Biography
The pen name of Domenica de Rosa, Elly Griffiths is best known for her crime series starring Dr Ruth Galloway. Set on the isolated and windswept North Norfolk coast, the quirky archaeologist is often called in to help the police whenever bones are found, and inevitably finds herself drawn into the often dangerous investigations.
Born in 1963, Domenica de Rosa always wanted to be an author. She wrote her novel - a murder mystery - aged 11, and enjoyed writing episodes of her favourite television shows. After studying English at King’s College London, she worked in a library, for a magazine and then in publishing as an Editorial Director, all in the hope that it would help her become a published author some day. Instead, it put her off writing for years.
It was while on maternity leave in 1998 that she wrote what would become her first published novel, The Italian Quarter. Four more standalone novels, all set in Italy, followed. It was during a holiday in Norfolk that Domenica came up with the character of Dr Ruth Galloway, following a chance remark by her archaeologist husband. To distinguish the series from her earlier novels, she came up with a crime pen name: Elly Griffiths.
As well as the phenomenally popular Dr Ruth Galloway series, Elly Griffiths has also written The Brighton Mysteries and A Girl Called Justice series. Atmospheric, intricately plotted and engaging, Elly Griffiths writes novels that are character-led with a powerful sense of place, drawing you into a familiar yet unknown world.
