Through reviewers constantly reviewing and raving about Elly Griffiths books, I ordered the first two in the series from my local library. I absolutely loved them. Unfortunately I haven’t progressed any further so perhaps was a bit silly to request the latest book. It’s fantastic, like I am sure the others I’ve missed were, but oh boy, a lot has happened since book 2 and even though I know how most things end up, I will certainly carry on reading the series.
The story starts with a cafe being renovated, with the owners taking a wall down around a fireplace so they can open it up and use the fire. The builders discover a human skeleton and Ruth Galloway is called in. She soon confirms that due to a metal plate in the ankle the body is quite recent and from the size probably female. It is soon confirmed that it is that of Emily Pickering, an archaeology student who went missing in 2002.
Present day and COVID is still around, there is the threat of the closure of Ruth’s department , and of course her complicated relationship with DCI Nelson, her daughters father but a man married to someone else with a family of his own.
It’s good to see that characters from the first books I read are still around including the wonderful if slightly eccentric Cathbad. I read another review where the poster had said this was the last Ruth Galloway book. I certainly hope not as she is a wonderful character, as they all are, and the history and archaeology bought into the stories is fantastic.

#TheLastRemains #NetGalley

A fabulous conclusion to the Galloway series - and as a reader from the beginning, I couldn't have asked for more. No spoilers, but I cried at one point near the end. And I really didn't know whether it would work out well for them or not...

Read it. And then read the entire series again from the start!