[Gifted]
It's another outing for Ruth! This series has been one of the best discoveries of the last year for me. It's perfect for binge reading - the books go down easily, developing long term relationships while solving some great murder mysteries. I love all the locations too - lush beaches and bogs and archaeological digs.

The real appeal of this story is the protagonist - Dr Ruth Galloway is an endearing, three-dimensional heroine, and I can see why 12 books and counting have been written about her life. If you like police procedurals, but want something a bit refreshingly different, give this series a try.

The Night Hawks is the 13th mystery instalment in Elly Griffiths' Dr Ruth Galloway series and it's a captivating addition.

A group of amateur archaeologists stumble upon Bronze Age artefacts alongside a dead body in North Norfolk, and Ruth finds herself thrust into their midst. Ruth is back as Head of archaeology at the University of North Norfolk and the local metal detectorists, called the Night Hawks, make the gruesome discovery on the beach, the recently deceased body just washed ashore. Not long after, the same detectorists uncover a murder-suicide; Dr David Noakes, a research scientist and his wife, Linda are found at their farmhouse, thought to be haunted by the Black Shuck, a huge black dog. DCI Nelson takes on both cases as Ruth is called in to excavate ancient remains buried with the detectorists' finds, accompanied by her new recruit, lecturer David Brown, a man she finds irritating and who refuses to take her position as head of the department seriously.

Elly Griffiths' expert characterisation brings so much to this fabulous series. Brilliantly plotted and entertaining from the very beginning, this is a plausible and gritty, thrilling read. Ruth comes across as an ordinary woman and along with her continuing entanglement with Nelson, there is plenty of observational humour and subtle irony in the story. The characters, location and mix of archaeological knowledge and local folklore perfectly combine, making for a winning combination of down to earth relationship turmoil between Ruth and DCI Nelson. It all plays out amidst the grave dangers they find themselves in.

The Night Hawks is an elegantly told tale offering enough of a mystery to remain a challenge for crime enthusiasts in addition to delivering a satisfying chunk of character development. This is my second instalment and I have been inspired to read the other books in the series, beginning with The Crossing Places. I am looking forward to seeing where Elly Griffiths takes Ruth next in book 14 The Locked Room.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Quercus via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

It’s so lovely to have Ruth back doing what she does best. We find out about the legend of the Black Shuck. And lots of ‘clues’ to send us in different and wrong directions.
And as for Nelson? Well he tries his best but the bombshell at the end means I can’t wait until the next one.
I think this is probably the best Galloway book that Elly has written but then I say that about everyone she writes. Absolutely fantastic. Keep writing. I know you’re on the next one

I am a huge Elly Griffiths fan and as such have eagerly awaited this book. As always with Elly’s book it is fantastic to read a book with such a strong female main character,
So well written with fully formed & believable characters, the story is weaved with intricate detail and keeps the reader gripped throughout. I found myself so involved with the story I vocalised my agreement with / thoughts on some comments made during the story, and also shouted out loud at times ... thank goodness I was on my own!
A thrilling book that keeps you on your toes right to the end, if I could give six stars I would.

The latest in the Dr Ruth Galloway mysteries sees our lovely archaeologist join forces with her on off detective lover when metal detectorists discover a dead body. A fast paced, immersive story and intriguing characters set against the bleak but beautiful Norfolk landscape. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

'Night Hawks' is another treat of a read in Elly Griffith's Ruth Galloway series, I envy whoever still has to discover this series (or indeed read this book). In 'Night Hawks,' Ruth has returned to North Norfolk as head of Archeology at the university when Nelson asks her to help with a case where a group of metal dectectorists (the Night Hawks) discover a body, as well as Bronze Age artefacts in the salt marshes. As the stories of Griffith's brilliant usual cast of characters (Nelson, Cathbad, Judy..) develop alongside new characters, the mystery at the heart of the novel in true Griffith style twists and turns and keeps you hooked. A fantastic enjoyable read!

