The Last Remains: The unmissable new book in the Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries

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But really the whole Ruth Galloway series started when I was walking with Andy, my husband, and our children who were quite little then, across Titchwell Marsh. This time, a fully articulated skeleton is found during the renovation of an antique store. The skeleton is recent, given the metal plate in the ankle. It’s soon discovered that she was an archeology student who went missing in 2002. A woman that had ties to Cathbad. Griffiths' books blend archaeology, mystery, and crime with an ongoing storyline about the life of the late 30s (initially) protagonist. In terms of grit, we'd place it squarely in the middle – neither cosy nor especially gritty. Though the forensic nature of her position means there are some descriptions of dead bodies, it's not one of those series where you'll be reading in-depth descriptions of some serial killer's misogynistic sexual fantasies.

I enjoyed the details of local areas such as Thetford forest and Grimes caves and of the folktales such as the green children and the fairy cow that were very much parts of my childhood. The case serves as a distraction for Ruth from her responsibilities with the university; but then it’s announced that due to lower enrollments and budget cuts, the Archeology Department may be eliminated at the University of North Norfolk. She has tenure and could remain in some to-be-determined capacity or easily be hired by another university — whether in England or abroad — but her colleagues’ positions would be eliminated. A massive campaign to publicize the importance of their work is soon underway. When fellow archaeologist Angelo Morelli invites Ruth to the scenic Fontana Liri in Italy to assist in identifying some unearthed bones, she jumps at the chance. Picturing a relaxing blend of work and leisure, she brings her daughter along. But as they settle in, Ruth begins senses the shadows of a deep-rooted secret among the locals. Could these historical echoes somehow relate to the remains Angelo discovered? As the story unfolds, there are 'Easter Egg' references to people and events in previous books, which is a nice treat for fans. It's also fun to hear Nelson regularly use his favorite expression, "Jesus Wept." Elly Griffiths’s upcoming novel will be her first standalone mystery with the introduction of new characters.Griffiths expertly blends a well-wrought procedural with distinctive characters, academic politics, and romance. Fans old and new will be rewarded.” (For The Last Remains) — Publishers Weekly (starred review) Out on 25 April in the USA, The Last Remains launched in the UK at the end of January – and had the series faithful laughing and crying in equal measure. If you’re new to the Ruth Galloway series, this is not the book for you, but if you’re a regular you’ll delight in the subtle little reminders of previous novels and the characters they contained. The discovery of a body hidden behind the wall of a Kings Lynn coffee shop is the starting point for a story that has repercussions for many of the regular characters, with Cathbad in particular acting even more oddly than usual. A book to relish and a fitting finale. Read our review here. Next is a middle grade series from Elly Griffiths. This takes the crime fiction writing for which Griffiths has become well-known and tailors it for a younger audience. When builders renovating a cafe in King's Lynn unearth a human skeleton, they call for DCI Harry Nelson and Dr Ruth Galloway, Head of Archaeology at the University of North Norfolk. Ruth is preoccupied with the threatened closure of her department and by her ever-complicated relationship with Nelson.

When builders renovating a café in King's Lynn unearth a human skeleton, they call for DCI Harry Nelson and Dr Ruth Galloway, Head of Archaeology at the University of North Norfolk. Ruth is preoccupied with the threatened closure of her department and by her ever-complicated relationship with Nelson. A storyteller from a young age, she wrote her first crime novel – an Agatha Christie-style story called The Hair of the Dog – when she was 11, followed by stories inspired by her TV favourites Starsky and Hutch. After returning as the head of archaeology at the University of North Norfolk, Ruth finds herself embroiled in a mystery when a local group of metal detector enthusiasts, known as the Night Hawks, discover ancient Bronze Age items on the beach near a dead body.All the bases are covered here. Life during the pandemic and the NHS phone app that told users when they had to stay home because they'd been in the same place as someone with Covid. Ruth's very real possibility of losing her beloved archaeology department and her job. Nelson's boss constantly harping at him to retire. Cathbad's slow recovery from Covid and his mystifying disappearance. New faces, like a detective constable named Lucy. Ruth's daughter Kate growing up so fast. And-- of course-- a first-rate mystery to solve. Also, I was in King’s Lynn, doing an event at the Duke’s Head, and I passed the Exorcist’s House and it set me thinking about ancient King’s Lynn and how the town really has had lots of incarnations and how I could dig down a bit, if you’ll forgive the pun, into its layers,” she says.

There are many points where misdirection is used to good effect. The book is not too challenging though and it feels as comfortable as all the previous books in the series.As it happens, Ruth's druid friend Cathbad (real name Michael Malone), who was 36-years-old at the time, was on the outing with Ballard and the undergraduates. Taking place just after the worst of the Covid pandemic, archeologist Ruth Galloway is called in to assist on a case when a skeleton is found encased behind a wall in a shop being renovated. Her life is complicated as the university where she teaches announces they are going to close the archeology department while she is also trying to her figure out her relationship with DCI Nelson. When the bones are identified as belonging to a young woman who went missing twenty years earlier, they lead to links within the world of archeology and a close friend of Ruth’s.