The Locked Room: A Mystery (Ruth Galloway Mysteries, 14)

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 cottagebefore she lived therewith a peculiar inscription on the back. Ruth returns to the cottage 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 discovery, he breaks curfew to visit Ruth and enlist her help. But the further Nelson investigates the deaths, the closer he gets to Ruths isolated cottageuntil 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 SERIES Winner of the Edgar Award for Best Novel Winner of the Mary Higgins Clark Award Winner of the CWA Dagger in the Library Award Galloway is an everywoman, smart, successful and a little bit unsure of herself. Readers will look forward to learning more about her. USA Today Elly Griffiths draws us all the way back to prehistoric times . . . Highly atmospheric. New York Times Book Review Forensic 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