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    The Lantern Men
    The Lantern Men
    The Lantern Men
    Audiobook10 hours

    The Lantern Men

    Written by Elly Griffiths

    Narrated by Jane McDowell

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Forensic archaeologist Ruth Galloway changed her life—until a convicted killer tells her that four of his victims were never found, drawing her back to the place she left behind.

    Everything has changed for Ruth Galloway. She has a new job, home, and partner, and she 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 travelers 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?
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateJul 14, 2020
    ISBN9781980089889
    The Lantern Men
    Author

    Elly Griffiths

    Elly Griffiths is the USA Today bestselling author of the Ruth Galloway and Brighton mystery series, as well as the standalone novels The Stranger Diaries, winner of the Edgar Award for Best Novel; The Postscript Murders; and Bleeding Heart Yard. She is the recipient of the CWA Dagger in the Library Award and the Mary Higgins Clark Award. She lives in Brighton, England.

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    Reviews for The Lantern Men

    4/5

    228 ratings25 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Much like the characters in this book, I finished it with mixed emotions. I enjoyed it overall, yet at times was frustrated by it. And perhaps that's one of the draws of this series for me - I love a good mystery series, but the added factor in this one is that the characters are all too human.
      Much has changed in Ruth Galloway's life since the events of the previous book in the series. She's in a new job at a different university and town, and she and her daughter are living with the new man in her life. On the surface it's all just fine, and she and her daughter have settled in nicely. But when she finds herself drawn back to her old life when an anonymous letter says she should be consulted on a murder investigation, the flames of her doubts are fanned. Pulled back into closer proximity to her old haunts and old friends, she begins to question what (and whom) she really wants. The mystery here is a good one, the human relationships feel all too real (the tension between what the head knows is good and what the heart really wants). The familiar supporting characters are here, with their own charms and issues. I look forward to whatever may be next for Ruth and friends.
      My thanks to Netgalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy for an unbiased review.
    • 4/5
      This felt like a stronger book than several of the last have been -- I enjoyed Ruth's break from the marshes and Cambridge life. Lots of red herrings, and it's good to see Clough and Judy's careers progress.
    • 5/5
      I just love Elly Griffith’s Dr Ruth Galloway series and this is up to her usual excellent standard. As always there is a wonderful mix of an interesting crime to solve and pitch perfect characterisation interwoven with rich Norfolk folk lore and set against the atmospheric backdrop of the wild Norfolk salt marshes. I adore the ever changing dynamics of the relationship between the two main characters but it is also a joy to catch up with all the surrounding characters. They add so much depth and texture to the story. Thank you Ms Griffiths for the reading pleasure your books always deliver.
    • 4/5
      Another great installment in the Ruth Galloway series! Normally I get bored with series; however, this series just keeps me in its grip. This is a testament to just how good these books are. I keep coming back for more and the books keep delivering.
    • 4/5
      I would be very interested to know how Elly Griffiths does it. Twelve books in, and the series revolving around Dr Ruth Galloway, the leading forensic archaeologist formerly of the University of North Norfolk but now established in St Jude’s College, Cambridge, remains as fresh and convincing as ever. More impressive still is the relative speed with which the author produces these books – twelve in around eleven years, but accompanied by five or six others in her series featuring Edgar Stephens and Max Mephisto series – without any compromising on their quality. I realise that I have now read eighteen books by her just this year, and haven’t yet found myself sated.Two years have passed since the last book (The Stone Circle) and Ruth seems fairly settled in her new life. She and her daughter Kate (a marvellous character in her own right) are living with Frank, her American partner – another academic teaching history in the university. Ruth’s former life in Norfolk seems a long way off, although she still owns her seaside cottage, which is currently rented out. She still sees Detective Chief Inspector Nelson, Kate’s father, regularly, as he is assiduous in keeping in contact with his daughter, but having moved away she no longer becomes engaged professionally in any of his cases.Nelson and his team have been busy, and as the novel opens, he and Detective Inspector Judy Johnson are relieved to learn that Ivor march has been convicted of the murder of two young women, whose bodies were buried in his girlfriend’s garden. Although there was supporting DNA and other forensic evidence, Nelson had feared that March might somehow evade conviction. Nelson is also convinced that march is guilty of at least two other murders. March had always vehemently protested his innocence, but, in an unexpected twist, he offers to give Nelson the location of the bodies of the two other women, if he promises that Ruth will oversee their retrieval. This leaves Ruth and Nelson confused, but in the interests of completing the investigation, they agree. This opens up a new series of events which will once again suck in all the regular cast members, in another engaging and challenging mystery.I think that the strength of these books lies not so much in the complex plots (engrossing though they always are) but more in the depth of the central characters. They have taken on a wholly convincing solidity. Even Cathbad, the Druid, is utterly credible (however unconvincing such a statement might appear to someone unfamiliar with the books).As with all successful instalments in a series, this one left me hungry for the next one.