The Night Hawks by Elly Griffiths

A club of metal detectorists, night hawks, are out combing the beaches of north Norfolk for treasures when they come across the body of a young man, washed ashore. DI Nelson suspects he might be an asylum seeker but he soon learns that he was a local boy, recently released from prison. But close to this discovery another is made, a Bronze Age hoard with an ancient body, and it is that which brings forensic anthropologist Dr Ruth Galloway to the scene. Once more, Nelson and Ruth begin to work together. And then there are more deaths. The night hawks call in the police when they hear gun shots at Black Dog Farm – a man has killed his wife and then himself. Nelson suspects there is more to it, as do the locals, as rumours spread that the dead had seen the mysterious harbinger of death, the Black Shuck, a black dog, before they died.

I adore this series, just as I love everything that Elly Griffiths writes (I’ve recently finished her stand alone novel The Postscript Murders and can heartily recommend that as well). Ruth Galloway is one of my favourite people. She doesn’t feel like a fictional character to me. I’m so pleased every time she returns. The Night Hawks is the thirteenth novel in the series and, while you can certainly enjoy it as a stand alone novel, I would really recommend that you read at least one or two (or all!) of the earlier book first. The reason is that the true riches of these novels can be found not in their murder mysteries, although these are certainly enjoyable to unravel, but in their characters – Ruth, Nelson, Ruth’s daughter Kate, Cathbad, Jo, Nelson’s family, Ruth’s University colleagues. Their lives are entwined and complicated and I love them all (except for Ruth’s new colleague David, of course).

The relationship between Ruth and Nelson is one of the very best in any series being written today. We have been put through it as we watch their (not very) merry dance. The tension is great but the reasons against their relationship are just as great. It’s fabulous! And I love Kate. I rarely like children in fiction but I love this one. And I need a Cathbad in my life. He embodies the spirit of ancient wisdom that fills these novels. There is a huge sense of history and the past and, as a former archaeologist of many years, this really speaks to me – the pull of our past and its remains, the significance of the landscape, that tidal zone which mirrors the boundary between life and death.

Which brings me to another reason for this series’ huge appeal – the Norfolk coastal setting. It is glorious! The Night Hawks is set in one of my most favourite areas – Cley next the Sea and Blakeney, places I intend to return to as soon as You Know What lets me. Everything I love about these places is captured in The Night Hawks with an extra helping of something ominous, fearful and frightening. I love the mix of beauty and evil that fills these books.

The Night Hawks is, quite possibly, a cosy crime novel and I love it all the more for it, especially in these days. Everything that I want from a Ruth Galloway novel I found in The Night Hawks. I loved it. And what about Ruth’s new colleague David? Where is that going to go?! I could rave about these books all day and night. You could not find a warmer, kinder series of novels. Instead, I’ll urge you to read them and fall for Ruth, Kate and Nelson and their friends, just as I have.

Other reviews
The Chalk Pit (Ruth Galloway 9)
The Dark Angel (Ruth Galloway 10)
The Stone Circle (Ruth Galloway 11)
The Lantern Men (Ruth Galloway 12)
The Zig Zag Girl (Stephens and Mephisto 1)
The Vanishing Box (Stephens and Mephisto 4)
The Stranger Diaries
Now You See Them (Stephens and Mephisto 5)

I can't believe I haven't met Ruth Galloway before. I can't believe I only got to her by book 13 in the series. And yes, I can't believe I am reading book 13 because I always start at the beginning.

However, thanks to Netgalley, I got this chance to get acquainted with Elly Griffith' writing and her Dr Galloway. Now I definitely need to go back to the beginning. Even though Elly Griffith provides reader with some of the backstory, the most juicy and interesting bits are left out. I do want to know Ruth' story and the story of her relationship with grumpy indecisive Nelson...

The Night Hawks is the story of human nature (like most of the murder mysteries). It is about old secrets and festering pain. It is about protecting loved ones no matter what.

Here you get a bit of everything: archaeology and history, mythology and new age esoteric, village legends and metal detectorists looking for treasure, family puzzles and destruction of family ties. And the setting, did I mention it is set in Norfolk England. What a dream set of ingredients.

My introduction into Elly Griffith writing was successful to the point of going back to the very beginning.

Ruth Galloway is back in her cottage in Norfolk. She is now boss of her university department & it is taking a while to get used to it. When a group of metal detectorists find a body she is called in as there are many archaeological sites nearby. Ruth finds herself working with Nelson, the father of her daughter again. Although the body is not an ancient one there are some finds nearby & a new member of her staff is keen to investigate.

