The Locked Room

THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

Forensic archaeologist Dr Ruth Galloway and DCI Harry Nelson are on the hunt for a murderer when Covid rears its ugly head. But can they find the killer despite lockdown?

'GALLOWAY NOW SEEMS AS REAL AS MARPLE AND MORSE' The Times

'INTENSELY ATMOSPHERIC AND GREAT' India Knight

Forensic archaeologist Dr Ruth is in London clearing out her mother's belongings when she makes a surprising discovery: a photograph of her Norfolk cottage taken before Ruth lived there. Her mother always hated the cottage, so why does she have a picture of the place? The only clue is written on the back of the photo: Dawn, 1963.

Ruth returns to Norfolk determined to solve the mystery, but then Covid rears its ugly head. Ruth and her daughter are locked down in their cottage, attempting to continue with work and home-schooling. Happily, the house next door is rented by a nice woman called Zoe, who they become friendly with while standing on their doorsteps clapping for carers.

Nelson, meanwhile, is investigating a series of deaths of women that may or may not be suicide. When he links the deaths to an archaeological discovery, he breaks curfew to visit the cottage where he finds Ruth chatting to her neighbour whom he remembers as a carer who was once tried for murdering her employer.

Only then her name wasn't Zoe. It was Dawn.

****

PRAISE FOR THE LOCKED ROOM

'Intelligent and gripping' Daily Express

'A terrific story' The Times

'This is Griffiths on top form' Mail on Sunday

'Charming from start to finish' Irish Independent

A Sunday Times bestseller w/c 07/02/2022

“Luckily for us, Elly Griffiths has perfected the formula that combines and intriguing mystery with emotional conflict. Her sense of place and sense of humour remain undimmed. Galloway now seems as real as Marple and Morse - The TimesSet in divine north Norfolk ... intensely atmospheric and great. I envy people who haven't come across them yetThe latest in the much-loved Ruth Galloway series ... As ever, the drama that is Ruth's domestic life interacts satisfyingly with an intricately wrought mystery - Mail on Sunday on THE NIGHT HAWKSElly Griffiths's great achievement in her Dr Ruth Galloway series has been to create an atmosphere as comforting as that of any traditional detective story and yet introduce to it credible crimes and lifelike characters with convincing preoccupations - Literary Review”

Lockdown provides a brilliant opportunity for Griffiths, bringing fresh drama into her characters' lives and she makes the most of it Sunday Times
Where other Covid-themed mysteries have felt uninspired, this entry in Elly Griffiths' brilliant Ruth Galloway series is an intelligent and gripping recreation of those first weeks of lockdown in 2020 Daily Express
A terrific story that allows Galloway and Nelson to get closer than they have been for years The Times, Best New Crime Fiction
Griffiths' Ruth Galloway series combines imaginative plotting, cleverly located in deepest Norfolk, with the everyday dramas of her cast of regular characters . . . This is Griffiths on top form Mail on Sunday
A classic English mystery from one of the leading authors in the field, charming from start to finish Irish Independent
Fans of gripping, clever thrillers will love this book Candis
Brilliantly plotted with complex mysteries to keep you turning the pages, there is also an intriguing cliff-hanger Promoting Crime Fiction
A mystery treat Peterborough Telegraph
A sheer reading pleasure Crime Fiction Lover
Brilliant, as ever Best

Elly Griffiths is the bestselling author of the Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries and the Brighton Mysteries. She has won the CWA Dagger in the Library, has been shortlisted five times for the Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year, and longlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger for The Lantern Men. Her new series featuring Detective Harbinder Kaur began with The Stranger Diaries, which was a Richard and Judy book club pick and won the Edgar Award for Best Novel in the USA. It was followed by The Postscript Murders, shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger and Bleeding Heart Yard. Elly has two grown-up children and lives near Brighton with her archaeologist husband.

THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER Forensic archaeologist Dr Ruth Galloway and DCI Harry Nelson are on the hunt for a murderer when Covid rears its ugly head. But can they find the killer despite lockdown? 'GALLOWAY NOW SEEMS AS REAL AS MARPLE AND MORSE' The Times 'INTENSELY ATMOSPHERIC AND GREAT' India KnightForensic archaeologist Dr Ruth is in London clearing out her mother's belongings when she makes a surprising discovery: a photograph of her Norfolk cottage taken before Ruth lived there. Her mother always hated the cottage, so why does she have a picture of the place? The only clue is written on the back of the photo: Dawn, 1963. Ruth returns to Norfolk determined to solve the mystery, but then Covid rears its ugly head. Ruth and her daughter are locked down in their cottage, attempting to continue with work and home-schooling. Happily, the house next door is rented by a nice woman called Zoe, who they become friendly with while standing on their doorsteps clapping for carers.Nelson, meanwhile, is investigating a series of deaths of women that may or may not be suicide. When he links the deaths to an archaeological discovery, he breaks curfew to visit the cottage where he finds Ruth chatting to her neighbour whom he remembers as a carer who was once tried for murdering her employer.Only then her name wasn't Zoe. It was Dawn.****PRAISE FOR THE LOCKED ROOM 'Intelligent and gripping' Daily Express 'A terrific story' The Times 'This is Griffiths on top form' Mail on Sunday 'Charming from start to finish' Irish Independent A Sunday Times bestseller w/c 07/02/2022

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