The Lantern Men: Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries 12

This is Book 12 in the Ruth Galloway series, which our book group loves. In this Ruth has a new partner, home and job. Having left North Norfolk she’s called back to help the police because a convicted murderer has offered to show them where he’s hidden other bodies. He claims they are buried near a village that’s said to be haunted by the Lantern Men, mysterious figures who lure travellers to their deaths. It’s a good mystery that’s hugely enjoyable to read. Feebs gives it 4 Stars.

Our group were delighted to read and review this book and have unanimously enjoyed it. Individual reviews below.

When this long awaited book was placed in my hands I hugged it to my breast and did a wee dance. Why am I so in thrall to Ellie Griffith’s ‘Ruth Books’?
I honestly think that Griffiths has conjured up a potent alchemy of charismatic but authentic characters, elemental locations and plausible crimes which coalesce in the perfect formula for a good read.
Have no doubt the series is indeed formulaic and the plots are basically interchangeable, yet somehow they are as addictive as chocolate. In The Lantern Men, our heroine has relocated to Cambridge, far from her beloved saltmarsh and is living with Likeable Frank the Yank, and has a prestigious job with a swish new office but something (or someone) is missing…
Yet again, we burrow into the world of forensics and all our old friends reappear to satisfy our curiosity to know ‘what gives’ with Ruth, Nelson and Michelle’s tortured triangle. Cathbad and Judy, Shona & Phil, Cloughie and Tanya all have their moment in the spotlight and there is new addition to our band in the form of one – Tony Zhang. Watch this space I feel.. Never fear, even Flint the feline is with us still. Throughout the book , we are privy to internal dialogue(not always PC} which intensifies our intimate connection and insight into what has become over the series, our fictional ‘family’.
This latest premise gathers in a whole new cast of interrelated, dodgy suspects and hapless victims and naturally, Ruth is placed in mortal hazard. The Lantern Men is an enjoyable and easy rollercoaster read, devoured over a weekend as you can’t help gravitating to the pages for just another couple of chapters or three.
Go and read a synopsis by all means but I mustn’t tell you anymore because every little detail would be a potential spoiler. Just get your mitts on a copy. You won’t be disappointed but the ending might drive you crazy…..in a good way!

Another excellent novel about Ruth Galloway. Elly Griffiths is superb at integrating the ongoing life of Ruth together with another cleverly thought out mystery. It is particularly good to see Ruth’s relationship with both Frank and Nelson.

I don’t think I have ever enjoyed a crime series quite so much as the Ruth Galloway mysteries and the latest, The Lantern Men, doesn’t disappoint. Each book has its own mystery to solve which always requires the assistance of forensic archaeologist, Ruth Galloway. Archaeology isn’t something I am particularly interested in but the amount of information given in each book is informative and just right. Throughout the series we are gradually introduced to a variety of characters, with intertwined lives and you begin to feel you know and care for them. I particularly enjoy Ruth’s and others thoughts in the series which are realistic, down to earth, ‘normal’ and often funny as you can easily relate to them. In virtually every book, Nelson and Ruth’s lives are endangered at some point due to their love for each other and a huge amount of stupidity (which is not at all realistic) but it adds to the excitement, so you have to just have to ignore the fact that intelligent folk like themselves would just not do that. Can’t wait for the next book.

So chuffed to receive this book for our group to review. What can I say…? I love this series and devour each book within a night or two desperate to get to the end, but not wanting to at the same time. There is a perfect balance of crime, information, loveable characters that we have grown to know and a thread of romance, albeit not going very smoothly. The Lantern Men was more of the same, but equally enjoyable and addictive, and leaves you wanting more at the end. If you haven’t read this series I would suggest that you do now!

In ‘The Lantern Men’ Ruth has moved away from Norfolk (and Nelson) to live with Frank but she is lured back to Norfolk to help solve the latest mystery. This book is fairly formulaic, as in the previous books, with Nelson and his team trying to solve the mystery of murdered and missing women, but needing help from forensic archaeologist Ruth Galloway. Ruth still loves Nelson and Nelson loves Ruth so there is always intrigue as to what will happen between them, Michelle and Frank as well as the other characters.

I haven’t read any of the previous books in the series but enjoyed this book as a stand-alone. I enjoyed the mystery, the landscape, the characters and the relationships between them. I finished the book in one night. May start at the beginning now…

Exciting, addictive and brilliant, as always!

Really enjoyed the 12th book of the series and looking forward to the next one already.