Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me this arc. Although I know Elly Griffiths’s books are immensely popular in our library, this book just wasn’t it for me.

The mystery is okay, bones are discovered in a building and Ruth and Nelson have to work together again. I cannot explain why, but the story didn’t grip me. I am convinced that alle the die hard Elly Griffiths fans will devour this book however.

A triumphant end to an engaging series, with likeable characters and a strong sense of the beauty and danger of the Norfolk landscape.

The Last Remains by Elly Griffiths
Coming to the last book in a series without having read any of the earlier titles is perhaps ill-advised. As much as I enjoyed the telling and the originality of The Last Remains I found that without prior knowledge of the characters they mostly felt a little flat on the page. This may not be a flaw of the book as fans of this series seemed to love this finale. I would happily pick up another Elly Griffith title - perhaps the first of a new series.
My thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have just reviewed The Last Remains by Elly Griffiths as an advanced reader copy thanks to @Quercus and @NetGalley.

I loved this latest installment of the Ruth Galloway mysteries. When a body is found bricked up behind a wall in an old café Ruth is called in to assist Nelson, Judy and the team once more. All clues seem to lead to Cathbad, their friend and Judy’s partner. With Cathbad’s behaviour becoming even more eccentric than usual, can the team clear his name before it's too late? And can Ruth fight off the closure of her beloved department at the University of North Norfolk.

As we have come to expect from Elly Griffiths, this is a fast paced, expertly written mystery and for me this one had a ‘certain something’ extra. It was exciting, with some brilliant twists and revelations and the ‘will they, won't they’ element of the series is ramped up to nerve wrecking proportions.

I will certainly be recommending to all my crime readers at the library (and everywhere else too!)

#EllyGriffiths #Quercus #NetGalley

A skeleton behind a bricked up alcove leads Ruth Galloway on a journey to find out what happened. Nelson has problems in his personal life and a missing friend all lead to a highly enjoyable read

Even after 14 years and 15 books, I wasn’t ready for the Ruth Galloway series to end and approached The Last Remains with trepidation and not a little sorrow. Of course, I should have had more faith in Elly Griffiths, for this turned out to be the perfect swan song for the series. Wonderfully plotted, and filled with Easter eggs for long-time readers, giving us the return of old characters and references to previous mysteries. I especially loved the line where a bookseller being interviewed by Tony describes the cosy crime genre to him as “crime without too much gore or bloodshed. Often there’s humour and loveable characters.” The perfect description of this superlative series!

Oh Ruth! I'll miss this series so much but I think Elly Griffith's decision to wrap it up was a correct and beautifully handled one. Enjoyable as ever with a much needed touch of romance to end. A lovely series and one I'll re read

As always Elly Griffiths does not disappoint and whilst this is the last of the Ruth Galloway series, which comes with it’s own poignancy, this is a satisfying conclusion. Certain loose ends are tied up, the characters whom we have developed an affection for are all there and the plot is as good as we readers have come to expect.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Elly Griffiths doesn't disappoint. This book was no exception. Another great read from an excellent storyteller.

I ADORE Elly Griffiths books and after reading she was retiring Dr Ruth Galloway I was a bit devastated, if this is the farewell though, it's a goody! Elly is so good at building on her set of characters, and keeping the reader interested with various twists and turns. I was on the edge of my seat about the fate of a certain recurring character! Elly is also. great at introducing forensic archaeology into the mix - there's definitely been some googling to learn more from her stories. In summary - another great read from Elly Griffiths, would always recommend to customers and friends and family alike!

I’ve enjoyed all Ruth Galloway books including this one, although I was a bit sad knowing that this is the end of the series - at least for know. Who knows, maybe we’ll hear from Ruth again?

There is of course a murder mystery in the book. Young womans remains are found in a building that is being renovated, and Ruth and Nelson start to investigate. At the same time Ruth’s employer wants to make cutbacks, and Ruth needs to make big decisions about her future.

Ruth’s personal life seems to make a bigger part of this book than the crime investigation (or maybe that’s just what I focused on), but that’s perfectly fine if this is the end of the series.

Elly Griffiths never disappoints and a new book in the Dr Ruth Galloway series is always a treat. In this latest and quite spellbinding tale, human remains are found during a building restoration. They are only about 20 years old and it soon appears that one of the chief suspects may be Ruth's friend Cathbad..... and then he disappears. An excellent read as always from this author

Book 15 in Ruth Galloway series and apparently the last. I do recommend reading them in order but you can still pick up this one and the story will still work. This time Ruth (forensic archaeologist) and DI Nelson are solving g the mystery of a body found behind a false wall in Kings Lynn. The deceased girl was part of a student trip to Grimes Graves, a local ancient burial site. Wrapped up with the now family.iar characters, I really enjoyed how everything g wove together.

