime #familydrama #murdermystery #detectivefiction

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.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Quercus Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Night Hawks by Elly Griffiths for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/2021/02/08/the-night-hawks-ruth-galloway-mysteries-13-by-elly-griffiths/

The Night Hawks is the thirteenth book in the Ruth Galloway series and I will say what I have been saying about the previous books: Ruth and DCI Nelson’s complicated relationship is still interesting and entertaining, Cathbad is my favourite character, the plot is suspenseful and gripping and the list of suspects is long and well-built and I never figure out the truth until it is revealed.

Let’s start by talking about the mystery. A body is found on the beach of Norfolk by the Night Hawks, a group of metal detectorists who search for treasure during the night. Not only they found a body, but also ancient weapons and skull and that’s why DCI Nelson calls Ruth on the scene. While Nelson starts the investigation, he is called to another murder scene at Black Dog Farm, locally famous for its legend of the Black Shuck, a huge dog that it is a sign of impending death.

On the personal side, we see Ruth facing the fact that her daughter Kate is now ten years old, a few years short of becoming a teenager, and she already spends much time on her phone, goes to many birthday parties and sleepovers. In the meantime, DCI Nelson is trying to avoid his boss, Super Jo, who is pressuring him to retire, and he struggles with his loyalty to his wife and his family and his love for Ruth and Kate.

The Night Hawks is another win from Elly Griffiths. I loved the dark atmosphere and the sense of dread coming from Black Dog Farm that gave the story a chilling horror movie element. The story is riveting and captivating and, as usual, the incredible cast of characters kept me glued to the pages. Highly recommended!

The Night Hawks, a group of metal detectorists, are searching for buried treasure when they find a body on the beach in North Norfolk. 

The dead man might be an asylum seeker but he turns out to be a local boy, Jem Taylor, recently released from prison. Nelson at first thinks that Taylor's death is accidental drowning, but a second death suggests murder.

Dr Ruth Galloway is called to investigate a hoard of Bronze Age weapons found by local metal detectorists. But the search takes a sinister turn when the detectorists begin to fall fatally ill and an apparent murder-suicide of a couple at the isolated Black Dog Farm—could it be an ancient curse?

This is my first Ruth Galloway book, but there is enough description of the characters and their past in the plot, so I didn’t feel like I missed much.

The plot flows smoothly with some intriguing elements, some of which are quite hard to believe. Apart from the main plot and investigation, I really enjoyed getting to know all the different characters. Each of their stories was so fascinating and made this book an even more enjoyable read!

Thank You NetGalley and Quercus Books for this ARC!

The latest book in the Ruth Galloway series and as usual never fails to delight. Full of twists and turns and I enjoyed the developing relationship between Ruth, Nelson and Michelle. Was good to see characters from previous books come back to help out. 
Thank you to Netgalley and Quercus books for an advance copy.