My thanks to Little, Brown Book Group U.K. /Piatkus for an eARC via NetGalley of Kate Ellis’ ‘Dead Man’s Lane’ in exchange for an honest review.

“Some paths lead only to the grave.”

In the late 1990s Strangefields Farm became notorious after artist Jackson Temples had lured young women there to model for disturbing works of art. Some of those girls never left the house alive. Temples was convicted of their murders and imprisoned.

Now Strangefields is being redeveloped as a holiday village. Yet when a skull is discovered it triggers an investigation even if it appears to be centuries old. On top of this a local woman is murdered in a fashion that is reminiscent of Temples. Interspersed with the police investigation are occasional entries from the journals of a 17th Century gentleman visiting Strangefields.

Ellis’ mysteries always have a link to the past and her Author’s Note gives her readers details of the real life historical influences for this tale.

This is the twenty-third in Ellis’ DI Wesley Peterson series of police procedurals. I have previously read nineteen of them and given them consistent 4-5 star reviews. So I began reading with confidence in Ellis’ storytelling and well rounded characterisations. It was like meeting up with old friends after a time away. My favourite character since the start has been DS Rachel Tracey.

The Wesley Peterson mysteries are always such a delight with plenty of suspects along with the intriguing historical connections. This was no exception and proved a highly engaging and satisfying whodunnit.

Thank you Little Brown Book Group and NetGalley - this was my first Kate Ellis book and it won't be my last.

This was also my first Wesley Peterson novel - I now need to read the rest. Good plot, well written and a good story. Highly recommend,. .

My first Wesley Peterson novel, I have some catching up to do! Really enjoyed this story, cleverly thought out and written.

I love a good Wes thriller so was excited to have the opportunity to read the latest in the series. This book was as good as the others in the series, and it seems that it continues to be written by teh author herself rather than, as other seriess seem to do, pass this on to a ghost writer when the characters become completely different. We have our usual cast here Wes, annoying Neil, solid Gerry, demmanding Della etc! If you enjoyed the others you will enjoy this. If you haven't read any yet, then get reading them you've lots to catch up on!

Strangefields Farm has a grisly history. Now it's to be developed as an upmarket holiday village, but its past comes back when a skull is found at the site.

Wesley Peterson fears a copycat killer is on the loose when a local florist is found dead with injuries disturbingly similar to the old crimes

Utterly brilliant

Another perfect blending of historical and modern mystery story telling. Although this is the 23rd in the Wesley Peterson series it's easily accessible to new readers,whilst fans will welcome the return of the series regulars.
Kate Ellis has perfected the art of pulling the literary rug from under the feet of her readers, and with this story threre are enough twists and turns to ensure that readers will be hitting the floor with regularity!
Bring on book 24 :)

I love Kate Ellis's Wesley Peterson crime series and I've read all of them! It is the combination of a fiendishly difficult puzzle to solve running alongside a historical mystery that pulls me in every time.

No one knows how Dead Man's Lane got it's name but everyone's heard of the notorious Strangefields Farm. Twenty years ago, an artist by the name of Jackson Temples murdered four beautiful young girls before he was caught and sent to prison - protesting his innocence all the way. Now someone appears to be copying his murders - or was Jackson innocent all along?

It is hard to review this book without giving away any spoilers! Although I read it in sizeable chunks, I did find it hard to work out who-was-who at the start. There are a lot of characters, but there is a good reason for this, and murder mysteries do need a good choice of potential suspects and victims! Once I got into the book, I was completely gripped and read the last half in one go!

I particularly enjoyed the historical parts, explaining the origins of how that road got its name, and the gruesome deaths (and burials!) that happened at the farm over the centuries. And Kate's plots are always so clever I can never work out 'whodunnit'. I also enjoy catching up with the regular characters and getting a glimpse into how their lives are progressing. (Memo to Rachel: Don't do it!)

It is not essential to have read the previous books in this series but I feel you would definitely get more out of this story if you have. It would appeal to anyone who loves the 'puzzle' kind of murder mystery or fans of authors who mix murder mysteries and archaeology, such as Elly Griffiths.


Thank you to Kate Ellis and Piatkus for my copy of this book, which I requested via NetGalley and reviewed voluntarily.

Dead Man's Lane is the twenty-third instalment of this superb police procedural series featuring DI Wesley Peterson and based in the stunning Devon countryside. However, it would read perfectly well on its own as the story is self-contained. When Wesley and his team are called in to investigate the brutal murder of local florist, Linda Payne, they find themselves baffled by what they see. Everything about the gruesome slaying reminds them of the decades-old case of serial killer Jackson Temples who was convicted of bumping off four women and sentenced to a 30-year prison term for his barbaric actions. Is this a copycat killer and Temples groupie or is the similarities merely a coincidence?

This above is the primary plotline. However, there is a secondary thread which revolves around a body being discovered at Temples former home, known as Strangefields. Both of these storylines are gripping and compelling and I found myself unable to stop reading. The unique and potent mix of police procedural and historical crime fiction makes this addictive and compulsively readable, and the plentiful twists, surprises and misdirection are executed adeptly. The cases are complex and fascinating with a superb sense of time and place which added to the atmosphere. It's well-paced and gains your attention pretty quickly and from then it never falters. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Piatkus for an ARC.

Dead Man's Lane is the first book in the Wesley Peterson series by Kate Ellis that I have read and it won't be the last one.

This police procedural has an excellent main storyline that is delivered via a number of superb twists and turns that kept me hooked throughout a well paced book.

Despite this being a series of books there was no issues with me reading it as a standalone as there was sufficient backstory to allow me to fully follow the storyline.

Overall an excellent book that is thoroughly recommended.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group Ltd for a review copy of Dead Man’s Lane, the twenty third novel to feature DI Wesley Peterson of the Devon police.

When a local florist, Linda Payne, is found murdered Wesley and the team are on the case but it presents a puzzle. In 1996 local artist, Jackson Temples, was convicted of the murder of four young women and sentenced to 30 years. Linda’s murder is eerily reminiscent of these crimes but with Temples locked up what is going on? In the meantime his old home, Strangefields, is being converted into holiday homes until a body is unearthed.

I thoroughly enjoyed Dead Man’s Lane which is a good mixture of police procedural and historical investigation. It has taken me long enough but this is the first Wesley Peterson novel I have read, brought to it by the very good Albert Lincoln series. This is not as dense as those novels although equally absorbing and has a lighter tone. I like the idea of two separate investigations, one very much in the present and the other dating to the seventeenth century. The historical investigation mixes diary entries from the time to tell the tale and is interspersed with Wesley’s friend Neil’s excavation. As Neil has the diaries it’s more a case of describing the excavation. I found this mix fascinating and very readable. The modern day murder plot is also absorbing. It is wide ranging and with no immediate suspects or motive Wesley grabs any loose thread until a more coherent picture starts to emerge. I really like this gradual funnelling of information to reach a conclusion. I also like the realistic way that other crimes and secrets get discovered and solved in the course of the investigation.

The novel is told from various points of view as required. It fleshes out the narrative for the reader without giving any hint of how the novel will develop or be resolved. It is this mystery that kept me turning the pages. Mostly the novel revolves around Wesley and I’m not too sure if I like him. He seems a bit self centred. Nevertheless he is a smart investigator, able to move the case forward with his clear thinking.

Dead Man’s Lane is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

An excellent story. Dead people being seen in Devon, is that possible? Skeletons found which had been hacked after death - heads removed and hearts removed and burnt - done to stop the evil dead from rising and wreaking chaos.

Thoroughly enjoyed it.

I received a free advance review copy. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.