Gain The Plague Maiden (Wesley Peterson, #8) Assembled By Kate Ellis Shown As Softcover

entertaining. I found the various crimes in this novel slightly less compelling than usual they all seemed a bit distant somehow, Also, when a man is at home with his children, that's called parenting, not babysitting, Excellent yet again

I love the interlocking stories of the archaeological digs and the crimes even if they do seem a little coincidental at times.
Looking forward to the next one Possibly the best in the series so far and a very well written book with great plot, As usual we have initially the diary of a vicar murdered some twelve years ago appearing in stage, The plot in the present revolves around the man convicted of killing him who now has an apparent new witness to prove he is in fact innocent.


I thought this was particularly good as the numerous strands of tales in the past of twelve years ago and a story from the fourteenth century when Plague hit the village and the search for the truth as to the death of the vicar all are explained in a convincing manner.
Thrilling and scary As always, Kate Ellis has written another great book in the DI Wesley Peterson series with the perfect blend of modern and historical moments mixed together to bring together a tale of murder and crime for Wesley to solve with his colleagues at the station.

Like her other books, I enjoyed the flow of the text which was easy to follow along with, I enjoyed the way that she takes a moment from history and has it connected to their present case in some sort of way, whether it be a large connection or small.

Even with reading the series out of order and missing some things, its still easy to pick all the information up without feeling too lost over something happening in a bother book yet to be read.
This eighth in the Wesley Peterson series is again, another complex web of deceit and coverups over the years by residents of Tradmouth a town based on Dartmouth where Peterson lives and works as a Detective Inspector.
We know from the last book that his wife is expecting their second child, and we know from the preceding books that the archaeologist Neil will play his role as former schoolmate of Wesley's and his wife, as well as showing up to work on a local dig.
In this instance there is political pressure to proceed with the dig to allow for the building of a grocery store on the site, The grocery chain is targeted with threats of tainted goods that will kill patrons and put the store out of business, In fact, the blackmailer does succeed in placing a jar of jam laced with botulism on the shelf and then into a home where it does its deadly job killing an older battered woman.

The digging site turns out to be a plague burial site, Wesley has many challenges in this long tale of multiple deaths, illness of his young son, putting up with Neil lodging in his home after being injured from attack by a treasure hunter and many other social problems uncovered during investigations.


From author's notes: "I was surprised to discover in the course of my research that in thes ands Devon had indeed been sprayed with massive quantities of E.
coliand Bacillus globigii as part of secret germ ware fare tests, "
"In Junesailors from plagueridden Gascony in France disembarked at the port of Melcombe in Dorset, only thirty miles away from the Devon border, As well as their cargo they brought with them the plague bacillus, . . spread by rat fleas, and within eighteen months almost half the population of Britain would be dead, "

Loan from Friend Thank You! This was my Mystery amp Suspense group's March group read on LibraryThing, It's always fun with friends that have different opinions, but all agree

that reading is loads of FUN!!! In all the books in this series a modern mystery is always investigated by DCI Wesley Peterson and the local police, while his friend Neil, sorts through a historic mystery that is tied to his local archeological work.
Much of this book deals with a cold case for Wesley, The cold case was not unsolved, but new evidence comes to light when a witness provides a convincing alibi that may exonerated the man who had been imprisoned for the murder.
One of the main strengths of this series is that there are almost always multiple ongoing investigations, This one has someone who is poisoning food on the shelves of the local supermarket, The multiple investigations hold your interest and keep Wesley and crew busy, and the pacing is quick enough to keep you turning the pages, The premise of intertwining the historic mystery with the presentday mystery may be a gimmick, but hey, it works! This series is one that can be read out of order, but you see the growth of all the characters much better if you read them in order.
My only negative comment is that someone needs to tell Rachel that her unprofessional romantic dithering is unprofessional and becoming tiring,
First Sentence: The intruder stood quite still and listened,

In, a man was convicted of murdering the Reverend Shipbourne during the course of a robbery, Now, many years later, a letter appears at the police station addressed to the former Chief Inspector claiming there is evidence the man was innocent, The police already have one case on their hands of someone placing tampered, poisoned food on the shelves of the local supermarket, and another case where a quite recent body is found during the archaeological dig of a plague pit.


