The Lantern Men cover art

The Lantern Men

Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries 12

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The Lantern Men

By: Elly Griffiths
Narrated by: Jane McDowell
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About this listen

 'My favourite current series' Val McDermid

Everything has changed for Dr Ruth Galloway.

She has a new job, home and partner, and is no longer North Norfolk police's resident forensic archaeologist. That is, until convicted murderer Ivor March offers to make DCI Nelson a deal. Nelson was always sure that March killed more women than he was charged with. Now March confirms this, and offers to show Nelson where the other bodies are buried - but only if Ruth will do the digging.

Curious, but wary, Ruth agrees. March tells Ruth that he killed four more women and that their bodies are buried near a village bordering the fens, said to be haunted by the Lantern Men, mysterious figures holding lights that lure travellers to their deaths.

Is Ivor March himself a lantern man, luring Ruth back to Norfolk? What is his plan, and why is she so crucial to it? And are the killings really over?

(P)2020 Quercus Editions Limited©2020 Elly Griffiths Crime Fiction Detective Historical Mystery Women Sleuths Women's Fiction Fiction Crime

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Critic reviews

Like its predecessors, The Lantern Men has a great sense of place and an awareness of the remorseless passing of time. The climactic bicycle race across the fens, foregathering all the suspects, will take your breath away
As ever, creepy Norfolk folklore is skillfully blended with the ongoing saga of the personal lives of Ruth, her friends and colleagues (and now, their children). Warm, but never cloyingly cosy, this is the most lovable of current crime series
Once again, Elly Griffiths delivers witty, insightful and brilliant storytelling as the redoubtable Dr Galloway burrows away to expose the Lantern Men's dark secrets
Elly Griffiths's great achievement in her Dr Ruth Galloway series has been to create an atmosphere as comforting as that of any traditional detective story and yet introduce to it credible crimes and lifelike characters with convincing preoccupations
A deftly plotted thriller, and most likeable entertainment
The writing is excellent. It puts me in mind of the late, great Ruth Rendell ... the characterisation is perfect ... a cracker of a book
All stars
Most relevant
Probably a minor thing to people who don't know Norfolk but the narrator mispronounced placenames throughout and I would have thought that someone at the publishers or the author would have clarified this before or during recording. Cley is pronounced 'clay', not "cly' Stiifkey is pronounced 'stewkey' not 'stiff-key'. The narrator said 'Cly' so many times I was starting to doubt myself and I live in Norfolk!

That aside I have been waiting for this latest book to come out for ages, so was glad to have another episode of Ruth's life to listen to. The plot was a bit weak, without some of the suspense of earlier novels - the concept was perhaps not strong enough. I would like there to have been more on Ruth and Nelson's relationship - that is what makes me come back to this series always, but it was fleeting and unsatisfactory.

For fans of the series I would recommend listening, but I am personally hoping the next one will be better.

Does the author not proof-listen to these?

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I've read all of the books in this series and this one was very much up to standard. There were some really tense moments and the climax on the salt marshes was particularly well written. Some very credible, if unpleasant, characters and I didn't spot the murderer which is always a plus. Overall I really enjoyed it and I thought the narration was excellent. For me the last couple of pages (which for the avoidance of doubt have nothing to do with the resolution of the plot) were really annoying, but I can see why they were necessary in terms of the series. I'd definitely recommend ig to other fans of the author, and people who enjoy police procedurals with a bit of archeology thrown in.


Great until the last two pages....

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I really love this series and this is another good story. I enjoy hearing about the characters home lives. But sometimes Ruth just gets on my nerves. She is very arrogant, poor Frank!

Ruth really is irritating

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Dr Ruth Galloway and DCI Harry Nelson are two of my favourite literary characters and a new mystery involving them is always a delightful prospect. The Lantern Men did not disappoint and I was glad that the author has decided to make some changes to the line-up of regular characters and their circumstances.

The basic set-up is the same but there are some changes which bring fresh impetus to the series; promotions and new appointments have altered the dynamic between the main Police characters and a change of work location and a formalising of Ruth's relationship with Frank only seems to increase the sexual tension and longing between her and Harry.

The Lantern Men refers to an old East Anglian folk tale and this piece of lore forms the backdrop to a series of killings for which Nelson and his team believe they have found and convicted the killer. But the discovery of a new body at a dig conducted by Ruth throws the conviction into question. Whilst Harry believes that the killer is responsible for another murder, Ruth and some of the the other detectives are not so sure. A fresh investigation begins and the 'killer's' circle of friends and partners seem to confuse the situation with their conflicting stories and misleading information. Who are the lantern men and was the convicted man really one of them? Or is the real killer still at large?

Harry and Ruth become embroiled in one another's lives again and once more, Ruth's role in the investigation is both dangerous and pivotal. Their private lives collide once more and the 'will they, won't they ' feeling ratchets up as the narrative progresses.

An excellent book and one of the best stories in the series, in my opinion. I absolutely loved it and was sad when I finished it. Can't wait for the next installment.

Another great story.

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Enjoyable return to Norfolk. Elly creates characters the are three dimensional and likable. Setting them in landscape that becomes part of the plot. I would so like to have Cathbad as a friend!

When is the next Ruth Galloway!

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