I never started Elly Griffiths' Ruth Halloway series because I always feel overwhelmed jumping into a series that has so many installments but now that I have read The Frozen People, I realize what I've been missing.

The Frozen People is the start of a new series, focused on Ali Dawson, a detective who is part of a small team who travel back in time to solve cold cases. A clever premise and a believable cast of characters really set The Frozen People apart from its fellow police procedurals. Exceptional setting gives this book a hybrid historical fiction-crime-mystery feel. Weaving through time, Ali begins to investigate a story that hits a bit close to home. Original, fast-paced, and the absolute perfect book to get completely sucked into. Ruth Halloway, here I come!

“The Frozen People,” by Elly Griffiths, Pamela Dorman Books, 304 pages, July 8, 2025.

Detective Sergeant Alison Dawson is one of the five members of the Department of Logistics in the East End of London. They investigate cold cases and recently solved a disappearance from the 1970s.

Under the management of Detective Chief Inspector Geoff Bastian and physicist Seraphina "Jones" Pellegrini, this small team has a secret: they can travel back in time. They call it going through the gate. They don’t act on anything; they just observe. To return, they must stand in the exact same spot as when they arrived at an agreed upon time.

Ali, 50, has three ex-husbands and an adult son, Finn Kennedy. Finn is now a Ministerial Special Advisor to Tory Member of Parliament and Prime Minister hopeful Isaac Templeton. Some officials in government are aware of what the investigators do.

Geoff tells Ali that they’ve been asked to travel back to 1850s London to clear the name of Templeton’s great-great-grandfather, Cain Templeton. Rumor has it that Cain was part of a group called The Collectors, whose price of admission was the murder of a woman. He was suspected of committing three murders, but was never charged. Isaac wants to clear his ancestor’s name.

Ali arrives in the Victorian era and soon finds another murdered woman. She is only to be in that time period for one hour, but when she doesn’t return for days, Finn goes to the team for answers. He learns that they are planning to rescue Ali, who is apparently trapped. If Ali doesn’t get back, will that change the present? To add to the tension, Finn is then arrested for a murder.

The plot slowly builds in both timelines. While I believe a man would have an easier time navigating Victorian England than a woman, if you suspend disbelief for a time travel novel then you have to go along with the whole premise. But it is a fascinating plot, the atmosphere seems real and the characters are enjoyable.

I rate it five out of five stars.

In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

Thank you so much to Viking Books for the gifted ARC!

3.5 stars

This one was fun and felt so fresh and original to me!

I'm very hit or miss on time travel books as a lot of them come across very corny and cheesy to me. I'm happy to say that the time travel aspect of this one was done so well and really impressed me! The explanation behind the science of it, the character's preparation for it, and the struggle to get back were all so interesting to read about!

Ali Dawson is using time travel to go back in time and solve a murder mystery. She has no idea what clues her journey will reveal, but one thing is certain, she will be shocked by what she uncovers in the past! Her trip takes her to 1850s London which was such a fine place/time period to learn so much about through her time travels.

The characters themselves were very lovable and I almost got some THURSDAY MURDER CLUB vibes from them, and if you know how much I love that series, you know how big of a compliment that is! I was rooting for them the whole time!

I do feel like I was left wanting more at the end as it wasn't as fully fleshed out as I would have liked. I still definitely want to read more by Elly Griffiths and still think this one was absolutely worth reading!

Elly Griffiths is a beloved author for good reason, and her skillful plotting and great characterization, as well as empathy and gentle humor, are in evidence in her newest title, The Frozen People. Definitely a departure from her earlier series, The Frozen People features a little known (deliberately) UK government department focused on solving cold cases via time travel. Team member Ali Dawson gets sent back farther then the department has ventured before - to the 1850s - in pursuit of information that could be pertinent to a prominent modern UK family. Her experiences as a modern woman dealing with 1850s dress, manners, and living conditions are vividly drawn. And when her return to the present doesn't happen as planned, Ali must rely on her wits and instincts to both survive and to pursue the truth, not realizing that her grown son Finn is in legal trouble back in modern day London. I love this title, and can't wait to see what happens next for Ali!

