EXCERPT: 'The lantern men. It's an old legend round these parts. Mysterious figures carrying lanterns that haunt the fens and the marshes. If you follow their lights, you're doomed. They can knock you down and leave you for dead.'

ABOUT THIS BOOK: 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.

MY THOUGHTS: I love this series and always eagerly await the publication of a new book in this series. I love following Ruth's on again/off again relationship with Nelson, whom I don't envy at all. It seems to me that he is caught between a rock and a hard place by his love for both Michelle and Ruth. And I admire Michelle enormously. She handles the situation with far more maturity and dignity than I am sure I would ever be able to do. I do have to wonder though, if she ever took up with anyone else, just how well Nelson would react? Would he see it as his escape route to being able to be with Ruth? Or would his jealousy run rampant? But I digress.

We are two years on from the end of the previous book. Ruth and Kate have moved to Cambridge where Ruth is a professor at one of the colleges. They are living with Frank, the American introduced to us in The Stone Circle. I quite liked him initially, but I started to see another side of him, not so likeable, in The Lantern Men. He really is not a good fit for Ruth.

The Lantern Men has, as always with this series, an intriguing plot. Ivor March has been jailed for the murders of two young women. There was plenty of forensic evidence. And yet there's a strong body of people, Cathbad included, that believe him to be innocent. Nelson is not one of them. He is totally convinced of March's guilt and believes that he is also guilty of the murders of two more young women whose bodies have never been found. Then the body of another young woman is found murdered. Is it a copycat? It can't have been Ivor - he is securely held in prison. Or is Ivor indeed innocent?

Now I thought - no, more than thought - I was convinced that I knew the answer, that I had it all figured out. 😂🤣😂🤣 I didn't. Wasn't even close....

Griffiths supporting characters are, as usual, varied, but all quite wonderful. From the serene Crissy Martin, ex-wife of the convicted murderer, to the enigmatic Chantal, Ivor's lover, and the assortment of men, some decidedly creepy, who orbited the charismatic Ivor March and his women, this diverse cast of characters provides plenty of surprises.

Another excellent addition to this series which, I hope, still has many books to come.

❤❤❤❤.4

The loo in the waiting area had a sign on it saying 'Patient Toilet.' Well the WC must be the only thing around here not feeling frustrated.

THE AUTHOR: Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway novels take for their inspiration Elly's husband, who gave up a city job to train as an archaeologist, and her aunt who lives on the Norfolk coast and who filled her niece's head with the myths and legends of that area. Elly has two children and lives near Brighton.

DISCLOSURE: Thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of the Lantern Men by Elly Griffiths for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

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Ruth Galloway is living with Frank in Cambridge, and they are both teaching at Cambridge. Nelson has arrested Ivor March for the murder of two women found buried in his girl friend's garden, and considers him guilty of two other missing women. Ruth's former boss, Phil, had dug up the two women, and done the forensics showing they are covered with DNA from March, even though March claims he didn't kill or bury them. However, March finally tells Nelson that he will tell where two other women are buried if Ruth, and not Phil, will do the digging and forensics.

Ruth digs them up at the garden of an old Pub, and does not find any DNA. However, the body of another woman from a burial several years earlier is also found. Marsh admits strangling her during sex, but he still claims he didn't kill any of the others. Then another woman, who looks similar to those Nelson is sure Marsh killed, is found in the Marsh having been strangled when she went out for a bike ride. Although the murder seems similar, it can't be Marsh because he is in prison. The murdered women all had connections with Grey Walls, a place with art and writing classes. Many of them are also involved in the cycling club called Lynn Wheels.

Near the end of the book, things get very exciting as many of the book's characters are at a big bicycle race held by the Lynn Wheels. Two woman are in danger, and we finally find out who is really the serial murderer and how the wrong man was charged.

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 have read all of the Ruth Galloway books and this continues the addictive, fast paced and clever plot lines of past publications. It is so wonderful to read more about characters who seem like old friends. The underlying relationships which have developed through the series continue to fascinate and the introduction of some truly evil new villains makes this cast of characters fascinating.

