Search results for ""Author Kate Ellis""

Million-copy bestselling author Kate Ellis returns with the gripping new book in the DI Wesley Peterson crime series.''A beguiling author who interweaves past and present'' THE TIMESDespite many years living in South Devon, DI Wesley Peterson has never visited the tiny island of St Rumon''s. That is until erosion from a storm reveals three bodies buried outside the local churchyard.Two are ancient skeletons, but one is far more recent, and Wesley realises he has uncovered a case of murder. But whose remains are they? And who killed them?The island has only a small number of inhabitants. Yet one resident keeps cropping up in Wesley''s investigation: the author and self-styled academic, Quentin Search.Meanwhile Wesley''s friend, archaeologist Neil Watson, becomes fascinated by the remains of the island''s old priory. His discovery of a journal, written by a sixteenth century cleric, reveals an eerie tale of strange rituals and d

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The first mystery in the bestselling DI Wesley Peterson crime series set on the windswept Devon coast, by million-copy bestselling author Kate Ellis.'A beguiling author who interweaves past and present' THE TIMES'Clever plotting hides a powerful story of loss, malice and deception' ANN CLEEVES'Haunting' INDEPENDENT__________________DS Wesley Peterson, newly arrived in the West Country town of Tradmouth, has his hands full when a child goes missing and a young woman is brutally murdered on a lonely cliff path. Then his old friend, archaeologist Neil Watson, unearths the skeletons of a woman and a newborn baby in the cellar of an ancient merchant's house nearby.As they begin to investigate the murders, Wesley starts to suspect that these deaths, centuries apart, may be linked by age-old motives of jealousy and sexual obsession. And the pressure is on if he is going to prevent a further tragedy . . .Discover your new favourite crime series. This is the perfect mystery for fans of Ann Cleeves and Elly Griffiths, which will have you gripped until the final page.__________________What readers are saying about The Merchant's House :'I couldn't stop turning the pages . . . Something about this book just hooked me!' Goodreads Review, 5 stars'Superb . . . Five stars' Reader review, 5 stars'If you like Ian Rankin, LJ Ross, Elly Griffiths and James Oswald, you will enjoy Kate Ellis' Reader review, 5 stars'Gripping . . . Love how the past and present bring the story together' Reader review, 5 stars'You'll fall in love with coastal England and find yourself walking the cobbled lanes in your imagination . . . Do not miss this series!' Reader review, 5 stars'The first in an outstanding series of contemporary crime fiction' Reader review, 5 stars'Fantastic read' Reader review, 5 stars'Compelling . . Kept you guessing from start to finish. I would highly recommend it' Reader review, 5 stars'Loved it!!' Reader review, 5 stars'Kate Ellis has certainly got a talent for story telling which can grab the imagination from the start' Reader review, 5 stars'Really unputdownable' Reader review, 5 stars'Gripping. Kate Ellis is my new favourite author' Reader review, 5 stars'A page-turner' Reader review, 5 stars

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Million-copy bestselling author Kate Ellis returns with the brand new book in the DI Wesley Peterson crime series.'A beguiling author who interweaves past and present' THE TIMESNovember. With the tourist season over in South Devon, Detective Inspector Wesley Peterson is looking forward to a quieter month in the CID. But when a man is shot dead on Bonfire Night, he finds he has a complex murder case on his hands. The body of Patrick North was found in woodland connected to Nesbaraton Hall, a grand estate dating back to the eighteenth century. The Smithson family, who own the estate, are away on holiday. However, when an anonymous letter threatening to abduct the Smithson son is uncovered, Wesley fears North's death might have been collateral damage in a sinister kidnap plot.Meanwhile, archaeologist Dr Neil Watson discovers a hidden grotto in a developer's field - land that was once part of the Nesbaraton estate. Evidence of past rituals and the discovery of a skeleton buried next to the grotto raise questions about strange occurrences, past and present, on the estate. Then, just when Wesley's team seem to be making progress in their investigation, a resident of the nearby village is killed in a near identical shooting. A race is on to find a ruthless killer, before they strike again . . .Whether you've read the whole series, or are discovering Kate Ellis's DI Wesley Peterson novels for the first time, this is the perfect page-turner if you love reading Ann Cleeves and Elly Griffiths.Praise for Kate Ellis . . .'Clever plotting hides a powerful story of loss, malice and deception' Ann Cleeves'Haunting' Independent'The chilling plot will keep you spooked and thrilled to the end' Closer'Unputdownable' Bookseller'A fine storyteller, weaving the past and present in a way that makes you want to read on' Peterborough Evening Telegraph

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Detective Wesley Peterson and archaeologist Dr Neil Watson return to solve a mystery surrounding a grand estate in the Devon countryside. Can they catch a killer before they strike again?''A beguiling author who interweaves past and present'' THE TIMESNovember. With the tourist season over in South Devon, Detective Inspector Wesley Peterson is looking forward to a quieter month in the CID. But when a man is shot dead on Bonfire Night, he finds he has a complex murder case on his hands. The body of Patrick North was found in woodland connected to Nesbaraton Hall, a grand estate dating back to the eighteenth century. The Smithson family, who own the estate, are away on holiday. However, when an anonymous letter threatening to abduct the Smithson son is uncovered, Wesley fears North''s death might have been collateral damage in a sinister kidnap plot.Meanwhile, archaeologist Dr Neil Watson discovers a hidden grotto in a developer''s

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When Dr James Dalcott is shot dead in his cottage it looks very much like an execution. And as DI Wesley Peterson begins piecing together the victim's life, he finds that the well-liked country doctor has been harbouring strange and dramatic family secrets. Meanwhile, archaeologist Neil Watson has discovered a number of skeletons in nearby Tailors Court that bear marks of dissection and might be linked to tales of body snatching by a rogue physician in the sixteenth century. But when Neil finds the bones of a child buried with a 1930s coin, the investigation takes a sinister turn. Who were the children evacuated to Tailors Court during World War II? And where are they now? When a link is established between the wartime evacuees and Dr Dalcott's death, Wesley is faced with his most challenging case yet.