As a massive fan of Elly Griffiths stories, her newest series enticed me with its intriguing premise. Ali works for a cold case unit in London, but to solve crimes, they can travel back in time to see the crime occur. When a case comes in from an MP to solve a mystery from the 1850s that has haunted his family for years, Ali takes the case. Soon after, another modern crime occurs with connections to the 1850 crime and thus begins a complicated journey to the truth. Time travel can be hit or miss, but Griffiths does it well, making it seem like a natural occurrence. She also leaves a few threads open, making the reader wonder what happens next in her next iteration. Griffiths blends mystery with a dash of sci-fi that should satisfy fans of both genres and leave them wanting more.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

I’ll admit, it took me a while (about 25% to 40% into the book) before this story really grabbed me. The premise is undeniably intriguing: time traveling investigators sent back to the 1850's to uncover suspicious behavior and murders. But the opening chapters were heavy on exposition and world building, which slowed the pace early on. It’s understandable, given the complexity of the setup, but it did take some patience.

As with many dual timeline stories, one narrative was definitely more compelling than the other for me. Still, both threads contributed to a layered and ultimately satisfying story. But the ending totally caught me off guard. I had my theories, but I was wrong, and that’s always a win in a mystery like this.

Despite the slow start, The Frozen People delivers a unique blend of historical intrigue and speculative mystery that pays off in the end. If you stick with it, you’ll be rewarded with clever twists and solid entertainment.

Many thanks to NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Viking Penguin Pamela Dorman Books, and Elly Griffiths for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

A bit of a departure for Elly Griffiths, but retains her aptitude for charming characters and tricky mystery. I do love a good time-travel story that includes in-depth historical details, so I especially liked seeing Griffiths' characters experience 1850. Not being able to dress by yourself as a woman, having to use a chamber pot, the temperance movement making it easier for the recovering alcoholic to say no to a drink--all of it really satisfied my need to know more about the historical time period. The mystery was not *quite* as satisfying for me, personally,, but was compelling enough and definitely kept the story rolling.

In "The Frozen People," Elly Griffiths ventures into bold new territory, creating a series that merges the methodical investigation of cold cases with an extraordinary twist. The result is a novel that defies easy classification—part procedural mystery, part speculative fiction, and part philosophical exploration of time, identity, and the weight of the past.

Ali Dawson is a fifty-year-old detective with a complex history. She finds herself embroiled in an investigation unlike any other when she's tasked with examining a nineteenth-century case that has remained unsolved for over a century. What begins as a request to clear a disgraced ancestor's name rapidly evolves into something far more complex and perilous, forcing Ali to navigate not only the mechanics of detection but also the profound disorientation of operating outside her familiar world.

Griffiths establishes her mystery with exceptional care, embedding clues organically while deploying sophisticated misdirection. As the story ventures into uncharted territory, Griffiths maintains narrative control through careful world-building and momentum that never flags.

The real drama of the story lies in Ali's protective instincts toward Finn, which collide with her realization that her employers operate by different rules than she had assumed. It's this emotional clarity that distinguishes "The Frozen People" from other genre-blending mysteries. When Finn becomes entangled in a contemporary murder case, Ali's professional duty transforms into something far more personal and urgent.

Griffiths avoids melodrama, instead crafting moments of quiet unease and hard-won revelation. Rather than relying on evidence reveals, Griffiths builds her investigation through richly drawn relationships—Ali's hard-won pragmatism navigating colleagues who harbor competing agendas, while discoveries blur the boundaries between past and present players. The resolution satisfies on multiple levels, answering the central questions while confronting larger inquiries into predetermination and choice.

If there's a weakness, it's that some of the novel's philosophical underpinnings, particularly around predetermination and the ethics of intervention, are sketched rather than fully developed. But this restraint feels deliberate. As the inaugural volume in what promises to be an ongoing series, "The Frozen People" establishes its world with the patience of a long game, inviting readers to return not just for answers but for deeper entanglements with its central conceits.

Griffiths has crafted something genuinely distinctive: a mystery with serious thematic ambitions that never loses sight of its fundamental obligation to entertain. "The Frozen People" succeeds both as a smart, propulsive investigation and as a meditation on the persistence of the past, the fragility of justice, and the sacrifices we make for those we love. It's an impressive beginning to what should prove a compelling series.

This review is based on an advance reader copy provided by NetGalley and Penguin Group Viking Penguin | Pamela Dorman Books.

I wanted to like this book so much, but unfortunately it fell flat for me. The concept and plot all sounded exciting and interesting, but the storytelling made it slow moving in parts especially when the MC was in Victorian London. It all seemed one big red herring and waste of time. Also, the whodunit part was fairly predictable and I guessed who the killer was halfway through the story.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving a complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another winner from Elly Griffiths! I am a sucker for a time travel story and really enjoyed this one. The characters were well constructed and the pacing was near perfect. Most of Elly's main characters are middle-age and older, which is so appreciated in fiction. I love that you get to see them living rich lives and being romantic. So many authors seem to think that life ends at 30.

