Elly Griffiths

Elly Griffiths, the pen name of London-born Domenica de Rosa (b. 1963), is a bestselling British crime novelist living on England’s south coast. She studied English at King’s College London and worked in publishing before adopting her grandmother’s name—Elly Griffiths—to begin writing mysteries. Her debut in crime fiction, The Crossing Places (2009), introduced forensic archaeologist Dr. Ruth Galloway and launched a beloved series set along the Norfolk coast.

The Ruth Galloway series spans fifteen novels, concluding in 2023 with The Last Remains. These books combine atmospheric British landscapes, strong character development, and tightly woven archaeological mysteries. Alongside Sherlockian acclaim, Griffiths’ work has earned major awards including the CWA Dagger in the Library, the Mary Higgins Clark Award, and the 2020 Edgar Award for Best Novel (The Stranger Diaries).

Elly Griffiths has also authored two other adult series: the retro Brighton Mysteries (The Zig Zag Girl and sequels) set in 1950s Brighton featuring DI Edgar Stephens and magician Max Mephisto, and the Harbinder Kaur series, led by the Edgar-winning The Stranger Diaries. She has also penned a children’s mystery line starring schoolgirl sleuth Justice Jones, with the first titles appearing in 2019.

In early 2025, she launched her fourth adult series with The Frozen People, featuring detective Ali Dawson and a time-travel twist in 1850s cold-case investigations. The book was praised for blending humor, historical detail, and inventive plotting, and was shortlisted for Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year.

Elly Griffiths lives in Brighton with her husband—whose career inspired the archaeology theme in her Ruth Galloway books—and their two children. She remains an active force in UK crime fiction, serving as Programming Chair for the 2017 Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, and continues to delight readers with her atmospheric settings, engaging protagonists, and meticulously crafted mysteries.