Discovering the Ruth Galloway series by Elly Griffiths has made my summer. The latest addition to the series did not disappoint! The writing is sharp and engaging with characters that possess realistic flaws. The suspense builds perfectly with the added twist of what path will Ruth’s career and personal life take? This is one of those books that you hate to finish reading because you enjoyed it so much. I hope there are many more adventures in Ruth and Nelson’s future. Love love love this series! For anyone looking for a new British Mystery series to begin, I highly recommend this one.

Great book! I loved the mystery. It kept me guessing all the way through. This book was exciting and kept me on the edge of my seat. I truly enjoyed the writing. The characters are like old friends that I couldn’t wait to be reunited with. The plot was masterful and complicated. Completely worth a read!

The series was new to me and I am definitely looking forward to reading more about this particular forensic archaeologist (what a good combination).

The setting was the marshes of Norfolk and it was very evocative of the bleakness, the quietude and the stillness and loneliness that was the marshes. It did not detract from its attractiveness though. It was the ideal setting for a series of kidnapped, missing women and a suspect already in prison. More kidnappings happen and the detectives think there is either a copy cat killing going on or Ivor March is still controlling someone behind the prison walls to dally with the detectives.

Full of suspense and clues going all over the place, the detectives in charge of this case have a lot of personal relationships which may tend to cloud their judgment as well. At the middle of the story, I thought maybe this would affect the case as well as there were histories and tensions which could, but it straightened out anyway.

I found the personal relationships and connections added to the richness of the story, apart from the police procedural work and the history itself of the area. Very well told and full of promise this book was an excellent read.

This book boiled down to three parts for me. The first and last were thought-provoking, cemented relationships, atmosphere, and reasoning. The middle was nothing but redundant over twisting and retelling of characters and relationships, to the point I was beginning to wonder if the author, Elly Griffiths, needed to recap the story so she could keep it straight herself.

Ruth Galloway has made changes in her life. She has moved from the Saltmarsh to Cambridge with her daughter and partner. Thankfully, her new teaching position means she will have minimal contact with DCI Harry Nelson. Kate will still see her father, but Nelson and Ruth are keeping their distance. All that changes when Ivor March, recently convicted of two murders, is ready to admit that there are more. He will only speak to Ruth, and she must agree to the excavations. As Nelson is the lead investigator, Ruth will once again find herself in an uncomfortable situation. With March’s stories unfolding, and the tale of the Lantern Men, which was an interesting piece of folklore, Ruth, Nelson, and the old team are once again together to find the remains of the women that Ivor had once called friends.

With the Saltmarsh and the Norfolk coast, there is a creepy atmospheric feel to Elly Griffith’s Ruth Galloway series that I love. Yet, I do wish the next book in the series isn’t so overdrawn, and the author lets the reader connect the dots without complicating the obvious.

Elly Griffiths' latest book in the Ruth Galloway series finds Dr. Ruth Galloway coming to terms with her new life in Cambridge while DCI Harry Nelson is back in Norfolk, trying to tie the potential murders of two missing women to a convicted killer. Ivor March, the suspect in question, will only play along if Ruth agrees to excavate the bodies. A whole host of March's friends and former lovers reveal a tangled web of relationships and a murky past. Just why did March and two of his friends roam the fens in a van looking for young women to "save"? And why did they call themselves the Lantern Men? Griffiths succeeds in delivering another hair-raising mystery for fans of the series.

I read my first Ruth Galloway book just under a year ago and have been eagerly catching up ever since. When I found out The Lantern Men - the twelfth book in the series - was soon to come out, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I picked up the first book in the series to relax in the evenings after reading theory all day for grad school. Admittedly I was looking for something fairly formulaic and satisfying, but Griffiths has hooked me with her twisting mysteries and compelling characters. This is one of those cases where I enjoy each book more than the last, especially now that I am invested in the lives of Ruth, Nelson, Cathbad, and the rest of the team. Griffiths writes dependably good stories and The Lantern Men is no exception. Now all I have to do is wait impatiently for book number thirteen!