It is the first in a new series and I'm very excited to read the next few in the series.

Disappointing. I’ve enjoyed all of Elly Griffith’s other series and I love a time travel story but this one just didn’t come together for me. Nothing feels fully realized - not the characters, not the super secret police department, and certainly not the time travel mechanics. It’s all a bit too hand-wavy. Not to mention the complete lack of concern about solving the cold case the team is assigned which sets this story in motion.
That said, I’ll probably give the 2nd book a go when it comes out, but it best be spectacular if I’m going to go any further with this series

This time travel mystery introduces Ali Dawson and her associates who are police investigators of cold crimes. They have an advantage unknown to other such investigators. They can travel back in time. They are part of a secret program known only to the highest echelons of government.

One of the ones who know about the project is Justice Minister Isaac Templeton. He wants the team to go back to 1850 to clear one of his ancestors of accusations of murder. Ali is the one chosen to make the leap, but things go wrong. Ali finds herself stranded in 1850 when an apparent murderer takes her place when she was supposed to return. Ali needs to survive until her team finds a way to retrieve her.

But in the present time, Isaac Templeton is found murdered, and his administrative aid Finn Kennedy is accused of the crime. Finn happens to be Ali's son. With a police force under pressure from higher up to find a killer, he is arrested despite some glaring holes in the case. The idea of explaining about the time travel is a non-starter both because of its secrecy and its lack of believability.

Ali does manage to return to the present in order to work on her son's case, but a colleague needed to take her place in 1850. He begins his own investigation and learns some secrets.

This was an entertaining story. I liked the way the viewpoint is split between Ali and John who are the two time travelers and Finn. The plot was twisty and, while the murder of Isaac Templeton is resolved, there are enough loose ends to provide for future stories.

I had some doubts about this book--while I am a longtime fan of Griffiths's mysteries, especially her Ruth and Nelson series, the premise seemed impossibly complicated (time travel involved in solving cold cases). It's not as complicated as it sounds, perhaps because the detectives themselves don't really understand how and why it works, but there IS a lot going on in this novel--at least two murders in an at least two centuries, detective Ali's team in modern London, the suspect group she finds herself among when she gets stranded in 1850, and the political scene her son Finn inhabits as support staff for a Member of Parliament. It's a lot of people, trapped in multiple unmanageable situations, and not all of it gets untangled in this book. It feels very much like a series starter, and while I want to read more, I also don't feel the deep connections to Griffiths' characters that I usually feel. I think Ali and her team have a lot of potential, and I will definitely read the sequel I assume is coming, but they need fleshing out.

Thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my free earc in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are all my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. All opinions stated here are my own.
Time travel books are so fun, but when you throw in a mystery, its amped up. Griffiths tackles a challenge of making the 'then' and 'now' integrated in a way that is seamless and not confusing to the reader, but instead the reader is compelled to follow along to see what the outcome of the mystery will be.
I found the book to have a good pace and the characters well developed. I enjoyed the time travel aspects fun and interesting. This should be a best seller.
I don't run this kind of book club, but I think fans of Elly Griffiths, time travel, and mysteries will enjoy this book.
4*

Thank you to Penguin group and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ARC!

Absolutely brilliant! I was a little nervous about this one because I find that time-travel can be a hard concept to execute. I typically end those books confused, irritated, and not looking forward to another book with time-travel in it. This was NOT one of those books, Elly Griffiths is truly such a talented storyteller, there was not a page I didn't thoroughly enjoy. It was fun , the characters were very well-written, and I would recommend this book 100%.

Holly Collins

A new addition to Elly Griffiths already significant authorship. This one involves traveling through time, ending up in 1850 London, whisking back to present day London - some of the buildings are the same, the present-day museum holds some of the same gruesome items Ali saw in 1850.
Ali works for the police unit dealing with cold cases - and they mean really old, unsolved mysteries. Her team is asked to investigate an MPs great grandfather and the rumors surrounding him. Ali time travels back to 1850 and meets the man in question. Getting stuck there for several days adds to her stress level. Upon her return, she finds her son has been charged with murder of the MP; after all, his DNA is on the lips of the MP. How could this have happened?
Ali and her crew of detectives set out to solve the mystery. I confess, I kept looking for Ruth Galloway to show up and sort out the forensics - didn't happen, but I think Ali will have this case well in hand.

