The last remains was absolute perfection. I loved it! The whole story was so well written and the characters were just wow. I have no complaints whatsoever about this series I highly recommend this book to anyone. I’m so glad I read this book.

Griffiths has ended the Ruth Galloway series with a bang. Last Remains is the final book and it's a terrific read.
Ruth is facing academic challenges. The university plans to eliminate the Archaeology Department. There are the usual personal challenges as her daughter, Kate will soon enter secondary school which will most likely mean moving from the beloved salt marsh cottage. Then there's the long-standing relationship with Nelson. Nelson's wife was in Blackpool during the COVID lock down and doesn't appear in a hurry to return home - a situation that Ruth and Nelson have made the most of but which puts pressure on Ruth about the future. Then there's worry about Cathbad who seems to have lingering issues from COVID.
When a builder finds human bones behind a brick wall in a building he's renovating, Ruth is called in to assess the age of the remains. They belonged to a young woman who disappeared 20 years ago. When it becomes clear that a professor from Ruth's former university and Cathbad knew the woman and were among the last people to see her alive, the investigation becomes personal for Ruth. There are multiple suspects but one stands out.
Griffiths has written a satisfying conclusion to the series and done it in an interesting way.
Although I may not agree with all of Ruth's decisions it was truly a grand finale!
Thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Book for the opportunity to read this title.

Archaeology professor Ruth Galloway is called in to examine bones found behind a wall when a cafe is being renovated. Since there is a recent surgical plate visible on the ankle of the skeleton, she quickly determines that this is a fairly recently case of foul play. Twenty years ago, a local college girl, Emily Pickering went missing, so everyone is fairly certain whose bones these are. The only question is: who put Emily there and why?

Ruth's life is in turmoil on many fronts as this discovery is made. Her university has decided to eliminate archaeology as a field of study, leaving her uncertain as to her future. Her long-term romantic partner, DCI Harry Nelson, is also at a crossroads and is pressuring Ruth to leave her beloved house and perhaps even relocate to another part of the country. Even though they share a daughter, Kate, Nelson is still married (although his wife has asked for a divorce) and Ruth is not sure what their future holds.

The investigation into Emily's disappearance and the discovery of the bones leads to another professor and his complicated relationship with many of his students over the years. This professor, Leo Ballard, was the last person to see Emily alive, but she was seen on camera in a neighboring town after he dropped her off. Old photos and memories may hold the key to sorting out what really happened to Emily.

While the story was interesting, this is the 15th book in the Ruth Galloway series. There are many characters, relationship, and references to events in the past that don't mean a lot if this is the first book you've read in the series (as it is for me). People popping up from the past with only brief references as to how Ruth knows them (along with things mentioned in passing, such as how a dog saved someone's life), sort of give you the feeling you've walked in on the middle of a play. The story is totally understandable without the background of the previous 14 books, but I'm sure it would help clarify a lot of the references if I had been familiar with the characters and situations mentioned throughout the book.

Elly Griffith’s Ruth Galloway series has become one of my “comfort” reads - books to pick up when the world becomes too much and I just want to escape into a fictional world. I was disappointed when I heard that this would be the last in the Galloway series, but I must say Griffiths has done a masterful job of tying up lots of loose ends and especially in the way she brings the series full-circle with the re-introduction of a particular character.

The story is familiar - Ruth is called to excavate bones found in unusual circumstances, which leads to all sorts of adventures for Ruth, Nelson, Cathbad, Judy, Kate, and all the rest of the characters fans have come to love. The mystery is handled with Griffith’s usual cleverness, but it’s the human relationships that she handles with grace, style, and wit.

While I am sorry to see the series sunset, I can’t give anything but praise for how the end has been revealed.

Well done!

An outstanding ending to a fine series. I’m sad that the series is ending as I’ve enjoyed the various adventures that have taken place. I learned a great deal as well. I feel like I know the various characters and happy to see that loose ends are no longer loose. I’ll write no more as that would be giving away part of the mystery.

Absolute perfection. I loved the mystery and the detective work, but Elly Griffiths' stories are about the cast of characters that you absorb as part of your life, and she ended this series staying true to all of them. I was afraid for several chapters that she was going to do something unforgiveable, but after getting me all wound up, the story resolved perfectly. I highly recommend the Ruth Galloway series, and while she ended this on a perfect note, I am going to miss Ruth, Nelson, Judy, Cathbad, Cloughie, Zoe, Kate, and everyone else terribly.

When a skeleton is found during the renovation of a cafe, Ruth Galloway is called in to help date the remains. It turns out that they belong to someone Ruth knew, archaeology student, Emily Pickering, who went missing in 2002. The police have two suspects, Emily’s college tutor and Ruth’s best friend, Cathbad. Already in emotional toil over the potential closure of her university department and her ongoing and increasingly difficult relationship with Nelson, Ruth is in over her head. When Cathbad disappears, he moves to the head of the line of suspects. Ruth is determined to find her friend and find a way to exonerate him before it’s too late. Another highly charged, slow burn mystery in this excellent serieshttps://www.netgalley.com/member/book/275925/review#

I absolutely devoured this final installment in the Ruth Galloway series -- finished it in one day! Griffiths is a master at tension and suspense, and The Last Remains is no exception. There are so many twists, you'll be glued to the page and probably stay up far past your bedtime. I can't say much more without giving away any spoilers, but it was wonderful to visit King's Lynn and Ruth's little cottage by the saltmarsh one more time. Thank you, Elly for all the wonderful times with Ruth, Nelson, and the gang.