The Funeral Boat

Wesley Peterson #4

by Kate Ellis

When young Carl Palister unearths a skeleton on a Devon smallholding, DS Wesley Peterson and his boss Gerry Heffernan are called in to investigate. Heffernan is convinced that the remains are those of Carl's father, a local villain who vanished from the Tradmouth area three years before. Wesley isn't so sure - he discovers evidence that suggests the skeleton is a good thousand years older than they first thought. A keen amateur archaeologist, Wesley is intrigued by the possibility that this is a Viking corpse, buried in keeping with ancient traditions. But he has a rather more urgent crime to solve-the disappearance of a Danish tourist.

At first it appears that Ingeborg Larsen may just have gone away for a few days without telling her landlady, but Wesley finds disturbing evidence that the attractive Dane has been abducted. Gerry Heffernan believes that Ms. Larsen's disappearance is linked to a spate of brutal local robberies and that Ingeborg witnessed something she shouldn't have. But is her disappearance linked to far older events? For it seems that this may not have been Ingeborg's first visit to this far from quiet West Country backwater. . .

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Procedural, British Literature, Archaeology, Historical Fiction

344 pages, Paperback

First published July 15, 2002

About the author

Kate Ellis was born and brought up in Liverpool and she studied drama in Manchester. She worked in teaching, marketing and accountancy before first enjoying writing success as a winner of the North West Playwrights competition. Crime and mystery stories have always fascinated her, as have medieval history and archaeology which she likes to incorporate in her books. She is married with two grown up sons and she lives in North Cheshire, England, with her husband. Kate was awarded the CWA DAGGER IN THE LIBRARY award in 2019

Reviews

[Deb Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Sargent Wesley Peterson and company have their hands full with a number of different crimes, first and foremost the random raiding of family farms near Tradmouth and the disappearance of a Danish woman visiting the area.

Archeology figures into this plot, as all the others in the series, but this time it is a subplot rather than central to the police investigations.

Detective Inspector Heffernan, DS Peterson and the rest need all of their skills to come to satisfactory conclusions in this intricately-plotted story.

These books can be read as stand-alones, but the best continuity is enjoyed by reading the series in order. Not quite a cozy, but definitely a soft crime drama.

[Bionic Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cut above average thriller. I particularly enjoyed the subplot about a Viking boat burial. Kate Ellis has said that "The Funeral Boat" was inspired by reading about Viking raids on south Devon in 997AD in the Anglo Saxon Chronicle.

[Kathy]

Had to mark this as read so I don't try to read it again. I do like the series, but there are many faults in this book and it may be possible I have some early version before editing as it is a bit of a mess.
The skeleton of the theme is ok and understandable.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the summer season starts in Devon, almost too much is happening for policeman Wesley Peterson. A gang of armed robbers targets isolated farms, a Danish tourist is missing, and a young man on a smallholding digs up a skeleton. Wes's boss is sure that the skeleton belongs to the man's father, a small-time thug who disappeared about three years previously, although Wes' s archaeologist pal assures him that the bones are a thousand years old. Meanwhile, Wes's wife Pam volunteers for a fete commemorating the Viking ride on a neighboring town, and is both attracted to, and suspicious of, the Viking in charge, who calls himself Odin. Each chapter starts with part of the record by a monk living in 997 A.D., describing the events of the Viking raids.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series so far, has always had a mystery from the past and a current one that the main story is built on. The characters become more developed in each addition and we learn more and more about them. They are all likable to various degrees...well, except for Steve...seems every police series has to have the odd bad apple. Along with a really good mystery we also have an archaeological aspect. This only adds to the content and ties the past and the present together. This is a great series for all readers that like a good murder mystery without a lot of violence or blood and guts.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

4th in the series...and a good, solid read. DS Wesley Peterson, and the rest of the crime solving team, investigate the disappearance of a Danish tourist as well as a series of robberies in the area. Ellis nicely ties in some archeology...a buried body that is much older than Gerry Heffernan wants it to be. Nice to get further background story on all the returning characters. Good first book of the year. A good book if you like interwoven stories that lead you to the ending.

[Sherry · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was ok - parts kept me reading but parts were convoluted with too many red herrings and coincidences. I like history- so do find some aspects interesting. But the similarities between the archaeology that the detective's friend is investigating and the contemporary crime is getting a bit tired for me. I don't know if I will tackle anymore of these. One might make a good, mindless holiday book - but otherwise there are better things to read.

