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.

This is number 12 in the highly successful Ruth Galloway series. Compared to the previous 11 this has a different feel to it. I don't know if the change in writing style was deliberate owing to the massive changes in the lives of the central characters. The readability hasn't changed and this series is always easy to pick up and difficult to put down but there is a darkness to this novel, it doesn't feel quite right again maybe down to where Ruth is in her life. I am trying not to say much about the plot as I always think it is better to dip into a novel and to let it take you on a journey. Where will this journey take us, we will have to wait until book 13 to see where we are going next.

I have been loving Elly Griffiths' books for a few years, since a friend suggested I give her Ruth Galloway series a try. I was very excited to see this available on NetGalley and was even more excited to be able to start my vacation off with this new book to read!

This was as wonderful as the previous books in the series. Ruth and Nelson are great characters and their friction only adds to the plot of each novel. I fully recommend this series, but do suggest a new reader start with the first book of the series as the relationships between all the characters is essential to the plot line of each story.

(Thanks to NetGalley for this ebook in exchange for an honest review.)

Thank you to Net Galley for providing me an ebook to read and review. I have read all of Elly Griffiths books, including her 11 previous novels starring Dr Ruth Galloway. The Lantern Men is a terrific read. There have been many changes in Ruth's life since the last book; she changed jobs, moved to a new city and moved in with her on again off again boyfriend Frank. That being said, so many things have stayed the same. And that's where we see what a terrific writer Elly Griffiths is. Upon opening the book I was immersed in Ruth's life, immediately connecting with her life, almost as if she and her fellow characters are people I know personally. I could not turn the pages fast enough to see where all the changes would lead Ruth. My only complaint, leading me to skip giving this book 5 stars is I didn’t feel the mystery was particularly interesting and the archeological knowledge not as prominent.

The Lantern Men by Elly Griffiths -- 3 Stars

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

ISBN: 9780358237044



I thank Netgalley.com and the publisher for an early copy of The Lantern Men in exchange for the opportunity to provide an honest opinion. This novel is a creative mystery based on a local legend, but the progress of the plot is often slowed by the narrative of the lives and relationships of Eve’s many friends, their numerous children, and the police force. I found the drama of their personal angst to be unnecessarily excessive. While the mystery in this book is complete with a satisfying conclusion, the character’s stories are progressive with each book in the series. Those and many references to events that occurred previously demand that the series should be read in the order the books were written.



Reviewer: Nancy

The 12th of a favorite series, forensic archeologist Ruth Galloway has left her beloved Salt Marsh cottage and her teaching job in Norfolk to move in with her partner Frank, in Cambridge, and a take teaching position at a college there. To be honest, my heart sank when I read that, as I always felt Ruth’s strong ties to her home on the edge of the sea and marsh were important to her. Elly Griffiths does, as always, write a story that immediately draws you in, with a twisting mystery at the center, and the stories and complications of the lives of characters we’ve come to know so well. If you haven’t already, do yourself a favor and read the first 11 books in order before this one, the character development is so important. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review, and to the author for another addition to this series, I particularly loved the atmospheric description of the marsh at the end.

Elly Griffiths is a master writer, spinning and weaving this tale of mystery and murder. The Lantern Men takes us a couple years forwards, and smack right into the middle of an investigation. Ruth is pulled in, of course, and sinister characters are all around, creeping closer and closer. There is also a brief reunion of all our original cop friends. I finished the book in just a couple days and unfortunately now have to wait perhaps a year for the next release.

#TheLanternMen #NetGalley. Thanks to both NetGalley, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and, the ever so talented Elly Griffiths, for this absolutely terrific Ruth Galloway #12. I read it right through and so hated for it to end!

Good news is that the ending seems to be taking Ruth back to Norfolk- and Nelson? She was not really content in Cambridge even with the more lucrative position. Could Frank be going with her? I'm not sure but maybe not.This was definitely not the place she wanted to live so I'll see who turns up in Book #13.

The Lantern Men, of course, was impeccably researched and suitably thrilling. The mystery itself was multilayered and tailored to this cast of characters, who are partly law enforcement, and partly forensic anthropologists. It was breathtaking until almost the very end!

Recommended highly for lovers of the best of mysteries

The Lantern Men is the twelfth volume in Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway series. This is the first book in the series I've read, and I managed just fine. It does, however, have a complex set of characters who have long histories with one another, so I want to go back now and read the rest of the series starting with the first volume: The Crossing Places. Griffiths does the most skillful embedding of background information of any mystery writer I've read. Usually, those sentences filling in background come across as awkward and obvious. Girffiths makes them smooth and fully integrates them into the novel. Bottom line: this is a writer who will let you comfortably start with any volume in her series, but once you've read one volume, you will want to read them all.