The story does open with a prologuesuspenseful, thrilling, and compelling without giving anything away or having been lifted from the middle of the story, Instead, it sets the stage and carries us willingly forward into the first chapter, At the same time, contrary as this seems, the book also could have done without it as the opening chapter also performs the same function,

Although the book is designated as a “Wesley Peterson murder mystery,” this really is an ensemble cast, Whats nice is that they are individuals, each with their own strengths, weaknesses, personal issues, and habits, In other words, they are very human, How can one not like a pathologist who insists on a cuppa and biscuit before discussing autopsy findings

Ellis does have a very good ear for dialogue, adding just the right touch of wryness”Perhaps we should have a word with exDCI Norbert, then.
” “Thatd be difficult unless youre thinking of holding a séance”

There are three threads, from three periods of time but all woven together in the present.
The historical and archaeological information is fascinating, including the chapteropening diary excerpts, The plot twists are very well done and the conclusion effective, Ellis has a remarkable ability to establish a feeling of empathy in the reader, even toward those who killed, She doesnt ask us to excuse their crimes, but to understand them, Yet she then turns that emotion around with an act of complete heartlessness that is like a punch to the gut,

“The Plaque Maiden” is a very good, well plotted mystery of secrets, lies, human weaknesses and regrets,

THE PLAGUE MAIDEN Pol Proc/ArcheoDI Wesley PetersonEnglandContemp VG
Ellis, Kateth in series
Piatkus,
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, 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 Words: history, crime, murder, police, family,

I'm not sure if I like how Wesley is changing, but I guess it has to be that way,

This one kept me guessing longer than the last few have!

Although I didn't find this book as gripping and interesting as previous books in the series, and I don't like the way the characters seem to be changing not for the best! I found that I couldn't guess whodunnit.
Every other book in the series I've managed it, but this one Nope,

I liked the blend of history and modern crime, but I think it was because the "source" in the book was a recent diary it just didn't have the same feel.


I didn't enjoy it as much as I enjoyed the other books, but I still ordered the next one as soon as I'd finished it.
There's definitely something about this series that s seriously addictive, Theth Wesley Peterson book and it did not disappoint, cleverly written so that the current crime mirrors a crime committed's of years ago, in this case the plague,

Archaeologist Neil Watson excavates a number of skeletons in a field, which turns out to be a plague pit, However one of the skeletons is not so old and a murder investigation begins,

The manager at a branch of "Huntings Supermarkets" receives a threatening letter and people begin to suffer food poisoning symptoms,

A woman turns up at the station, claiming that a man that was put away for the murder of a vicar back in the's was never guilty of the crime, but are all these crimes linked

Wesley, Gerry and co have a lot of investigating to do, but they always to it so well.
Oh and there is still that spark between Wesley and Rachel!

There are some very interesting true facts in the back of the book, including germ warfare, sprayed onto West Country fields in the's and's by DEFRA!

This author never ceases to amaze me with her brilliant writing.
Whilst this was not my favourite book in the series, it was still enjoyable to read,
Another excellent book in the Wesley Peterson series, This one revolves around an excavation of ath century plague pit in the usual venueDevon, Neil Watson, the recurring archaeologist character, is trying to discover the secret behind the pit while Wesley Peterson, the recurring DI character, has two murders to solvewho killed the young woman whose body is buried in the pit along with theth century bones and is it related to the murder of a vicaryears previously.
The extra problem is that a man has been incarcerated for the pastyears for that murder, Rightly or wrongly

I didnt guess the murderer, there were several lastminute twists that flummoxed me, In a less skillful writer, that could have annoyed me but I like how Ellis handles those twists, The only part of the series that bothers me is Detective Sergeant Rachel Traceys continuing unrequited crush on the married Wesley, If I read one more time about the “shy smiles” she directs at him or the pain she feels when Wesleys wife is mentioned,
I really love the connection of the archeological mystery and the modern day one in this series, 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, 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,
This is a blend of archaeological history and crime, It switches between the past and the present, It takes place in plagueridden Devon in a spot where a lot of bodies were buried, Bodies from the past but one more body of a more recent death, It has a great cast of characters and a plot that has a twist at the end, Can't wait to read another book by Kate Ellis, .