The Janus Stone

In the gripping second installment of Elly Griffiths' acclaimed Ruth Galloway series, forensic archaeologist Dr. Ruth Galloway finds her world turned upside down once again. While on maternity leave, a chilling discovery at a derelict children's home in Norwich shatters her peace: the bones of several children, seemingly buried decades ago. As DCI Harry Nelson, the complicated father of her unborn child, leads the police investigation, Ruth is drawn into the macabre puzzle, uncovering disturbing connections between the present-day site and a past steeped in ritual and tragedy. When the bones of a more recently deceased child emerge, and an ancient Roman artifact – a Janus stone – is found nearby, the case takes a sinister turn. Ruth's archaeological expertise becomes crucial, but as she delves deeper into the dark secrets unearthed from the soil, she realizes the killer might still be active and, terrifyingly, is now targeting her. With her own life and that of her unborn baby at stake, Ruth must race against time to unravel the mysteries of a forgotten past before she becomes the next victim.