The Woman In Blue (Ruth Galloway Series Book 8) Kindle Edition

I thoroughly enjoyed this, as I've enjoyed all the previous mysteries in this series. But I think that the time has come for the authorto give us, her readers, and Ruth, her protagonist, a little more insight into the ties that bind her to Nelson so irrevocably that she hassent away another promising and appealing partner. In this, the most recent book, Nelson really doesn't have much, if anything, tooffer Ruth. Yes, he's the father of her child, and yes, there's a powerful sexual magnetism between them. But their temperaments andintellectual interests and emotional responses are very far apart. I can't imagine they're making a go of it if Michelle weren't in the picture.It's a relationship based on yearning. Is it time for Ruth to face up to this, truly, rather than submitting to an undertow? I don't meanto imply a therapeutic ending to this wonderful series, but rather to hope for a deepening in one direction (a more dimensional Nelson) or another(a more self-questioning Ruth). Is this remove from daily life what she really wants, with Nelson serving as reason and excuse? Who knows? At this point, I'd like her to know.

It's been a while since I've read a Ruth Galloway book, and diving into this just felt so familiar. Thought it is a series that is definitely more dark and somber, it still made me happy to see these characters again. I love how real Ruth is, she is smart and successful with a lovely daughter, but still riddled with self doubt sometimes. I am hoping that maybe she will become even more confident in herself in the future (and I wish she would let go of her attachment to Nelson, even though it might break her heart).This mystery involved a lot of images of women and motherhood and religion. How these all mix (or don't sometimes) and I loved how even though so many characters claim not to be religious, some of the symbolism or acts really start to get them thinking. There is a lot of introspection (both deep and shallow) in these characters throughout the series and I think that's why I feel so connected to them.The mystery had me stumped, because I suspected absolutely everyone. There seemed no motive for the murder and thus that made the field of suspects wide. Anonymous letters, links to the various clergy involved, and possible past grievances. Anyone could secretly harbor hatred for their own, not always rational reasons. I was surprised and thus very intrigued by the ending and the culprit.I keep returning to this series because I absolutely love all these characters. I would befriend Ruth and Judy (who I need MORE of) in a second. Especially when Clough makes me laugh, Cathbad has me smiling, or even when I'm shaking my head at Nelson's attitude. I also love this writing and the descriptions of everything are just so vibrant. I can't wait to see more of them and also what development hopefully happens down the road.

I enjoy the plots, I enjoyed the first 8 books in the series. I like the characters and their nuances. I just wish that the love triangle has stopped in the 4th book. Honestly, I have no empathy/sympathy for Ruth situation.she got involved with a married man, hey I don't judge her for it. But what annoys me is the countless pages of Ruth going on about her current situation. Get over it, move on. You had your chances.it seems less about love and more about taking Nelson from Michelle. As you can see my review is more about the stupid triAngle, than the mysry, but I guess is part of the plot. I just think is confusing that she is so understand free thinking but she continues to line for Nelson.

8 books in and I am still loving Elly Griffiths Ruth Galloway series. In this novel, the archeological aspect is almost nonexistent, and the mystery doesn’t necessarily make sense. Thankfully, the book is saved by the likability of our reoccurring characters.Even without an archeological focus, Ruth gets involved in a case about the murder of a blonde woman found outside a church, because an old school friend was in the area for a conference. Of course Cathbad is involved because he saw her in a churchyard shortly before her death.Nelson is less than pleased with this case, because the victim looks strikingly similar to his wife and daughters. Clough makes a point to mention it every chance he gets.The suspects range from patients in rehab, to priests. Everything has a religious undertone. Whether the characters are pondering their childhood experiences with church, or investigating mysterious relics, the stories of the Bible keep smacking you in the face.The ending is a bit odd and left me with so many questions. Do people really believe others will become better people if you just pray for them, rather than enforce consequences? What triggers dormant jealousy, and how does that jealousy manifest itself into homicide?Maybe the questions have a purpose though. Maybe the readers are supposed to realize the even with evidence and confessions, not all cases can be wrapped up with a little bow. The human mind is vast, and we don’t know what drives any of us.