This is a great series of books. I'm ashamed to say I haven't read them all, but it is easy to slip back into the series. The magic to this series is the fantastic characters. I was pleased to see a lot of my favourite Druid, Cathbad! I'm left longing for the next one! Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

Interesting thriller with a bit of everything. Good characters,twists lots of suspects and the myths and magic of the coast.. A good read.

A group of amateur detectorists come across a body and call in the police. Nelson calls Ruth Galloway as forensic archaeologist but she is far more excited about the bronze age burial site nearby. Then the police are called to a murder-suicide at a lonely farmhouse and slowly Nelson begins to realise that the two are linked.
The Ruth Galloway mysteries are just a really wonderful series to devour. I love the North Norfold setting, there is a passion to the descriptions of landscape and the wide vistas evoke a loneliness and isolation which helps set the scene. The knowledge of local lore is beautifully interwoven into each tale and the characters are well set and developing with each tale. Nothing feels rushed or forced, the solutions are clear and do not seem contrived and the entertainment value is really high

As always, Elly Griffiths has written another wonderfully absorbing and clever mystery. I just love following the story of Ruth, Nelson and all the wonderful characters in this series. Start with number one and you will be hooked. I wait impatiently every year for the next one!

Definitely a worthy addition to this series by the author. It was a fast paced book, which i enjoyed reading.

A group of metal detectorists find a body washed up on a Norfolk beach. DCI Nelson is called to the scene and when he sees that the group had also unearthed some buried treasure he calls in Dr Ruth Galloway. The body is quickly identified as a young local man Jem Taylor who had recently been released from prison.
While Nelson is investigating Jem’s death Ruth has her hands full as the new Head of Department at UEA. Soon an apparent murder suicide at Black Dog Farm adds more complications for Nelson. The crimes appear to be linked but he is struggling to work out how.
Nelson has a feeling that the crimes are linked and that the link could be Black Dog farm but how and why would someone kill a young man and a married couple in such different ways. Ruth tries to concentrate on her own problems but finds herself being unwittingly sucked into the case.
I love the frisson between Nelson and Ruth and that in spite of everything Ruth still loves him.

The Night Hawks was as wonderful as all previous books in the series. I can’t get enough of Ruth and Nelson. I’d highly recommend this series to crime fans. Character’s stories just keep you going back for more. Elly Griffiths is a true storyteller. Can't wait for the next book in the series.

The thirteenth book in the series and I’ve read them all, a credit to the author Elly Griffiths as this is my comfort read and the only series I’ve continued.
Ruth has returned to Norfolk and her beloved cottage with daughter Kate, to head the department of her old stomping ground at the University of Old Norfolk.
Once again it is wonderful to become immersed in the old characters, as Ruth becomes involved when a body is found on the beach around the area where some archeological items are found. Lately I haven’t had much time for reading but I found myself immersed one afternoon and the story flowed wonderfully and kept my interest well.
I say this every time....you can read these as a stand alone, I equate them to a gentle murder mystery but you’ll get so much more from them if read in order, as they are very much character driven. And of course I’ll be waiting for the next book with baited breath to see what happens next.......
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.* I should start by saying that I am a bit fan of Elly Griffiths and I adore the Ruth Galloway series. 'The Night Hawks' is number 13 in this series and it did not disappoint. I love mystery stories, but I also love all of the backstory Griffiths provides as we find out about Ruth, Kate, Nelson and all of their friends and family. The book focusses on the apparent murder suicide at Black Dog Farm. Did the farmer kill his wife and then himself, or is the case more complicated again? And why do people keep seeing the Black Shuck around? Is it a sign?
As always a fascinating and engaging read. I can't wait for number 14 in the series!

I love this series, it is another great read which had me gripped and couldn't put down once I started.
Looking forward to reading more.

I love Elly Griffiths and Ruth Galloway but this book didnt take me in and engage me as much as usual. Whether it's my frame of mind, I'm not sure, so I won't post on any of the review sites as I think that would be unfair. I normally expect to be hooked straight away and I couldn't get into it enough, I gave it until 20% which I think is enough.

Really enjoyed this book. An easy going style to eat that kept attention throughout the story. Good attention to detail retained interest. Look forward to reading more from this author. Highly recommended.