Picking up straight away from the events of the previous book helps serve as a reminder with how enjoyable these novels are. I suppose it may not make a difference to most readers, but having started a biological anthropology course just 3 months before reading this book I had enough knowledge to get infuriated at how superficial Griffith's presentation of forensic archaeology is. EXCERPT: At the end of the gallery she steps from tile to carpet and, to her surprise, finds herself in a red-walled Victorian study.

The story opens just before Halloween, whilst much of the investigation takes place all the way up until Christmas so makes for a perfect wintery read. When Dr Ruth Galloway discovers they were recently buried, DCI Nelson has a murder enquiry on his hands. A Room Full of Bones is another engrossing instalment in Elly Griffiths' series featuring archaeologist Ruth Galloway. Ruth's one year old daughter Kate is also delightful and I'll be interested to see if Ruth's reignited relationship with Max develops. As an Australian, I found some of this plot great but was a little perplexed about the ignorance of the modern day English characters.I was also irritated by the way that the author feels the need to tell us everything that has happened in the series up until now, to the point of spoiling little twists in the previous books (like what happened to her cat in The Crossing Places). As Ruth becomes further embroiled in the case, she must decide where her loyalties lie - a choice that her very survival depends on.

Ditto Bob Woonunga always with the furs as he cares about his people/ancestors but not other sentient beings. However, things do go a bit downhill when the bones of the child found under the house date back farther than the orphanage; this complicates everything. Aboriginal bones, animal cruelty, animal rights activists leaving deadly presents (an asp in an envelope? Forensic archeologist and academic Ruth Galloway is a captivating amateur sleuth-an inspired creation.The imagery of snakes is common to both medieval Christianity and Australian dreamtime stories and Elly Griffiths utilises this to full spooky effect has more than one character experiences terrifying hallucinations and portents of death. She mightn't have the most wonderful life skills - like most of us she is just stumbling through - but I love that too. I thought the part of the animal rights activist was negatively portrayed and it didn't ring true that someone who cared about animals so much would be happy to make their money from a horse racing yard also Cathbad being vegetarian but wearing fur didn't seem to make sense.

As always, the Norfolk setting is seamlessly integrated into the plot and used by author Elly Griffiths to add to the tension as the narrative nears conclusion. A Room Full of Bones also develops ongoing character storylines and relationships, including that between Ruth and DI Nelson, who is the father of her one-year-old daughter, Kate. It further develops the relationship between Ruth and Harry and the problems that rise up with Harry's wife.Ruth finds herself embroiled both professionally and personally in the fight to have the remains surrendered for repatriation to Australia.

She has a new job, home and partner, and is no longer North Norfolk police’s resident forensic archaeologist. We revisit old characters and meet some new ones, and the complicated lives and relationships continue to unfold. Yet it would have been a darker and much more interesting book if Griffiths had just killed him off suddenly and then seen where all the pieces landed. I could have done with reading more about Ruth's professional life and slightly less about her motherhood bliss and details of her domestic arrangements, but I am sure that as Kate gets older and more independent, Ruth will have more time for trouble.He informs Ruth that is the curse and he plans to enter the "Dreaming" to find Nelson and bring him back. Here we have mysterious deaths, drug smuggling, mysticism and enough horses to make a Dick Francis fan neigh with glee; but the actual mystery is almost incidental to the various inter-personal relationships between this circle of characters and I never felt particularly gripped by these relationships.