Ruth Galloway is in a new place both literally and figuratively as The Lantern Men opens. Two years have passed and she and Kate have left Norfolk for Cambridge where she is now teaching and they are living with Frank. She is on a writer’s retreat little knowing that she is on the periphery of a serial killing case being adjudicated in Norfolk. And shortly she will be reunited with Nelson in her role of forensic archaeologist. A lot of life to juggle.

The title of this episode refers to folk tales of the fens.

’The lantern men. It’s an old legend round these parts.
Mysterious figures carrying lanterns that haunt the fens
and marshes. If you follow their lights, you’re doomed.’
(loc 849)

I will not provide a lot more plot here as I think it would be better for you readers to discover it for yourselves. I did enjoy this outing very much and it may be one of my favorites. There are many changes, a lot of introspection by many characters brought about by both change and the major case. While I do recommend that readers begin earlier in the series to learn of all the relationships, this episode could be read on its own as an exciting story.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

An entertaining book in this series. I’d say though not the best in the series. I thought some of the relationship pieces are starting to get a bit old and wish more time was focused on the mystery. I just didn’t find the suspense done as well and in some cases it was boring.

I was so excited to read this book, and it did not disappoint. These characters seem like old friends that you can pick up where you left off no matter how much time has gone by. I eagerly await book 13 to see if Ruth's choices really make her happy. I'm thinking they won't, but who am I to know?

I'm always excited when a new Ruth Galloway mystery hits the shelves! We experience a time jump in The Lantern Men with the action taking place a couple years after the previous book, The Stone Circle. Ruth has a new job, house, and partner and is no longer consulting with the North Norfolk police. But, of course, a case comes along that drags Ruth back into the thick of things. A good mystery and, as always, excellent character development and relationships, I really enjoyed this instalment and read it over only a couple days (I couldn't put it down!). As Griffiths seems to do with all of theses books, the ending left me eagerly awaiting book 13.

I've yet to read a Ruth Galloway novel that I didn't love immensely, this one included.

Elly Griffiths is a natural storyteller and a talented writer. She rarely overwrites (honestly, I'm not sure I could point to an example), her characters are fresh and alive, and the pacing is quick enough to keep you deep in the story from the start. I feel such loss after finishing one of the Ruth Galloway books and dread leaving my friends for again for unknown years. I've re-read many in the series several times over, and I already want to start this one again.

While you could jump in and begin the series here, it will be so much more enjoyable if you start with The Crossing Places, you won't be disappointed.

Ruth Galloway, who has recently moved, longs for the salt marshes, her cottage, and Nelson. She returns to her old stomping grounds at the request of a serial killer. Even though he's locked up, the murders continue: mysterious lantern men seem to be luring tall, beautiful blonds to their deaths. The mystery took a bit to get going, and the cast of possible killers grew too big for me to keep track of them. I almost kept a chart of names on a 3x5 card while I read. Instead, I focused on the desire that still burns between Ruth and Nelson. (It's not over yet.) I can't wait for the next book to see what's next for the lovers. I'm almost too invested in their relationship to mind a slow-moving, slightly confusing murder mystery that presents the only American in the book, Frank, as a boring sap. ARC provided by NetGalley in return for my honest review.

This next installment in the Ruth Galloway series does not disappoint. I love Elly Griffiths style of creating plots where you find the clues to whodunit along with the characters in the story. In The Lantern Men, story revolves around a suspected serial killer. DCI Nelson is trying to get him to confess to the killings and disclose the location of the bodies. The price for that is involvement of Dr. Ruth Galloway in excavation. What follows is a story that touches upon local Norfolk legend of the Lantern Men, enough red herrings to keep you guessing and an end that you do not see coming, all involving our favorite characters Ruth, Nelson, Cathbad, and Judy. Highly recommended.

Mucho bueno. Full of all the things that I like. It has the serial killer, the woman who wants to finally close this case and it even has a touch of supernatural with lantern men. It's an absolute must read. So well written. Pick up this awesome book and discover for yourself how good it is. Happy reading!

