The Crossing Places (2009) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

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Characters edit see section history

• Ruth Galloway: Archaeologist specializing in bones. Faculty at Northern Norfolk University. She's single, witty, observant, plus-sized, likes cats and living in the desolate saltmarsh.
• DCI Harry Nelson: Deputy Chief Inspector. In charge of the investigation into the missing girls.
• Erik Anderssen: Norweigen archeologist and Ruth's mentor. Export on ancient folklore. Hip, long-grey ponytail. Charistmatic, natural leader. Married to the glamorous Magda.
• Peter: Ruth's ex-boyfriend.
• David: Ruth's neighbor. Birdwatcher and bird sanctuary warden. Single.
• Shona: Ruth's best friend and lecturer in English and the university.
• Phil: Archeology department chair and the university.
• Lucy Downey: Missing 5 year old girl whom DCI Nelson has been searching for for 10 years.
• Delilah Henderson: Mother of missing girl, Scarlet Henderson
• Juan: One of Michelle Nelson's two bosses. Joint owner with Tony of the hair salon where Michelle works.
• Sparky: Ruth's cat.
• Magda: Erik's wife.
• Michelle Nelson: Harry Nelson's wife
• James Agar: Protester sent to prison for killing a police officer. Arrested by Harry Nelson
• Clough: Detective Sargent with the Norfolk Police
• Judy Johnson: Detective Constable
• Cathbad: Leader of a group of Druids who wanted to save the henge
• Michael Malone: Real name of Cathbad the leader of the Druids that wanted to save the henge
• Lynn: Add a description of this character.
• Alan Henderson: Father of missing girl, Scarlet Henderson
• Sammy
• Gerry Whitcliffe
• Daniel: Peter's son with Victoria
• Liam
• Simon
• Victoria: Peter's wife
• Isaac
• Anne
• Derek Fielding
• Edward Spens
• Mr Tan: Ruth's student
• Scarlet Henderson: Missing girl
• Bob Bullmore: forensic anthropologist
• Lars
• Flint: Ruth's cat
• Stephen Naylor
• Rebecca Folland
• Ed
• Tony: One of Michelle Nelson's two bosses. Joint owner with Juan of the hair salon where Michelle works.
• Laura Nelson: 18-year old daughter of Harry & Michelle Nelson
• Rebecca Nelson: 16-year old daughter of Harry and Michelle Nelson

Quotes edit see section history

• “What the sand gets the sand keeps forever”

  From the Moonstone by Wilkie Collins

• “Because we know what is there. They have to find something. The Americans would ask for their money back if we didn't.”

  Ruth when asked if the students found anything on their dig.

• Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers

• Look around you, she wants to shout, we don't always play a significant role in this society.

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• 'Yes, a crossing place. It was as important as marking a boundary, marking a crossing place over sacred ground. One step the wrong way and you're dead, straight to hell. Keep on the path and it will lead you to heaven.'

  Highlighted by 3 Kindle customers

• She likes colour and fabric; in fact she has quite a weakness for sequins, bugle beads and diamanté. You wouldn't know this from her wardrobe though. A dour row of dark trousers and loose, dark jackets. The

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• Still, her parents are Praying For Her (capitals again), which should be a comfort but somehow isn't.

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• When she bought the cats her mother asked her straight out if they were 'baby substitutes'. 'No,' Ruth had answered, straight-faced. 'They're kittens. If I had a baby it would be a cat substitute.'

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• Beyond her front garden with its windblown grass and broken blue fence there is nothingness. Just

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Setting & Locations edit see section history

• Saltmarsh
• Norfolk
• London
• New Road
• Norway
• Spenwell
• New Year
• Manchester
• Victoria

First Sentence edit see section history

Table of Contents edit see section history

Glossary edit see section history

• henge: A circular bank with a ditch around it
• Lynn: A Celtic word for lake
• torque: a necklace
• Nixes: Norse water spirits, shape shifters who lure unwary travelers in to the water
• Wicker Man: Earliest accounts of this custom was the Iron Age. A human sacrifice was placed in a wicker cage and burnt to insure that spring came again.
• cursuses: A parallel ditch with banks on the inner sides
• shaman: the holy man who works with natural magic
• baton: pieces of decorated deer antlers used by the shaman, much like magic wands
• causeway: Early pathways often leading across marshes or water often marked by sunken posts
• will o'the wisps: lights often seen on the marshland and often on the night of the summer solstice. They lead travelers onto dangerous ground and to their deaths. Some think they are the soul of an evil blacksmith that traded his soul to the devil for a flame from the fires of Hell others think they are the souls of murdered children.
• Dendrochronolgy: tree dating
• Wiggle watching: following the growth patterns in trees by following graphics to determine growth rate

Series & Lists edit see section history

Followed by The Janus Stone.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Elly Griffiths (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Awards edit see section history

• Edgar Award (2011: Mary Higgins Clark)

Classification edit see section history

• Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
• Dewey: 823.92

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Mystery & Thrillers › Mystery
• Books › Literature & Fiction

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