Elly Griffiths

Elly Griffiths is the pen name of Domenica de Rosa, a British author whose Dr Ruth Galloway mysteries have made her one of the most popular and critically acclaimed crime writers working in the UK today. Her novels combine compelling murder mysteries with atmospheric settings, sharp characterisation, and a genuine fascination with archaeology, history, and the landscapes of Norfolk and beyond. Born in London in 1963, Griffiths studied English at King's College London and worked in publishing for many years before turning to fiction. She began writing literary fiction under her own name before adopting the pen name Elly Griffiths for the crime novels that would bring her widest readership. The Ruth Galloway series, beginning with The Crossing Places in 2009, follows a forensic archaeologist at the University of North Norfolk who becomes involved in criminal investigations. Ruth is a wonderfully unconventional detective — an academic, a single mother, an atheist in a world of ancient ritual and belief — and her investigations regularly draw on her archaeological expertise, linking present-day crimes to the deep history embedded in the Norfolk landscape. The series now comprises over fifteen novels, including The Janus Stone, A Room Full of Bones, The Outcast Dead, Bleeding Heart Yard, and The Last Remains. Each book weaves archaeological mystery with contemporary crime in a way that is uniquely satisfying. Griffiths's Norfolk — with its marshes, flint churches, and wide skies — is as much a character as Ruth herself. Griffiths has also written the Brighton Mysteries series, set in 1950s and 60s Brighton and featuring DI Edgar Stephens and the magician Max Mephisto. These books combine crime fiction with the glamour and seediness of post-war seaside entertainment. The audiobook editions of the Ruth Galloway series have been hugely popular, with narrators capturing the atmosphere, warmth, and intellectual curiosity that define the books. The audiobooks are a favourite among listeners who love crime fiction with a strong sense of place. Elly Griffiths lives in Brighton. She won the CWA Dagger in the Library award for her body of work and continues to write with the same intelligence and enthusiasm that have made Ruth Galloway one of the most loved characters in British crime fiction. Her books and audiobooks are essential for anyone who enjoys mysteries with brains, heart, and atmosphere.