Welcome to another Tuesday celebrating bookish events, from Tuesday/First Chapter/Intros, hosted by Bibliophile by the Sea Every Tuesday, Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea posts the opening paragraph (sometime two) of a book she decided to read based on the opening. Feel free to grab the banner and play along.
This week the opener comes from The Woman in Blue by Elly Griffiths, the eighth in the Ruth Galloway series.
Blurb
When Ruth’s friend Cathbad sees a vision of the Virgin Mary, in a white gown and blue cloak, in the graveyard next to the cottage he is house-sitting, he takes it in his stride. Walsingham has strong connections to Mary, and Cathbad is a druid after all; visions come with the job. But when the body of a woman in a blue dressing-gown is found dead the next day in a nearby ditch, it is clear Cathbad’s vision was all too human, and that a horrible crime has been committed. DCI Nelson and his team are called in for the murder investigation, and soon establish that the dead woman was a recovering addict being treated at a nearby private hospital.
Ruth, a devout atheist, has managed to avoid Walsingham during her seventeen years in Norfolk. But then an old university friend, Hilary Smithson, asks to meet her in the village, and Ruth is amazed to discover that her friend is now a priest. Hilary has been receiving vitriolic anonymous letters targeting women priests – letters containing references to local archaeology and a striking phrase about a woman ‘clad in blue, weeping for the world’.
Then another woman is murdered – a priest.
As Walsingham prepares for its annual Easter re-enactment of the Crucifixion, the race is on to unmask the killer before they strike again… Amazon
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First Chapter ~ First Paragraph ~ Intro
PROLOGUE
19th February 2014
Cathbad and the cat look at each other. They have been drawing up the battle-lines all day and this is their Waterloo. The cat has the advantage: this is his home and he knows the terrain. But Cathbad has his druidical powers and what he believes is a modest gift with animals, a legacy from his Irish mother who used to talk to seagulls (and receive messages back.)
CHAPTER 1
DCI Harry Nelson hears the news as he is driving to work. ‘Woman’s body found in a ditch outside Walsingham. SCU request attend.’ As he does a handbrake turn in the road, he is conscious of a range of conflicting emotions He’s sorry that someone is dead, of course he is, but he can’t help feeling something else, a slight frisson of excitement, and a relief that he’s been spared that morning’s meeting with Superintendent Gerald Whitcliffe and their discussion of the previous month’s targets.
Please note these excerpts come from a proof copy
So what do you think? Do you want to know more?
If you have an opening to share, please leave your link in the comments box below.
Cathbad vs. a cat – now that’s a battle I want to see! I rather like this series, so I think I will be heading for it soon.
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It is a lovely series and I do love Cathbad.
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Just started it… 🙂
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Oh I’m wondering what you make of this one!
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Haven’t read enough to decide yet – too much tennis watching!
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I really like this series, Cleo, so I must say I don’t need much convincing… 😉 . I hope you’ll like it, too, and I’ll be keen to see what you think of it.
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Oh me too – I was thrilled to get a copy of this one.
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Well, I’m new to the series! But I think I’d keep on reading.
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It is a great series with some wonderful characters
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As always with your books, my interest is piqued!
My teaser today is from a book right in your wheelhouse:
Find Her by Lisa Gardner
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Thank you – I the sound of your book too.
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Not familiar with this series but, I would be willing to try it.
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It is a good one – thanks for visiting.
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This series is on my wish list…enjoy!
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Thank you Catherine 🙂
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I’ve never read this series before, but I like the sound of it… I’d keep reading had I read the other books.
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A good plan Jade 🙂
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Sounds like a good one. Happy reading.
sherry @ fundinmental My TT
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Thank you Sherry!
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Absolutely one of my favorite mystery series ever!!! And I love the first line – Cathbad and a cat. I can see it. I just love all the characters and am always so happy to see a new Ruth, Cathbad, Nelson, Kate…..etc…..book. Thanks for sharing this!!
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I do think it is a different experience reading an established series like this one – like you I get lots of enjoyment in meeting the familiar characters again and finding out what they are up to.
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I haven’t read any of the Ruth Galloway series, yet I feel I must. Knowing the kind of crime fiction that I enjoy, do you think I should give the first novel a try? Thanks in advance!
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I think you would enjoy these, there is a good mix of characters and mystery and as Ruth is an archaeologist there is often a different slant than usually found in crime fiction.
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I’m in! A Humanities Temperance Brennan!!
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Exactly 😉
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This is a series I am not familiar with either. But I like the tone of this current one. I will have to check out the first in the series, I’m weird like that.
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The whole series is very good – I do hope you enjoy it if you decide to embark on the series.
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I recently downloaded the first book in this series and now can’t wait to get to this one. Thanks for sharing. And thanks for visiting my blog today.
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You have a few to go but I almost envy you meeting all the wonderful characters for the first time.
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I really like the first paragraph. I understand the detectives feelings about a new case. I’m interested.
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It is something rarely acknowledged but a murder investigation must give detectives a thrill!
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I always want to know more about an Elly Griffiths’ book!
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🙂 She is an excellent writer isn’t she?
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Yes! The druid aspect interests me.
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He is a lovely character in this series.
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I’m not too keen on the description- I got a bit confused but I like the intro. The jury is out I think so I’ll wait for your review.
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I’m an easy sell for these as I love the series 🙂
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I like the cover and I would probably keep reading. Girl Who Reads
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I especially liked the prologue intro. 🙂
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It is quite playful isn’t it?
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I have a friend who speaks very highly of this series. It is one I would like to read. The intro you shared hooked me, even if that hadn’t been the case.
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It is a good one, I love the characters.
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Not familiar with this series. Happy reading.
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Thanks for visiting 🙂
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