The Lantern Men by Elly Griffiths


published 2019



I could just say the same things each time Elly Griffiths has a new book out: that I love all of them, but my secret favourites are the Dr Ruth Galloway mysteries. How I bought the first one when it came out in paperback, and the NEXT DAY (having finished it) bought the 2nd one in hardback. Every subsequent one I have read immediately on (or before) publication. It is my favourite current crime series, and Nelson was long ago named (by me) as the thinking woman’s policeman.

Griffiths does great plots and the books are full of fascinating details of life and of history and archaeology and folklore. The Lantern Men of the title are terrifying – men who appear on the marshes (a continuing feature of the book) and lure people away with their lamps. It looks like there might be a modern-day version. The book starts with a successful trial: one man has been convicted of murdering some young women. But there are other women who went missing – might he be responsible, and if so can he be persuaded to reveal the whereabouts of the bodies?

Ruth – having now moved on both in life and geographically
– is living in Cambridge (left her cottage!), but gets pulled in to the North Norfolk case anyway. The convicted murderer used to live in a semi-commune, and his various ex-partners and friends are all on the scene, and keep turning up all over the case. It is a very tense story with a very cleverly-done air of unease at all times. Surely the convicted man cannot be innocent? But what were all those people up to in the shared house, and can we trust anything they say? Were they all as calm about events there as they claim?

So great plot. And still no final resolution on the question of Ruth and Harry. Will they ever be happy together… Elly G is pushing it ever onwards, but so long as she keeps writing the books, I will forgive her.




And there was a hint on social media that she has started the next one, thank goodness. I dread her finishing the series. Because (almost) beyond the plots and the riveting storylines, what I would miss is those moments that fill you with pleasure and make you laugh because of the way Ruth and her friends have had their characters built up over this long series of books.
‘I suppose I just freaked out a little.’ 
‘That’s understandable,’ says Nelson, in his ‘good with women’ voice which always makes Ruth want to throw something at him.
And (requiring all 12 books to get the full effect)
It’s news to Ruth that Phil has ever worked too hard…
They are all such complete, rounded characters – and it may even be that Cathbad is the best of them all: such an unusual person, but I find as I go through normal life I occasionally think ‘that’s very Cathbad’, it’s a useful defining trope. Anyone who has read the books will know exactly what I mean.
‘Thank you Cathbad. You should go on Mastermind. Specialist subject: General Weirdness.’ 
Cathbad laughs, obviously taking this as a compliment.
Then later:
‘[We were] very respectful. My partner said some prayers.’ 
‘Is he a vicar?’ asks Denise. 
‘No’ says Judy, feeling inadequate at the thought of describing Cathbad. ‘But he’s very spiritual.’

He is wonderful, they all are, I love them all.

Roll on next year’s book. Along with whatever extra ones EG manages to fit in – she is extremely productive, while keeping to very high standards. Click on the label below to find her many entries on the blog.

My lantern men are American in fact, from a 19th century book called The Lure of the Black Hills by D Lange, via Internet Archive Book Images. No hills in the fens, but they had the look…

The books always have great covers, and I thought this new one was particularly atmospheric.



Now, Ruth famously doesn’t feel she has great clothes sense. So I was absolutely delighted to find a Pinterest page which might almost be called dress like an archaeologist – if I’d found it before I would have used it for Ruth every time (that's it above, and the woman in the practical clothes, picture higher up, is also from this page). NOTHING could be less like the Ruth we know and love, but of course I can give her some nice styles, I hope Elly G agrees. This page is GOLD for Ruth-fans. We know she likes Indiana Jones – and now look below at the shorts suits on this one (from Indiana Jones-Nerd Style by apreciativenonartist). 

Just the job for a cold, muddy wet dig in North Norfolk. You go, Ruth.




















Comments

  1. I love Griffiths' work, too, Moira. She is so skilled at creating local atmosphere, and at linking past, present, legend, fact, and more. I do get drawn in, and I like the 'regular' characters, too (Yes, Cathbad, I mean you). I would like to see some resolution to the Ruth/Harry question, too; I think that's the one thing about this series that I might wave a wand and change. But, as you say, one forgives Griffiths a lot...

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    1. Thanks Margot - I'm glad you enjoy this series too. You are so right in the way you sum up its good points!

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  2. Oh, a new Elly Griffiths, hooray! I just finished "The Stone Circle", having waited for it first to reach my local library and then to wander down to place 57 on the waiting list, which was me. So Ruth got the Cambridge job and moved. I never thought that would happen, but how exciting! I lived in Cambridge for a year and a half when I was a PhD student thirty years ago and have been back every year since then, so I consider it home ground and am very excited to see what Ruth's life there will be like, not to mention what kind of house she will acquire - houses are fiendishly expensive in Cambridge. Though if that is her house on the cover she seems to have got one very like her old one. It is a wonderful picture. I really want that house for myself, to live all alone in.

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    1. I think the house on the cover is out on the marshes - Ruth is packed into Cambridge at close quarters with her neighbours like everyone else! I too lived in Cambridge a long time ago, and have a soft spot for it - I loved living there,and had a tremendous time.
      And when this book finally reaches you, you will definitely enjoy it.

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  3. I have good intentions of reading more Elly Griffiths books, but it hasn't happened yet. Part of it is having to look for reasonably priced copies and, of course, the other is the backlog of books that I have.

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    1. You will get round to her eventually I am sure, and I think you will like her. The only downside I think from your point of view is that she writes in the historic present, which I think you are not keen on? I often don't like it, but I forgive it in Elly G.

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    2. Sorry Tracy, I know you HAVE read some of the series, it was careless wording, I mean I am sure you will continue to enjoy them!

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  4. Great Indiana Jones outfits for the T.V. series or movie arecheologist based on the book.

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    1. Yes indeed - because practicalities don't matter so much then! There are some lovely clothes on those pages.

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  5. I can't wait for this book! Am on pins and needles. Can't believe Ruth and Kate left the Norfolk marshes. How often I've looked at photos of the area online, and imagined living in a cottage that's isolated and quiet in the marsh.
    I, too, wonder about Harry and Ruth, but I feel like Elly Griffiths answered that question with the birth of the baby in his family. And now she is moving on with her life, while Harry continues to appear for Kate's sake and to be involved in murder investigations. I mean, gosh, he even went to Italy to investigate and see if Kate and Ruth were safe.
    Well, I can barely contain my enthusiasm about the next book. I'm so glad the writer keeps going on Ruth and Kate and Harry's story.
    I'll now have to google Cambridge's sites.

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    1. I know! The characters feel like friends, and I always really want to know what they've been up to, just as with my friends. I'm sure you will enjoy this as much as you are hoping. And the good news is that Elly Griffiths has already started on the next one...

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  6. I'm hooked on these as well! I love the the characters, and the fact that Ruth isn't thin and doesn't care what she looks like or what she wears. Somehow it makes her seem very real. Unlike everyone else, I'm not sure the relationship between Ruth and Harry should be resolved - I think the tension it creates is central to the books, If you change that, you change the dynamics of the whole thing.

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    1. Yes to all about Ruth - she is the best heroine!
      I do know what you mean - in any series (books, TV), you (I) want the resolution, but do also know that it will spoil things in fact.

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  7. I still haven't got around to trying this author!

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