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'A beguiling author who interweaves past and present' The TimesThe decaying body of a woman is discovered in a suburban house in South Devon, following an anonymous tip off to the police. DI Wesley Peterson has problems establishing the woman's identity and, as he begins to investigate her death, another disturbing case arises. Two teenagers are found shot dead at the foot of a cliff.The teenage victims had taken part in an online game called Blood Hunt and it seems they may have been persuaded to play a sinister real-life game, which ended in their murder.When a skeleton is found near the place where the teenagers were last seen alive, Wesley must face a terrible truth . . . and a hunt to the death.Whether you've read the whole series, or are discovering Kate Ellis's DI Wesley Peterson novels for the first time, this is the perfect page-turner if you love reading Elly Griffiths and Ann Cleeves.PRAISE FOR KATE ELLIS:'I loved this novel . . . a powerful story of loss, malice and deception' Ann Cleeves'Haunting' Independent'Unputdownable' Bookseller'The chilling plot will keep you spooked and thrilled to the end' Closer'A gripping read' Best'A fine storyteller, weaving the past and present in a way that makes you want to read on' Peterborough Evening Telegraph

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When a woman is burned to death in Grandal Field in Devon, it seems like a case of mistaken identity. Until DI Wesley Peterson learns of a legend involving a French woman who burned to death there in the thirteenth century. And when he discovers that records of a previous excavation on the site have vanished, and that two archaeologists involved in that dig died in tragic circumstances, Wesley starts to investigate the possibility of a link between the legend and recent events.But edging closer to the truth brings unexpected danger to Wesley. For the truth echoes a story of twisted love and obsession from many centuries ago - a truth that almost costs Wesley his life . . .

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Boothgate House is a recently converted apartment building with a sinister past. Once an asylum for the insane, known as Havenby Hall, it was where serial killer Peter Brockmeister was sent on his release from prison. Detective Inspector Joe Plantagenet is drawn into the house's history when the daughter of a solicitor, who was investigating Havenby Hall's closure, is kidnapped. Joe wonders whether there may be a connection between the case and the building's disturbing past. But as secrets come to light, Joe is forced to face an evil that threatens those closest to him.

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Little Marcus Fallbrook was kidnapped in 1976 and when he never returned home, his grieving family assumed the worst. Then, thirty years later, teenage singing star Leah Wakefield disappears and DI Wesley Peterson has reason to suspect that the same kidnapper is responsible. And another abductor is at work in the area - a man who tricks blonde women into a bogus taxi and cuts off their hair. Has Leah fallen prey to the man the newspapers call 'The Barber' or has she suffered a more sinister fate? But then Marcus Fallbrook returns from the dead. And when DNA evidence confirms his identity, the investigation takes a new twist. Meanwhile, archaeologist, Neil Watson's gruesome task of exhuming the dead from a local churchyard yields a mystery of its own when a coffin is found to contain one corpse too many - a corpse that may be linked to a strange religious sect dating back to Regency times. Wesley has his hands full elsewhere - slowly, Marcus Fallbrook begins to recover memories that Wesley hopes will lead him to cunning and dangerous murderer. But he is about to discover that the past can be a very dangerous place indeed.

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The brutal massacre of the Harford family at Potwoolstan Hall in Devon in 1985 shocked the country and passed into local folklore. And when a journalist researching the case is murdered twenty years later, the horror is reawakened. Sixteenth century Potwoolstan Hall, now a New Age healing centre, is reputed to be cursed because of the crimes of its builder, and it seems that inheritance of evil lives on as DI Wesley Peterson is faced with his most disturbing case yet. As more people die violently, Wesley needs to discover why a young woman has transformed a dolls house into a miniature reconstruction of the massacre scene. And could the solution to his case lie across the Atlantic Ocean, in the ruined remains of an early English settlement in Virginia USA? When the truth is finally revealed, it turns out to be as horrifying as it is dangerous...

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A skeleton discovered. A murder to be solved . . . On a stormy night in December, a tree is blown down on an isolated Devon farm. When the fallen tree is dragged away, a rucksack is found caught amongst the roots - and next to it is a human skeleton.The discovery of the body and the rucksack revives memories for DI Wesley Peterson. A young hitchhiker who went missing twelve years ago was last seen carrying a similar backpack. Suddenly a half-forgotten cold case has turned into a murder investigation.Meanwhile, in the nearby village of Petherham, a man is found dead in suspicious circumstances whilst staying at a local guesthouse. Wesley's friend, archaeologist Neil Watson, is studying Petherham's ancient mill and uncovering the village's sinister history. Could the string of mysterious deaths in Petherham over a hundred years ago be connected to the recent killings? As Wesley digs deeper into the case, it seems that the dark whisperings of a Burial Circle in the village might not be merely legend after all . . .Whether you've read the whole series, or are discovering Kate Ellis's DI Wesley Peterson novels for the first time, this is the perfect, gripping mystery if you love reading Elly Griffiths and Ann Cleeves.PRAISE FOR KATE ELLIS:'A beguiling author who interweaves past and present' The Times'I loved this novel' Ann Cleeves'Haunting' Independent'Unputdownable' Bookseller'The chilling plot will keep you spooked and thrilled to the end' Closer'A fine storyteller, weaving the past and present in a way that makes you want to read on' Peterborough Evening Telegraph

