The Chalk Pit

Get in the xigxag app
Already purchased

Click to open directly in the xigxag app.

This book is not purchasable in your country. Please select another book. Pre-order Buy Now ${{ price }} Send as a gift
How does xigxag pricing work?

Listen to a sample

What to expect

'My favourite current crime series . . . a pleasure from start to finish' Val McDermid

Boiled human bones have been found in Norwich's web of underground tunnels. When forensic archaeologist Dr Ruth Galloway discovers the bones aren't as old as originally thought, it's time for DCI Nelson to launch a murder inquiry. What was initially just a medieval curiosity has taken a much more sinister nature...

Meanwhile, DS Judy Johnson is investigating the disappearance of a local rough sleeper. The only trace of her is the rumour that she's gone 'underground'. This might be a figure of speech, but with the discovery of the bones and the stories both Ruth and the police have heard of a vast community of rough sleepers living in the old chalk-mining tunnels under Norwich, the clues point in only one direction. Local academic Martin Kellerman knows all about the tunnels and their history - but can his assertions of cannibalism and ritual killing possibly be true?

As the weather gets hotter, tensions rise. A local woman goes missing and the police are under attack. Ruth and Nelson must unravel the dark secrets of The Underground and discover just what gruesome secrets lurk at its heart - before it claims another victim.

(P)2017 Quercus Editions Limited

Critics Review

The Chalk Pit is the most intriguing case written by the prolific Elly Griffiths to date. A five-star thriller
Daily Express
Griffiths has become a dab hand at plotting and cranking up the tension. The murders, and the muddled humanity of the characters, keep us turning the pages
Independent
Crime that doesn't sacrifice good writing and clever characterisation for the sake of the plot
Red Magazine
Elly Griffiths writes ever-more ingenious detective stories with a powerful sense of place and a varied cast of sympathetic and unusual characters. Her heroine is a winner
The Times
Griffiths weaves superstition and myth into her crime novels, skilfully treading a line between credulity and modern methods of detection
Sunday Times
Ruth Galloway is one of the most engaging characters in modern crime fiction
Kate Mosse
Griffiths has mastered the art of combining bizarre plots with contemporary relationship issues beautifully
Sussex Life
A spooky and gripping read
Woman
Proof that thrillers can increase the pulse rate while tackling more serious issues
Guardian
Griffiths' great strength lies in her creation of a cast of returning characters that readers can and do care about
Mail on Sunday, Thriller of the Week
Excellent writing, excellent plotting, some utterly riveting detail and always a banging good story
Liz Loves Books
Griffiths is a top drawer crime novelist, and Ruth Galloway is the most believable and likeable protagonist in modern crime fiction
Crimesquad
Griffiths has become a dab hand at plotting and cranking up the tension. The murders, and the muddled humanity of the characters, keep us turning the pages
Independent
Crime that doesn't sacrifice good writing and clever characterisation for the sake of the plot
Red magazine

More from the same

Author

Narrator

About xigxag

Experience the best audiobooks with xigxag, an innovative and user-friendly audiobook platform designed for seamless discovery, purchase, and enjoyment of your favorite titles. Our flexible pricing model offers bestselling audiobooks for less, providing affordable prices and the best audiobook deals without requiring a subscription. Perfect for gifting, xigxag also features convenient audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.

 

Beyond the listening experience, xigxag stands as an exciting alternative to big tech, embodying a strong commitment to sustainability and ethical practices. As the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service, we ensure a guilt-free listening experience from a leader in audiobook innovation.

 

Effortlessly search audiobooks, access honest audiobook reviews that evaluate both the content and narration, and easily discover hidden gems. Whether you prefer to download or stream top audiobook titles, xigxag provides the best possible listening experience anytime, anywhere, on the UK’s best independent audiobook app. Discover the future of audiobooks today.