Ruth Galloway was born in south London. Growing up she had a difficult relationship with her parents, who were Born Again Christians, but excelled at school and went on to study archaeology at University College London. As a postgraduate student at Southampton University, she met Professor Erik Anderssen who became her mentor and friend. In 1997 she participated in Professor Anderssen’s dig on the north Norfolk coast which resulted in the excavation of a Bronze Age Henge. Ruth subsequently moved to the area to take up a post at the University of North Norfolk. She’s now head of the archaeology department. In 2007, she met DCI Harry Nelson and her life got a whole lot more complicated. As well as involving her in several murder cases, Nelson is the father of Ruth’s beloved daughter Kate.
Pets: a ginger cat called Flint
Surprising fact about Ruth: she collects pony books and would love to own a horse.
Harry Nelson
Profession: Detective Chief Inspector
Likes: driving fast, solving crimes, his family
Dislikes: Norfolk, the countryside, management speak, his boss
Harry Nelson was born in Blackpool. He came to Norfolk in his thirties to lead the Serious Crimes Unit, bringing with him his wife, Michelle, and their daughters, Laura and Rebecca. Nelson has a loyal team; they have been through a lot together and are a close unit, despite Clough’s recent defection. Nelson thinks of himself as an old-fashioned policeman so often clashes with his boss, Superintendent Jo Archer, who is trying to drag the force into the twenty-first century. Nelson is fiercely protective of his family, which now includes his son George and the daughter he insists on calling Katie. He knows that whatever decision he makes in the future will result in hurting someone he loves.
Pets: a German shepherd dog called Bruno
Surprising fact about Nelson: he’s a huge Frank Sinatra fan.
Michelle Nelson
Profession: hairdresser
Likes: her family, exercising, socialising with friends
Dislikes: dowdiness, confrontation, talking about murder
Michelle married Nelson when she was twenty-four and he was twenty-six. She was happy with her life in Blackpool – two children, part-time work, her mother nearby – but encouraged Nelson to move to Norfolk for the sake of promotion. When her daughters were old enough, she took a job managing a hair salon. The last few years have been challenging for Michelle: Nelson’s affair with Ruth; her own tragic relationship with Tim Heathfield, a detective on Nelson’s team; an unexpected pregnancy in her mid-forties. She loves her son, George, but sometimes feels that her life is travelling very fast in the wrong direction.
Surprising fact about Michelle: she once played hockey for Blackpool Girls.
Michael Malone (aka Cathbad)
Profession: druid, teacher, house-husband
Likes: nature, mythology, walking, following his instincts
Dislikes: rules, injustice, conventions
Cathbad was born in Ireland. He was brought up as a Catholic but now thinks of himself as a druid and shaman. Cathbad came to England to study first chemistry then archaeology. At university he came under the influence of Erik Anderssen, though they found themselves on opposite sides during the henge dig. Cathbad’s friendship with Ruth came later and he’s a devoted godfather to Kate (whom he calls Hecate). Cathbad has a grown-up daughter, Maddie, from a previous relationship and two children with Judy, his life partner. He’s happy looking after the children and teaching meditation classes, but sometimes still hankers after the nomadic life.
Pets: a bull terrier called Thing
Surprising fact about Cathbad: he can play the accordion.
Shona Maclean
Profession: lecturer in English Literature
Likes: books, wine, parties
Dislikes: being ignored
Shona is a lecturer at the University of North Norfolk and one of Ruth’s closest friends. They met when they both participated in the henge dig in 1997 and their friendship has survived Shona’s marriage to Phil, once Ruth’s head of department. Shona and Phil have a son, Louis, who is the apple of their eye and one of Kate’s least-favourite people.
Pets: none
Surprising fact about Shona: as a child she won several Irish dancing competitions.
David Clough
Likes: food, football, his family, his job
Dislikes: political correctness, graduate police officers
David Clough (‘Cloughie’ to Nelson) was born in Norfolk and joined the force at eighteen. He was a loyal member of Nelson’s team until he was promoted to detective inspector and moved to Cambridge. Clough’s star seems to be in the ascendent: he has a new job, a beautiful wife, Cassandra, and two adored children. He has also, in Nelson’s opinion, started dressing like a teenager. Clough still misses Nelson though.
Pets: a bulldog called Dexter
Surprising fact about Clough: he can quote the ‘you come to me on my daughter’s wedding day’ scene from The Godfather off by heart.
Judy Johnson
Profession: Detective Sergeant
Likes: horses, driving, her job
Dislikes: girls’ nights out, sexism, being patronised
Judy Johnson was born in Norfolk to Irish Catholic parents. For a while, Judy’s life proceeded along cautious, conventional lines: she joined the police at eighteen and married her childhood boyfriend. But then she met Cathbad and discovered an unexpectedly wild and passionate side to her nature. Judy now lives with Cathbad and their two children. Judy is an excellent police officer and has passed her inspector’s exam but she knows that, if she wants to progress in her career, she will have to leave Norfolk.
Pets: half-share in Thing. Judy also once inherited two hamsters called Sonny and Fredo.
Surprising fact about Judy: she’s a keen card player and once won an inter-force poker competition.
Tanya Fuller
Profession: Detective Sergeant
Likes: sport, succeeding, being called ‘ma’am’
Dislikes: history, being overlooked
Tanya studied Sports Science at Loughborough University. She joined the police as a graduate trainee and moved to Norfolk shortly afterwards. Tanya is fiercely ambitious and often clashes with Judy, although a grudging respect exists between them. Tanya recently married her girlfriend Petra, a secondary-school teacher.
Pets: none
Surprising fact about Tanya: she enjoys knitting and once made Petra an Inca-inspired Alpaca cardigan.
Tony Zhang
Profession: Detective Constable
Likes: chatting, socialising, art
Dislikes: family expectations, silence
Tony Zhang was born in London to first-generation Chinese immigrants. As a child, Tony lived through tragedy when his sister, Lily, died of meningitis. Tony studied economics at the University of East Anglia and joined the police force as a graduate trainee. He’s a good officer, keen, hard-working and sensitive. He has to learn to stop whistling though.
Pets: none
Surprising fact about Tony: he has a Blue Peter badge.