This is the 12th book in the excellent Ruth Galloway Series, which is one of my favourite series. I have to say the author has done a good job of writing this book so that it can be read as a standalone. I do not feel that not having read the previous books would spoil enjoyment of the book, however there would be more layers of the story to enjoy if you had read the others.

Ruth has now got a new job and is living in a new town with her new partner. However she is called back to Norfolk by a convicted serial killer, Aymas March, who DCI Nelson feels has killed other women. March is willing to talk but will only speak to Ruth Galloway. Ruth agrees to do it and bit by bit finds herself pulled back to Norfolk and her former life and friends there. All the actions centre around a village haunted by Lantern Men who are said to hold lights to lure people to their deaths. Is this what Aymas is doing to Ruth? Is she in danger?

Like all the other books in the series. this is yet another excellent read. The real strength of these books is the group of characters that are central to the books and their interactions, and their history. Although that said with being in a new town we had less of two of the characters, including Cathbad, and I would liked to have seen more of them in this book. Hopefully this can be put right in the next book with the way it ended.

The story holds up well alongside the characterisation with key points that relate to events in the past, and leaves you second guessing about Aymas’s involvement in events in the past as well as the potential involvement of other central characters in his group at the time. I love it when I can get so involved with a boo like this. As with Ellie’s other books this book builds to a tense ending with one of the character’s lives put on the line. Will we lose one of our beloved characters?

I thoroughly recommend both this book and series to all readers, you won’t regret reading them, I never have and would happily read them all again.

I gave this book 5 stars overall, and would like to say thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing a copy of this book to me for an open and honest review.

I liked the main character, Ruth, who is a forensic archaeologist. Unbeknownst to me, this is the 12th book in the series. I know. It says it right in the title. Somehow I missed that! Sometimes you can step in a series at any point and it's okay. This book referred to many things in the past, which I assume were in the previous books. Like Ruth's relationship with detective Harry Nelson, whom she had an affair with that produced their child, Katie. Ruth is with another man now, Frank, and their relationship is fragile. With Frank's persuasion, they move to another town about a couple of hours from Nelson and Ruth's old job. But Ruth is called back to help Nelson when a presumed serial killer requests Ruth to supervise the dig of where two bodies are buried. There are a lot of characters in the book, many introduced in the first few chapters. It was a little disconcerting for me to remember who everyone was and their relationship with each other. Still, I would give this series a chance and start at the beginning.

In the twelfth book in the excellent Ruth Galloway series, Ruth is now living in Cambridge as part of "Team Rank" (Ruth and Frank). She shares a home with her partner, Frank, and her daughter Kate, now nine. She teaches at the university but misses her small house by the Norfolk sea. When a convicted murder, Ivor March, offers to tell DCI Nelson the location of more bodies, but only if Ruth does the excavation, she finds herself drawn back to Norfolk. He weaves the tale of the Lantern Man, who lures women to their deaths. Nelson has always been convinced March killed more women, so Ruth felts compelled to help. And, of course, she feels her usual draw to Nelson. But the case turns dangerous quickly, pulling Ruth in with it.

I adore all Ruth Galloway books, and I'm so glad the series continues. I was surprised to find the book opening with Ruth away from her beloved Norfolk and its marshes--and giving more permanence to her relationship with Frank. The move only complicates Ruth's own relationship with Nelson, and their chemistry crackles as always. I love how familiar the characters feel--Ruth, Nelson, and young Kate. Ruth's friends, to include Cathbad, the eclectic druid, and his family. Nelson's co-workers. Ruth's co-workers. Each of these books feels like coming home and Griffiths captures each of their individual voices so perfectly. I love Nelson's sarcasm and Ruth's intelligence and desire for solitude--they are all so wonderful.

The case in this book is excellent; Griffiths is an expert at tying together murders in the past with those in the present, and that happens here. It kept me guessing, and it's great that's it's so often Ruth's intelligence--not just Nelson's brawn--that helps resolve things. There are some strong twists that keep things moving as well.

This book will stand-alone, though I always recommend the whole series, because Ruth and Nelson's relationship and character development alone is worth it. 4 stars for this installment, and I'll look forward to #13!