THE BLOOD PIT

TITLE: THE BLOOD PIT
AUTHOR: KATE ELLIS
Pages: 346
Date: 04/01/2009
Grade: 5
Details: no. 12 Wesley Peterson Mystery
Library

Kate Ellis does write very good mysteries, and her descriptions of the procedures, wrong turns and false leads are realistic. There are no inspired guesses and no major sudden flashes of insight to take the reader to the solution. Wesley Peterson and his colleagues have to work hard and dig deep to come up with answers, and the reader is there for every step of the way.
This investigation starts when a man is found murdered in his home. He has been poisoned and paralyzed with hemlock before being stabbed and left to bleed to death. The man in question is described as evil by those who know him and the police has no shortage of suspects.
The case gets more complicated though when a popular local vet is killed in the same way, and there are no obvious links between the victims.
At the same time, Neil Watson, Wesley's archaeologist friend, starts receiving anonymous letters about bloodletting practices in medieval monasteries, letters which are filled with gruesome details. Both Wesley and Neil fear that the killer could be the letter writer. Is Neil in danger?
As things get increasingly complicated, the solution to all questions will have to be found in the past.