Is it or isn't it? Will she or won't she? The Last Remains is book 15 in the Ruth Galloway series, when a body is discovered behind the wall of a cafe Ruth is asked to examine the bones which turn out to be the remains of a young woman who went missing in 2002. As readers have come to expect this is an entertaining read featuring all of our favourite characters. As most readers are suggesting this feels like an end of an era however who knows?

Thank you for my copy of this book to review.

I have read all of the Ruth Galloway books now and I love them more with each one.

For me, these books are more about the characters than the actual story, they’re always so comforting and familiar.

Aside from that though, I did, as always, enjoy the story. I enjoyed how everyone was interwoven, and also the references to previous cases.

Elly Griffiths has you hooked from the start and I know I will love the book before I even begin the first page. I can’t recommend these books enough and I do so to anyone that will listen.

Well fans of Ruth Galloway: rejoice, and prepare yourselves. This is a good one. Ruth is preoccupied with the potential closure of her department at the university in which she works… but not so bothered that she can’t become entangled in a very messy case. Builders renovating a café discover a human skeleton behind a wall, a skeleton that Ruth confirms is from modern times. What’s more, the body can be linked to someone very, very close to Ruth’s heart (someone who has got his own issues). It’s a complicated case where everything isn’t what it appears to be, plus there’s a lot of Big Decisions for Ruth and DCI Harry Nelson, father of her daughter and someone for whom her feelings are… intense. It’s all quite tangled, which makes for a satisfying read and for me, one of Ruth’s best investigations. It’s such a pleasure to read Elly’s books and this series is one that should be on screen. If you haven’t read any, put them on your 2023 TBR pile.

I loved it and finished it in one sitting. Please don’t tell me it’s the last we’ll see of Ruth. I need more. I love this series

Another cracking book from Ellie Griffiths

I always look forward to Ellie Griffiths' books, and archeologist Ruth is one of my favourite characters. She's authentic, her flaws aren't the usual ones found in a stereotyped detective, and through her job as an archeologist she has a genuine reason to be digging up bodies.
In The Last Remains we meet many of the usual cast of characters, all well drawn, and continue their stories. Will Ruth and Nelson become closer now his wife has left him to return to Blackpool? Will Cathbad continue his recovery from Covid? The book is set during 2021 and at the end of 2022 provides a valuable reminder of all the things we did then, things which now seem just a memory. Masks, social distancing, as well as a great detective story, this book also provides a record of a unique year.
The book focusses on the discovery of a modern skeleton walled into a cafe basement, and Ruth and Nelson have to unravel who it was and what happened to them. Griffiths succeeds in writing another great investigative story, while at the same time keeping me reading because I want to know what is happening with the whole cast of regular characters. Recommended.

I’m a big Elly Griffiths fan and when I read that this book was going to be the last one in the Ruth Galloway series I was devastated. It was going to be like saying goodbye to an old friend. I’ve read all the books in order after they were recommended by a good friend several years ago and they’ve all been excellent. The last book was brilliant, set in the early days of the pandemic and this one carries on in the same vein although matters have improved as lockdowns are now over.
Nelson and Ruth are investigating the discovery of a body blocked up behind the wall of a cafe. However the corpse is not an ancient burial but that of a young student who went missing in 2002.
When Cathbad who is still recovering from Covid disappears, after admitting he knew the dead girl, things do not look good.
The mystery at the heart of the story is cleverly plotted as always but the main focus of the book is what will happen to our beloved central characters. Will Ruth end up with Nelson or will he move up North to be near his ex who has returned to Blackpool with his young son. Ruth’s department at the university is threatened with closure and it is not clear until the final pages whether Ruth’s campaign to save it will be successful or whether she will have to move away to find another job.
Change is afoot and the book is so brilliantly written that the reader does not guess the outcome until the very end.
This is a fitting finale for Ruth, Nelson and all the wonderful characters imagined by this excellent author. I am just hoping that Elly Griffiths sees fit to pick up their story again one day in the future.
A massive five stars from me both for this book and the whole wonderful series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus for my review copy.

Elly Griffiths NEVER disappoints! This is a brilliantly fabulous storyline featuring old favourites of Ruth and Nelson and the rest of the cast of characters so wonderfully developed over the years. Totally recommended,