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'A beguiling author who interweaves past and present' The TimesMost assumed that literary legend Wynn Staniland stopped writing because of his wife's tragic suicide. Yet writer Zac Wilkinson hopes to reveal the true story to the world in his upcoming biography of Staniland.When Zac is found brutally murdered, DI Wesley Peterson finds that Staniland is a link between Zac's death and an unexplained poisoning of a couple in a local caravan park. He suspects that the killings are a grim re-enactment of the murder of Mary Field, which inspired Staniland's best-known novel.As Wesley begins to unravel decades of deception, he discovers that someone close to him is involved - and the truth proves almost too much to bear . . .Whether you've read the whole series, or are discovering Kate Ellis's DI Wesley Peterson novels for the first time, this is the perfect page-turner if you love reading Elly Griffiths and Ann Cleeves.PRAISE FOR KATE ELLIS:'I loved this novel . . . a powerful story of loss, malice and deception' Ann Cleeves'Haunting' Independent'Unputdownable' Bookseller'The chilling plot will keep you spooked and thrilled to the end' Closer'A gripping read' Best'A fine storyteller, weaving the past and present in a way that makes you want to read on' Peterborough Evening Telegraph

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Never has DI Wesley Peterson witnessed such a bizarre crime scene. The victim, Charles Marrick, has been murdered, his body drained of blood. Described by those who knew him as 'evil', it seems that Wesley isn't going to have any shortage of suspects - until a popular local vet is murdered in an identical fashion...and a third body is discovered many miles away.And when Wesley's archaeologist friend, Neil Watson, starts getting disturbing anonymous letters written in gory detail about macabre events at a medieval abbey - which Neil fears are being sent by the killer Wesley is looking for - Wesley wonders whether there could be a connection between all these deaths and Neil's letters. And could Neil himself be in danger? As the sinister truth unfolds, both Wesley and Neil are forced to face tragedy and shocking revelations...and a killer who bears the scars of past sins.

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The Gothic novel emerged out of the romantic mist alongside a new conception of the home as a separate sphere for women. Looking at novels from Horace Walpole's Castle of Otranto to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Kate Ferguson Ellis investigates the relationship between these two phenomena of middle-class culture--the idealization of the home and the popularity of the Gothic--and explores how both male and female authors used the Gothic novel to challenge the false claim of home as a safe, protected place. Linking terror -- the most important ingredient of the Gothic novel -- to acts of transgression, Ellis shows how houses in Gothic fiction imprison those inside them, while those locked outside wander the earth plotting their return and their revenge.

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Some paths lead only to the grave . . . Strangefields Farm is notorious for its sinister history ever since artist Jackson Temples lured young women there to model for disturbing works of art. Some of those girls never left the house alive.Now, decades later, Strangefields is to be transformed into a holiday village, but the developer's hopes of its dark history being forgotten are dashed when a skull is found on the site. And when a local florist is found murdered in an echo of Temples' crimes, DI Wesley Peterson fears that a copy-cat killer is at large. Especially when another brutal murder in a nearby village appears to be linked.As Wesley's friend, archaeologist Dr Neil Watson, uncovers the secrets of Strangefields' grisly past, it seems that an ancient tale of the dead returning to torment the living might not be as fantastical as it seems. And Wesley must work fast to discover who's behind the recent murders . . . before someone close to him is put in danger.The latest gripping mystery in the DI Wesley Peterson crime series from Kate Ellis, the award-winning author of the 2019 CWA Dagger in the Library.What readers are saying about Kate Ellis:'A beguiling author who interweaves past and present' The Times'Kate Ellis has got to be one of my favourite authors' Reader review, 5 stars'I loved this novel . . . a powerful story of loss, malice and deception' Ann Cleeves'The chilling plot will keep you spooked and thrilled to the end' Closer'Another brilliant book that keeps you gripped' Reader review, 5 stars'Haunting' Independent'Kate has you spellbound' Reader review, 5 stars'A fine storyteller, weaving the past and present in a way that makes you want to read on' Peterborough Evening Telegraph'Unputdownable' Bookseller

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When a skeleton is discovered on a Devon smallholding, DS Wesley Peterson, a keen amateur archaeologist, is intrigued by the possibility that it is a Viking corpse, buried in keeping with ancient traditions. But he has a rather more urgent crime to solve- the disappearance of a Danish tourist. Wesley finds disturbing evidence that the attractive Dane has been abducted. His boss Gerry Heffernan believes that Ingeborg's disappearance is linked to a spate of brutal robberies and that she witnessed something she shouldn't have. But is her disappearance linked to far older events? For it seems that this may not have been Ingeborg's first visit to this far from quiet West Country backwater...Kate Ellis's wonderfully addictive series of West Country set crime novels feature Wesley Peterson, one of Devon's first black detectives.

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'A beguiling author who interweaves past and present' The TimesWhen DI Wesley Peterson is summoned to investigate a killing, he assumes that the case is a routine matter. But soon dark secrets start to emerge from the victim's past and Wesley realises that this cold-blooded murder is more complicated than he could have imagined.Archaeologist Neil Watson is meanwhile studying Sandrock, a ruined village from the First World War that tumbled into the sea. Neil cannot shake the feeling that something is missing from his explorations: a cryptic clue that might be able to help Wesley solve his case.As more victims fall prey to a killer, Wesley fears his precious family are becoming a target. Just like the fallen village of Sandrock, Wesley will have to stand tall if he is to withstand the coming storm.Whether you've read the whole series, or are discovering Kate Ellis's DI Wesley Peterson novels for the first time, this is the perfect page-turner if you love reading Elly Griffiths and Ann Cleeves.PRAISE FOR KATE ELLIS:'I loved this novel . . . a powerful story of loss, malice and deception' Ann Cleeves'Haunting' Independent'Unputdownable' Bookseller'The chilling plot will keep you spooked and thrilled to the end' Closer'A gripping read' Best'A fine storyteller, weaving the past and present in a way that makes you want to read on' Peterborough Evening Telegraph