    • 5/5
      Someone once told me that good fiction is real people doing unreal things. If we are honest, for an archaeology professor to become involved in so many murders, especially within the quiet backwater of North Norfolk, is pushing credibility.Dr Ruth Galloway, Harry Nelson, Cathbad, Dave Clough and Judy Johnson on the other hand, are all very real. They each have their weaknesses and strengths - and, in a way that is rare in crime fiction, they are consistent. They also all have their own lives, outside of crime solving, and their lives develop in good, and bad, ways.I LOVE THIS SERIES!!!
    • 4/5
      I like doing this book, but I jumped in on the 12th book of a series. I realize how I’ve missed this murder mystery genre, and shall start at the beginning with the character of Ruth Galloway.
    • 5/5
      The beginning of this book took me by surprise! Ruth has changed jobs, and moved into Cambridge (and I have only missed 2 books in the series!). She even has a new partner. I presume she is trying to establish a life without Harry Nelson. She and Katie are settled in their new surroundings and relationships, have been there about two years I think, but she thinks of Nelson constantly.But all comes unstuck when convicted murderer Ivor March offers to tell Nelson where some more bodies are buried, on condition that Ruth does the excavation. So once again Ruth and Nelson are thrown together and life become compliacted.I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Elly Griffiths has lost none of her touch.
    • 4/5
      Ah, how nice to be back with Ruth G. and the Saltmarsh and all that. The knots in the romantic part of this ongoing story are ongoing, of course. In the mystery part, young, tall women are being killed with remarkable regularity. The whole cast is present, and a few little twists add spice.
    • 4/5
      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.I enjoy this series and the characters, and the Norfolk setting, The series is a bit repititious, with the murders, but relations between the characters develop, albeit slowly. Every once in a while I read one.
    • 4/5
      Note: Spoilers for previous books in this series.This twelfth book in the Ruth Galloway crime series will not disappoint its fans. Ruth Galloway was formerly a forensic archeologist at the (fictional) University of North Norfolk. There she occasionally worked with Detective Chief Inspector Harry Nelson of the Norfolk Police. Since Ruth is an expert on bones, the two teamed up to solve a number of crimes, and Ruth was even seconded to the Serious Crime Unit, which is headed by Nelson.Nelson works at the King’s Lynn Police Station. In actuality, King’s Lynn is a seaport in Norfolk, England and Norwich is a town in Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of its most important. Thus old bones do in fact get excavated quite frequently. Griffiths integrates many interesting historical aspects of this region into her story lines.Harry is married with two adult daughters (Laura and Rebecca), but Ruth and Harry share a daughter, Kate, now 9. Harry and his wife Michelle had another (unexpected) baby a little more than two years before, a boy named George, and all four of the children are fond of one another. Michelle allows Harry to see Kate but insists that Harry only see Ruth in a professional capacity. As this book begins, we learn that for the past two years, Ruth and Kate have been residing in Cambridge, where Ruth took a position teaching forensic archaeology at St. Jude’s College. She and Kate are living with Frank Barker, an American historian and television personality.Although no longer in close proximity, Ruth and Nelson still share unsuccessful attempts not to think about one another. In this book, moreover, Ruth is called back to Norfolk by the police because a man accused of a number of murders of young women will talk to no one but Ruth about where the bodies are buried. The man, Ivor March, was recently convicted of two of the murders of missing women, but Nelson is convinced he killed more, and would like to help bring closure to the families of the victims.March used to be part of a group of three men calling themselves “The Lantern Men” after an old legend in the area that told of mysterious figures carrying lanterns who haunted the fens and marshes and lured travelers to their dooms. The legend presumably came from spontaneous combustion of marsh gas which occurs on warm nights in rotten swamps and bogs. In the distant past people thought these represented evil spirits waiting to lure lone night travelers to their deaths. The popular practice of creating jack-o'-lanterns for Halloween is derived in part from this legend. This contemporary group of “Lantern Men” admitted that they used to drive around in a van and pick up young women, but they claimed they were only "helping" lost girls. They would bring the girls