The Lantern Men: Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries 12 (The Mysteries)

Two years on from the events of The Stone Circle and life has moved on not only for forensic archaeologist, Dr Ruth Galloway, but for all of the recurring cast in Elly Griffiths’ latest instalment of a series that mixes archaeology, murder and characters readers have come to care about. In an instalment where the mystery element is tightly plotted and a combination of local myth and contemporary serious crime, the novel excels with a solid police procedural full of accessible archaeology detail, local folklore and credible character motivations.In a bid to get over her complicated relationship with DCI Harry Nelson of King’s Lynn CID and progress her career, forensic archaeologist, Dr Ruth Galloway, has left her beloved cottage on the Saltmarsh behind and with it the University of North Norfolk. Swapping the life that she was so content with for the dreaming spires of Cambridge and living with American historian, Dr Frank Barker, she is adjusting to teaching at St Jude’s College, having a partner and parenting her rapidly maturing nine-year-old daughter, Kate, with Nelson, now an hour away in North Norfolk. Meanwhile fifty year old DCI Harry Nelson is raising what he hopes will be his fourth and final child, two and a half year old George, after wife Michelle’s unexpected arrival, not that this does anything to lessen his silent and irrational fury at Ruth cohabiting with smarmy Frank.When DCI Nelson hears the news that Ivor March has been found guilty of murdering two young women whose bodies were buried in the garden of his girlfriend it is small compensation given he is convinced that two other missing girls have died at March’s hands. When Nelson visits March in prison and questions him about Nicola Ferris and Jenny McGuire, both of whom he met through the evening classes that he ran, March - rather surprisingly - says that he is willing to disclose their whereabouts but only if Dr Ruth Galloway will excavate, leaving Nelson highly suspicious. The opportunity to bring closure to two grieving families and the lure of working on another case sees Ruth agree, only for the location to give up more than expected...As the team look into the goings-on at a writers and artists retreat of which Ivor March was a part of they discover a local myth about the lights of the so called Lantern Men leading the lost to their deaths and March and his ‘spiritual brothers’ real life interpretation, supposedly without the dark twist. Nelson thinks otherwise and sets about investigating the individuals involved, only for the murder of young female cyclist fitting March’s chosen profile in a remote area of marshland to present the team with a fresh enquiry.. but it is a copycat killing or does it prove Ivor Marsh’s innocence?Whilst DI Dave Clough is heading up his own team in Cambridgeshire, DI Judy Johnson, ambitious DS Tanya Fuller and ‘Super’ Jo Archer remain and are joined in CID by DC Tony Zhang. Together with the link to local legends, the mystery entails several complexities which make it both satisfying and involving. As usual there is a strong sense of place with the proximity to the Norfolk coast and the fens. Full of the Griffiths’ usual wit, situational comedy moments and the everyday realities of life, the plot weaves in an array of connections, from Ruth having just attended a writing retreat at Ivor March’s ex-wife’s venue to part-time druid Cathbad’s daughter, Maddie, reporting on the case for the local newspaper.My favourite returning crime fiction series without a doubt and one that is best served by reading in order for the continuing wider storylines and character development.

I've read all of Elly Griffiths books and waited for this so was deeply disappointed from the start as the writing style seems more simplistic than ever and the coincidences and clichés abound. I don't know if she churned this out too quickly but it doesn't enthral as others in the series did and the characters were less developed which ruined it for me. Come on Elly you can do much better than this.

So disappointing.Painfully thin story line.Desperate padding .....restating the same information as though the reader is amnesiac.I used to await the next Ruth Galloway novel with such enthusiasm that I own them in hardback. This will be recycled straight to Oxfam where I hope it will find a happier home.

The Lantern Men, like the rest of Elly Griffiths’ outstanding Ruth Galloway books, is a stand-alone, finely detailed mystery. However, if you have read the others in the series, you will be reintroduced to the cast of characters that make Griffiths’ thrillers unique.A serial killer has been at work in the marshes of Norfolk. DI Harry Nelson is relieved that Ivor March, an artist and former hippie, has been convicted of the murders of two young women. Nelson does not rest easy for long. March, proclaimed innocent by his former wives and girlfriend, offers to reveal the location where two more missing women are buried but there is a catch. He wants Dr. Ruth Galloway, Nelson’s former lover and mother of his daughter Kate, to lead the excavation. Ruth has accepted a teaching position at Cambridge and moved into a house there with her lover Frank. She has done this to avoid contact with Nelson and he, after the birth of his son, is trying to mend his marriage to Michelle. New developments weaken March’s seemingly iron clad conviction and Nelson and his team race to solve new crimes linked to past relationships. Ruth has questions of her own and is near a solution when a breathtaking conclusion takes her by surprise.As usual, Elly Griffiths’ plot is sprinkled with folklore and myth. The story of the Lantern Men and jack o’ lanterns is a colorful addition. The underlying story here is the unfulfilled, tense relationship between Ruth and Nelson. The passage where they share a pub meal to discuss the case is so perfectly written that you can feel their hearts beating as they speak. Elly Griffiths’ talent ranks her with Val McDermid and Tana French as a top British mystery series author. 5 stars.Thank you to NetGalley, Quercus Books and Elly Griffiths for this ARC.

Ruth and Kate are now living in Cambridge with Dr Frank Barker and, although Ruth enjoys her job teaching at St Jude’s college, she still misses Norfolk and her cottage on the edge of the Saltmarsh. Living with a partner is not an easy adjustment for her when it’s been just her and Kate for so long. Spending the past week at Grey Walls Artist’s Retreat run by Crissy Martin, in order to finish her latest book, has been a respite of sorts and Ruth is feeling quite satisfied with her accomplishment.DCI Harry Nelson has just received the welcome news that Ivor Marsh has been found guilty of the murder of the two women found buried in his girlfriend’s back garden. Unfortunately he can’t connect Marsh to two other missing women, although he’s convinced they also met their fate at Marsh’s hands. That is, until Marsh tells Nelson he will divulge the location of the bodies but only if Ruth does the excavation.After her initial shock at being the focus of a serial killer, Ruth agrees. She wants to be part of the team and working with Nelson again is an added incentive. Above all, she wants to find the bodies for the families of the victims. Frank is less than pleased that Nelson is involving Ruth and that she has so readily agreed.Doubt is raised about the previous evidence when Ruth and Nelson make a surprise find at the excavation site, and to make matters worse another body is found.The plot is based around a local legend, that of the Lantern Man who lures women to their death in the reed beds of the Norfolk fens with his mesmerising light. It’s a well plotted, twisty mystery with familiar and engaging characters who I enjoy catching up with as they develop, age and move on with their lives. The mix of police procedural, folklore and forensic archaeology is an interesting one that works well and makes this one of my favourite series. Ruth and Nelson’s relationship remains tricky with attraction still evident on both sides and whether Ruth remains in Cambridge is anybody’s guess. Elly Griffiths writes about her characters wonderfully well, with insight and self deprecating humour. Looking forward to seeing what happens next.