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'A beguiling author who interweaves past and present' The Times__________________Serpent's Point in South Devon is the focus of local legends. The large house on the headland is shrouded in an ancient tale of evil, and when a woman is found strangled on the coastal path, DI Wesley Peterson is called to investigate.The woman had been house-sitting at Serpent's Point and Wesley is surprised to discover that she was conducting an investigation into unsolved missing person cases. Could these enquires have led to her murder?While the case takes Wesley to Yorkshire and the Cotswolds, archaeologist Neil Watson is making a dramatic discovery of his own in the fields near the house.When a skeleton is uncovered, the pressure rises to find a killer, and Wesley and Neil realise that Serpent's Point holds more secrets than anyone could have imagined.Whether you've read the whole series, or are discovering Kate Ellis's DI Wesley Peterson novels for the first time, this is the perfect page-turner if you love reading Ann Cleeves and Elly Griffiths.Praise for Kate Ellis . . .'Clever plotting hides a powerful story of loss, malice and deception' Ann Cleeves'Haunting' Independent'The chilling plot will keep you spooked and thrilled to the end' Closer'Unputdownable' Bookseller'A fine storyteller, weaving the past and present in a way that makes you want to read on' Peterborough Evening Telegraph*Don't miss the new mystery in the DI Wesley Peterson series, The Killing Place*

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When Carmel Hennessy begins a new job in North Yorkshire, she finds the historic city of Eborby gripped by fear. A killer is on the prowl - a killer who binds and asphyxiates his victims before leaving their naked bodies in isolated country churchyards. The press are calling him the Resurrection Man. Tragic events from the past link Carmel with new-kid-on-the-block DI Joe Plantagenet, who, with his new boss, DCI Emily Thwaite, faces the unenviable task of identifying the killer before he claims another victim. The victims appear to have nothing in common but the manner of their deaths, but as Joe's investigations lead him to a pub with a sinister history, he is forced to consider that the case may have occult connections. Then Carmel becomes aware of a malevolent presence in her new flat and, when she starts to receive mysterious threats, it is Joe she turns to first. And that is when Joe is forced to get into the mind of a cunning - and scarily ruthless - killer.

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'One of the finest murder mystery series out there'When archaeologist Neil Watson unearths a long-buried mechanical figure in a Dartmoor field, he is determined to discover the truth behind the bizarre find.Soon, however, the sleepy village becomes the focus of press attention for another reason when two people with no apparent connection to each other are found shot dead in nearby Manor Field, seemingly victims of an execution-style double murder.DI Wesley Peterson is called in to investigate, but the two murders aren't his only problem. The daughter of a local MP has gone missing and the pressure is on to find her, especially when it's revealed that she has a connection to one of the murder victims. And Wesley's own life is thrown into turmoil when a woman he helped on a previous investigation finds herself subjected to a campaign of terror . . .Is there a link between the double murder and the accidental death of a young history student in Manor Field twenty years ago? And just what is the true identity of the Mechanical Devil?

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When Carmel Hennessy begins a new job in North Yorkshire, she finds the historic city of Eborby gripped by fear. A killer is on the prowl - a killer who binds and asphyxiates his victims before leaving their bodies in isolated churchyards. The press are calling him the Resurrection Man.Tragic events from the past link Carmel with Detective Inspector Joe Plantagenet, who faces the task of finding the killer before more lives are lost. Joe's investigations lead him to a pub with a sinister history and he is forced to consider that the case may have occult connections.Then Carmel becomes aware of a malevolent presence in her new flat and starts receiving mysterious threats . . .Can Joe get into the mind of a ruthless killer, before Carmel becomes the next victim?Praise for Kate Ellis . . .'A beguiling author' The Times'Clever plotting hides a powerful story of loss, malice and deception' Ann Cleeves'Haunting' Independent'The chilling plot will keep you spooked and thrilled to the end' Closer'Unputdownable' Bookseller'A fine storyteller' Peterborough Evening Telegraph

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'A beguiling author who interweaves past and present' The TimesLilith Benley and her mother, rumoured to be witches, were convicted of the brutal murder of two teenage girls eighteen years ago. Shortly after Lilith is released from prison, a young woman is found dead at a farm close to Lilith's old home in South Devon, and DI Wesley Peterson is called in to investigate.As Wesley tries to establish whether Lilith Benley could have killed again, archaeologist Neil Watson discovers a gruesome wax doll at a house that once belonged to a woman hanged for witchcraft in the seventeenth century.Wesley must banish dark shadows of the past and supernatural suspicions in order to bring a dangerous killer to justice - a killer who will stop at nothing to dispense vengeance. Whether you've read the whole series, or are discovering Kate Ellis's DI Wesley Peterson novels for the first time, this is the perfect, gripping mystery if you love reading Elly Griffiths and Ann Cleeves.PRAISE FOR KATE ELLIS:'I loved this novel . . . a powerful story of loss, malice and deception' Ann Cleeves'Haunting' Independent'Unputdownable' Bookseller'The chilling plot will keep you spooked and thrilled to the end' Closer'A gripping read' Best'A fine storyteller, weaving the past and present in a way that makes you want to read on' Peterborough Evening Telegraph

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On a grey October morning, the strangled body of a teenager is found in the North Yorkshire city of Eborby, a mutilated doll lying by her side.Singmass Close, where the girl is found, has a famously sinister past. Reputedly haunted by the ghosts of children, it was the hunting ground of the Doll Strangler, a ruthless killer of the 1950s who was never brought to justice.With the recent disappearance of another young female and an escaped convict at large, this horrific murder stretches Detective Inspector Joe Plantagenet's team to the limit. Is a copycat killer on the loose, or could the Doll Strangler really be back?As the bodies start mounting up and Joe's questioning brings him closer to the real strangler, he comes to suspect a shockingly creepy connection between all three cases . . .Praise for Kate Ellis . . .'A beguiling author' The Times'Clever plotting hides a powerful story of loss, malice and deception' Ann Cleeves'Haunting' Independent'The chilling plot will keep you spooked and thrilled to the end' Closer'Unputdownable' Bookseller'A fine storyteller' Peterborough Evening Telegraph

