A Room Full of Bones by Elly Griffiths

     It is Halloween night, and the local museum in King's Lynn is preparing for an unusual event - the opening of a coffin containing the bones of a medieval bishop. But when Ruth Galloway arrives to supervise, she finds the museum's curator lying dead beside the coffin. It is only a matter of time before she and DI Nelson cross paths once more, as he is called in to investigate.
     Soon the museum's wealthy owner lies dead in his stables too. These two deaths could be from natural causes but Nelson isn't convinced.
     When threatening letters come to light, events take an even more sinister turn. But as Ruth's friends become involved, where will her loyalties lie? As her convictions are tested, she and Nelson must discover how Aboriginal skulls, drug smuggling and the mystery of The Dreaming may hold the answer to these deaths, and their own survival.

Yes, I can say that Elly Griffiths writes one of my very favorite mystery series.  I was so eager to read A Room Full of Bones, 4th novel featuring Dr. Ruth Galloway, forensic archaeologist, and DCI Harry Nelson.  It's just come out in England, but won't be published here until July.  I loved this book.  There were many gripping sections, and I was pleased to catch up with old friends, Cathbad the Druid and Nelson's team of investigators.  Other familiar characters appear and we meet some new ones.  This time, the bones in question belong to an English Bishop and also to Aboriginal peoples, taken away from their homeland and their remains stored in a private museum.  The ethics of such practices arise and the Bishop is not quite what was expected either.  All in all,  this is a great story that includes a few dead bodies, some new personal dramas, and a life threatening illness for Nelson.  I could not put it down.  For those of you who enjoy this series, get prepared! 

I can't recommend this series highly enough.  It takes it's place with others written by Louise Penny, Margaret Maron, and Dana Stabenow in my "get your hands on it the minute it's published" category.  I've linked to my thoughts on The Crossing Places and The Janus Stone.  The House at Sea's End made my best read list for 2011, but I did not review it.