back to their art commune at Grey Walls, now a writer’s retreat, and teach them “about art and life and all that.” After a while the women would “just vanish,” presumably, according to the Lantern Men, off to lead more fulfilling lives. By remarkable coincidence, some of those "helped" by the Lantern Men are also on the list of missing and dead women.The women who were a permanent part of the Grey Walls commune seem fiercely devoted to March and insist he could not have murdered anyone. The police are convinced otherwise. But then another similar murder occurs with March already in prison and no one is so sure anymore. And Ruth, because of her involvement in the case, once more gets in a life-threatening position.Evaluation: I enjoy this series a great deal because the main characters are all complex, likable and funny. Yet there is still plenty of page-turning tension and a lot to learn about archeology and history in the Norfolk area. In this book there are also developments in the characters' personal lives that will have readers champing at the bit for the next installment.
    • 5/5
      I really like this series and this is a good one. Ruth is living and teaching in Cambridge with Katie and Frank. She’s been asked by Nelson to look into excavating a dig for the bodies of missing women by a serial killer. Ivor March was a sort of cult leader who had women followers and then they just disappeared. They all lived in this commune environment called Grey Walls which is now a retreat and run by one of Ivor’s women who befriends Ruth in a creepy clingy way. Very exciting ending.
    • 4/5
      Another fun read in the continuing saga of Ruth Galloway. While I have my occasional *eye-roll* reactions to some of the developments (I'm a tad bored with Nelson; the Ruth persona has outgrown this as a tension/suspense/romance angle), these have rarely derailed my enjoyment of the story. I'm especially drawn to the archeologist and single parent aspect of the Ruth character. There's so much relatable behaviour in this particular episode of the series, whether it is ambivalence to Frank, her current serious significant other or her difficulty in completely relishing her new position at Cambridge. The Lantern Men myth and subsequent forensic excavations were interesting contributions to the sequence of missing young women. I admire Griffiths' ability to weave a murder mystery together with the local historical traditions and beliefs, as well as actual landscape. I was somewhat disappointed that Ruth may potentially move back to her Norfolk salt marshes and her former university.
    • 4/5
      Comfort reading.Kate might be a future Goodreads member. “It’s my reading journal,’ says Kate. ‘We don’t have to do it but I want to keep up to date.”Another addictive page turner. As usual, the humor was great. I liked this mystery a lot. I love the characters, especially the recurring characters. I would have liked even more of Kate and of Ruth and of some of the recurring characters. There was a lot of time spent with the new characters. They were also interesting, and I got enough of a “fix” with the main characters to whom I’m attached, so no complaints. As usual, there were lots of unhealthy foods consumed. An after swim snack of a Kit Kat candy bar and soon after another snack of a chocolate brownie for a 9 year old? If unusual that would not be such a bad thing but these were no more unhealthy than most of the other foods mentioned. No, don’t bring Kate there!!! (I’m with Nelson and not Ruth on that one.) For that matter, don’t go there yourself either. (Luckily, that sort of unnecessary behavior didn’t happen often in this book but I could do without it happening at all. I can enjoy the unintended humor (the food, the soap opera like happenings, the needless putting oneself & others in danger) along with enjoying the humor written to be amusing. I do appreciate the humor in these books. The humor makes them better and makes them seem more real too. The characters do feel like real people. They’re the best part of these books. The characters and the settings. The settings are wonderful, and I learn so much about English places.It’s enjoyable to make guesses, particularly when reading this mystery book series. This book had so many red herrings but they’re all presented in such a subtle manner. Ditto the extreme suspense. It seems to arise naturally including during many places in the story, not just the obvious ones. The resolution of the mystery wasn’t as satisfying for me as the guessing. One aspect of what happened seemed more unrealistic to me than anything else in the story. the sister of a murder (accidentally murdered) victim, not known to the others as her sister, in order to avenge her killing, goes so far as to sleep with her killer and become the apparent girlfriend of her sister’s killer in order to implicate him/get him caught. Nope, that was too