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The unmissable new mystery in the bestselling DI Wesley Peterson crime series'A beguiling author who interweaves past and present' The Times__________________Serpent's Point in South Devon is the focus of local legends. The large house on the headland is shrouded in an ancient tale of evil, and when a woman is found strangled on the coastal path DI Wesley Peterson is called in to investigate.The woman had been house-sitting at Serpent's Point and Wesley is surprised to discover that she was conducting an investigation into unsolved missing persons cases. Could these enquires have led to her murder?While the case takes Wesley to Yorkshire and the Cotswolds, archaeologist Neil Watson is making a dramatic discovery of his own in the fields near the house.When a skeleton is uncovered, the pressure rises to find a killer, and Wesley and Neil realise that Serpent's Point holds more secrets than anyone could have imagined.Whether you've read the whole series, or are discovering Kate Ellis's DI Wesley Peterson novels for the first time, this is the perfect page-turner if you love reading Ann Cleeves and Elly Griffiths.Praise for Kate Ellis . . .'Clever plotting hides a powerful story of loss, malice and deception' Ann Cleeves'Haunting' Independent'The chilling plot will keep you spooked and thrilled to the end' Closer'Unputdownable' Bookseller'A fine storyteller, weaving the past and present in a way that makes you want to read on' Peterborough Evening Telegraph

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'A powerful story of loss, malice and deception' Ann CleevesWhen archaeologist Neil Watson finds the body of an American veteran of the D-Day landings in the ruins of an old chapel, he turns to his old friend DS Wesley Peterson for help.Both men are researching an invading force: Wesley, a group of American veterans on a sentimental journey to their wartime base; and Neil, a group of Spaniards killed by outraged locals as they limped from the wreckage of the Armada.Four hundred years apart, two strangers in a strange land have died violently. Could the same motives of hatred, jealousy and revenge be at work? Wesley is running out of time to find out . . .The second gripping installment in the DI Wesley Peterson series by awad-winning crime writer Kate Ellis. Whether you've read the whole series, or are discovering the Wesley Peterson novels for the first time, this is the perfect mystery if you love reading Elly Griffiths and Ann Cleeves.Why readers love Kate Ellis:'I hardly put this novel down from the moment I picked it up. Oh yes, and as with all great crime novels, I would never have guessed 'whodunnit'!' Reader review, 5 stars'A beguiling author who interweaves past and present' The Times'Kate Ellis and Wesley Peterson have done it again. Strong characters, strong plotting, no detail escapes Kate Ellis' Reader Review, 5 stars'Haunting' Independent'Enjoyed the first in the series but through this was even better!' Reader Review, 5 stars'The chilling plot will keep you spooked and thrilled to the end' Closer'Unputdownable' Bookseller'It's fast paced with twists and turns guaranteed to keep you hooked right until the final page' York Evening Press'A cracking multi-layered mystery with red-herrings a-plenty...an outstanding read. Highly recommended!' In Search of the Classic Mystery Novel

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When workmen converting former girls' boarding school, Chadleigh Hall, into a luxury hotel discover a skeleton in a sealed room, DI Wesley Peterson and his boss, Gerry Heffernan are called in to investigate. But within minutes they have a second suspicious death on their hands: a team of marine archaeologists working on a nearby shipwreck have dragged a woman's body from the sea. And it becomes clear that her death was no accident. The dead woman's husband may be linked with a brutal robbery of computer equipment but Wesley soon discovers that the victim had secrets of her own. As he investigates Chadleigh Hall's past and the woman's violent death, both trails lead in surprising directions and matters are further complicated when a man wanted for a murder in London appears on the scene, a man who may know more about Wesley's cases than he admits...

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1919. The Derbyshire village of Wenfield is still reeling from four terrible years of war, and now, just when the village is coming to terms with the loss of so many of its sons, the brutal murder of a young girl shatters its hard-won tranquillity.Myrtle Bligh is found stabbed and left in woodland, her mouth slit to accommodate a dead dove, a bird of peace. During the war Myrtle worked as a volunteer nurse with Flora Winsmore, the local doctor's daughter, caring for badly wounded soldiers at the nearby big house, Tarnhey Court.When two more women are found murdered in identical circumstances, Inspector Albert Lincoln is sent up from London, a man not only wounded in war but damaged in peace by the death of his young son and his cold, loveless marriage. Once in Wenfield, Albert begins to investigate the three recent murders and the Cartwright family of Tarnhey Court and their staff fall under suspicion as their hidden lives and secrets are uncovered. With rumours of a ghostly soldier with a painted face being spotted near the scene of the murders, the village is thrown into a state of panic - and with the killer still on the loose, who will be the next to die at the hands of this vicious angel of death?

