The Janus Stone (Ruth Galloway, Book #2)

In this “chilling and entirely believable”* archaeological mystery, forensic archaeologist Ruth Galloway and DCI Harry Nelson investigate a set of remains buried in the foundations of an old country manor—but as soon as they get close to cracking the case, Ruth becomes the killer’s next target.

*Richmond Times-Dispatch

When a child’s remains are found at a demolition site—a former children’s home in Norwich—forensic archaeologist Ruth Galloway is called in to examine the bones. She quickly notes that the skull is missing. Is this a Roman-era ritual sacrifice, or is the killer closer at hand in this gripping British detective novel?

Ruth and DCI Nelson seek out the priest who served as the home’s operator. Father Hennessey reports that two children had gone missing there, about forty years earlier. They were never found, creating a haunting cold case. Is this one of them, finally unearthed? Or another child altogether? Ruth is drawn into the case, but soon it becomes clear that someone is trying very hard to put her off the trail by frightening her, and her unborn child, half to death.

Elly Griffiths is the USA Today bestselling author of the Ruth Galloway and Brighton mystery series, as well as the standalone novels The Stranger Diaries, winner of the Edgar Award for Best Novel; The Postscript Murders; and Bleeding Heart Yard. She is the recipient of the CWA Dagger in the Library Award and the Mary Higgins Clark Award. She lives in Brighton, England.