bizarre. I was happy that at the end there wasn’t a huge cliffhanger as there sometimes is. I do have some guesses about how book 13 might start. It’ll be fun, I’m sure. It’s going to be hard enough to wait until book 13 is published and available in the U.S. It will likely be available in the UK months before it is in the U.S. I love how Elly Griiffths auctions a name to appear as one of the book’s character names in order to benefit a cancer charity. She does this in every book in the series. You don’t know which name until the acknowledgments section at the end. In this book there were two names because another person made a donation and got their name included. I love it! I’d like to see many authors do this sort of thing. I read the Kindle edition in the Kindle app on my pad. Pandemic style reading. It was hell to wait the extra wait. Two delays actually. One was the inability to borrow the hardcover edition because my library is still closed and the other glitch was that the type of e-edition I first got was unreadable. Axis 360 never ever works for me. Much gratitude to the SFPL staff who helped me and put me first in the queue for the ePub Overdrive and/or Kindle edition. Both of these formats work for me.This series is my current favorite mystery series. Wonderful, memorable, endearing characters. Fabulous settings. Humor. Not much gore or violence. Interesting archeology, history, folklore. I envy readers yet to read any or most of the books out so far. I read books 1-11 in about 5 months and have to wait 7 months to read book 12. It will be a longer wait for book 13.It was fun to finish this book at the same time as Hilary. We read the last 60+ pages together. Many of the other books in the series we buddy read so it was really nice to be able to read some of this book at the same time.If anything, these books keep getting better and better. That is unusual in mystery series books, in my experience. I have book hangover syndrome and I’m not sure what I’ll read next.
    • 4/5
      The twelfth (and for now, most recent) Ruth Galloway mystery takes place about two years after the previous one. When we last saw Ruth she was contemplating some significant life decisions, and this book reveals the direction she took and its impact. And as usual, she finds herself immersed in a murder investigation, this time focused on an artist’s retreat where Ruth recently attended a writing workshop. DCI Nelson is celebrating the recent murder conviction of a former member of the artist community, and he is convinced the man is behind additional unsolved crimes. Ruth, a forensic archaeologist, is brought in to analyze the bones. Nelson and his team focus on several members of the artist community, who were known to have come in contact with the victims. Elly Griffiths maintains an air of suspicion around every one of them, and then sets up the final fast-paced chase that inevitably puts Ruth and several others in danger. And as Ruth reflects on what she’s just been through, she once again struggles to organize her personal and professional life in a way that makes her truly happy. But we’ll have to wait for the next book to find out how she deals with this latest fork in the road.
    • 4/5
      A predictable format with the same familiar characters from all the previous books - therefore a great read! Ruth and Nelson are still apart but working together on solving murders.
    • 4/5
      Change is hard and Ruth and Kate have undetaken a big change. No longer in her beloved cottage by the salt marsh, no longer in Norfolk, and no longer living close to Nelson. Life though has a way its own and soon Ruth will once again be drawn into working a case with Nelson. Of course, this brings her right back and of course our favorite characters right with her. I so enjoy this series. Simmering tensions and emotional ties, a case that is always interesting. A terrific mix between the personal, the mystic with Cathsbad, and an intriguing case. I learn a little, enjoy alot. This case and the inherent danger will effect Ruth personally, when past and present converge. At books end another decision will be made. Who are the lantern men? Myth or truth? To be continued in Griffiths next outing.ARC from Edelweiss.
    • 5/5
      serial-murder, England, folklore, family-dynamics, friendship, forensics****A great deal of personal background material regarding the complexity of Ruth's life outside of her work in the beginning did not make it any easier to drop into book 12 of this series. That said, the mystery and events were exceptionally well done as well as the characters. Escalating suspense and a plethora of red herrings add to the twisty plot. I appreciated the insight into the lore of the fens and other learning opportunities. It was a very good book.I requested and received a free ebook copy from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt via NetGalley.