I could see what this book was trying to do, but it didn't quite succeed in execution. I was never convinced that Cain was any kind of villain, murderer, etc. - he simply wasn't developed enough as a character for me to draw any conclusions at all. And as much as the author tried to make us believe there was chemistry between him and our main character, I simply never felt it. The time-travel technology seemed internally inconsistent. What I was quite satisfied with, however, was the present-day mystery and its conclusion. While I wouldn't seek out a sequel for this one, it wasn't a bad read as a standalone.

United States Publication: July 8, 2025

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Viking Penguin | Pamela Dorman Books for this advanced reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.

DS Ali Dawson is enjoying her late-in-life career as a copper, specifically serving on a cold case team. But this isn't just any cold case unit; this is a department that, yes, investigates cold cases. However, the way they go about it is unconventional, potentially controversial, and definitely would have its skeptics if their methods were revealed. Ali and her team time-travel to solve these cold cases. They are so cold, they are frozen—as the department likes to say. So far, Ali and the team have only traveled as far back as the 1970s to gather evidence, and they've only stayed in the past for no longer than an hour. It's early days with the discovery that time travel is possible, so what would happen to someone who stayed in a different time for longer than an hour is unknown. The other restriction to this department's investigations is that any evidence they discover in the past has to be found in the present if they want to reopen the case for solving. The team is not allowed to bring anything from the past into the present; they are only allowed to observe and note where the evidence might be found in the present.

When politician Isaac Templeton approaches the team, asking if they can travel back to 1850 and clear his great-great-grandfather's name from the murder of three women, and requests Ali be the one to travel, the team accepts once their scientist, Jones, says she believes it's possible. After weeks of research and preparation, Ali travels to 1850 for an hour. At least that was the plan. But when her return to 2023 doesn't happen as planned, Ali finds herself stranded in 1850 while the team in 2023 scrambles to figure out how to get her back. Meanwhile, in 2023, Ali's son Finn is grassed up when Isaac Templeton is found murdered. Are the two circumstances connected? Can the rumors about Cain Templeton have something to do with the death of his great-great-grandson 173 years later? If so, how?

It will take some diligent science and police work to unravel the Templeton family and retrieve Ali from 1850 so she can return home to Finn and help him prove his innocence on this side of time.
Having said farewell to Ruth Galloway, Griffiths says hello to Ali Dawson. The two women are similar in that they both travel to the past to help solve the present. One does so figuratively through her career as an archaeologist, and the other does so literally through the science of time travel. While I haven't read all of the titles Griffiths has authored (but it is a goal of mine), I believe this is the first time she has attempted using science fiction. And her attempt is successful, in my opinion. The idea of solving cold, ahem frozen, cases using time travel is smart. But, as Griffiths includes in her story, it has some restrictions and boundaries. Ali Dawson is a confident, no-nonsense yet compassionate character. I like that Griffiths has created her to be in the second part of her life, both in career and life experiences. How the first book in this new series ends has me scratching my head over what the time gap between books 1 and 2, within the series, will be. I can't say more, or I'll be a spoiler. I'm really pleased to be starting this series as it begins. While I wait for Griffiths to write and publish book 2, I can always read all the other books she's authored, as I've become a massive fan of hers.

There's a lot left unexplained in here dealing with the time travel part. It's easy to do when you suggest it's all handled by a brilliant physicist who doesn't give too much of the mechanics away. That adage about if you time travel you should only observe, because even a small interaction can change the present timeline.

Well... whoops. The previous trips the team was invisible and couldn't interact with people. This one, Ali is stranded in 1850 as a "real" person and needs to survive there until a new portal can be opened. Of course that changes things, but by the end of the book it doesn't appear to have changed too much. Since this is the first in a series, there might be more disruption than we now know. As for the mystery Ali is sent back to help resolve, well, it's pretty standard.

The depiction of life in 1850 is well-done with the exception of the infamous London fog. The food, the clothes are all researched and it might surprise people to read how different those are from today.

eARC provided by publisher via NetGalley.

No matter if you are an avid or a novice reader of Victorian age books, Frozen People will appeal to you. The novice will be easily immersed into the era with Griffith’s adaption of time travel. The avid reader will experience many unexpected turns and this should be the start of a long evolving series.

Thank you Netgalley and Pamela Dorman Books for providing me with a digital review copy.