Locked Room

Pandemic lockdowns have Ruth Galloway feeling isolated from everyone but a new neighboruntil Nelson comes calling, investigating a decades-long string of murder-suicides thats looming ever closer, in USA Today Elly Griffiths penultimate novel in the beloved series.Three years after her mothers death, Ruth is finally sorting through her things when she finds a curious relic: a decades-old photograph of her own Norfolk cottagebeforeshe lived therewith a peculiar inscription on the back. Ruth returns to the cot-tage to uncover its meaning as Norfolks first cases of Covid-19 make headlines, leaving her and Kate to shelter in place there. They struggle to stave off isolation by clapping for frontline workers each evening and befriending a kind neighbor, Zoe, from a distance.Meanwhile, Nelson is investigating a series of deaths of women that may or may not be suicide. When he links a case to an archaeological dis-covery, he breaks curfew to visit Ruth and enlist her help. But the further Nelson investigates the deaths, the closer he gets to Ruths isolated cot-tageuntil Ruth, Zoe, and Kate all go missing, and Nelson is left scrambling to find them before its too late.PRAISE FOR ELLY GRIFFITHS AND THE RUTH GALLOWAY SERIESWinner of the Edgar Award for Best NovelWinner of the Mary Higgins Clark AwardWinner of the CWA Dagger in the Library AwardGalloway is an everywoman, smart, successful and a little bit unsure of herself. Readers will look forward to learning more about her. USA TodayElly Griffiths draws us all the way back to prehistoric times . . . Highly atmospheric. New York Times Book ReviewForensic archeologist and academic Ruth Galloway is a captivating amateur sleuthan inspired creation. I identified with her insecurities and struggles, and cheered her on. Louise Penny