Monday, January 26, 2015

Book Review {2015:3] The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths



288 pages

Distractingly flowery in the first couple of chapters, the writing nevertheless settles down into a pleasing little detective drama. It reads very much like TV, and leaves the reader with a distinct feeling that the author has one eye to possible dramatisation. 
The plot follows a university 'forensic archeology' lecturer and her surprising co-option by a police detective to solve his cold child abduction case. There's stereotypes aplenty: gruff detective, moody birdwatcher, new age druids that interrupt archeology digs - what you might expect to see in a standard episode of Midsomer in other words (even a poor woman who starts helping the police and then finds herself in grave peril).
A couple of real niggles. The chief protagonist is obsessed with bring overweight and goes on and on a boat being over 12 stone.  Perhaps she's only 4ft tall and that's the issue, but I for one don't consider myself to be a heifer, but haven't seen 12 stone for quite some time.  In addition her inner thoughts and behaviour are so bizarre at times I wondered if Elly Griffiths was a man. I'm still not sure. 
There's nothing new here in terms of storyline, there's no surprises, but enough twists and turns to keep the reader amused. I didn't hate this book, but it's not a keeper. 


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