The Chalk Pit: The Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries 9

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Mapping the chalk also relies heavily on what Farrant calls “landscape literacy”: the ability to determine what is underground by studying the surface. That might mean knowing that rounded hilltops are typically Seaford chalk, and flat fields typically Zig Zag. Or that where chalk is at the surface you find beech, yew and holly, and where it is deeper there are pine trees, heather and gorse.

Michael Adams is the creator of the podcast Forgotten Australia where you can find many more amazing true stories. Even under the shadow of these allegations, Ley still won the election. He was now a Federal Member of parliament — and he wanted a ministry in Stanley Bruce’s government.

Otford Palace was created by Archbishop Warham in 1514, a year before Cardinal Wolsey (his rival and successor as Lord Chancellor) began the construction of Hampton Court Palace. Both were subsequently taken over by Henry Ⅷ but Otford (in its unfavourable marshy location) fell into ruins while Hampton Court expanded into a major royal palace.

Ruth meanwhile has been called in to investigate some bones uncovered in the excavations of a property developer (a favourite trope of the series) trying to set up an underground dining concept in Norwich – the bones seeming much more modern than first assumed (and with some possible hint of cannibalism). Several her colleagues also enter the book – one something of an expert on the tunnels, and one who is researching the rumours of an underground society. The first speaker knows exactly what the second is talking about and for the reason of their “free thought, free love” does not want to get involved with them. They are unencumbered in a way that bothers this speaker and even this short story about them sets him on edge. Elly Griffith's new book in her excellent Ruth Galloway series, The Chalk Pit has its inspiration in the tunnels under Norwich. As a forensic archaeologist, she is call to a system of tunnels near under the City when bones are discovered. In June 1898 Thomas married Louisa Vernon, who was from a well-off family. The couple lived with her widowed mother in Glebe and soon had three sons.

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There is little stereotyping of characters and real development of the relationships we are aware of already 8 books in. It is so clever that Katie, Ruth's daughter is brought into this story as she is into drama and plays a young Alice in an adaptation of a Lewis Carroll classic but updated as "Alice's adventures underground". This is the 9th book in the Ruth Galloway series by Elly Griffiths with all the usual characters. This is another good read in what is becoming one of my favourite series. Water House is associated with Samuel Palmer (1805-1881), one of the group of artists influenced by William Blake who called themselves The Ancients. He lived in the village from 1826 to 1835, for some of the time with his father (also called Samuel) who had rented Water House. Follow the enclosed footpath alongside the main road. In 100m go through a metal kissing gate and turn right to follow a line of wooden posts curving round the edge of a large field, climbing steadily. At the top go through another kissing gate and up a short slope.

Do not continue up the other side of the valley, but veer left off the public footpath onto a grassy path along the valley floor. Follow this permissive path through a side gate next to a wooden fieldgate in a belt of trees across the valley, then across a meadow towards another gate in the hedge on the far side. Go out through a side gate and turn left onto a lane (also called Magpie Bottom). The author had a graphologist compare the handwriting to known samples of Ley’s penmanship. The expert concluded there was a high probability that Thomas Ley had written the letter. News of Ley’s impending execution and McDonald’s mysterious disappearance made national headlines. Picture: Supplied A reader should take note of the use of sibilance in these lines of ‘ The Chalk Pit’ . That is, the repetition of words that include “s,” such as “stillness,”“silence,”“silent,” and “still”. These work together to create an audible “hush” to the lines. But it also apologised for leading on Ley, for not reporting the bribery attempt at the time and for subsequently withdrawing the charge. He said he was on “the verge of the grave — eternity” and that he “must leave”.

Do not cross the river on the road bridge but keep ahead on Darenth Way, passing the War Memorial ? on the riverbank. Pass to the left of Water House ? and follow the tree-lined riverside path.