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

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Working alongside Detective Harry Nelson, Ruth is eager to unravel the mystery.=. Upon learning that the building once functioned as a children's home, they consult with Father Hennessey, its former overseer. He reveals a disturbing past: two children, a boy and a girl, vanished from the institution about four decades ago, never to be found. Ruth and Nelson have had an on-again, off-again romance for 14 years, and now that Nelson's wife Michelle is getting a divorce, there might be a chance Ruth, Harry, and Kate - as well as Ruth's cat Flint and Nelson's dog Bruno - can form a real family. Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway series of novels is one of the most popular British mystery series in recent years. The series follows Dr. Ruth Galloway, a forensic archaeologist, as she works with the police (particularly DCI Harry Nelson) in cases where her expertise can be of use. When Cathbad, a druid and a friend of Ruth, spots an apparition of the Virgin Mary in a nearby graveyard, he doesn't think much of it. Given Walsingham's historical ties to Mary, he assumes visions are part and parcel of his spiritual calling. However, the subsequent discovery of a dead woman the following day suggests a more earthly and grim reality. 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.

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. 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 The novel's finale is satisfying, and leaves room for more books if the author decides to continue the series at some point. DCI Harry Nelson is summoned to unravel the events, and what follows is a complex web of threatening letters, illicit drug trades, and Aboriginal skulls. Getting to the bottom of it will not only put them in danger – it will test their loyalties to each other. Long-running crime series are like an addiction. Once you’ve started with book one, if the author is skilled enough to get you on the hook, it’s impossible to say no to books two, three, four and so on. Sadly, after a while some writers take the foot off the gas and start to cruise – a big mistake, because that’s a real turn-off and there are so many great books out there, all waiting for a willing reader.

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? Anyway. I enjoyed the setting, characters, humor and writing in this, but the main theme mentioned in the spoiler always got under my skin, and I don’t understand the readers who wanted this series to wind up as it did, with the dissolution of a family. Every marriage and family has their issues, but without the manipulation by this author for readership and royalties, Nelson stays with Michelle and she with him. I got so tired of Ruth being resentful of his wife and Nelson’s time with his family throughout this book and series. In my view, the affair that started between them in the very first book was manipulated by this author from the start. It never seemed realistic to me. And you can’t expect to have equal time when you start an affair with a married man who seems to have no real intention throughout many many books of never leaving his wife and kids. You are not equal bc you chose to have an affair with this married person. Your relationship was never on equal footing with his wife and family, nor should it have been. I feel so badly for Kate, who didn’t ask to come into this situation. Ruth is supposed to be so smart, but her emotional IQ IMO is very low and a strong, smart woman does NOT tolerate or stay in a relationship with a man who, for many many years, shows he has no intention of leaving his family. What a bad depiction of a strong, intelligent woman.

This is Elly Griffith’s most popular series and it also includes her debut under this name. The Ruth Galloway books follow the titular character who is a forensic archaeologist in Norfolk.Around that time, Ruth, Zoe, and Kate vanish without a trace, leaving Nelson in a desperate race against time to locate them. Soon, another murder is reported—this time of a female priest. As the village gets ready for its annual re-enactment of the Crucifixion, it becomes even more important to find the culprit before he or she takes another victim. 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) Re the way the soap opera storyline was wound up. MAJOR SPOILERS for the series: A great sex life does not necessarily equal a great relationship or marriage. Particularly when the way the relationship began was by one party cheating on his wife and children. That doubt will forever be in the minds of both parties. Not a good foundation for a relationship. 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.

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. She tells Ruth about the mysterious and threatening letters she's been receiving. These letters, targeted at female priests, intriguingly blend local archaeological references with poignant mentions of a “woman in blue, mourning for the world.” Archaeologist Ruth Galloway's expertise is sought once again when workers, in the process of tearing down an old Norwich mansion, unearth the skeletal remains of a child under a doorway. Missing its skull, the immediate question is whether this is a relic from the Roman times, or if this is the work of a more recent perpetrator. 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. I do believe, the author does justice, furthering the stories not only of Ruth and Nelson, but also Kate, Cathbad, Judy, Cloughie, Tanya…and even a surprise character from an earlier story (Kleenex, may be needed).

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DCI Nelson soon learns the victim was a recovering addict, receiving treatment at a nearby private clinic.