    • 5/5
      Elly Griffiths has just released The Lantern Men, the twelfth entry in the Ruth Galloway series. And I have to tell you - this series is one of my hands down favorites. I eagerly await each new book - and read it far too quickly.Ruth is a forensic archaeologist. She is a lecturer as well and often helps out on police matters. In The Lantern Men, a convicted murderer will only reveal the location of four of his victims to Ruth. Why Ruth?Griffiths's plotting is always detailed, the mysteries are always convincing, the police work realistic and the historical components are really well done. With many of the cases, I've gone online to read more about the history.I've always enjoyed the setting of the Norfolk area - especially the marshes. And I would be quite happy to live in Ruth's wee cottage.Oh, and the title? "The Lantern Men concerns the Norfolk legend of mysterious figures that prowl the marshes at night. It's said that travellers would see a man walking ahead of them and carrying a lantern. They would follow the light only to be led to their deaths on the treacherous ground."But what draws me to this series are the characters. I adore the character of Ruth. I think it's because she isn't a 'cookie-cutter' protagonist. She's become a single mother later in life, she's hard on herself, generous with her friends, is highly intelligent, but shuns the spotlight. She's not beautiful in a conventional sense, but has that something that draws people to her. Griffiths has not endowed her with super sleuth abilities, rather she comes off as an actual person - unabashedly and happily herself. The supporting cast is just as well drawn, with self professed Druid Cathbad being my favorite. And of course there's DCI Nelson. He and Ruth's relationship is very complicated. Eager readers like myself have been waiting for this book to find out what happens next with the two of them. The Lantern Men jumps ahead two years to some unexpected happenings. (And eager readers, it ends with another open ended scenario for book thirteen. Can't wait!)I highly, highly recommend this character driven mystery series. You could certainly read this book as a stand alone, but do yourself a favour and start with The Crossing Places, the first book.
    • 5/5
      This is the 12th book in the excellent Ruth Galloway Series, which is one of my favourite series. I have to say the author has done a good job of writing this book so that it can be read as a standalone. I do not feel that not having read the previous books would spoil enjoyment of the book, however there would be more layers of the story to enjoy if you had read the others.Ruth has now got a new job and is living in a new town with her new partner. However she is called back to Norfolk by a convicted serial killer, Aymas March, who DCI Nelson feels has killed other women. March is willing to talk but will only speak to Ruth Galloway. Ruth agrees to do it and bit by bit finds herself pulled back to Norfolk and her former life and friends there. All the actions centre around a village haunted by Lantern Men who are said to hold lights to lure people to their deaths. Is this what Aymas is doing to Ruth? Is she in danger?Like all the other books in the series. this is yet another excellent read. The real strength of these books is the group of characters that are central to the books and their interactions, and their history. Although that said with being in a new town we had less of two of the characters, including Cathbad, and I would liked to have seen more of them in this book. Hopefully this can be put right in the next book with the way it ended.The story holds up well alongside the characterisation with key points that relate to events in the past, and leaves you second guessing about Aymas’s involvement in events in the past as well as the potential involvement of other central characters in his group at the time. I love it when I can get so involved with a boo like this. As with Ellie’s other books this book builds to a tense ending with one of the character’s lives put on the line. Will we lose one of our beloved characters? I thoroughly recommend both this book and series to all readers, you won’t regret reading them, I never have and would happily read them all again.I gave this book 5 stars overall, and would like to say thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing a copy of this book to me for an open and honest review.
    • 5/5
      I have not read all the Dr. Ruth Galloway mysteries, but enough that I can sense a “can’t put I t down” installment from the first page. This was a home run. There is no time for note taking, little time for reflection, just read, turn the page, hold your breath, wait for it, turn the page, ah now I can get up and get a drink, have a bite to eat, the last page has been turned.Many familiar characters, some staying for the entirety, some popping in and out. A few are newer to the scene which has moved to a city with different complexities. Griffiths populates her stories with as many suspects as the mind can handle as the story twists and points to this one and turns pointing to another. Clever, oh so clever. She can point out the frailties of her mainstay characters while never losing her focus of the mystery to be solved. Thank you NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for a copy.