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Secrets never stay buried for long . . . When archaeologist Neil Watson unearths a long-buried mechanical figure in a Dartmoor field, he is determined to discover the truth behind the bizarre find.Soon, however, the sleepy village becomes the focus of press attention for another reason when two people with no apparent connection to each other are found shot dead in nearby Manor Field, seemingly victims of an execution-style double murder.DI Wesley Peterson is called in to investigate, but the two murders aren't his only problem. The daughter of a local MP has gone missing and the pressure is on to find her, especially when it's revealed that she has a connection to one of the murder victims. And Wesley's own life is thrown into turmoil when a woman he helped on a previous investigation finds herself subjected to a campaign of terror . . .Is there a link between the double murder and the accidental death of a young history student in Manor Field twenty years ago? And just what is the true identity of the Mechanical Devil?The compelling twenty-second mystery in the bestselling Wesley Peterson series, by acclaimed crime writer Kate Ellis: 'A beguiling author who interweaves past and present' The TimesWhat readers are saying about The Mechanical Devil:'An excellent read with lots of interesting twists and turns and a historic mystery woven through it' Amazon reviewer, 5 stars'Another superb story from Kate Ellis . . . One of my favourite writers' Amazon reviewer, 5 stars'This series is my all time favourite - superb . . . Intelligent and exciting stories' Amazon reviewer, 5 stars'Kate Ellis never disappoints' Amazon reviewer, 5 stars'Brilliant book, thoroughly enjoyed it' Amazon reviewer, 5 stars'I really enjoy the Wesley Peterson books . . . they keep you guessing right to the end . . . a fantastic series' Amazon reviewer, 5 stars'One of my favourites . . . Incredibly skilled plotting . . . fans of Elly Griffiths and traditional murder mysteries will love this one' Amazon reviewer, 5 stars'Fascinating historical plot line and twists and turns all the way through' Amazon reviewer, 5 stars'Very entertaining . . . Another great book from my favourite author' Amazon reviewer, 5 stars

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A grisly find . . .A year on from the mysterious disappearance of Jenny Bercival, DI Wesley Peterson is called in when the body of a strangled woman is found floating out to sea in a dinghy.The discovery mars the festivities of the Palkin Festival, held each year to celebrate the life of John Palkin, a fourteenth century Mayor of Tradmouth who made his fortune from trade and piracy. And now it seems like death and mystery have returned to haunt the town. A faceless enemy . . .Could there be a link between the two women? One missing, one brutally murdered? And is there a connection to a fantasy website called Shipworld which features Palkin as a supernatural hero with a sinister, faceless nemesis called the Shroud Maker?Will history repeat itself once again?When archaeologist Neil Watson makes a grim discovery on the site of Palkin''s warehouse, it looks as if history might have inspired the killer.And it is only by

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The gripping twenty-fifth mystery in the DI Wesley Peterson crime series set in Devon, by award-winning crime writer Kate Ellis.

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When the body of Pauline Brent is found hanging from a yew tree in a local graveyard, DS Wesley Peterson immediately suspects foul play. Then history provides him with a clue. Wesley''s archaeologist friend, Neil Watson, has excavated a corpse at his nearby dig - a young woman who, local legend has it, had been publicly hanged from the very same tree before being buried on unhallowed ground five centuries ago. Wesley is now forced to consider the possibility that the killer knows the tree''s dark history. Has Pauline also been ''executed'' rather than murdered, and, if so, for what crime? To catch a dangerous killer Wesley has to discover as much as he can about the victim. But Pauline appears to have been a woman with few friends, no relatives and a past she has carefully tried to hide . . .

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The gripping new mystery in the DI Wesley Peterson series from Kate Ellis, the award-winning author of the 2019 CWA Dagger in the Library.Some paths lead only to the grave . . .Strangefields Farm is notorious for its sinister history ever since artist Jackson Temples lured young women there to model for disturbing works of art. Some of those girls never left the house alive.Now, decades later, Strangefields is to be transformed into a holiday village, but the developer''s hopes of its dark history being forgotten are dashed when a skull is found on the site. And when a local florist is found murdered in an echo of Temples'' crimes, DI Wesley Peterson fears that a copy-cat killer is at large. Especially when another brutal murder in a nearby village appears to be linked.As Wesley''s friend, archaeologist Dr Neil Watson, uncovers the secrets of Strangefields'' grisly past, it seems that an ancient tale of the dead returning to torme

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When a teenage girl is strangled and left for dead on a lonely country lane, by an attacker she describes has having the head of a dog, the police are baffled. But when the body of another young woman is found mutilated and wrapped in a white linen sheet, DI Wesley Peterson suspects that the killer is performing an ancient ritual linked to Anubis, the jackal-headed Egyptian god of death and mummification. Meanwhile, archaeologist Neil Watson has been called to Varley Castle to catalogue the collection of Edwardian amateur Egyptologist, Sir Frederick Varley. However, as his research progresses, Neil discovers that Wesley's strange murder case bears sinister similarities to four murders that took place near Varley Castle in 1903 - murders said to have been committed by Sir Frederick's son. As the Jackal Man's identity remains a frustrating enigma, it seems that the killer has yet another victim in mind. A victim close to Wesley Peterson himself ...

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Never has DI Wesley Peterson witnessed such a bizarre crime scene. The victim, Charles Marrick, has been murdered, his body drained of blood. Described by those who knew him as 'evil', it seems that Wesley isn't going to have any shortage of suspects - until a popular local vet is murdered in an identical fashion...and a third body is discovered many miles away.And when Wesley's archaeologist friend, Neil Watson, starts getting disturbing anonymous letters written in gory detail about macabre events at a medieval abbey - which Neil fears are being sent by the killer Wesley is looking for - Wesley wonders whether there could be a connection between all these deaths and Neil's letters. And could Neil himself be in danger? As the sinister truth unfolds, both Wesley and Neil are forced to face tragedy and shocking revelations...and a killer who bears the scars of past sins.

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Taking a short cut home beneath the ruined abbey in the Yorkshire city of Eborby, a teenage girl reports stumbling across a body. But with the body nowhere to be found, her inebriated state and troubled history leaves the police sceptical of her story. Only Detective Joe Plantagenet is inclined to believe her. Meanwhile, Joe finds himself caught in the midst of an investigation into a production of The Devils at the local Playhouse when a young girl is reported missing. Could the play, with its shocking religious and sexual violence, have something to do with her disappearance? And could it explain the mysterious sighting of the body beneath the abbey?

