Ruth Galloway Books in Order

The Ruth Galloway series is a crime series written by Elly Griffiths, following forensic archaeologist Ruth Galloway who helps police with their investigations in England.

For a complete list of books by Elly Griffiths, see Elly Griffiths Books in Order.

Latest Ruth Galloway Books

The Killing Time
The Killing Time (Ali Dawson #2), February 2026

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Ruth Galloway Series (Books in Order)

The list below shows the Ruth Galloway novels in publication order, which is also the recommended reading order for the series.

Reading Order

  1. The Crossing Places (#1), 2009
  2. The Janus Stone (#2), 2010
  3. The House at Sea’s End (#3), 2010
  4. A Room Full of Bones (#4), 2011
  5. Ruth’s First Christmas Tree (#4.5), 2012
  6. A Dying Fall (#5), 2012 (also titled The Tomb of the Raven King)
  7. The Outcast Dead (#6), 2014
  8. The Ghost Fields (#7), 2015
  9. The Woman In Blue (#8), 2016
  10. The Chalk Pit (#9), 2017
  11. The Dark Angel (#10), 2018
  12. The Stone Circle (#11), 2019
  13. The Lantern Men (#12), 2020
  14. The Night Hawks (#13), 2021
  15. The Locked Room (#14), 2022
  16. The Last Remains (#15), 2023

Who is Ruth Galloway?

Ruth Galloway is a forensic archaeologist who works with the police on cases that involve human remains and historically rooted crimes. She is based in Norfolk, England, and is often consulted by DCI Harry Nelson and the local authorities when archaeological expertise is required during criminal investigations.

In the Ruth Galloway series by Elly Griffiths, her academic work regularly intersects with modern police work, as excavations, ancient sites and unresolved events from the past become central to contemporary criminal cases.

Where to Start with the Ruth Galloway Series

New to Ruth Galloway? Start here:

  • Best starting point: The Crossing Places – the first Ruth Galloway novel, introducing Ruth, DCI Harry Nelson, and the Norfolk setting. It’s the ideal place to begin if you want to follow the characters and their relationships from the beginning.
  • If you pick up a later book first: the mysteries in each novel are mostly self-contained, but character arcs and relationships develop over time, so you may want to return to The Crossing Places afterwards to see how it all began.

Related Elly Griffiths Series

Edited by

Marika

Founder of Mystery Sequels, a reference site focused on listing mystery and thriller books in the correct reading order. I maintain and update the site’s bibliographies as new titles are released, ensuring accuracy and consistency across author and series pages.
Last verified:

55 Comments

  1. I have listened to all six of Elly Griffiths books on Audible. Brilliant. Now im going to listen again as they have spoilled me for anything else. Missing Ruth and the gang.

  2. I can no longer see to read well but having discovered Elly Griffith’s Ruth Galloway series in audio format I am absolutely thrilled and working my way through them!

      1. I am so enjoying reading this series of books. I have just started ‘ A Room Full of Bones’. Thank you Elly/Donemica
        Roisin from Belfast Northern Ireland

  4. I agree about reading these books in order. It helps you to follow the characters as their relationships change.
    I can read a book in one sitting ( they are so good ) but I ration myself.
    I am halfway through dying fall so that means just 1 book left.

  5. have been trying to find ‘The tower of the Raven King’ as previewed at the end of Room full of Bones.
    Can’t find any references to it. Anyone help?

    1. So have I and no luck. Glad I’m not the only one! If the Ghost fields is due out in April what has happened to “The Tower…”?

    3. The Tomb of the Raven King was published as Dying Fall. The publishers didn’t like my title – thought it was too historical/fantasy. Hope you enjoy the book. Elly

      1. Thank you for that – My Husband bought me The Ghost fields and from then on I read backwards I have just finished A Room Full of Bones and got nothing done in the housework line as just couldn’t put it down, just about to start Dying Fall and was all confused with the titles etc. So glad that has been explained. Can’t wait to get onto the other series you have written, you are a fabulous writer (on a par with Linwood Barclay, although your language use is much cleaner). Thank you and keep writing.

      2. What a shame! I much prefer your original title, “The Tomb of the Raven King”. Having read all of your books with the exception of The Ghost Fields I would just like to say “thank you”, particularly for “A Room Full of Bones” which helped me through a difficult personal time as it was so (darkly) funny. I love the vein of humour that runs through all of Ruths’ adventures. And being a total cat lover she has my vote. In agreement with other comments, it is refreshing to have a heroine who is by no means perfect, not a size 8, not beautiful at all times no matter what, quick to irritate, quirky, solitary, stubborn, although she has no shortage of admirers so must be doing something right! My only regret is that I didn’t read the books in order.

  6. Elly Griffiths is one of the best English crime writers of our time. Gripping plots, not too ghoulish, has warmth and tenderness, but with gutsee interest. Love her stories of the Norfolk sea and sand dunes. If you know Norfolk and it’s coast, or you don’t, go check it out.
    Many thanks for a few hours of getting lost in your books, keep writing Elly we love you.

    Carole XX

    1. Griffiths is my favorite writer of all. Love both series. I want to live in her house as well and bed friends with Cathbad. I love that her daughter calls him Daddy sometimes.

  7. I love Ruth because she is so like me overweight loves the wrong kind of food cat lover solitary until her daughter popped up but now a loving mum I look forward to many more books from ellygriffiths please Nelsons s OK too

  8. I read my first Elly Griffiths book with members of the Leigh Library Crime Reading Group. Since then I have read the other books in the series (best read in order). Have now got the latest book and can’t wait for more. The consensus of the whole group is brilliant writing.

    1. Is that Leigh ,Lancs, I come from Atherton Lancs and have just got the first book but haven’t read it yet .

  9. And now “the Outcast Dead” 2014. Can’t wait for the next.

  10. I’m finishing the first book and loved it. Can’t wait to read more about lovable Ruth. It’s pleasantly hilarious how Ruth is described as overweight, not-too-exciting as a character, middle-aged and lives with two cats. However, she’s overwhelmed with admirers, e.g., Peter, Nelson, etc…Gosh, I wish I could be that overwhelmed by love. I love Ruth. Thanks Ms. Griffiths for creating such a wonderful character.

    1. She’s a wonderful writer, isn’t she? I love the series as well!

Comments are closed.