In "The Last Remains," by Elly Griffiths, Ruth Galloway has some difficult decisions to make. The University of North Norfolk, where she serves as Head of Archaeology, is planning to eliminate her department in a cost-cutting measure. One of Ruth's colleagues organizes a protest movement and petitions are signed, but Ruth is wondering what she will do if she loses her job. In addition, the man she loves has asked her to move in with him, but she is fond of her cottage in the Saltmarsh, a quiet, scenic, and mystical place.

The mystery involves a skeleton found by a construction worker in the British town of King's Lynn. Detective Chief Inspector Harry Nelson and his capable team investigate. The victim is identified as an archaeology student, Emily Pickering, who went missing in 2002. Coincidentally, Cathbad, (a druid whose given name is Michael Monroe), one of Ruth's closest friends, had been on a field trip with Emily shortly before she vanished. Cathbad has been behaving rather strangely lately. What is he hiding?

As the inquiry progresses, we learn that Emily may have been romantically involved with more than one person before she died. DCI Nelson, DI Dave Clough, and DS Tanya Fuller interview Emily's parents and anyone else with pertinent information to share. This entertaining novel has passages of wry humor, gorgeous descriptive writing, interesting forensic and archaeological details, and key developments concerning the characters' personal lives. "The Last Remains" concludes with an exciting confrontation, after which the author expertly wraps up what could be the final entry in this marvelous series.

Once again Elly Griffiths did not disappoint. She is my favorite author and I absolutely love the Ruth Galloway series. I own the rest of the series in audiobook format and I have preordered this one as well. Yes, I love it so much I will listen to it even though I read the book on NetGalley. This book can be read as a standalone, however, it’s better to read the series from the beginning. Otherwise you will miss a lot and not have an understanding of the relationships between the characters. These books are mysteries to be solved but there are also relationships between some of the characters. The 14 year relationship, I believe that’s correct, between main characters Ruth and Nelson is developed through the series and this book kind of wraps things up between them. By reading just this one book you will definitely miss out on how their relationship came to be what it is in this book. The Ruth Galloway series is a great read!

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

It's a little bittersweet to know that this is the last Ruth Galloway book. I've been following these books for years -- I love the archaeology aspects and adore the mystery. This book really brings this series full circle. (I don't want to put spoilers, you're just going to have to read!).

In this last book all of our previous characters return, Shona and Phil, Clough (love him!), Tanya, Tony, and several new ones as well. And of course we have Cathbad and Judy as well! It was so nice to see everyone together in this book as they work to solve the mystery.

This had everything that I've loved about previous books in it; we get our action, our mystery solving, our romantic entanglements and all these pieces are woven together in this conclusion.

I thought Griffiths closed out the series nicely -- but also leaves room if there is a chance of more.

I initially put off reading this volume, because Griffiths has indicated that it is the final work involving Ruth and Nelson, for the forseeable if not permanent, future. I've so enjoyed this series that knowing I was diving into the final volume was frankly, depressing. However, Griffiths does a neat job of tying up so many strings and stories, all with characteristic and engaging tactics that make the reader adore the series. From Cathbad, to Nelson, to Michelle, to Kate, to Shona, to Cloughie, it was a well done and wonderfully written send off.

Found one skeleton, identified as a missing person from 20 years ago. Ruth Galloway is called in to do forensic work on the case which entangles her with DCI Nelson once again. Add in Cathbad the Druid to the case - both the present and the one 20 years ago. Then mix in academic politics, domestic issues, and fresh characters to make this an exciting addition to the series!

Thanks Netgalley and Mariner Books for the chance to read this title!

P.S. I really need to sit down and start this series from the beginning!

WOW- it is so hard to belive that this is Book 15 in the series, it seems like just yesdterday I discovered book 3 and delved back to books 1 and 2 as soon as I had finished. I love Ruth- she's complicated, protective, steadfast and yet still has her guibbles (hello, child with married man). But at the same time, you find yourself rooting for her and Nelson. In this book her seperate lives start coliding at a rapid pace- she needs Nelson to help her find Cathbad, as he needs her to help him make the break with his estranged wife. I'm not sure I'm ready emotionally for them to be together as a couple-sorta like your fav rom com couple- does the magic end when they stop bickering and staying apart??? I'm sure we'll find out in book 16! meandwhile this is a solid mystery once again from Griffiths, that quickly turns into a pageturner with Cathbad's disappearance. It's an interesting look at how our past come back in different ways to influence out present. Fans, dont miss this one! For new readers, there is enough back history given to enjoy it as well!