[Trevor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book as one part of a 3 for £5 deal at my local market. I was intrigued by the combination of modern day detective fiction and an archaeological sub-plot, plus an interesting location (Devon). When starting a new series, my very strong preference is to start with the first book and progress chronologically through. However, when choosing from the bargain books section on a market stall you can't always be too fussy! This book is number 4 in the series, so I've missed the first three, but as a stand alone book it still worked pretty well. As expected, I really enjoyed the interplay of modern day murder mystery and historical events (in this case relating to Viking raids on the Devon coast). I liked the various subplots that were set running in the early chapters and I liked the main characters. I did feel it got a bit lost and ramble in the middle chapters and began to run out of steam, before managing to tie up all those loose ends in a very satisfactory manner in the final pages. Like all good detective fiction, there were clues as the murderer for the observant reader, but I managed to miss them. Overall an enjoyable read. I do have two more in the series sitting in my reading pile and will pick them up some time next year.
If you like crime fiction that spans two very different times I can very much recommend Manda Scott's 'Into the Fire' and 'Treachery of Spies'.

[Bookish Bluestocking · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steadily satisfying goodreads combining modern day crime with (what the brits call) archaeology set in a beautiful small seaside town in Devon! Kate Ellis never disappoints me and I have loved each of her books.

[Jan Lehman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series

With each book I read I found myself looking forward to the next book. The combination of the old story and present day life is intriguing. The added historical finds are an added bonus. Great characters , a very engaging and well written series.I think the author achieved a perfect balance with all the components in this book.

[Brenda H · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Review to come

[Cheryl Sinclair · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It is a good solid British mystery.

[robert west · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the plot and the characters. One of my favs in the series so far

[Pgchuis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was well-plotted with likeable characters and a strong Devon setting. The extracts dating from 997AD were directly relevant to the current day investigation and slotted in well. The archaeology was far better integrated than in the recent Elly Griffiths series.

[Ivana Richards · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good mystery set in Tradmouth.

[Geraldine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Readable, enjoyable and far from stupid. It's the 4th in the series, and I've got pleasure from them all. I do intend to read further into the series - 21 and counting - but I've de-prioritised this series on my enormous book-reading-random-selector spreadsheet.

The strengths include the historical/archaeological aspect - current crimes having links to and resonances with historic events. the author stresses the fictional nature of the events, but I strongly trust them to be based on real events, perhaps relocated or combined. There is strength in her writing of minor non-recurring characters, better than some authors I like more.

She has a decent sense of place, but it's a bit annoying how Dartmouth (Tradmouth), Torquay (Morbay) etc are fictionalised. I can understand that small villages, the place of the crime, should be fictional, but I don't see the point of disguising substantial towns so thinly.

Four books in, I'm still not into the heads of the major characters, not even Wesley himself. The regular supporting characters are thin - Steve is always a boor, the Inspector is someone who is defined solely by his mundane actions - his sailing & choir are there to give him depth of character but it's paper thin. Matt and Jane recur, but they're shadows who seem to play no part but lurk in the background making up numbers.

And at times I find the prose plodding. Sentences taken to describe Neil debating about what to have for lunch and going for a sandwich, when 'Neil stopped at a local shop for a sandwich before meeting Wesley' would have sufficed. Or could have been eliminated. The sandwich has no significance and doesn't move the plot forward. We assume that characters in books eat meals 2-4 times a day.

In conclusion, I would neither recommend or not-recommend this book. If you enjoy the historical angle, go ahead and read, it makes it worthwhile. But there are better police procedurals, and better crime novels that focus on character. And, to be blunt, they are a bit pricey, given how old the earlier ones are (this is set in 1999).

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 4th Book in the series, I have become addicted.

DS Wesley Peterson is stationed in a village on the sea in Devon. By this time I have become familiar with all the characters, Rachel is still a whiner, thinks she is much too good to make anyone a cup of tea. Though, the boss never does ask Steve or Wesley to make tea, Rachel takes it way over the edge! I think this annoys the heck out of me.

Onto the plot. A Dane has gone missing, her brother is contacted, he comes to the UK to try and find her and gets bumped off. In the middle of all of this, there are pageants with Viking raids, and Wesley's wife Pam has decided she is going to join the re-enactment. She is making friends, and is not being such a pain, (in my opinion). Rachel's love life is messed up, her mother is pushing her onto her Aussie boyfriend too much.

Neil is back, digging up relics, and a Viking burial has been found on some land, however, the lady who owns the land, is not too happy to see the local cops around, but why, what is her secret? Who bumped off the Dane, who is going around robbing the farmers and taking their cars and money, who shot the farmer? As always, Wesley and his cohorts sort it all out, and Devon goes back to being beautiful again! Onto the next one, The Bone Garden.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Funeral Boat is the 4th book in the DS Wesley Peterson series. The series always has a mystery from the past and a current mystery. Wesley Peterson before becoming a DS studied archaeology at a university and became a friend with Neil who graduated in this field. Neil has been in the previous books I have read on digs in the area that Wesley works. If you like some archaeology in your mysteries, you should like this series.

A skeleton is found on a farm and they have to determine if it is an old skeleton that has been discovered or if it is a recent burial. A Danish tourist disappears and there is evidence of a kidnapping. There is a murder related to the kidnapping. Besides all this going on, they have their hands full with armed farm robberies.

