A violent storm hit the tiny island of St. Rumon's off the coast of Devon quite hard. A section of cliff face slid into the sea, uncovering three bodies that had been at the edge of the old churchyard. Two bodies are ancient, but the third is much more recent. DI Wesley Peterson must not only identify this third body but find the killer as well.
St. Rumon's has very few inhabitants, but one keeps cropping up in Wesley's investigation: the author and self-styled academic, Quentin Search, the nemesis of Wesley's friend, archaeologist Neil Watson who is helping an amateur group uncover the ruins of an old monastery there on the island. The discovery of a sixteenth-century cleric's journal makes Wesley and Neil wonder if history is repeating itself.
~
No one blends history and mystery quite like Kate Ellis, and if you love Elly Griffiths and Ann Cleeves, you need to at least sample Ellis's Wesley Peterson mysteries. That's what I did, and I've been with her characters for twenty-eight books now. Now... if the thought of beginning such a long series scares you, never fear. You can start with this one and not feel lost. (But don't be surprised if you find yourself looking for the other books!)
Ellis ties Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries, the mythical land of Lyonesse, and even bellringing in with a modern-day murder investigation filled with excellent misdirection. But Coffin Island isn't all about the mystery. I doubt I would've stuck with this series if that's all there was to it. No, I also love this series for its cast of characters. Wesley, his wife Pam, their growing children, and Wesley's pain-in-the-neck mother-in-law. Archaeologist Neil Watson, his own relationships, and his fascinating digs into history. And-- of course-- Wesley's boss, DCI Gerry Heffernan, an old-fashioned copper with an irreverent sense of humor. ("I've yet to meet a homicidal cleaning lady" or "I'll never think of getting plastered in the same way again.") I feel as though I've been a part of these characters' lives, and it's been an absolute pleasure.
If you like character-driven series filled with history as well as mystery, you can't go wrong with Kate Ellis's Wesley Peterson.
Coffin Island by Kate Ellis
eISBN: 9780349433165
Piatkus © 2024
eBook, 368 pages
Police Procedural, #28 Wesley Peterson mystery
Rating: A
Source: Purchased from Amazon.
Kate Ellis' Wesley Peterson books are such high quality, aren't they, Cathy? I've yet to be disappointed in them. I'm not as far along in the series as you, but I'm enjoying the ride!
ReplyDeleteThe way I am about collecting series, the fact that I'm up-to-date on this one shows just how high quality it is!
DeleteI read the first couple of books in this series several years ago and then it kind of fell off my radar. Now that Elly Griffiths is taking a break (hoping that's all it is - LOL) from her Ruth Galloway books, I want to pick this series up again. This one sounds good.
ReplyDeleteI have this series on my list of books that I want to read. I do hope to get to it soon - but it is such a long, long list...
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean, Dorothy!
DeleteWhat you say here about Ellis's approach to writing mystery really appeals to me. Like you said, I doubt I would be reading so many mysteries, especially series mysteries, if all they were about were the mysteries themselves. It's the evolving characters and their relationships, and of course, the settings that keep me coming back. I'll have to try her work.
ReplyDeleteI hope you do get a chance to do that, Sam.
DeleteI wish my library had more of her books! But they only have The Merchant's House. But her books do sound really good.
ReplyDeleteShe's a UK author I wish would become much better known on this side of the pond, Lark. I've found her books in eBook format the easiest to get my hands on.
DeleteI think Elly Griffiths' publisher wanted her to end the Ruth Galloway series.
ReplyDeleteThat makes me question the sanity of that publisher.
Delete