Number 15 in the Norfolk based, archeologist Ruth Galloway series. I’ve read every single one so obviously think it’s a great series! This one takes place in mid-2021, smack dab in the middle of Covid lock downs / ease ups, etc. In this story, a body is found bricked up in the wall of a local cafe during remodeling which is quickly identified as the body of a young student who had gone missing in 2002. The regulars are all back: single-mom forensic archeologist Ruth Galloway, the gruff and somewhat tormented DCI Nelson, and the intuitive Druid Cathbad. As always, plenty of history — both bone and myth related. One character suffers from Long Covid, declining enrollments threaten to shut down the archeology department of the University of North Nofolk, and — for those who have been following the series — I will say (with no spoilers) that there is some real closure on one aspect of the long range storyline. Also, a delightful surprise near the end of the book.

Always enjoyable — read in a day.

If this is your first time reading the Ruth Galloway series - stop - go get the rest of the books and read them in order. (In fact I may just do the same because they were so great the first time!) This is an incredible series with wonderful scenery, mystery, archeology, characters, I could just go on and on.
I’m always hesitant when I am reading the last book of a series. Can it live up to my expectations? Will the ending work? Will I be left hanging? I have to say, Elly Griffiths (her pen name) couldn’t have improved one tiny bit of this story. It was perfect. I’m sad to see the series end but I’m so thankful I got to spend so many hours with all of the characters.
Thank you Dominica de Rosa. I hope to read more from you soon.

The final book in the Ruth Galloway series is bittersweet. There is a lovely blend of reminiscence of adventures past and an exciting new puzzle to figure out. The characters struggle with the complexities of their personal lives as much as they struggle with the mystery at hand which only endears them to us more. It's sad to say goodbye to this fantastic series that always delivers the goods, but the resolution is very satisfying.

If you've liked the other Ruth Galloway books, you'll like this one. I appreciate that Elly Griffiths is able to write mysteries that are both appropriately twisty and comfortingly predictable. I also always enjoy the way these mysteries are tied to the history and/or folklore of the Norfolk area. In this one, a young woman's bones are discovered during a remodel of a former cafe, and they're quickly determined to be those of a Cambridge student who went missing in 2002. One of the last people to see her alive was Cathbad (the friendly neighborhood druid who really has gotten tangled up with a lot of crimes in this series), so archaeologist Ruth Galloway and DCI Nelson work to get to the bottom of the mystery. This one's set in the spring/summer of 2021, so there's a lot of COVID and lockdown talk, and one of the plot lines that really rang true for me was the near closure of Ruth's department at the University of North Norfolk. The way the decision was made behind closed doors by a board of people who were not actually academics hit a little close to home, as this has been one of the many negative impacts of COVID on education. I thought I had read that this was the final book in the series but I hope it's not. I'd love to keep coming back to this series for a few more years, at least!

I have been anticipating the last Ruth Galloway book like a reunion with old friends. The author delivered on an outstanding book that concludes this series. If you like British mysteries, characters that come to life, and and all around good story, read this series. I recommend this series a lot at my library. Thank you for the advance copy.

The Last Remains: A Mystery (Ruth Galloway Mysteries Book 15)- is the series really over?
I came to this series late, so I had the great pleasure of reading each book, one after the other. I highly recommend this series- set in Norfolk, England. Always enjoyable as an American to spend some time in Great Britain. The characters are vibrant, intelligent, the kind of people you can count on.

The main character, Ruth, is an archeologist and it has been a joy to learn more about this fascinating science. The Detective Chief Inspector has met his match as he learns to deal with Ruth and her precocious daughter Kate (not “Katie”) through the years. The rest of the Detectives have their own motivations and desires, and they work well as a team. And then there is Cathbad, part Druid, part old soul- he is someone that everyone can count on.

