The Bone Garden (Wesley Peterson) Mass Market Paperback – September 24, 2004

The series is outstanding, with developed characters and a melding of current police work with a mystery from Devon’s past. Book 5 is outstanding and keeps up the same level of writing and research as books 1 - 4.

Lately, I have been reaching for a book from this series when I have just finished something more challenging, and I don’t want to dive into something intense. Fortunately, there are a lot of books in the Wesley Peterson series. The twist with this series is that there is always a contemporary mystery alongside a mystery that has been revealed in an archaeological dig. It might sound strange, but the author makes it work. There is a good cast of continuing characters and the Devon setting along the coastline is appealing. The story in this book would stand alone, but you might as well start at the beginning so that you can follow the lives of the continuing characters. The plot is complex enough to hold your interest and the resolution is satisfactory. This series is consistently entertaining even if it is not on the same level as the books by Anne Cleeves, Elly Griffiths, Martin Walker, Paul Doiron, Jane Harper, Louise Penny and a very few other extraordinary authors who write amore literary mystery.

This series continues to be thoroughly enjoyable. Good characters and a nicely puzzling mystery. I will get the next one now.

I enjoyed the history aspic and how it was woven into the mystery. The characters were interesting and felt real. I will look for this author again!

Love the characters in the book and the historical references. Builds to a climax which keeps you focused. I enjoy the Peterson’s.

First Sentence: The man stared at the shape lying beneath the faded cover on the ancient iron bed and took another sip of wine.Not only weeds are dug up during the restoration of a 17th century Devon garden at Earlsacre Manor, but skeletons. The first is of a woman who was buried alive, standing up. While not of investigative concern to the Tradmouth police, the body in the caravan is. The only clue to the identity of the victim is a link to Earlsacre. And what about the murder at the cricket pitch. Is that linked as well?It's the characters which keep me coming back to Kate Ellis' books. With each book, we learn more about the main characters and we see their lives change and develop.In this book, Wesley is a new father and both he, and his boss Gerry Heffernan, are promoted. Although the books are marketed as "A Wesley Peterson Crime Novel," in some ways I find Heffernan the more interesting character, but they balance each other nicely. I love some of Heffernan's expressions and he's the kind of boss you'd love to have.Add to the characters, the plot which is well done and contains excellent twists. I am never able to anticipate where the story is going or how it will end up. That's always a very good thing.A series containing both ancient mysteries and contemporary ones could be formulaic. Yes, the threads of having the present mirror the past are contrived. But they are also, beautifully woven, interesting and, in this case, cleverly related to one of the principal characters.With each book, I look forward to learning of the murders in each time period and how they will tie together. With ten more books and counting in the series, I am a happy reader, indeed.THE BONE GARDEN (Pol Proc-Insp. Wesley Peterson-England-Cont) - VGEllis, Kate - 5th in seriesThomas Dunne Books, ©2001, US Paperback - ISBN: 0312300379

This was a mystery within a mystery. Intertwining mystery of skeletal remains dating from the 1600's with a present day mystery was highly entertaining. The way the plot unfolds keeps you reading to the end.

Definitely a good read with a cultural and historical mixing of the old and the new. Lots of sub plots and interesting characters who add nicely to the mix.

Was brought for my husband and he was very pleased with it. He said it was a good read as all her books have been.

Reading these books in order. This is only #6 but they are so well written and gripping I am reading them back to back. I love the way the historic themes are woven in with the modern crimes.

A very good story, up to her usual very high standards, I have enjoyed her previous 4 books, and looking forward to continuing to follow the Wesley Peterson Series.

Having read 5 of her Wesley Peterson books, I have given up expecting variery of plotting. The same device is used each time, namely a modern-day crime mirroring a historic crime unearthed by DI Petersen's friend who is an archaeologist. This suggests that he would be unable to solve anything without reference to historic crimes, so it's getting very predictable. Not sure if I can be bothered with the rest of the series.

Recommended for readers who enjoyed Ellie Griffirhs series featuring an archaeologist, involved in crime. History features in this series, and modern crime echoes historical events.