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kayleenorris's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.5
yvnn's review against another edition
4.0
I love Elly Griffiths writing and the Ruth Galloway series is one of my favorites. This one was good, like the ones at the start of the series were. Not too much drama and an interesting case!
It starts 2 years after the previous book, so a few things have changed in the lives of the main characters. It’s always nice to see Ruth in new settings and I really appreciated that Ruth is starting to become more sure of herself with every book.
Not 5 stars, but I’d give it 4.5 if I could!
It starts 2 years after the previous book, so a few things have changed in the lives of the main characters. It’s always nice to see Ruth in new settings and I really appreciated that Ruth is starting to become more sure of herself with every book.
Not 5 stars, but I’d give it 4.5 if I could!
kba76's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
The Lantern Men is a well-known folk tale, telling of strange lights that lure fen walkers to their deaths. It becomes more sinister when applied to the case that Dr Ruth Galloway becomes embroiled in during the course of the novel.
She is now working in Cambridge, living with Frank and her daughter Katie. She still harbours feelings for Nelson and definitely misses her life in Norfolk. When she signs up for a writing retreat she could not have guessed that it would come to be so significant.
The owner of the retreat, Chrissy Martin, is the ex-wife of Ivor March, the man in prison for the killing of two women. Nelson is convinced he killed more…but he needs help to prove this.
March insists on meeting Ruth, believing her to be the best forensic archaeologist in the country. He tells where two further bodies are buried, knowing full well that she will - upon excavating the scene - discover a third body. This body seems to have been buried earlier than the others, and when a new body is found on the fens it seems they either have a copycat killer…or the killer is still at large.
Much of the story focuses on Ruth’s relationships and shifting personal circumstances. It definitely helps to have read the series beforehand (or at least some of the earlier books), but this is a solid read.
She is now working in Cambridge, living with Frank and her daughter Katie. She still harbours feelings for Nelson and definitely misses her life in Norfolk. When she signs up for a writing retreat she could not have guessed that it would come to be so significant.
The owner of the retreat, Chrissy Martin, is the ex-wife of Ivor March, the man in prison for the killing of two women. Nelson is convinced he killed more…but he needs help to prove this.
March insists on meeting Ruth, believing her to be the best forensic archaeologist in the country. He tells where two further bodies are buried, knowing full well that she will - upon excavating the scene - discover a third body. This body seems to have been buried earlier than the others, and when a new body is found on the fens it seems they either have a copycat killer…or the killer is still at large.
Much of the story focuses on Ruth’s relationships and shifting personal circumstances. It definitely helps to have read the series beforehand (or at least some of the earlier books), but this is a solid read.
sarahkenning's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
emmap2023's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
As Ruths age extends and her experience with her job and with the police grows, things just seem to be getting darker...
zosiablue's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
One of the better installments in the series. A tight, Charles Manson-esque mystery which felt connected to the interpersonal stuff for a change. And there was only one comment about weight, immediately followed up by the character saying she didn't want to pass her body issues down to her daughter. Growth! I bet people are tired of the forbidden longing between the two main characters by now, but I'm not and think that and the blended family drama is the most interesting part in the books. BUT WHEN WILL THEY GET TOGETHER
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Grief, Kidnapping, and Toxic relationship
leavingsealevel's review against another edition
3.0
"Everything has changed" for Ruth since previous books, the blurb tells me. imho not all that much has changed (still waiting for , still a rather unrealistic look at publishing in academia) EXCEPT THAT Ruth/Elly have finally dropped the bodyshaming undertones and stopped using Ruth's body as the basis of a joke every three pages. So that's good.
Spoiler
Ruth/Nelson/Michelle to discover that polyamory existsstacylmoll's review against another edition
5.0
This book was as good as all the others. I am both happy and sad that Ruth is moving back; I am not sure about this thing she has with Nelson. I want her to be happy, and I want Kate to have her dad, but for them to carry on while he is still married? The murders in this one were confusing, I thought I had figured out who did it, and although I got it kind of right, my person was involved but not in the killing. I am one book away from finishing this series and I am really sad about that.