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'A beguiling author who interweaves past and present' The Times__________________On a summer evening, Robert and Greta Gerdner are shot dead at their home in the Devon countryside.DI Wesley Peterson suspects the execution-style murders might be linked to Robert's past police career - until Robert's name is found on a list of people who've been sent tickets anonymously for a tour of Darkhole Grange, a former asylum on Dartmoor.Wesley discovers that other names on the list have also died in mysterious circumstances and, as he is drawn into the chilling history of the asylum, he becomes convinced that it holds the key to the case.When his friend, archaeologist Neil Watson, finds the skeleton of a woman buried in a sealed chamber dating back to the fifteenth century at his nearby dig, Wesley wonders whether there might be a connection between the ancient cell and the tragic events at Darkhole Grange.With the clock ticking, Wesley must solve the puzzle, before the next person on the list meets a terrible end . . .Whether you've read the whole series, or are discovering Kate Ellis's DI Wesley Peterson novels for the first time, this is the perfect page-turner if you love reading Ann Cleeves and Elly Griffiths.Praise for Kate Ellis . . .'Clever plotting hides a powerful story of loss, malice and deception' Ann Cleeves'Haunting' Independent'The chilling plot will keep you spooked and thrilled to the end' Closer'Unputdownable' Bookseller'A fine storyteller, weaving the past and present in a way that makes you want to read on' Peterborough Evening Telegraph

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'A beguiling author who interweaves past and present' The TimesWhen a woman is burned to death in Grandal Field in Devon, it looks like it could be a case of mistaken identity. Until DI Wesley Peterson learns of a legend involving a woman who died in similar circumstances in the thirteenth century. It seems clear that there is a link between the mysterious legend and the recent murder when Wesley discovers that records of a previous site excavation have vanished, and two archaeologists involved in the dig died tragically. The case echoes a story of twisted love and obsession from many centuries ago, and Wesley realises that edging closer to the truth brings unexpected danger . . .Whether you've read the whole series, or are discovering Kate Ellis's DI Wesley Peterson novels for the first time, this is the perfect page-turner if you love reading Elly Griffiths and Ann Cleeves.PRAISE FOR KATE ELLIS:'I loved this novel . . . a powerful story of loss, malice and deception' Ann Cleeves'Haunting' Independent'Unputdownable' Bookseller'The chilling plot will keep you spooked and thrilled to the end' Closer'A gripping read' Best'A fine storyteller, weaving the past and present in a way that makes you want to read on' Peterborough Evening Telegraph

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When Kirsten Harbourn is found strangled and naked on her wedding day, DI Wesley Peterson makes some alarming discoveries. Kirsten was being pursued by an obsessed stalker and she had dark secrets her doting fianc, Peter, knew nothing about. But Kirsten's wasn't the only wedding planned to take place that July day in South Devon. At Morbay register office a terrified young girl makes her wedding vows. And a few days later her bridegroom is found dead in a seedy seaside hotel. As Wesley investigates he suspects that his death and his bride's subsequent disappearance might be linked to Kirsten's murder. Meanwhile the skeleton of a young female is found buried in a farmer's field - a field that once belonged to the family of Ralph Strong, an Elizabethan playwright whose play, 'The Fair Wife of Padua' is to be performed for the first time in four hundred years. Is this bloodthirsty play a confession to a murder committed in the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1? Or does it tell another story, one that might cast light on recent mysteries?

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When a letter arrives at Tradmouth police station, addressed to a DCI Norbert it causes quite a stir. For though DCI Norbert has long since moved on, the letter claims to have evidence that the man convicted of murdering the Rev. Shipbourne, Vicar of Belsham, during the course of a robbery in 1991, is innocent. Despite having a full case load, including investigating a series of vicious attacks on a local supermarket chain, DI Wesley Peterson is forced to at least follow up on the letter writer's claims. Meanwhile archaelologist Neil Watson is excavating as site in Pest Field near Belsham church. He discovers a mass grave that leads him to conclude that the site - earmarked for development - is one of an ancient medieval plague pit. But, more disturbing, is the discovery that the grave is home to a more recent resident...

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'A beguiling author who interweaves past and present' The Times'A powerful story of loss, malice and deception' Ann Cleeves1921. When a Member of Parliament goes missing in a small Derbyshire village, Scotland Yard detective Albert Lincoln is sent up North to investigate. This isn't Albert's first visit to Wenfield. He once solved a traumatic case there at great personal cost and now, two years later, it seems that darkness still lurks in the village. The naked body of a man has been discovered, mutilated beyond recognition, by an ancient stone circle called the Devil's Dancers.The local police assume the body is that of the missing politician, but when that identification proves false and more strange deaths occur, Albert realises his case is far more complex than a simple disappearance. But, as he reawakens ghosts from the past, will he be able to solve the mystery surrounding Wenfield once and for all? The third and final historical thriller in the Albert Lincoln series by award-winning crime writer Kate Ellis. An atmospheric, spellbinding mystery set in the aftermath of the Great War. Praise for Kate Ellis:'Haunting' Independent'Fascinating, with a characteristically clever twist' Martin Edwards'The chilling plot will keep you spooked and thrilled to the end' Closer'A splendidly macabre thriller' Andrew Taylor'Extraordinarily powerful' Peter Lovesey'This could be an instant classic' L. C. Tyler

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'Haunting' Independent'A powerful story of loss, malice and deception' Ann Cleeves'A splendidly macabre thriller' Andrew Taylor1920. Scotland Yard detective DI Albert Lincoln is still reeling from the disturbing events of the previous year when he's called away from London to a new case in the North West of England. Before the War he led the unsuccessful investigation into the murder of little Jimmy Rudyard in the village of Mabley Ridge. Now a woman has been murdered there and another child is missing, the sole witness being a traumatised boy who lives in a cemetery lodge. Albert is determined that this time him he will find the truth . . . and the missing child.When Albert delves into the lives of the village residents he uncovers shocking secrets and obsessions. Then, as more bodies are discovered, he realises that his young witness from the cemetery lodge is in grave danger, from somebody he calls 'the Shadow Man'.As Albert discovers more about the victims he finds information that might bring him a step closer not only to Jimmy's killer but to solving a mystery of his own: the whereabouts of his lost son.The second historical thriller in the Albert Lincoln series by award-winning crime writer Kate Ellis. An atmospheric, spellbinding mystery set in the aftermath of the Great War.What readers are saying about The Boy Who Lived with the Dead:'Outstanding' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'A fantastic read which kept me guessing right until the last few pages' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'Superb!' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'Compulsive reading . . . very cleverly constructed with plenty of twists' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'Hard to put the book down' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'[Kate Ellis] must be a genius' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'Excellent' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

