The Woman In Blue: A Mystery (Ruth Galloway Series Book 8)

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.

Another great book in the series of Ruth Galloway. As with real life this mystery is a little different from other "adventures" with Ruth in that other favorite characters take on more of the key roles in this story. But this is okay because the author gives the reader more history and nuances of these characters that have appeared in each of the books in the series.It is almost like an extended family with the reader learning more about each person as time goes on.The novel takes place in England in current times but it is not clear of the year{s). Ruth is a single unmarried mother who lives on the coast among marshes and small villages. She is an archeology professor at a local university and often helps the local police of which one, a married Chief Inspector who is married, is the father of her young daughter. She is delightfully flawed as are we all and the authors writing has wit, humor, and insight that adds pleasure in reading.Having read all the books in the series I think it adds to the pleasure of reading the next one. Each novel is different and one gains new knowledge about English history and English character. The author is a great writer and this book as well as the others in the series are veryenjoyable reading. I'll be waiting for the next one.

Elly Griffiths, "The Woman in Blue", is her eighth Ruth Galloway story and if you are a fan of this series, as I am, it's like a visit with old friends. And like any visit with old friends, things are always changing. Due to the circumstances that took place in prior stories, there is a major change with one of the characters. Attitudes are evolving and of course there is more than just one murder to solve! I enjoyed this story, and just like life itself, nothing stays the same. Unlike the past, Ruth is mostly a bystander, not doing as much digging for clues. But she is in the thick of the action, at the regret of DCI Nelson! If you are a Ruth Galloway fan, I recommend this story. After all, we fans have to keep tabs on Ruth's adventures and find out what she and are other friends are up too!

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.

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 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.

Ruth (an archaeologist), Cathbad (a druid) and Nelson (a detective inspector) all get together to solve the murder of several beautiful women with long blonde hair, and uncover the sender of a series of poison-pen letters to an old friend of Ruth’s. Like so many other novels, the story telling is quite good, the writing in places is very good – though in others the grammar and head-hopping is quite confusing, especially the change of tense mid-paragraph (much of the book is written in the present tense, though on occasion it slips into past tense.)The mystery holds the reader right until the end. There are enough characters with opportunity to keep you guessing, though motive is a bit thin on the ground. Unfortunately I was left a little disappointed with the ending where it sort of unravels when Nelson has an ah-ha moment, and figures out who did it.

Elly Griffiths never fails to drag me in and keep me hooked to the very end.Another fantastic instalment of The Ruth Galloway series.I feel like I say this every time I write a review for this series, but I really do feel like I grow along with the characters in every book I read. Ive formed such an attachment to them all, they feel like part of the family.I cannot wait, as always, to read the ninth book in this fantastic series