PLAYING WITH BONES

TITLE: PLAYING WITH BONES

AUTHOR: KATE ELLIS

Pages: 311

Date: 23/11/2009

Grade: 5
Details: no. 2 Joe Plantagenet Mystery
Library.

I like this series a bit better than the Wesley Peterson one. Although I love the archaeology aspect of the Peterson books, I prefer the characters in this series and adore the ghostly angles these books come with.
When the strangled body of an 18 year old girl is found in Singmass Close, it appears to be "just" a horrific murder. But from the start, things are more complicated and sinister than that. After a case of mistaken identity has been cleared up, Joe Plantagenet and his colleagues discover that during the 1950's four women were murdered through strangulation in the same close. In all cases their big toes were cut off and dolls left beside the bodies, just like happened this time. Has the murderer from the past, who was never caught, resumed his murdering ways, or are they dealing with a copycat?
At the same time, the police are dealing with the escape of a convicted child killer, and the disappearance of another teenage girl.
And Singmass close has a reputation for being haunted by ghostly children.
Lots of angles, lots of possible suspects, lots of unexpected connections and a few shocking revelations, not to mention the twist at the end.
A wonderful mystery.