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Clare
Hills is relieved that her archaeological unit has a new job,
digging on a site in the Cotswolds due to become a housing
estate. As well as coping with deadlines and an aggressive
developer there is the added problem that her predecessor
committed suicide recently. Beth Kinsella was found hanging
in a nearby copse, surrounded by the dead bodies of mutilated
wildlife. Everybody said that Beth was brilliant but eccentric,
and before her death had been insistent that the empty-seeming
site was something very special. With residents angry about
the new estate and the company developing it keen for the
archaeologists to be gone there is enough bad feeling, but
soon Clare has more to worry about.
This
is the second in the series following the debut The
Hidden Bones
(also reviewed on this site). It should appeal to readers
of other archaeological themed mysteries such as those by
Kate Ellis and Elly Griffiths. Archaeology and detection go
well together as both entail many of the same skills, and
the auth
r
works in this field herself. She gives a realistic portrayal
of what it must be like to be digging a site and coping with
deadlines and lack of funds. This aspect of the tale was its
best feature in my opinion; as with the first book this is
not a pacy read. But there are revelations throughout after
a slow start and the momentum does build up nicely to an exciting
conclusion. As with all good series there are some tantalising
loose ends left hanging, fortunately these are to do with
Clare’s personal history and not the crime, which is
thoroughly solved. This is turning into an appealing series,
and I will be looking out for the next one.
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