Customer Reviews

The Armada Boy: Wesley Peterson Crime Series: Book 2 (The Wesley Peterson Murder Mysteries)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In Kate Ellis, British literature has a champion to contend with the commercial american heavyweights churning out their tuppenny paperbacks. In the Armada Boy, Ellis successfully produces three narratives of different periods of time, all around the same West Country area. She interweaves these timeframes in a refreshing fashion that rather than slowing and disrupting the flow and pace of the story make the novel flow seemlessly and intelligably between ages. The author maintains the characters from the previous novel but manages to find the right blend of introduction and continuity meaning no readers are alienated in terms of character development. The novel's star characters would appear to be the Americans who I assure you, after spending several hours in the presence of some American Vets. on Christmas Eve are spookily realistic. The interaction amongst the detectives is impressive, with real depth and life which adds to the novel rather than drawing away from the pace of the book.

Bottom line: A great read as either a stand alone novel or part of a sucessful series.

This novel grabbed my attention from the first scene and held it to the last. It is a truly great read.

For me, the real joys of 'The Armada Boy' are the fascinating blend of modern and historical crime; the rich diversity of characters (my personal favourite being Detective Constable Rachel Tracey - a real star in the wings who deserves a novel of her own); and the way in which three completely separate periods of history are woven together so effortlessly. Oh yes, and as with all great crime novels, I would never have guessed 'whodunnit'!!

I hardly put this novel down from the moment I picked it up.I couldn't wait to see what the next page would bring. I inherited my love of crime fiction from my late Grandmother who was a real connoisseur of the genre and as I read this novel I thought often of her. How she would have loved it!

I have just finished reading this novel and could not put it down, it is superb! I feel that I must disagree with the above review by Kelly Flynn - if anything this book is more engaging tham "The Merchants House"

Kate Ellis and Wesley Peterson have done it again. Yet another crime solved by the archeaologist/detective who finds crimes and thier solutions don't change with the times. A sailor escaped from the Spanish Armada's defeat by the English navy parallels a crime committed much closer to the present. Strong characters, strong plotting, no detail escapes Kate Ellis.

Somebody has killed an aging American veteran and Wesley Peterson has to find out who--and why. Old animosities between the U.S. soldiers and the English people uprooted from their homes come into play, but a psychic claims that the Armada Boy--a survivor of the Spanish Armada is the one to ask.

Kate Ellis writes a fine mystery but what makes this book so compelling is her descriptions of the people and countryside of England. Wesley Peterson, with his pregnant wife suffering from hormone overload, Detective Inspecter Heffernam, with is love for sailing and his need to escape from people yet desire to bond with them, and Detective Constable Rachel Tracey with her ambition, all make sympathetic characters you'll root for as they struggle forward.

The mystery is sufficiently complex and interesting. Ellis's approach of weaving the three eras together proves effective and, ultimately, the fabric of the story proves to be woven together more closely than would at first appear. This is an excellent novel.

I'm reading through the series in order. I am a history/genealogy buff and read mystery novels almost exclusively, so I find the Wesley Peterson books very enjoyable.

Rest easy Ms Christie, your succesor has come through with another great mystery story. I can not wait for the next installment of Wesley's detecting prowess. Thank you Miss Ellis for a very entertaining series.

World War II veteran Norman Openheim accompanied by his wife Dorinda, returns to England for a reunion celebration. However, with his hearing aid broken and smoking his first cigarette in a decade, Norman never heard his killer approach him. County Archeology employee Neil Watson finds the corpse as he wanders the ruins of St. Dennis Chapel.

Detective Sergeant Wesley Peterson begins the inquiries and almost immediately is overwhelmed by leads and suspects. Could his spouse, who was having an affair be the killer? Could it be the pregnant girlfriend the victim left behind in 1944? Or is just related to an anti-American resentment left over form five decades ago? As Wesley investigates, he also begins to uncover another murder mystery from four centuries ago.

The second Ellis police procedural is a fabulous tale of revenge that will thrust relative newcomer Kate Ellis into the sub-genre's limelight. The story line is entertaining as the two mysteries keep reader attention at all times. Wesley remains a complex protagonist who will charm the audience. THE ARMADA BOY and its predecessor THE MERCHANT'S HOUSE are an excellent mingling of a historical tale with a modern day police procedural.

Harriet Klausner

First Sentence: Norman Openheim lit a forbidden cigarette and inhaled deeply.

The Americans have come back to Devon in tribute to the time spent there preparing for the Normandy Invasion. The reunion does not go without incident when Neil, an archeologist and friend of DS Wesley Peterson, find the body of a murdered veteran at the chantry chapel ruins, the site where sailors of the Spanish Armada are said to be buried and where, in more recent times, couples went for a bit of privacy.

The only thing better than discovering a new author I like, is when they have a backlist for me to read. Kate Ellis is such an author.

It is nice that this book is set in the fictional town of Tradmouth in Devon. From the author's website, I learned that she used Dartmouth as her guide. But it is nice to be outside a major city. Providing a stronger sense of place would have been appreciated, particularly as I am completely unfamiliar with this area. Thank heaven for the internet.

I cannot, however, fault her for character creation. Although this is billed as "A Wesley Peterson Crime Novel," it read more as an ensemble cast, and a good one. Again, quoting the website, "Each story combines an intriguing contemporary murder mystery with a parallel historical case." Wesley received his degree in archeology prior to joining the police force and, therefore, provides the bridge through his archeologist friend, Neil. Where he is polished and university educated, his superior, DI Heffernan, with whom I am delighted to say he gets on well.

To this pair, add a bright, ambitious police woman, a young detective who'd really like the action of London, Wesley's archeologist friend and an unseen psychic who calls telling them to look for the Armada Boy. What I particularly appreciated was that the background all the characters is provided in bits throughout the story.

The story's plot is so well constructed. It is intricate and filled with red herrings and twists but never feel contrived or manipulative. The clues are revealed to the reader as they are to the characters. The past is a critical element of the story as it relates to both location and motives. Ellis skillfully blended the historical information, particularly as this is a region with which I am unfamiliar, into the plot even enabling a particularly poignant thread to the story.

Ellis is an intelligent writer excellent at the blending the past and the present, her use of allegories and understanding the impact of the sins of the father. She has definitely joined my "must read" list.

THE ARMADA BOY (Pol Proc-DS Wesley Peterson-Devon, UK-Cont) - VG+
Ellis, Kate - 2nd in series
Thomas Dunn Books, ©1999, US Hardcover - ISBN: 031225198X