The Lantern Men

DCI Harry Nelson has been informed by his DI Judy Johnson that a killer Johnson had worked hard to put behind bars has been found guilty of killing two young women.  However, neither is happy because both feel that there are two more deaths that are unaccounted for, and they are sure the same man is responsible.

Shortly after this Dr. Ruth Galloway is shown a post card by a former colleague that she would have done a better job as a witness and of finding the remaining bodies.  She immediately calls Nelson.  Based on the handwriting, the card seems to have come from a woman who had hosted Ruth at a writing retreat.

Not long after this, the killer tells Nelson that he will show him where the bodies are if Ruth is the one who does the digging.  She accepts the challenge.  Nelson also receives information that the killer had been a member of a group of three men who would pick up women on the fens.  They called themselves The Lantern Men.  The young women would later disappear after spending some time with the group.

When the forensic archeologists dig at the site indicated by the killer they find not just two bodies, but a third.

The morning after the bodies are dug up, Nelson receives a call that another body has been found.  This recent death is a young woman who matches the characteristics of those killed by the man that they have in custody.  Talking to the boyfriend, DI Johnson learns. That the woman had been road training on her bicycle, so why was an expensive bicycle doing out in the dunes?

DNA and dental records help identify the bodies.  Nelson continues to maintain that they have the killer.  However, he couldn’t have killed the latest victim.  So, who is the killer?

Author Elly Griffiths has the reader in suspense, giving numerous hints convincing the reader to follow that trail.  However, in the end, a surprise is revealed to the reader.  Griffiths’ thriller is complex and a superb read, which was hard to put down.