I read best-selling author Griffiths’ latest novel, which involved time travel, and in the end I wasn’t impressed. But I have friends who are really hooked on her crime fiction starring Dr Ruth Galloway, an archaeologist. So I read the first book in the series — this one. And once again, I was disappointed. The plotting is not brilliant, the identity of the murderer is pretty obvious, but what I really couldn’t stand was the characterisation of Dr Galloway. First of all, she doesn’t solve any mystery. She seems to know a lot about archaeology, but it doesn’t really play a role in the story except as a distraction. There’s a hunky policeman who — you’ll never see this coming — she falls for. And a wizard dressed in a purple cape. And cats. (The time travel book was also about a professional woman, single, with cats.). What made me really dislike the book — and I’m being unfair, I know — was the moment when Dr Galloway, who has no children, hugging a young and vulnerable girl suddenly realises that yes, this is what it must feel like to be a mother. Cue the music. Predictable, uninteresting and the last book in the series I’ll be reading.