First published 2009
Ruth Galloway works her brush across ancient bones in the Norfolk marshes, where Bronze Age people lived thousands of years ago. The forensic archaeologist knows the Saltmarsh site better than anyone after years of careful excavation. Then police find a fresh body near her dig. Detective Chief Inspector Harry Nelson wants Ruth's help with the murder case. She feels more comfortable with old bones than new crimes. Archaeological evidence follows clear rules. Carbon dating gives answers. Soil samples reveal facts. But this recent corpse creates problems her scientific methods cannot solve. Ruth moves from her university office to the coastal marshland, torn between her academic work and Nelson's investigation. The windswept landscape holds mysteries from different time periods. Ruth learns that ancient history and modern murder connect in unexpected ways. Her scholarly training clashes with police work as she discovers some questions cannot be answered through traditional research.
Genres: fiction, historical-fiction, mystery, crime, archaeology, thriller, detective, academic
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-detective, fish-out-of-water, reluctant-sleuth
Setting: Norfolk, Saltmarsh
Period: Bronze Age, Contemporary
576 pages · Hardcover · Reader's Digest Association Ltd.