Elly Griffiths Books in Order: Every Series & Book

By T.L. BransonMystery

The easiest way to read the Elly Griffiths books in order is by series. I’d start with The Crossing Places if you want the best first taste of Griffiths’ crime fiction, then read each series in order before moving to another one.

Griffiths has several mystery series, a middle grade mystery series, newer time-travel mysteries, short fiction, one non-fiction book, and earlier novels published as Domenica de Rosa. I’ve grouped everything below so you can pick the series you want and read it in the right order.

Jump to:

Ruth Galloway Books

Ruth Galloway is Griffiths’ best-known series and the place I’d start. The books follow a forensic archaeologist in Norfolk who gets pulled into murder investigations with DCI Harry Nelson.

I’d read the 15 main novels first, then treat the short stories and companion book as extras. You can also see the full breakdown in my Ruth Galloway books in order guide.

  1. The Crossing Places (2009)
  2. The Janus Stone (2010)
  3. The House at Sea’s End (2011)
  4. A Room Full of Bones (2011)
  5. Dying Fall (2012), also published as A Dying Fall
  6. The Outcast Dead (2014)
  7. The Ghost Fields (2015)
  8. The Woman in Blue (2016)
  9. The Chalk Pit (2017)
  10. The Dark Angel (2018)
  11. The Stone Circle (2019)
  12. The Lantern Men (2020)
  13. The Night Hawks (2021)
  14. The Locked Room (2022)
  15. The Last Remains (2023)

Ruth Galloway Short Stories and Companion

You don’t need these for the main Ruth Galloway reading order, but I’d include them if you want everything tied to Ruth, Nelson, and Norfolk.

Brighton Mysteries

The Brighton Mysteries follow Detective Inspector Edgar Stephens and magician Max Mephisto in 1950s Brighton. The cases stand alone, but the character history builds, so I’d read these in publication order.

  1. The Zig Zag Girl (2014)
  2. Smoke and Mirrors (2015)
  3. The Blood Card (2016)
  4. The Vanishing Box (2017)
  5. Now You See Them (2019)
  6. The Midnight Hour (2021)
  7. The Great Deceiver (2023)

Harbinder Kaur Books

The Harbinder Kaur books are tied together by the recurring detective, though the first book feels closer to a standalone mystery. I’d still read them in publication order.

  1. The Stranger Diaries (2018)
  2. The Postscript Murders (2020)
  3. Bleeding Heart Yard (2022)
  4. The Last Word (2024)

Justice Jones Books

The Justice Jones books are middle grade mysteries set around Highbury House Boarding School. They’re written for younger readers, but they can still work for adults who like school mysteries.

  1. A Girl Called Justice (2019)
  2. The Smugglers’ Secret (2020)
  3. A Ghost in the Garden (2021)
  4. The Spy at the Window (2022)

Ali Dawson Mysteries

The Ali Dawson Mysteries follow a detective whose cold case team travels into the past to investigate old crimes. Pick this series first if the time-travel angle is what caught your attention.

  1. The Frozen People (2025)
  2. The Killing Time (2026)
  3. The Case of the Christmas Card (2026) (Novella)
  4. The Night Watchman (2027)

Anthologies with Stories by Elly Griffiths

Griffiths has also written stories for several crime anthologies. I’d treat these as optional, and you don’t need them before starting any of the main series.

Elly Griffiths Non-Fiction Books

You don’t need this for any of Griffiths’ mystery series. I’d only pick it up if you’re trying to round out her full bibliography or you’re curious about her early non-fiction work.

Domenica de Rosa Books

Before she became known as Elly Griffiths, Domenica de Rosa published four novels under her real name. These are closer to family drama and romance than detective fiction, so I wouldn’t start here unless you’re working through her full bibliography.

  1. The Italian Quarter (2004), later published as Return to the Italian Quarter
  2. The Eternal City (2005)
  3. Villa Serena (2007), later published as The Secret of Villa Serena
  4. Summer School (2008), later published as One Summer in Tuscany

Elly Griffiths Books FAQ

Which Elly Griffiths series should I read first?

I’d start with Ruth Galloway unless another series already interests you more. It’s Griffiths’ best-known series and the strongest introduction to her crime fiction.

Should I read Elly Griffiths books by series or publication order?

Read by series. A single publication-order list jumps between different casts, settings, and genres, so it’s less useful for most readers.

Are the Elly Griffiths series connected?

No, not in any meaningful way. You don’t need to read Ruth Galloway before Brighton, Harbinder Kaur, Justice Jones, or Ali Dawson.

Are the Justice Jones books for adults?

No. The Justice Jones books are middle grade mysteries. Adults who enjoy school mysteries may still like them, but they’re written for younger readers.

Looking for similar books in order?

If you want more mystery authors and reading-order guides like this one, start with my Mystery Books in Order index.

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