Series Update

Where are we up to in the series?

Overall Averages Thus Far
The Merchant’s House : 4.50
The Armada Boy: 3.50
An Unhallowed Grave -

The Merchant’s House by Kate Ellis
DS Wesley Peterson series Book #1

We meet Detective Sergeant Wesley Peterson, who has just been transferred from London to Tradmouth, an ancient coastal town.

He is married… has a degree in archaeology…and is black.

His boss is D.I. Gerry Heffernan, an affable widower.

Wesley and his teacher wife Pam have arrived at a stressful time in the village. Two-year-old Jonathon Berrisford has been missing for days and, almost as the Petersons arrive, the murdered body of a young woman is discovered by Dorothy Truscot on her daily walk to Little Tradmouth Head.

A more cheerful event is Wesley’s meeting with old friend and classmate Neil Watson, working for the County’s Archaeological Unit on a nearby dig.

He and his team have already unearthed two skeletons…one infant…one adult, from what was once the cellar of a 17th-century house.

Meanwhile, Wesley and D.C. Rachel Tracey, searching for the identity of the murder victim, have settled on local model Karen Giordino…until she turns up very much alive after a trip abroad.

There’s more success when the name of Shirley Carteret surfaces and proves to be the one they’re seeking.
Why had she deserted her apartment in the house of elegant Mrs. Hughs? Where is the steady boyfriend who wears an earring? Who was paying into Shirley’s bank account every month, and what was her connection with Mowbray Clinic and its Dr. Downing?

A flood of questions with intriguing answers…all made more meaningful by excerpts from a 17th-century journal heading every chapter.

There were 6 participants in the discussion
Overall Average: 4.50

Comments

Pros:

“Easy to read; some likable central characters; an interesting plot

“Very smooth story structure. Wesley is a great character and I liked the way the police team worked together. I really enjoyed this one. The archaeology was an interesting side story also.”

“I liked everything about the book. Easy read, good characters, interesting plot. I liked the archaeology aspect too.”

Cons::

Only one small con and it would be a spoiler.if posted.

The Armada Boy by Kate Ellis
DS Wesley Peterson series Book #2

Norman Openheim is an American veteran of the D Day Landings on a sentimental journey with his old unit to their West Country base.

His body is the last one archaeologist Neil Watson expects to find in the ruins of an old chantry chapel.

Neil naturally turns to his old friend from student days, Detective Sergeant Wesley Peterson, for help.

Ironically, both men are looking at an invading force - Wes, the WWII Yanks, and Neil, a group of shipwrecked Spaniards reputed to have met a sticky end at the hands of outraged locals as they limped from the wreckage of the great Armada.

Local memories are retentive, and Wes is soon caught up in old accusations, resentments, and romances from fifty years before.

But the coolness of Openheim's wife Dorinda, and her reliance on a fellow veteran in the party, offers an all-too-familiar motive for murder.

As if that is not enough, a belligerent group of homeless youths are also under suspicion: then another veteran's wife disappears.

Wes's case grows more perplexing, while Neil uncovers a tragic story from the distant past.

Over 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?

Wes is running out of time to find out.

There were 5 participants in the discussion
Over All Average : 3.50

Comments :

PROS :
"Interesting history about the Spanish Armada and D-Day Landing."

"The history is always the best of these books...or has been with these two."
"The setting was very atmospheric and the history interesting.

"I think I bought into the book, and enjoyed it more than some who read it because I knew the Slapton Sands area where the book was fictionally set. This brought it more to life. I enjoyed this aspect and the history. I also enjoyed trying to work things out, even if there were to many red herrings. I certainly enjoy the style of the books and some of the characters."

“"I thought the historical bits were interesting and would like to check out more info on the actions of the Allies during that period at Slapton Sands."

CONS :
"Less characters to have to remember."

"There were too many characters and we didn't have much of the information until the very end of the book and ten some of it seemed unnecessary. Also Wesley was almost absent."

"There were too many characters for sure. There was no way a reader could have picked out the killer from the narrative."

"I wanted more of Wesley and his wife in the book, and possibly focus on one aspect of history rather than two."

“There were too many things off about the characters.”

Thanks Carol. 🙌😊

Thanks >2 Carol420:

Thanks! >2 Carol420:

Thank You, Carol, :D