This volume opens with the conviction of a man for murdering two women—the police are convinced he's killed four. He agrees from prison that he will reveal where the remaining two bodies are buried, but only if forensic archaeologist Ruth Galloway agrees to do the digging. Detective Chief Inspector Nelson, who has taken the lead on these cases is much less comfortable with the arrangement than Galloway is—the two of them had an affair in the past that remains unsettled.

When the two bodies are excavated, a third is also found, and then a new murder similar to the earlier ones occurs. If the guilty man is in prison, who is responsible for the recent murder happened? Why was the killer willing to lead Nelson and Galloway to two bodies without acknowledging the third? And how do these deaths connect to the Lantern Men, characters from folklore who lead their victims into marshes to drown? That's the mystery, and it works wonderfully.

The complexities in the relationships among the recurring characters and the complex group of suspects in this particular volume mean that new revelations crop up at a quick pace, making the book incredibly difficult to put down. Start with this volume or any other in the series, but trust me, you'll wind up reading all of them.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher. The opinions are my own.

I read this book in one day!!! I just could not put it down! Good plot, tension always building up a bit more which makes you hold your breath. I have found interesting to learn about forensic archeology . It makes a change from more typical autopsies. I also enjoyed Ruth and Nelson and their complicated relationship which makes it authentic. I will be waiting for the next book to see how their relationship evolves and for the next exciting plot, of course!
Thank you NetGalley and Elly Griffths for letting me read this book for free!

This was the first book I've read from the Ruth Galloway series. While the author tried to reintroduce the characters, I still felt a bit behind, especially when there would be an offhand comment that was clearly a big plot point from a previous book. Perhaps that's why I had a hard time keeping track of all the characters and relationships? It was a good read and the settings were described so that I felt like I was there.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved being with Ruth again (how could I not love a forensic archeologist with an Indiana Jones poster hanging in her office?) - and a lot has changed in her life since the last time I picked up a Ruth Galloway mystery. One of the biggest changes is she is now in Cambridge and no longer living at the Saltmarsh. I'll admit, at first I was slightly disappointed, because one of the things I love about these books is the Saltmarsh and the lonely, desolate atmosphere Griffiths this remote and forbidding setting adds to the mysteries. Fortunately, the eerie legend of the Lantern Men that is threaded throughout the story provides that atmosphere that I love about these mysteries.

The story here is Ivor March has been convicted of the murder of two women on the evidence that he knew the women, they were found buried in his girlfriend's garden, and his DNA was all over the bodies. Nelson is convinced that March killed two other missing women who are linked to March, and seems vindicated when March offers to tell him where their bodies are buried - on the condition that Ruth excavates them.

This is a well-plotted mystery with an interesting cast of suspects, but I didn't think the clues were easy enough to follow to guess whodunnit before it's revealed in the book. However, I enjoyed the mystery, and liked how Griffiths moves forward Ruth's own personal story in this installment. The ending has me particularly eager for the next book!

I get that we are now on book 12 so it would be a bit of an undertaking, but please, if you haven't already read then, please do start from book one and read in order. This is one of my top 5 series of books (and I read north of 300 books a year, most of them series books) and apart from being brilliant, there is also quite a bit of character development and backstory that you would miss out on if you don't.
It's all change in this book. Ruth has moved job away from UNN to Cambridge and is now living with Frank. When our story starts she has just spent some time at a writers retreat finishing her latest book. Meanwhile Nelson is less than happy with Ruth's new personal and professional situations but is happy when serial killer March is convicted of the murders of two young women. Problem is, there are two more missing and Nelson is convinced March is also guilty of killing these two so he visits him in prison to see if he can find out more. He agrees to show Nelson where the bodies are buried but on one condition... Ruth must be the one who digs them up...
This series just keeps getting better. Even though characters have come and gone throughout, which does keep a series fresh, those that leave often have a habit of popping up again, as in this book. I won't spoil things but I was so glad that a certain someone came back...!
All the usual familiar friends are also included - Cathbad and Nelson's family, etc, and they all have their parts to play in what is going on in the main story which in this book is one of the best ones of the series. I've always enjoyed the books I have read in this series but I do have to admit that sometimes the plots have not been as good and the books have instead relied on the characters to carry them. This is definitely not the case herein as the author once again mixes the modern with the myth to deliver a cracking tale that took me round the houses and back again as it ramped up to its conclusion.
All in all, a cracking addition to an already great series. I really can't wait for the next one. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

I read this in one afternoon: an excellent new instalment in this series. There was not much ancient archaeology in this one - Ruth was involved only in investigating current or relatively recent murders - but that suits me. All the usual characters made appearances, even though here Ruth has moved to Cambridge and Clough has also been promoted to another force. The solution was acceptable to me and the ending, suggesting what will happen to Ruth next, was very pleasing.