    • 5/5
      I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.I read this in one afternoon: an excellent new instalment in this series. There was not much ancient archaeology in this one - Ruth was involved only in investigating current or relatively recent murders - but that suits me. All the usual characters made appearances, even though here Ruth has moved to Cambridge and Clough has also been promoted to another force. The solution was acceptable to me and the ending, suggesting what will happen to Ruth next, was very pleasing.Highly recommended.
    • 5/5
      I couldn't have been more thrilled to get the opportunity to read an advance copy of the latest Ruth Galloway book. It is my favorite series, and, once again, this book was perfection. I love the regular cast of characters and enjoyed catching up with their lives. There were many new developments in their lives, and I look forward to seeing what happens next. There were many twists and turns in solving the crimes; the new characters who were related to the crimes kept me suspicious of everyone. As much as I wanted to savor reading the book since it will be such a long time until the next installment, I couldn't help but to fly through the book.I highly recommend the book and the entire series (which must be read in order). It is a wonderful mixture of suspense and a great backstory.
    • 5/5
      The Lantern Men – When the legend becomes real!Elly Griffiths, one of the most underrated suspense writers in the UK at the moment, in my opinion. Yes, she writes the cliched page turner, but her thrillers draw you in, keep you guessing and leaves you deeply satisfied at the end. Elly Griffiths writing makes you ravenous for more and with her Dr Ruth Galloway series, is like drinking the best champagne, you always want more.Ruth Galloway has moved from NNU to teach at Cambridge, and has moved in with Frank, while renting out her own home in Norfolk. She sometimes misses Norfolk, but she does love the job she has at Cambridge and it is always a pleasure to teach there. She does miss being North Norfolk Police’s resident forensic archaeologist. But she does see DCI Nelson often enough as they have Kate’s upbringing to think about.When convicted killer taunts DCI Nelson that he will tell him where the other bodies are, but he does stick a condition, that Ruth leads the dig, he has to request her help. Wary Ruth agrees to the dig and finds three bodies not the two that she was expecting. But she does notice that there are some discrepancies with the third body.With another body turning up, the team begin questioning the evidence they have and see where it leads. Ivor March does admit to murdering only one person and was happy to admit to it, but he still maintained his innocence about those he has been convicted of. As the investigation continues, Ruth does not realise how close to danger she is, but she has to hope that things fall into place for Nelson to come to her aid.Elly Griffiths really does know how to write a suspense thriller, with plenty of twists and turns. She also leaves plenty of clues throughout the book pointing who the culprit may be. It is usually when she reveals the killer do the clues fall into place. She really knows how to engage with the reader and one of the reason I love recommending all her books.
    • 5/5
      There's nothing quite like waiting for each new Ruth Galloway mystery, getting your hands on it, and then sinking into the pages with the utmost pleasure. The Lantern Men is yet another strong addition to this excellent series; I hated it whenever life shouted at me and forced me to put the book down.The legend of the lantern men is an excellent choice, both suited to the atmospheric landscape of the fens and to making readers look over their shoulders to see if anyone has crept up behind them. I've always said that this series has one of the absolute best cast of characters in fiction, but I felt the mystery was particularly strong with that old legend, serial killer groupies, and a murderer who's up to no good (even behind bars). There's plenty of misdirection, too, and I guessed wrong about which character was being targeted at the end, which is always a good thing due to all the crime fiction I read.I don't know how Elly Griffiths does it, but she manages to balance her wonderful cast's comings and goings with the mystery so that readers don't feel short-changed in either aspect. Readers just walk into Ruth's new life and learn about all the changes that have occurred during the past two years as she's currently living them. The same with Nelson and Judy and Cathbad and the rest. If you've read other books in the series, you know that it's easy for these fictional characters to become just like friends and family-- you have to catch up with their lives every bit as much as you have to attempt to solve the mystery.Once the mystery is solved, Ruth is making another change at book's end, but it should come as no surprise. Now comes the hard part: waiting until the next book comes out. Ah, but they're always worth the wait!