If you like archaeology, Norfolk settings, and character-driven crime stories, the Ruth Galloway books in order are best read from the beginning. Elly Griffiths’ series follows Dr. Ruth Galloway, a forensic archaeologist who gets pulled into police investigations whenever old bones and modern murders overlap.
I’m keeping this guide focused on Ruth Galloway. For Griffiths’ full author bibliography, including the Brighton Mysteries, Harbinder Kaur, Ali Dawson, Justice Jones, and the Domenica de Rosa novels, start with my full Elly Griffiths books in order guide.
Start with The Crossing Places and read the 15 main novels in publication order. The short stories and companion book are optional, but I’ve included them after the novels if you want every Ruth-related title in one place.
Jump to:
- Ruth Galloway Books in Order
- Ruth Galloway Short Stories and Extras
- Do You Need to Read Ruth Galloway in Order?
- Is The Last Remains the Last Ruth Galloway Book?
- Who is Ruth Galloway?
- Ruth Galloway Books FAQ
Ruth Galloway Books in Order
There are 15 main Ruth Galloway novels. Publication order is the best reading order because Ruth, Nelson, and the rest of the recurring cast change a lot from book to book.
- The Crossing Places (2009)
- The Janus Stone (2010)
- The House at Sea’s End (2011)
- A Room Full of Bones (2011)
- Dying Fall (2012), also published as A Dying Fall
- The Outcast Dead (2014)
- The Ghost Fields (2015)
- The Woman in Blue (2016)
- The Chalk Pit (2017)
- The Dark Angel (2018)
- The Stone Circle (2019)
- The Lantern Men (2020)
- The Night Hawks (2021)
- The Locked Room (2022)
- The Last Remains (2023)
Ruth Galloway Short Stories and Extras
The extras aren’t required, but they’re worth knowing about if you want the full Ruth Galloway experience. I’d treat them as bonuses, not part of the 15-book novel sequence.
- Ruth’s First Christmas Tree (2012) (Short Story), best read after A Room Full of Bones
- The Man in Black (2020) (Short Story), best read after The Lantern Men
- Norfolk (2023) (Optional Companion)
- The Man in Black and Other Stories (2024) (Short Story Collection)
The Man in Black and Other Stories reaches beyond Ruth Galloway, but Ruth and Nelson do appear in the collection. Norfolk is different. It’s a companion book about the setting, so I’d save it for when you already know you love Ruth’s world.
Do You Need to Read Ruth Galloway in Order?
Yes. Each book has its own case, but the series is much better when you follow the characters from the beginning.
That matters most with Ruth and Nelson. Their relationship gets complicated fast, and later books will spoil major turns in their lives. The same goes for Cathbad, Judy, Michelle, Kate, and the rest of the regular cast.
Start with The Crossing Places and keep going. That’s the simplest way to read the series.
Is The Last Remains the Last Ruth Galloway Book?
The Last Remains is the final Ruth Galloway novel in the main series. Griffiths has described the ending as “for now,” so I wouldn’t call a return impossible. Still, there is no new Ruth Galloway novel announced right now, which means book 15 is the end of the current reading order.
Who is Ruth Galloway?
Dr. Ruth Galloway is a forensic archaeologist who lives in a remote cottage near the Norfolk salt marshes with her cats. She’s independent, sharp, practical, and usually happier with old bones than with police politics.
Her work brings her into contact with DCI Harry Nelson after bones are found near a prehistoric henge in The Crossing Places. After that, Ruth becomes part of Nelson’s investigations whenever archaeology and murder cross paths.
Ruth Galloway Books FAQ
How many Ruth Galloway books are there?
There are 15 main Ruth Galloway novels, plus short stories and an optional Norfolk companion book.
What is the first Ruth Galloway book?
The first Ruth Galloway book is The Crossing Places. That’s where you should start.
Has the Ruth Galloway series ended?
Yes, the main Ruth Galloway series currently ends with The Last Remains. Griffiths has left room for a possible return someday, but no new Ruth Galloway novel has been announced.
Should I read Ruth’s First Christmas Tree and The Man in Black?
They’re optional. Read Ruth’s First Christmas Tree after A Room Full of Bones and The Man in Black after The Lantern Men if you want the short fiction in the right spot.
Is Norfolk a Ruth Galloway novel?
No. Norfolk is a companion book, not a Ruth Galloway mystery. It’s best for readers who love the Norfolk setting.
Are the Ruth Galloway books cozy mysteries?
I wouldn’t call them straight cozy mysteries. They’re character-driven crime mysteries with archaeology, police work, folklore, and a strong sense of place.
Looking for similar books in order?
For more mystery authors and reading-order guides, start with my Mystery Books in Order index.