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'A beguiling author who interweaves past and present' The Times'A powerful story of loss, malice and deception' Ann Cleeves1921. When a Member of Parliament goes missing in a small Derbyshire village, Scotland Yard detective Albert Lincoln is sent up North to investigate. This isn't Albert's first visit to Wenfield. He once solved a traumatic case there at great personal cost and now, two years later, it seems that darkness still lurks in the village. The naked body of a man has been discovered, mutilated beyond recognition, by an ancient stone circle called the Devil's Dancers.The local police assume the body is that of the missing politician, but when that identification proves false and more strange deaths occur, Albert realises his case is far more complex than a simple disappearance. But, as he reawakens ghosts from the past, will he be able to solve the mystery surrounding Wenfield once and for all? The third and final historical thriller in the Albert Lincoln series by award-winning crime writer Kate Ellis. An atmospheric, spellbinding mystery set in the aftermath of the Great War. Praise for Kate Ellis:'Haunting' Independent'Fascinating, with a characteristically clever twist' Martin Edwards'The chilling plot will keep you spooked and thrilled to the end' Closer'A splendidly macabre thriller' Andrew Taylor'Extraordinarily powerful' Peter Lovesey'This could be an instant classic' L. C. Tyler

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A child haunted by the past. A village troubled by secrets.''A powerful story of loss, malice and deception'' Ann CleevesThe second historical thriller in the Albert Lincoln series by bestselling crime writer Kate Ellis. 1920. Scotland Yard detective DI Albert Lincoln is still reeling from the disturbing events of the previous year when he''s called away from London to a new case in the North West of England. Before the War he led the unsuccessful investigation into the murder of little Jimmy Rudyard in the village of Mabley Ridge. Now a woman has been murdered there and another child is missing, the sole witness being a traumatised boy who lives in a cemetery lodge. Albert is determined that this time him he will find the truth . . . and the missing child.When Albert delves into the lives of the village residents he uncovers shocking secrets and obsessions. Then, as more bodies are discovered, he realises that his young witne

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An excavation at the lost gardens of Earlsacre Hall is called to a halt when a skeleton is discovered under a 300 year old stone plinth, a corpse that seems to have been buried alive. But DS Wesley Peterson has little time to indulge in his hobby of archaeology. He has a more recent murder case to solve. A man has been found stabbed to death in a caravan at a popular holiday park and the only clue to his identity is a newspaper cutting about the restoration of Earlsacre. Does local solicitor Brian Willerby have the answer? He seems eager to talk to Wesley but before he can reveal his secret he is found dead during a 'friendly' game of village cricket, apparently struck by a cricket ball several times with some force. If Wesley is looking for a demon bowler this appears to let out most of the village side. But what is it about Earlsacre Hall that leads people to murder?

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Thirteen Torland Place was the scene of five terrible murders in the nineteenth century, and also related to the disappearances of two teenage girls. When a student living in the house is found to be brutally murdered, Detective Inspector Joe Plantagenet is left wondering whether her death has anything to do with the house's grim history. As other similar deaths come to light, Joe fears a ruthless killer may be on the prowl - a killer who deprives each victim of one of their five senses. Each of the tragic events seem to have a connection to Obediah Shrowton, an executed murderer whose presence still seems to linger in the house. Could he be the source of evil, or is there an even more sinister explanation yet to be unearthed?

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Teenager Lewis Hoxworthy discovers a disturbing painting in a medieval barn; a fine which excites archaeologist Neil Watson. But when former rock star Jonny Shellmer is found shot through the head in Lewis's father's field and Lewis himself goes missing, it is Neil's friend, Detective Inspector Wesley Peterson, and his boss, Gerry Heffernan, who face one of their most intriguing cases yet.It seems that the Devon village of Derenham is full of secrets, ancient and modern. As Neil uncovers the story of Derenham's medieval past, it becomes clear that the Doom - a 500-year-old painting of hell and judgement - holds the key to the mystery. And as events reach a terrifying climax, Wesley Peterson has to act swiftly if he is to save a young life . . .

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'A beguiling author who interweaves past and present' The TimesWhen Darren Hatman first reports his daughter missing, DI Wesley Peterson isn't too concerned. Leanne Hatman is an aspiring model, keen to leave Devon for the bright lights of London.But Wesley realises something very sinister is going on when Darren is found murdered in the grounds of Eyecliffe Castle, the hotel where Leanne works. Could Leanne have met a similar fate to her father? But, if so, where is her body?Wesley begins to suspect a connection between recent events and the disappearance of two girls in the 1950s, at a mysterious ruin called the House of Eyes.As he tries to solve the puzzle, Wesley must face alarming revelations rooted in centuries of evil - as well as deal with a nightmare of his own . . .Whether you've read the whole series, or are discovering Kate Ellis's DI Wesley Peterson novels for the first time, this is the perfect page-turner if you love reading Elly Griffiths and Ann Cleeves.PRAISE FOR KATE ELLIS:'I loved this novel . . . a powerful story of loss, malice and deception' Ann Cleeves'Haunting' Independent'Unputdownable' Bookseller'The chilling plot will keep you spooked and thrilled to the end' Closer'A gripping read' Best'A fine storyteller, weaving the past and present in a way that makes you want to read on' Peterborough Evening Telegraph

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