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

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At this point, Ruth and Nelson have been 14-years in this painful dance. And in this, the final instalment, it’s time to put up or shut up. Brooke, David (28 October 2020). " 'The Amazing Spider-Man' #51 review". AIPT . Retrieved 2020-12-30. 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. As they investigate, Nelson and his team uncover a tangled web of relationships within the archaeology group and look for a link between them and the café where Emily’s bones were found. Then, just when the team seem to be making progress, Cathbad disappears. The trail leads Ruth a to the Neolithic flint mines in Grimes Graves. The race is on, first to find Cathbad and then to exonerate him, but will Ruth and Nelson uncover the truth in time to save their friend? ( goodreads) My Review The discovery of a missing woman’s bones force Ruth and Nelson to finally confront their feelings for each other as they desperately work to exonerate one of their own in this not-to-be-missed Ruth Galloway mystery from USA Today bestselling author Elly Griffiths.

In this novel, Ruth helps the police investigate the cold case murder of a college co-ed. The book could work as a standalone but will be more satisfying to people familiar with the characters. When builders renovating a café in King’s Lynn find a human skeleton behind a wall, they call for DCI Harry Nelson and Dr Ruth Galloway, Head of Archaeology at the nearby University of North Norfolk. Ruth is preoccupied with the threatened closure of her department and by her ever-complicated relationship with Nelson. However, she agrees to look at the case.

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. The trail leads Ruth and Nelson to the Neolithic flint mines in Grimes Graves which are as spooky as their name. The race is on, first to find Cathbad and then to exonerate him, but will Ruth and Nelson uncover the truth in time to save their friend? I have read that this may well be the last book in this series. While loose ends were tied up at the conclusion of the book, I hope that there will be more! Ruth is a strong, intelligent, capable female main character. I’m sorry it took so long for me to meet her!

For anyone who has followed this series, it is almost like being at home with the characters. You feel like you know them. You watch the kids grow up. The relationships ups and downs.

Set in the 1950 and 60s in (unsurprisingly) Brighton, this series begins with The Zig Zag Girl, published in 2014, with the most recent addition, The Midnight Hour, published in 2021. The books feature police officer Edgar Stephens and magician Max Mephisto and are high on period detail and humour as well as containing some masterful plot work. I was glad Judy and Cathbad actually got married at the end of the book. They have two children. Maybe I’m old-fashioned but marriage seems like a natural event for a couple who actually share interests and have a good relationship. That one also started by one of the parties cheating on a spouse, but we forget that aspect sooner bc Judy actually shows integrity and ends her marriage, whereas Nelson never does bc the relationship and commonalities between he and his wife Michelle are both longer and stronger than Judy’s. She also has an “interesting” relationship with officer, DCI Nelson – who also happens to be her daughter’s father, another major character.

If all of these plot elements and complications have your head swimming, never fear. Griffiths leads us through the conglomeration of main story, side plots and character development with the ease of a practiced guide. We come out of the forest of detail in good shape--the main mystery and side plots have been resolved. We are happy, the characters seem happy but we want more and so we hope that sometime soon, Griffiths will slip another pebble in the shoe of our heroine Ruth and bring us yet another wonderful story. 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. The Last Remains does not disappoint . . . it will have you laughing, crying, gasping and staring wide eyed, because Griffiths delivers a thrilling roller-coaster ride.” — Crime Fiction Lover Archaeologist Ruth Galloway is called to view the bones, and she observes a surgical plate used to fuse a broken ankle. So Ruth determines the skeleton is modern, and DCI Harry Nelson and his team begin a murder inquiry.

About this book

The mystery itself is well constructed and I enjoy Ruth and Nelson's complicated relationship. I appreciate the development of characters in this series and always look forward to seeing what is going to happen next.

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. Ruth doesn’t get much from Leo, but another member of the group confesses to the police that he saw the much older Leo kissing Emily. Cathbad also owns up to having had feelings for Emily, and Nelson observes that Cathbad’s wife, Judy, somewhat resembles her. Cathbad admits to Ruth that he did have a brief affair with Emily and promises to share this revelation with Judy to keep his conscience clean. Lainez, Kevin (2020-11-20). "Amazing Spider-Man #53 Review". Comic Book Revolution . Retrieved 2020-12-30. The discovery of a missing woman’s bones forces Ruth and Nelson to finally confront their feelings for each other as they desperately work to exonerate one of their own. 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.As always with this series there are problematic elements yet again Ruth walks into obvious danger with someone she finds really creepy, yet again she takes her daughter. This isn't plausible by book 15 and follows the same old formula. There are continuity errors, a vegan eats non vegan ice cream.... a one off could be ignored but previous books in this series a vegetarian against fishing has eaten both fish and chips and pork chow mien, a vegan has eaten eggs, butter and cream, lots of other continuity mistakes.... The biggest down side for this one was yet again a main character is a main suspect and many of the main characters know many of the accused and the murder victim, this is too farfetched after happening so many times. I don't know why the author does this, it's quite plausible to have a suspect and victim that none of the main characters know. Another well-loved series character said farewell in Wild Fire, the last book in Ann Cleeves’ Shetland series. Then, just when the team seem to be making progress, Cathbad disappears. Was it guilt that led him to flee? This brilliant series, brimming with comedy and compassion, has demonstrated that archaeology, just like the best crime fiction, is the study of everyday people . . . Elly Griffiths has honed her skills to become one of our very best writers. Bravo!” (For The Last Remains) — The Times (UK)