The Janus Stone book review

The Janus Stone (Ruth Galloway, #2) by Elly Griffiths
Series: Ruth Galloway #1
Published by Quercus on October 11, 2010
Genres: Crime
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It’s been only a few months since archaeologist Ruth Galloway found herself entangled in a missing persons case, barely escaping with her life. But when construction workers demolishing a large old house in Norwich uncover the bones of a child beneath a doorway—minus its skull—Ruth is once again called upon to investigate. Is it a Roman-era ritual sacrifice, or is the killer closer at hand? Ruth and Detective Harry Nelson would like to find out—and fast. When they realize the house was once a children’s home, they track down the Catholic priest who served as its operator. Father Hennessey reports that two children did go missing from the home forty years before—a boy and a girl. They were never found. When carbon dating proves that the child’s bones predate the home and relate to a time when the house was privately owned, Ruth is drawn ever more deeply into the case. But as spring turns into summer 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.The Janus Stone is a riveting follow-up to Griffiths’s acclaimed The Crossing Places.

Well, I did say that I was going to move forward with this series so I picked up The Janus Stone which is the second book in the Ruth Galloway series and I loved it. I will say Ruth was a little irritating in this one and I struggled a little bit with the relationships in the story because it felt as though she was jumping from man to man which was a little odd. However, the crime and the murder in this book was once again phenomenal, I didn’t see the reveal coming and I loved how dramatic everything ended up being, it was a brilliant ending. I really loved the history that was woven all the way through this book and how it dealt with certain prejudices surrounding the Catholic faith, all in all this book was another brilliant read.

The Janus Stone follows Ruth Galloway as she investigates the bones of a young girl found buried under the doorway of an old children’s home, we see the return of Nelson and are pushed into a world of Catholicism and Roman sacrifices. I definitely think my favourite character in this book is Nelson, I don’t know what it is but he was so consistently good all the way through and the way he cares about Ruth throughout was such a good break from him being so masculine and buff all the time. I have mentioned that I wasn’t as keen on Ruth this time around but I could almost understand her actions and feelings it just felt as though there was a little too much focus on her rather than the crime and the people involved. I did really enjoy how this book connected the old characters in with a new story it was really seamlessly done and I appreciated the fact that I knew who they were and that was consistent throughout.

The Janus Stone FREAKED me out, there were parts of this story that seriously kept me awake at night. It was so atmospheric! I’m not usually a massive fan of scary and creepy stories but this book definitely had the right mix and it really complimented the character drama that was happening. I think these books really deal with old crimes well, they are definitely shaping up to be some of my favourites.

I think I would have liked The Janus Stone more if there wasn’t so much drama going on and the characters had been a little less demanding. I really fell out of love with Ruth in this one, there was a lot of fainting and blackouts and I wasn’t quite sure why. I wish the focus had been more on the group and the crime alone rather than her.

YES. Although this one didn’t hit me as hard as the first one, I still adore the series and I will definitely be carrying on with them. I’m excited to see how everything pans out and who ends up with who.

Have you read this one? What did you think? Let me know!