I have read 10 of the 11 books in this series since May, 2019. This is one series that you must read in order. Otherwise, I think you're going to be confused about some of the characters and their behaviors. I have become invested in the lives of all the main characters, and I always look forward to reading the next entry in the series. I love the historical tidbits and the archeological info that the author brings to the book. Some reviewers have said the series is a bit of a soap opera, but my life is a bit of a soap opera, so I don't mind at all! I love Ruth Galloway and her struggles with her career and single-motherhood. It's life, and she dealing with it!

A solid mystery, but this is far more about the personal lives of the regular characters – 5 StarsI couldn’t bring myself to give this less than the full five-star rating, although this, the eighth book in the Dr Galloway series, deviates from the reason that drew me to the series in the first place. That Ruth Galloway is a forensic archaeologist is all but irrelevant in this story, and gone too are key threads involving excavations, burial finds, and references to forensic science. As with the previous books though, this is extremely well-written and engaging, and if your attraction to the novels is the personal lives of the regular characters, then this is sure to please.With the role and power of the feminine featuring in both the mystery element and much of the character-led storyline, this often centred around themes of fidelity and motherhood. When Ruth is persuaded to come to Walsingham, she finds herself immersed in a course of events where the past and the present seem to collide. Anonymous letters to a priest, visions rooted in legend, the body of a young woman, and an outdoor production of a passion play are seamlessly woven together to produce a very entertaining tale. However, much of the story revolves around the relationships between the regular characters, and although certainly eventful, did leave me feeling I was reading a soap opera rather than a mystery at times.

The 8th book in the Ruth Galloway series is unusual in that she is not involved in an archaeological dig, but the reward is that we see more of her everyday life, as a mother, researcher and a woman with feelings. Meanwhile there is a crisis in Nelson’s personal life which might change everything for both of them. But these events don’t detract from another thrilling murder story with many likely culprits.Walsingham is one place in north Norfolk which I have never visited but its religious history is shown to us during the story and adds to the suspense and frightening atmosphere. It is a very visual account and would make a wonderful episode in a TV series.What makes Elly Griffiths’ books such a pleasure to read are her amusing observations and delightful characterisation“Cathbad has always enjoyed a psychic rapport with Ruth’s cat Flint. This cat, whose name is Chesterton, is a different proposition altogether. Whereas Flint is a large and lazy ginger Tom whose main ambition is to convince Ruth that he is starving at all times, Chesterton is a lithe and sinuous black creature, given to perching on top of cupboards and staring at Cathbad out of disconcertingly round, yellow eyes. He has ignored the food that Cathbad carefully weighed out according to instructions. He might be living on mice, but Chesterton does not look like an animal who is governed by his appetites. He’s an ascetic if Cathbad ever saw one.”The Woman in Blue deals with attitudes to women, especially in a religious context, contrasting worship of the Virgin Mary with disgust at the idea of women priests. Ruth’s independence and Nelson’s complex family situation demonstrate many different aspects of life today. This is definitely a book to be read after book 7, The Ghost Fields, and is a most rewarding read.

Great read. Elly Griffiths books are a nice gentle pace. I feel as though I know the characters personally and enjoy reading about their lives. Also I like the historical elements of the stories. I have read all of her books and I now have to wait for the next ones to come out, not very patiently I might add. I love all crime books but these are a welcome change from some of the blood and gore of other writers. I would recommend Elly Griffiths for the great easy pace, well written and characters you can become invested in.

I have been reading the Dr. Ruth Galloway books in order, and have enjoyed them all to date. The previous three (no’s.5, 6 and 7) I thought were particularly good. This one was a bit of a disappointment. The plot was enjoyable enough, if a bit far-fetched, but the ending was weak and rather ridiculous. In contrast to the previous books in the series, this plot had little to do with forensic archaeology so there was no real role for Dr. Galloway other than a contrived bit of research she passes on to Nelson. She and Nelson spend the whole book being distant and curt with each another and there is no development of the relationship. I will nonetheless be reading the next book in the series, in the hope that the author returns to form!

I read the first book in this series and thought it had great promise so l have read each book back to back up to Women in Blue. Sadly this makes the formulaic nature of the plots very obvious. Very light reading that l found disappointing. I was hoping for interesting character development but this didn't happen, the central characters remain much the same, with a few more drafted in with each novel and then discarded. The tortuous relationship between the principal characters Ruth and Nelson becomes so irritating that l might read the final novel in this series for the promise of closure but otherwise l am abandoning them I'm afraid.