Elly Griffiths is one of our favourite British crime fiction authors here at LoveReading, perhaps best known for her Ruth Galloway series, which follows forensic archaeologist Dr. Ruth Galloway as she helps solve mysteries alongside DCI Harry Nelson. The series, set in Norfolk, blends archaeology, history, and crime-solving with rich character development.

Griffiths has also written the Brighton Mysteries, a historical crime series set in the 1950s and 1960s featuring magician-turned-detective Max Mephisto and DI Edgar Stephens. More recently, she launched the Harbinder Kaur series, as well as some absolutely storming standalone thrillers including LoveReading Star Book The Last Word: a perfect novel for the armchair detective as this hugely entertaining read is set within the world of aspiring and published authors as they attempt to survive murder and mayhem.

Her resume also includes the wonderful The Man in Black & Other Stories which was published in 2024. This cracking collection of tales features all her best-loved characters: Dr Ruth Galloway, Harry Nelson, Max Mephisto, Detective Harbinder Kaur and more. It features several stories never published before, including a brand new Ruth and Nelson story. It’s a must-read for all her fans.

Elly joined us last year as was our Guest Editor last Spring where she shared her five favourite books about books. Telling us about how writing her first crime novel at eleven years old sparked a lifelong interest in books about books and her writing journey since. After reading you'll have several new books to add to your to-be-read pile. 

Her latest book The Frozen People is another absolute triumph, which has again been awarded coveted Star Book status from Liz Robinson. The start of a brand new series which will become The Ali Dawson Mysteries, you want to grab this with both hands, its fabulous balance of contemporary crime blended with time travel feels entirely and wonderfully possible!

In this series, Ali Dawson and her team delve into cases so old they're termed "frozen." Their latest assignment takes Ali back to 1850s London to exonerate Cain Templeton, the great-grandfather of MP Isaac Templeton, rumored to have been involved with a sinister group called The Collectors, whose initiation allegedly required murdering a woman. As Ali navigates the perils of Victorian London, she becomes trapped in time, unable to return to her present life and her son, Finn, who faces legal troubles in the current day. The narrative intertwines the mysteries of both eras, exploring potential connections between the two cases. 

Liz commented: “Award-winning and bestselling author Elly Griffiths is one of my favourites, here she rather masterfully joins several genres and I rubbed my hands with glee as I found myself as hooked as a hooked thing can be. Ali strides into the story with gusto, and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting her, the team, son Finn, and temperamental cat Terry. I had absolutely no trouble in believing the time-travel element, it slipped in and made itself right at home. Humour peppers the pages, which creates a foil to the edgy atmosphere. I loved Victorian London, the sense of place filled my senses while the plot weaved its magic. This is a wonderful start to a new series and has been chosen as both a LoveReading Star Book and Liz Pick of the Month. Vibrantly colourful and different, The Frozen People is as entertaining as it is satisfying, and comes as highly recommended by our team.”

The Frozen People has garnered early praise from notable authors. Janice Hallett describes it as "a five-star start to a dazzling new series... Smart, original and utterly masterful," while Anthony Horowitz calls it "a pleasure from start to finish." Shari Lapena adds that it's "fresh and exciting, with both humor and thrills." 

This new series promises to blend Griffiths' signature crime-solving narratives with a unique time-travel twist, offering readers a fresh and engaging experience. And we cannot wait for more.