Highly recommended.

I couldn't have been more thrilled to get the opportunity to read an advance copy of the latest Ruth Galloway book. It is my favorite series, and, once again, this book was perfection. I love the regular cast of characters and enjoyed catching up with their lives. There were many new developments in their lives, and I look forward to seeing what happens next. There were many twists and turns in solving the crimes; the new characters who were related to the crimes kept me suspicious of everyone. As much as I wanted to savor reading the book since it will be such a long time until the next installment, I couldn't help but to fly through the book.

I highly recommend the book and the entire series (which must be read in order). It is a wonderful mixture of suspense and a great backstory.

As always, I hate turning the last page of a Ruth Galloway mystery! Now comes the long wait until the next book. I was happy to see that after the last book that the mystery was all encompassing in this book. And while I didn't guess "who did it", it wasn't an out of the blue or just a feeling by Nelson who was the killer. I was completely absorbed in the telling of the story and all the interesting characters and how they eventually connected to the crimes. And of course, Ruth kept me grounded through it all even though I was tempted to rush to conclusions. The myth of the Lantern Men was so interesting and I loved how the author brought in Halloween to help with the creepiness of those who resided at Grey Walls. And the ending was so bittersweet. Another great read by Elly Griffiths!

This is Elly Griffiths at her best. I have read all of the Ruth Galloway Mysteries and in my opinion this is one of the best! Even though everyone has moved on to new homes or careers the whole gang comes together unexpectedly, And Ruth is at her best. The relationship tension that each book has had only ramps up, and this keeps me coming back again and again as each new Ruth Galloway mystery is published.

Brilliant as always. Elly Griffiths is a masterful writer. This was dark and creepy and a perfect police procedure book xx

I swear each book in this series gets better and better, no mean feat considering this is book number twelve in the Ruth Galloway series! I have to admit having been a little dismayed at the start to find that everything has changed for Ruth since the last book. She and daughter Katie are living with Frank in a Cambridge town house and has taken a more prestigious job at the University there. No longer is she North Norfolk police's resident forensic archaeologist, although if she were honest she would have to admit the lure of the Saltmarsh and DCI Harry Nelson (Katie's father) has never truly gone away. The story starts with the conviction of Ivor March for the murder of two young women, although Nelson has always been convinced he was also responsible for the deaths of two more. Since Ruth had already moved away, it was her former boss Phil who was instrumental in unearthing the bodies and evidence that were crucial to March's arrest and imprisonment. While Phil receives a strange message on a postcard, Nelson gets a very tempting offer - March will reveal the whereabouts of two more corpses but only if Ruth does the excavating this time. Ruth is tempted by the chance to do some good and also break up her rather mundane existence, and agrees to speak to March who tells her that the bodies are buried near a village bordering the fens. A place said to be haunted by the Lantern Men, ghostly figures who lure travellers to their deaths with their lights. It is one of the very many tales told about the area that seem to be widely known and even believed by some people, but could it be that there also be some very real and human Lantern Men? As Ruth joins forces with detectives Nelson, Judy and Tanya, the plot thickens with each new discovery. Niggling doubts grow that they might have got the wrong man and the killings may not be over at all. Ruth becomes drawn deeper into the legend and many old secrets are revealed in a dramatic finale. Not even knowing who she can trust any more, she must rely on her instincts and her old friends in order to emerge from this unscathed. The author has excelled in bringing all the old gang back together and even Cloughie, who has moved away to Cambridgeshire to run his own team as a DI, gets in on the action! The Ruth Galloway series is definitely best read in order, although every book is hugely enjoyable in its own right, and for me it is like coming home to old friends. In my opinion the author never fails to deliver and has maintained the consistently high standards of all the previous novels All the old favourite characters such as Judy and Cathbad feature in a brilliantly told and compulsive read. I can't recommend these books enough! 5*

Ruth Galloway is enjoying her new position at Cambridge University after leaving her beloved salt marsh and North Norfolk University. She attends a week-long writers retreat and finishes her latest book. Nelson has just finished a case involving a man who killed two young women, but Nelson is sure he has killed two others but they don't have their bodies. The murderer tells Nelson he will say where the other bodies are if Ruth will handle the excavation. There is the legend of the Lantern Men who lure people to their deaths in the fens. Elly Griffiths creates strong characters that are unique and well-defined. This entry is very suspenseful and the ending is heart-pounding. I read these novels as much for the unfolding lives of the characters as for the mysteries. This entry is one of my favorites