As they investigate, Nelson and his team uncover a tangled web of relationships within the archeology 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? And the starting point is important for the end. Not vital. You would enjoy the story, but miss the subtleties. At the heart of this book is a fine crime drama, with mystery, suspense, twists, blind alleys, and red herrings. But it all becomes heart-aching as the characters involved are people you know, trust and maybe love a little. Not just Ruth and Nelson. Not even just Cathbad. If I was starting on this book I would be bewildered by the huge cast of characters, some of whom are important to Ruth and Nelson, some to the plot. Many to both. I was glad Judy and Cathbad actually got married at the end of the book. They have two children. Maybe I’m old-fashioned but marriage seems like a natural event for a couple who actually share interests and have a good relationship. That one also started by one of the parties cheating on a spouse, but we forget that aspect sooner bc Judy actually shows integrity and ends her marriage, whereas Nelson never does bc the relationship and commonalities between he and his wife Michelle are both longer and stronger than Judy’s.

Ruth and DCI Nelson are working on a murder case in which their friend Cathbad emerges as the prime suspect. Can they uncover the truth in time to save him?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 also has an “interesting” relationship with officer, DCI Nelson – who also happens to be her daughter’s father, another major character.

What a bittersweet experience to read The Last Remains, the final Ruth Galloway book. This series has been a favorite of mine. From the beginning, Ruth has been such a fully realized character I could see her clearly.Meanwhile, renovations of an old Norfolk café, with the aim of re-opening as a fashionable tea room, reveal a skeleton hidden behind a wall. Archaeologist Ruth Galloway is called to view the bones, and she observes a surgical plate used to fuse a broken ankle. So Ruth determines the skeleton is modern, and DCI Harry Nelson and his team begin a murder inquiry. When Cathbad who is still recovering from Covid disappears, after admitting he knew the dead girl, things do not look good. More important to the story, Nelson and Ruth are trying to decide where their future lies. Nelson is finally separated. Ruth’s archeology department may be shut down due to budget constraints. Covid is still very much a part of everyone’s life. Cathbad is still recovering from his serious bout with it and seems to be exhibiting signs of long Covid. The unmissable new book in the Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries. Ruth and Nelson are working on a murder case in which Cathbad emerges as the prime suspect. Can they uncover the truth in time to save their friend?

Ruth doesn’t get much from Leo, but another member of the group confesses to the police that he saw the much older Leo kissing Emily. Cathbad also owns up to having had feelings for Emily, and Nelson observes that Cathbad’s wife, Judy, somewhat resembles her. Cathbad admits to Ruth that he did have a brief affair with Emily and promises to share this revelation with Judy to keep his conscience clean.As they investigate, Nelson and his team uncover a tangled web of relationships within the student group and the adults leading them. What was the link between the group and the King's Lynn cafe where Emily's bones were found?

If all of these plot elements and complications have your head swimming, never fear. Griffiths leads us through the conglomeration of main story, side plots and character development with the ease of a practiced guide. We come out of the forest of detail in good shape--the main mystery and side plots have been resolved. We are happy, the characters seem happy but we want more and so we hope that sometime soon, Griffiths will slip another pebble in the shoe of our heroine Ruth and bring us yet another wonderful story. Author Elly Griffiths has announced that this 15th book in the 'Ruth Galloway' mysteries is the last in the series.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). 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. This time, a fully articulated skeleton is found during the renovation of an antique store. The skeleton is recent, given the metal plate in the ankle. It’s soon discovered that she was an archeology student who went missing in 2002. A woman that had ties to Cathbad. Harry Bosch and the Lincoln Lawyer team up to exonerate a woman who’s already served five years for killing her ex-husband. As the story unfolds, there are 'Easter Egg' references to people and events in previous books, which is a nice treat for fans. It's also fun to hear Nelson regularly use his favorite expression, "Jesus Wept."