Monday, March 09, 2020

The Lantern Men by Elly Griffiths


First Line: She had been walking for a long time.

The past two years have been busy for Dr. Ruth Galloway. She has a new job, a new home, and a new partner, and she's no longer the North Norfolk police's resident forensic archaeologist. But convicted murderer Ivor March is about to change all that.

DCI Nelson has always been convinced that March killed more women than he was charged with. March has now confirmed this and offers to show Nelson where the other bodies are buried-- but only if Ruth will do the digging.

Curious but cautious, Ruth agrees. March tells her that he killed four more women who are buried near a village bordering the fens, an area 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? Just what is he up to and why is Ruth so important to his plan?

There's nothing quite like waiting for each new Ruth Galloway mystery, getting your hands on it, and then sinking into the pages with the utmost pleasure. The Lantern Men is yet another strong addition to this excellent series; I hated it whenever life shouted at me and forced me to put the book down.

The legend of the lantern men is an excellent choice, both suited to the atmospheric landscape of the fens and to making readers look over their shoulders to see if anyone has crept up behind them. I've always said that this series has one of the absolute best cast of characters in fiction, but I felt the mystery was particularly strong with that old legend, serial killer groupies, and a murderer who's up to no good (even behind bars). There's plenty of misdirection, too, and I guessed wrong about which character was being targeted at the end, which is always a good thing due to all the crime fiction I read.

I don't know how Elly Griffiths does it, but she manages to balance her wonderful cast's comings and goings with the mystery so that readers don't feel short-changed in either aspect. Readers just walk into Ruth's new life and learn about all the changes that have occurred during the past two years as she's currently living them. The same with Nelson and Judy and Cathbad and the rest. If you've read other books in the series, you know that it's easy for these fictional characters to become just like friends and family-- you have to catch up with their lives every bit as much as you have to attempt to solve the mystery.

Once the mystery is solved, Ruth is making another change at book's end, but it should come as no surprise. Now comes the hard part: waiting until the next book comes out. Ah, but they're always worth the wait!


The Lantern Men by Elly Griffiths
ISBN: 9781787477537
UK Edition
Quercus © 2020
Hardcover, 368 pages

Police Procedural, #12 Dr. Ruth Galloway mystery
Rating: A+
Source: Purchased from Amazon UK.

 

15 comments:

  1. Can't wait to get my hands on this. I read the first chapter at the end of The Stone Circle and was really shocked at the changes in her life. I shouldn't have been as it was all hinted at in the previous book but nevertheless, I was.

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    1. It's amusing how we can be shocked at something even though we'd previously been warned. The same thing happened to me with The Lantern Men.

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  2. I was just saying to someone that this series is one of the most consistently well-written series out there, Cathy. I really am never badly disappointed with one of Griffiths' books. I like some better than others, but I've never had that 'meh' feeling about any of them.

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  3. This one was a good one, wasn't it? I kind of see it as a transition book, but one never knows - Elly Griffiths definitely keeps us all guessing. As you say, now the wait begins - again. Ha!

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    1. I think she's got a few tricks up her sleeve for us.

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  4. Not meh, not at all. I can't wait to get this; perhaps I"ll harass the library to get it. I'll hunker down, no emails, no phone calls, no work. Just me, the book, tea and snacks.

    By the way, I'm reading Fractured Truth and am irked at the substance abuse, too, but there is PTSD from war. I do hate reading about war and flashbacks, but the PTSD is understandable. I have friends who were in the Vietnam war and have PTSD still.

    I like Wilco. The main character I'm not sure about yet. She is so damaged by war and abuse and discrimination. But I've never read about this community in the U.S.

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    1. I thought it was a well-written, informative book. And as for The Lantern Men, I'll let you in on a secret: I'll be holding a giveaway for my copy. It's not autographed, but I don't think that will matter to diehard Ruth Galloway fans. Are you feeling lucky?

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  5. Yes. I guess I feel lucky. It's hard for me right now. Last night I got bad vertigo every time I got up, badly. Was afraid I had this darned virus and kept taking my temperature.
    I'm going out to the library and to stock up on food and pharmacy supplies, hoping I do not get this virus, but have the basics for two weeks' supply. But this is scary. I'm right in the middle of the Big Apple and many people go in and out of the building.

    But I will send in my email for that giveaway! And now to see if the library has the new V.I. Warshawski book.

    Hope you continue to get better.

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    1. I am continuing to get better, thanks.

      This Coronavirus is scary. I live in the middle of the fifth largest city in the US and a huge winter tourist mecca. Denis drives a bus at the airport for all the people dropping off and picking up rental cars. Lots of chances for coming in contact with germs.

      I'll have to see how soon I can schedule the giveaway for The Lantern Men.

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  6. Oh, poor Denis. There are so many complaints on TV news shows and other shows that people coming off airplanes are not being tested if they've been out of the country. One person said her business partner just returned from Italy, and after being asked where he'd been, he was motioned on. Italy, where the whole country is quarantined and the health care system is now doing what they call "wartime triage," deciding who gets intensive care and who doesn't.

    Even public health officials are irritated at what's not being done. Tests aren't even available where needed.

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    1. It's good to see that many organizations as well as state and local governments are showing initiative by cancelling events and taking other precautionary measures. After almost four years, I think we've finally learned that it's not prudent to wait until the powers-that-be in Washington, DC take some sort of action.

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  7. Yes. But I think that the huge stock market decline after you know who's remarks on Wednesday night got Washington moving.
    So now today it's a national emergency, but still no agreement on what type of aid would be provided, i.e., paid sick leave for everyone who would be quarantined and doesn't get paid time from their jobs.

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    1. I know. Someone doesn't seem to like any outgoing expenditures unless they're to certain bank accounts. But enough of that!

      Stay healthy and read some excellent books!

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  8. Yes, if I can take my eyes away from MSNBC news, the NY Times, Guardian, etc.

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