When you are selling many copies of your books, they are applauded by literary columnists and your readers wait avidly for the next instalment, it seems very brave to say: this is the last one.
‘The Last Remains’ is the 15th Dr. Ruth Galloway book and the last one in the series. I find that quite an upsetting sentence to write. I met Ruth early in the lockdown time, recommended by a Sunday Times columnist and I have loved every single book. The fun is the human interest and the on/off maybe/ maybe not relationship between Ruth Galloway and Harry Nelson.
At the end of book number 14 it seemed that Nelson was in some form of domestic harmony with his wife, so everything was very much up in the air. Book number 15 is a masterclass in fiction writing skill. Elly Griffiths begins the story by telling the reader that Nelson’s wife Michelle is now in Blackpool having asked for a separation. She didn’t write exactly what happened or who said what to whom, she just said it had happened.
Throughout the whole book there are many cliffhangers, truly worthy of Eastenders (I only ever see the last couple of minutes!) My cousin said the book kept her up all night, there were so many twists and turns that she had to read on.
There is of course an excellent crime story that threads its way through the book, this time based on a skeleton found in a wall. However, I guarantee that the majority of readers are turning the pages because they are desperate to know what happens to the complicated relationship of Ruth and Nelson.
In the blurb The Times says: ‘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 become one of our very best writers.’ That says it really. I can’t tell you how the book ends as that would be the worst spoiler. Read this book and enjoy.
In a year or so I will reread the entire series and enjoy them all over again.