I found the historical element in this instalment even less interesting than normal. The present day crime related to the murder of two girls 18 years ago and the two additional time frames made for confusing reading sometimes. The release of the murderer from 18 years ago led on pretty swiftly to the assumption that she might not have been guilty after all, in a way that didn't seem warranted. The resolution was fairly well clued, but the very ending felt unnecessary. ( )

Not one denouement, not two... but THREE!!!

This is probably the best book of the series to date. With help from the quasi historical documents, and a scattering of clues, I got the first solution to this mystery. The thing that I couldn't puzzle was that there were thirty, or so, pages left. The second conclusion was even sweeter, tying up most of the loose ends but, the third was a master stroke.

I daren't say more, for fear of spoiling a book, the ending of which, I can't wait to forget so that I may have the pleasure of reading it again. ( )

Eighteen years ago Lilith Benley and her mother were convicted of the murder of two teenage girls. Now Lilith has returned home after being released and the murders are starting again.

I lost track of who was who in places, possibly because I was trying to read it too fast in order to return the book before I left. ( )

From Amazon Book Description:

Lilith Benley and her mother, rumored to be witches, were convicted of the brutal murder of two teenage girls. Lilith is released from prison 18 years later, and shortly after she returns to her old home, a young woman is found dead at a neighboring farm where a celebrity reality TV show is being filmed. When DI Wesley Peterson is called in to investigate he has to deal with fragile egos and hidden truths, as well as the possibility that Lilith Benley has killed again. Meanwhile, archeologist Neil Watson discovers a gruesome wax doll at a house that once belonged to a woman hanged for witchcraft in the 17th century. And when Neil has a near fatal accident, some suspect a supernatural connection. Even though Wesley has problems closer to home to solve, it is up to him to uncover terrible secrets, banish dark shadows collected in the past, and bring a dangerous killer to justice—a killer who will stop at nothing to dispense vengeance and death.

My Thoughts:

I've read almost all the novels in this series and I can see how the author has matured since the series' inception. Her characters are deeper now than in the beginning, although the story line has become grimmer, and the bitter ending demonstrates that despite all the efforts of good men, and Wesley is unquestionably one of them, evil often prevails. There are actually two mysteries in this book...one in the present and one 400 years in the past. Kate Ellis brings them together beautifully. ( )

I've been happily reading this series, book by book, since the very first one, The Merchant's House. Kate Ellis's Wesley Peterson mystery series is such a wonderful blend of character, setting, history, and crime that I wouldn't dream of missing a single volume. By this, the seventeenth book, Wesley's team at the Tradmouth (Dartmouth) police station is a well-oiled machine. They know each other extremely well-- each other's strengths and weaknesses, senses of humor, facial expressions, the works. You might think that this is a drawback to reading a long-running series, but it's not. It's like coming home, or putting your feet into a favorite pair of slippers. It's always a pleasure to see this group get down to work to solve the latest crime-- and since they're always having things happen to them in their personal lives, the series stays fresh.

In The Shadow Collector, Wesley and his wife are having problems with one of their children. Ellis has used Peterson and his family more than once to highlight how difficult it can be to have a personal life outside of such a demanding job, and she does it very well.

The highlight of any of these books is what the historical angle will be because Ellis always blends a present-day crime with something from centuries past. This time it's witchcraft from the time of the English Civil War, most of which is done with alternating journal chapters from two different historical characters. There's always a sad inevitability to charges of witchcraft, most of which seemed to have been brought on by malice, envy, and greed. Neil has a larger role in this book, and I enjoyed that. His archaeological digs can be relied upon to be fascinating and to add a great deal to the story.

As for the mystery, it's top notch-- one of those puzzlers that I could partially figure out yet still be surprised by the reveal. If you like well-drawn characters and first-rate mysteries with a touch of history, you can't do better than Kate Ellis's Wesley Peterson books. If you're worried about starting such a long-running series, it is possible to start anywhere without feeling completely lost. Ellis does a good job at quickly filling in any necessary backstory. Whatever you decide, I hope it's to give the books a chance. This is a series that I recommend highly-- and I've been doing it for several years now! ( )