The Stone Circle (The Dr. Ruth Galloway Mysteries #11) by Elly Griffiths.

Follow Dr. Ruth Galloway as she helps solve a mystery in Norfolk. Although this is the eleventh book in the series, it can be read as a standalone. Ruth is a forensic archaeologist and her skills are vital in getting to the truth.

I have enjoyed reading the Dr. Ruth Galloway series and the usual cast of characters return to this novel. This gives a very cosy reading experience as it is very much like watching the latest series of Cold Feet on ITV1 television. All the characters are well developed and grow older together. The whole feel of this book is one of friends and family with a work/life balance nicely woven into the story.

I like how Elly uses real locations in her books, it adds so much to the story. Not only do we have real locations but also local culture and legends to enhance her tale. For example…

‘It’s an old Norfolk tradition,’ says Tom Henty, the desk sergeant who has been at the station for as long as anyone can remember. ‘Three knocks on the door and, when you go to answer it, there’s nobody there but Jack Valentine has left a present, usually in a brown paper bag.’ ‘I’ve never heard of that tradition,’ says Clough, halfway through his second breakfast of the day, ‘and I was born and brought up in Norfolk.’ ‘It’s an east Norfolk thing,’ says Tom. ‘I was born in Yarmouth.’

Elly is a master at how she sets a scene and is very descriptive, making you imagine that you are there. For example…

Ruth’s cottage is one of three at the very edge of the marshes. Her only neighbours are an itinerant Indigenous Australian poet and a London family who only visit for the occasional weekend. The road is often flooded in winter and, when it snows, you can be cut off for days.

The Saltmarsh is a bird sanctuary and, in the autumn, you can see great flocks of geese coming in to hibernate.

I found The Stone Circle to be a cosy mystery which has some soft humour along the way. For example…

At least she has arranged to meet Cathbad and his son, Michael, and, after their swim, the children play in the circle of hell known as the Soft Play Area and the adults drink something frothy which may or may not contain coffee.

The Stone Circle was a GOOD read for me and having read other books in the series, felt like a session on Facebook catching up with friends and family. I found it warm, awfully British and very easy to relate to. The Stone Circle was a comfortable read and gets 4 stars from me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Quercus Books for giving me a copy of this book on the understanding that I provide an honest review.