Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Last Remains by Elly Griffiths Narrator: Jane McDowell
Series: Ruth Galloway #15
Published by HarperAudio on April 25, 2023
Genres: Mystery
Length: 9 hours, 41 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
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When builders discover a human skeleton while renovating a café, they call in archaeologist Dr. Ruth Galloway, who is preoccupied with the threatened closure of her department and by her ever-complicated relationship with DCI Nelson. The bones turn out to be modern--the remains of Emily Pickering, a young archaeology student who went missing in 2002. Suspicion soon falls on Emily's Cambridge tutor and also on another archeology enthusiast who was part of the group gathered the weekend before she disappeared--Ruth's friend Cathbad.
As they investigate, Nelson and his team uncover a tangled web of relationships within the archaeology group and look for a link between them and the café where Emily's bones were found. Then, just when the team seem to be making progress, Cathbad disappears. The trail leads Ruth a to the Neolithic flint mines in Grimes Graves. 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?
The Ruth Galloway series is an unusual sort of police procedural with archeological and spiritual aspects. Ruth is an archaeologist who has had some success with books and even television, and is now head of the department. She is normally called in when bones are found with police cases. This is how she met DCI Nelson, who is her daughter’s father.
Kate’s daughter is growing up and knows who her father is and her half siblings. The situation is odd and none of them discuss it. But Nelson and Ruth still spend time together, mostly discreetly since she lives in a remote area. Every time it seems Nelson will make any changes, things are easier to leave status quo. Ruth doesn’t expect him to leave his wife and that is sad but realistic. I’m surprised Kate and Ruth are so comfortable with it.
Now Nelson’s wife, Michelle, has separated from him and moved back north. Nelson is ready for Ruth to move in with him but she isn’t ready to discuss it. Work keeps them busy. A new set of bones is found. Cathbad has connection to the new murder victim, so Judy can’t work on the case. Then Cathbad goes missing, and he has still been struggling with long Covid. Covid is still keeping those exposed in lockdown.
The university decides to close Ruth’s department. She works with David and others in her department to protest, on social media and in interviews. David admits he’d like Ruth to come back to Sweden with him. Will Ruth stay with Nelson or go to Sweden with David, or to another top university archaeology department? Will Nelson be with Ruth, or go back to Michelle when he is offered a cold case job up north?
I found this story so satisfying and so true to all their characters. It’s a great conclusion to a series. I’ve read all the books. These flawed characters are so lovable and so themselves, it was delicious. There are a lot of things happening here to foment changes. I was there for it! I highly recommend this series.
Narration:
The Last Remains is the only book in the series where I have read the audio version. It was odd because I had my own voices in my head for these characters. I was pretty comfortable with the narration, the only one very different for me was Nelson. Jane McDowell was a new narrator for me. I enjoyed her performance. I listened at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Elly Griffiths
Elly Griffiths was born in London in 1963. Her first crime novel The Crossing Places is set on the Norfolk coast where she spent holidays as a child and where her aunt still lives. Her interest in archaeology comes from her husband, Andrew, who gave up his city job to retrain as an archaeologist. She lives in Brighton, on the south coast of England, with her husband and two children.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 23-COYER
Sounds like lots of drama, but the good kind. Wonderful review, I love the archeological aspect of this series!
This is the most unusual series which is probably why I like it. The characters are far from perfect, poorly communicate sometimes, but I love them anyway.
Another series I love…but am very behind in reading. Ruth is such an interesting character, and I love how there’s always some archaeology in these mysteries.
yes it’s like a cozy mystery but instead of the ridiculous quirky this is the oddball quirky which I actually like. It was a very satisfying conclusion.
I wonder how it all worked out with Ruth, Nelson, and David. I don’t like messy romantic situations normally but I am curious here. I know Linda loves this series too
It works out awesome. It is SO them. They are just themselves and I love these odd characters.