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bleyz16's review against another edition
5.0
I just love this series so much. I love how atmospheric these mysteries are. Now I wait until the next in the series....
avrilhj's review against another edition
3.0
Oh dear. This needed better editing. Lots of confusion about when two of the victims were murdered, was it in “summer 2016” or “one year ago” from July 2018? How could the accused have been arrested almost two years ago when the bodies had been in the ground for almost a year? Also, Louise’s brief relationship was with a man called Leif, not Lars! I know, because I read the book in which it happened yesterday. So, still a fun read but - better editing, please.
todd3911's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
reading_rainy's review against another edition
4.0
*3.5* This series has been both a pleasure to read, and also a source of frustration.
Can it really have been 12 books, and 10 years of Ruth's life pining away for Nelson? I first fell in love with Ruth, a forensic archaeologists, by her forward thinking, completely genuine, intelligent, yet self-deprecating attitude. But I'm tired of waiting for the Nelson drama to fix itself. Their simmering passions, and in earlier books, their frantic coupling (that produce their daughter while Nelson was married), have turned into a soap opera and I'm done wondering when they'll either realize they are perfectly imperfect together, or let the whole thing go, and be happy in other relationships.
I have no idea how Nelson's wife Michelle, has been able to handle all of this over the past ten years. (Obv if you've read the series, she's had her share of drama as well)
Despite my complaining about the relationship angst, the mysteries in these books are tight, well thought out, engaging, and never too gory. These books are filled with folklore and rich with historical facts.
Griffiths weaves her secondary characters so well that I've come to feel as if they are family. Every time I sink into another story, I can't wait to hear how Ruth's friends are doing, or to learn what Nelson's co-workers are up to.
Can it really have been 12 books, and 10 years of Ruth's life pining away for Nelson? I first fell in love with Ruth, a forensic archaeologists, by her forward thinking, completely genuine, intelligent, yet self-deprecating attitude. But I'm tired of waiting for the Nelson drama to fix itself. Their simmering passions, and in earlier books, their frantic coupling (that produce their daughter while Nelson was married), have turned into a soap opera and I'm done wondering when they'll either realize they are perfectly imperfect together, or let the whole thing go, and be happy in other relationships.
I have no idea how Nelson's wife Michelle, has been able to handle all of this over the past ten years. (Obv if you've read the series, she's had her share of drama as well)
Despite my complaining about the relationship angst, the mysteries in these books are tight, well thought out, engaging, and never too gory. These books are filled with folklore and rich with historical facts.
Griffiths weaves her secondary characters so well that I've come to feel as if they are family. Every time I sink into another story, I can't wait to hear how Ruth's friends are doing, or to learn what Nelson's co-workers are up to.
rkuschmider's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of my favorite mystery series, largely because the main character is an archaeologist so it appeals to my nerdy side. Typically, these books are equal parts police procedural and archeology procedural solving parallel mysteries from present day and something more ancient. This one broke that mold. It was purely a crime saga, which is fine; the story worked well. It was also clearly meant to be a transitional book that takes all the recurring characters to new spots in their lives. Even though this is the twelfth book in the series and the cast seems like old friends, their stories haven’t gone flat and this book leaves the promise that the next installment will be a welcome update on all their plotlines.
bgg616's review against another edition
4.0
I have been a big fan of this series from the beginning. I like Ruth Galloway for her intelligence, her dedication to her academic career and her daughter, and her complicated love life. This is an intriguing story of a serial killer. DCI Nelson has secured a conviction for the murder of two women against Ivor March, but is convinced that March murdered two other women who are missing. Ruth is brought into the case because of her expertise. March has a circle of women who remain dedicated to him and are convinced he is innocent. The Lantern Men is a local legend, that also comes into the story, but as scary as the story is, it is not as horrifying as the reason for the murders of these women.
A good story, but at just over 350 pages, too long. I suspect that it is publishers more than the writers who are pushing these inflated books.
A good story, but at just over 350 pages, too long. I suspect that it is publishers more than the writers who are pushing these inflated books.
books_and_tea_make_katy_happy's review against another edition
5.0
This is the 12th book in the Dr Ruth Galloway series and it's still going strong! I really enjoyed this latest instalment: the case was complex and had a few twists and turns so I couldn't figure out the 'whodunit'. I liked that the will they-won't they romance between Ruth and Nelson seems to be stepping up a little bit (although I do wonder how long Griffiths can spin it out for) and I enjoyed learning more about Norfolk folklore - the 'lantern men' of the title.
bexellency's review against another edition
2.0
Found this one harder to enjoy. Slow moving procedural sequence of repeatedly interviewing people about the same things over and over again. By now in the series, have become quite tired of the author’s two big world views - that everyone has cheating, infidelity filled intimate relationships & that only skinny, conventionally attractive women can be confident. Also, there was a missed opportunity in this book to make Nelson choose by putting both his nuclear family and Ruth in suspected danger at the same time; it came close but the story ended up proceeding sequentially, which was much less interesting.
elinaz's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25