The characters are wonderful, but what about the mysteries? Archeology meets police procedural and English history and this leads to solid and fascinating stories. Each book features a big crisis at the end and this time, Ruth and Kate are in a dire situation. The writing gives enough descriptions and historical and archeological foundations while still focusing on an exciting crime.

Did the book end the series like I thought it would? Yes, although it could have gone several different ways. Congratulations to author Elly Griffiths for a superb and pleasurable series snd we shall see what she creates next.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance review copy. This is my honest review.

Is this the final book in the Ruth Galloway series? If it is, I can say I don't think I have had a beloved series end any better than this one did! The cozy and familiar characters once again face a mystery and a series of unfortunate events and rescues that have been read in each addition to the series, yet somehow never feeling stale or forced. This book, however, brings some long-awaited decisions by the main characters that make me think this is the final installment. As much as I want to read another adventure with Ruth and her bones, I couldn't be happier with the ending. I can't say much more without giving away the ending, but readers of this series are going to be happily fulfilled.

Elly Griffiths never disappoints! In this new installment of the Ruth Gallagher sereis, a skeleton is found behind a wall of a former cafe. Ruth is called to excavate and becomes involved in a 19 year old missing persons report. When the skeleton is identified, she is traced back to an archaeology weekend at a flint quarry site. Cathbad was one of the participants and remembers the young woman well . The characters are well drown right down to grumpy Nelson. A great read!

Thanks to Mariner Books, NetGalley, and Elly Griffiths for this digital ARC.

I will start this review with a confession - this was a tough book to read - knowing that it is Ruth's last story in the series for now. As a long time fan of Elly Griffith's stories, I have dutifully read each and every Ruth Galloway novel.

Ruth finds herself in chaos as the archaeology department she loves is threatened with closure. This forces her to reevaluate her life, and when a case envelops her, Nelson, and Cathbad, decisions must be made. Bones are found of a student named Emily Pickering, and Cathbad happened to be one of the last persons to see her alive. When Cathbad goes missing, suspicion focuses in on him as a suspect. Nelson and Ruth must race to uncover the truth to save both their future and the freedom of their dear friend Cathbad.

Wonderful end to a fantastic series!

Ruth is pulled into a case of missing bones and it's up to Nelson to find out who the bones belong to. Working together and separately, this mighty duo gets the job done. With a personal stake in their future, both have some things to work out and of course there is Kate. This is a well-written and executed drama that I could not put down because I needed to know the question I've wanted answered since the first meetup with Ruth and Nelson. The road to that question has been answered and I'm so glad I was on their journey. I will miss this series, but the author did say you never know when they will pop up again. Thank you, Elly Griffiths.

Perfect ending to a perfect series we all came to love. This book was well written and dang, kept me on the edge a few time. Will miss Ruth

I love this series and am sad to see it end, but nothing lasts forever, I suppose. The Last Remains is a fitting end to the Ruth Galloway mysteries. The story revolves around a skeleton found bricked up inside a wall, and the deceased has ties to Cathbad, who is still suffering from long covid. The department of archaeology at Ruth's college is in danger of being shut down, and Nelson's wife is unexpectedly back in the picture. Ruth has a lot of thinking to do and big decisions to make, all while trying to help solve the murder. There are many callbacks to events in the previous books, and these seem sort of stilted and shoehorned in, especially early in the book. It also took me longer than usual to really get into this one, perhaps because I didn't want it to end. Things pick up speed and the story ends up being quite enjoyable, and I'm happy to say I only figured out a little of the whodunit. While the Last Remains was certainly not the best of the series, it still stands out as a great read and everything wraps up nicely.

Thanks to Netgalley and Mariner Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I almost didn't want to read this book since it is the last Ruth Galloway novel. I love the character of Ruth and hate to see her go. In this last book, Ruth and the father of her daughter Nelson are trying to decide what the future holds for them . In this book, remains are found by builders and Cathbad, Ruth's friend is implicated. The ending is very exciting with Ruth and her daughter in imminent danger.

I truly love this series! It has suspense, relationships, and mundane worries tied together with murder and history. A college student disappears after being on an academic field trip. When her bones are discovered inside a café’s wall many years later, the investigation starts again.