This is the twelfth West Country crime novel featuring the black detective Wesley Peterson. Personally I cannot understand why he, or indeed the author, are not household names. They all have an historical sub-plot, are intriguing, full of twists, and just what good crime writing should be. She probably needs a TV series to make her better known but in the absence of that, please spread the word – I think she’s great.

Comparison: Colin Dexter, Ian Rankin, R D Wingfield.

Synopsis

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.

Reviews

‘detective fiction with a historical twist – fans … will love it’ Scotland on Sunday

‘Kate Ellis gets my personal vote as Most Promising New Crime Writer’ Sherlock Holmes Magazine

About the Author

Kate Ellis was born and brought up in Liverpool and studied drama in Manchester. She has worked in teaching, marketing and accountancy and first enjoyed literary success as a winner of the North West Playwrights competition. Keenly interested in medieval history and ‘armchair’ archaeology, Kate lives in north Cheshire with her engineer husband, Roger, and their two sons. A Cursed Inheritance is her ninth Wesley Peterson novel. The Merchant’s House, The Armada Boy, An Unhallowed Grave, The Funeral Boat, The Bone Garden, A Painted Doom, The Plague Maiden and The Skeleton Room are also published by Piatkus.  More books by this author Author 'Like for Like' recommendation