Staying Up All Night

My winter reading slump can officially be considered over, thanks to The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon and The Crossing Places (Ruth Galloway #1) by Elly Griffiths. Both of these books kept me up well past my bedtime.

This book was incredibly creepy and suspenseful. McMahon created an atmosphere where you spend your entire reading experience tensed up, expecting something to jump out of the closet, even though nothing ever does.

The story alternates between three viewpoints: the diary of Sara Harrison Shea living in the late-19th century, Ruthie in the modern day, and Kathleen also in the modern day. Sara grew up hearing about “sleepers” and when her daughter dies, she becomes obsessed with creating one. At first, it is really unclear how these three women are related, but as the book progresses the net slowly closes around them. There are so many twists and turns as the story hurtles toward the end. There were a few twists I saw coming, but the end was really shocking to me. Highly recommend reading, do not recommend reading in bed.

This book is the first in the Ruth Galloway series. Galloway is a professor of paleontology in the UK who the police ask to consult on a missing child’s case. Originally just brought in to identify the bones, she of course becomes ensnared in the mystery. Ruth is a kickass professory who embraces her fat identity and takes no prisoners, while simultaneously not being afraid to cry when the situation gets really f-ing terrifying.

I loved how mythology and anthropology are used in this story. Griffiths really commits to Galloway being a paleontologist by giving her tons of niche knowledge. What I didn’t love was how convenient aspects of the mystery were. There were a lot of connections to Ruth that caused me to struggle with my suspension of disbelief. Overall, though, this book was engrossing and I will definitely be continuing with this series.

Now, continuing with mysteries, I’ve moved onto The Cuckoo’s Calling, J.K. Rowling’s first book under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith.