Forensic archaeologist Ruth Galloway changed her life–until a convicted killer tells her that four of his victims were never found, drawing her back to the place she left behind. Everything has changed for Ruth Galloway. She has a new job, home, and partner, and she is no longer North Norfolk police’s resident forensic archaeologist. That is, until convicted murderer Ivor March offers to make … Ivor March offers to make DCI Nelson a deal. Nelson was always sure that March killed more women than he was charged with. Now March confirms this and offers to show Nelson where the other bodies are buried–but only if Ruth will do the digging.
Curious, but wary, Ruth agrees. March tells Ruth that he killed four more women and that their bodies are buried near a village bordering the fens, said to be haunted by the Lantern Men, mysterious figures holding lights that lure travelers to their deaths.
Is Ivor March himself a lantern man, luring Ruth back to Norfolk? What is his plan, and why is she so crucial to it? And are the killings really over?
more
I loved the latest Dr. Ruth Galloway mystery. Ruth’s drawn into a series of past murders that seem connected to a local legend about the Lantern Men. The plot kept me glued to the page and, as always, the characters are fascinating. I also loved Ruth’s efforts to settle into a new home (and partner) that feels far from her beloved Saltmarsh. And from Nelson, the lead detective on the case, with whom Ruth has a complex relationship. The best Elly Griffiths novel yet, and they are all amazing. My only complaint – I read it too fast and now am sad it’s over. Already looking forward to the next one!
It is the middle of May 2018 as The Lantern Men: A Ruth Galloway Mystery by Elly Griffiths begins and a lot has changed in recent months. Kate is now nine. Dr. Ruth Galloway now teaches at Cambridge and lives with Frank. She is no longer the North Norfolk police’s resident forensic archeologist and is far from her beloved cottage on the Saltmarsh. While she will always have a connection to DCI Henry Nelson because of Kate, she is trying her best to close that door of her life and move forward with Frank and her new job duties.
That is until convicted murderer Ivor March offers a deal that Nelson cannot refuse. Finally convicted of two murders, Ivor Martin, remains a suspect as far as DCI Nelson is concerned for the cases of Nicole Ferris and Jenny McGuire. They are the same body type as the other victims, both lived in the Norfolk area at the time as did his confirmed victims, and both had contact with March by way of his classes as did the confirmed victims. Nelson is sure, without a shred of doubt, March did it. He knows March did it. Proving it is the problem as there has been no sign of the bodies or any evidence in either case.
That is until Ivor March decides to cooperate and will do so for a price. Not only does he want a meeting with Nelson and Dr. Ruth Galloway, he will only tell them where the bodies are if she handles the dig herself. Clearly March is working an unknown agenda, but if it means promising to do the excavations will bring the deceased home to their loved ones, Dr. Galloway is willing to agree to the meeting and to supervise the recovery of the bodies.
She does and in addition to the bodies unearths a tangled web of lies and deceit, motives, and strange relationships going back decades. Local legends and modern-day murders make The Lantern Men: A Ruth Galloway Mystery by Elly Griffiths a compelling read.
Multiple storylines in addition to the one noted above are at work in this complicated read. This is a series that should be read in order and that is especially true here with numerous references to earlier events in the series, the changing nature of relationships, and the passage of time. There are frequent references to the fact that is has been 10 years since the first book, The Crossing Places, and how things have changed for Dr. Galloway, DCI Nelson, and many of the secondary characters who have overtime, had major roles in the series. The reader is left with the sense this is a turning point book where things will reset going forward in the series.
A complicated and engrossing book, The Lantern Men: A Ruth Galloway Mystery by Elly Griffiths is strongly recommended, as is the series.
The Lantern Men: A Ruth Galloway Mystery
Elly Griffiths
http://www.ellygriffiths.co.uk/
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
http://www.hmhbooks.com
2020
ISBN# 978-0-358-23704-4
Hardback (also available in paperback, audio, and e-book formats
368 Pages (includes several pages of the next book in the series)
My reading copy came from the Skyline Branch of the Dallas Public Library System.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2020
Excellent!!!
The Lantern Men, #12 in the Ruth Galloway series by Elly Griffiths.
This mystery is intense with a fast pace —by far the most twisted in the series—so challenging to try and solve. I really liked it. It was a bit disconcerting to advance two years in Ruth’s personal life–which appears to be moving forward with Frank. I am interested in seeing where this series is headed with Shona and Phil, Nelson’s girls and Maddie.
Love this series! This one successfully combines creepy folk stories with modern-day nasties. Excellent
I hadn’t heard of this series or author before, but the book’s cover caught my eye on the new books shelf at the library. I didn’t have a problem picking up the series here, the author provided enough background without doing a big info. dump.
Turns out I requested #8, The Woman in Blue, from Netgalley so I will be read at least one more book in the series and I hope it’s better. I didn’t really like the characters. They’re definitely flawed and I felt sorry for Frank.
The missing women aspect was intriguing, but the actual investigation was minimal and the murder was caught primarily because he/she outs themself, not through any police work that we’re privy to. Ruth’s role in the mystery, as the main character, was minimal. What we get is a lot of personal stuff about her, Harry, the kids and a bit about the other police. This may have been of interest to people who’ve read the other 11 books, but I don’t think most of it was new in anyway.
So, not enough mystery and flawed, but not unpleasant characters (might be different if I’d gotten 11 books of it).
Great book
serial-murder, England, folklore, family-dynamics, friendship, forensics
A great deal of personal background material regarding the complexity of Ruth’s life outside of her work in the beginning did not make it any easier to drop into book 12 of this series. That said, the mystery and events were exceptionally well done as well as the characters. Escalating suspense and a plethora of red herrings add to the twisty plot. I appreciated the insight into the lore of the fens and other learning opportunities. It was a very good book.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt via NetGalley.
I’ve been reading this series since the start. It gets better and better. I love Griffiths’ style of writing–deep third person POV and present tense. It’s so immediate! And her characters? Very, very realistic.
Another wonderful installment to this series! These books get better and better as the series continues. Can’t wait for the next one.
Forensic archaeologist Ruth Galloway has a new job, home, and partner, and is no longer North Norfolk police’s resident forensic archaeologist. That is, until convicted murderer Ivor March offers to make DCI Nelson a deal. March claims to have killed more women and offers to tell the police where the bodies are buried, with the condition that Ruth do the digging (though March keeps his reason for this to himself). Ruth agrees, and March says the bodies are buried near a village supposedly haunted by the Lantern Men, mysterious figures holding lights that lure travelers to their deaths.
There’s a strong focus on the relationship/non-relationship between Ruth and Nelson, that sometimes feels more important than the mystery. They’re both a bit obsessed with each other despite being in relationships with other people.
I recommend reading this book in series order. There are a number of characters introduced early on and it can be a bit discombobulating without a firm understanding of the players. Also, some character interactions will leave you wondering about motivation if you’re not familiar with backstory.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions in this review are honest and my own.
This is the 12th book of Ruth Galloway series best to be read in order to enjoy the story more. This one brings a good bit of folklore as well serial killer. Took me a bit to get into the story but once I got into it it went fairly fast. Great characters well worth the read.
368 pages
4 and 1 / 2 stars
This book is another great entry into the Dr. Ruth Galloway series. Ruth is a forensic archaeologist and a lecturer in forensic archaeology at Cambridge University.
The move to Cambridge has been fairly recent. She has moved in with her partner Frank, but has not given up her intense attraction to DCI Harry Nelson, father of her eight-year old daughter Kate.
This book deals with the case of Ivor March who has recently been convicted of two murders of women. He maintains his innocence, however. When March demands that Nelson introduce him to Ruth and then he will tell them where two more bodies are buried, Ruth nervously agrees.
Lo and behold, while digging for the two missing women, another woman’s body is found.
Nelson and his team begin to investigate these three murders while at the same time, another woman is killed. And March is still in prison. People begin to wonder if March was indeed guilty of any of the murders. There are some very good surprises as the tension ratchets up towards the end.
This is a very well written and plotted novel that had some tiny spots of drag here and there. The paragraph breaks were awful. I believe this is pre-publication oversights which I am sure will be rectified by the time the book is actually released. I continue to like Ruth, Nelson, Cathbad and the rest of the gang. I like that we see glimpses of their lives in every book in the series. This book is a very good example of a police procedural that details the highs and lows of any investigation. The team gets along fairly well, but there is competition and some tension.
I want to thank NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for forwarding to me a copy of this very fine book for me to read, enjoy and review.
I’m a fan of the Ruth Galloway series and the novels only get better with each one. Starting from the intriguing – haunting – title, this is a treat. Griffiths always informs as well as tells a great yarn. I’d never heard of Lantern Men before. Now I see them everywhere……