I really like this series and one reason is the characters. As I read each book in the series, I find out more about each character and start to care for them . (except Steve) I really like the mystery from the past and the archaeological aspects of it and how it can relate to mysteries in the present. I was reminded of the Elly Griffiths books as I read this book because of the character development and the archaeology aspects with a old mystery tied to a current mystery. This series is a good read!

[Christopher Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good book in this series although I thought not quite as good as the first three. The plot in the present had a number of strands whilst the one in the past linked to the discovery of a Viking skeleton buried in a traditional style grave. We had a Danish woman arriving in the area and going missing; a series of armed robberies at local farms and quite a bit else besides.

The resolution of everything was quite drawn out over a significant part of the book. Still pretty good though.

[Gary Van Cott · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. I thought this book was a bit better than the last two. I liked how the author had several of the mysteries resolved in the middle of the book instead of waiting for the end for everything. It seems more realistic.

[Mickey Hoffman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent plot and interesting historical bits. I continue to like the characters. It's wonderful to have detectives who aren't divorced alcoholics.

[Ellyreynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put this book down, excellent read

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book ,it had me gripped all the way through. The story unfolded piece by piece until it all came together at the .

[Eldon Dominic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love historical events like this.
Boats and historical events are what make me love reading. Could you please share the sequel books of your series?

In fact, even though I started reading very late, I'm getting more and more immersed every day.

It is a great chance to read the books of important authors. I know that. I'm looking forward to your new books.

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Are the top 10 benefits of reading for all ages:

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Have you ever read a book where you came across an unfamiliar word? Books have the power to improve your vocabulary by introducing you to new words. The more you read, the more your vocabulary grows, along with your ability to effectively communicate. Additionally, reading improves writing skills by helping the reader understand and learn different writing styles.

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[Valerie Campbell Ackroyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was almost a four star for me. As usual, the writing is sharp, the characters of Wesley, Heffernan, the rest of the team, continue to be fleshed out as well. And we learn more about Wes' wife Pam as well--she is key to the historical background, translating the Old English document.

Also per usual, there is the ancient story paralleling the modern. In this case it is a tale about the modern disappearance of a Danish tourist in Devon, coinciding with a rash of farm robberies, interspersed with a 10th century Monk's journal describing Viking predations in 10th century Devon.

And this is what actually lost a star for me. There was so much going on in the book that by the time the motive for the crime is revealed, it felt like a cheat. There was no hint of it for 90% of the book. I suppose that is not unusual in mysteries but this time it somehow didn't work for me. The other stories that had emerged throughout the book were actually more interesting than the final one. And there just wasn't enough space given during the book to it.

Won't say more or it will be a spoiler. Would I still recommend it? Oh yes, these are great, honest, police procedurals. I just felt slightly cheated by the ending.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am of two minds about these Wesley Peterson/Neil Watson mystery/archeology books. The first in the series, THE MERCHANT'S HOUSE was outstanding because it was so original and blended the mystery genre with some factual archeological elements. However, that aspect really only worked one time; after that it became more and more unlikely that Neil would find a corresponding ancient "dig" to go along with whatever contemporary crime Wesley was presented with in his modern-day policing life! And yet, there have been a few others in this long-running series (such as the very good A PAINTED DOOM) which rose above the coincidences that strain believability. Unfortunately, this isn't one of them.
The main characters here are but a faint echo of the far better and more renowned team of Pascoe & Daziel, written flawlessly by Reginald Hill. Wesley Peterson fills in the Pascoe role with Gerry Heffernan cast as a pale shadow of Andy Daziel. I don't have too much difficulty getting past that, but the other supporting parts, most notably, Wesley's oddly dissatisfied wife, Pam, seem like cardboard cut-outs.
This book is just a pleasant, not too serious, puzzle that follows a lot of dead-ends before reaching a labyrinthine conclusion.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate Ellis neatly intersperses history, archaeology and policing in her books. There's a general cast of characters who appear in the series and are the link to the books. The main character is Wesley Peterson, an educated copper, his boss, a few other coppers (male and female), a wife, a bloke called Neil and a couple of kids. Sometimes a mother in law makes an appearance. The books are an easy read and well-plotted as a cozy murder mystery should be.

This book, like the others, is set in Devon. It has the usual Kate Ellis themes - archaeological dig, some locals with a past they want to hide, decent beer in traditional English pubs, English country churches with vicars actually in attendance, old records and a bit of crime. What is there not to like? If you like a murder mystery which rolls along and gets solved in the end without too much bloodshed, sex or bad language then this is the series for you.

It lost a star because Kate Ellis needs to work on describing people. In one book she described women as "plump" four times.

[Pamela Mclaren · Rating 3 out of 5]

A skeleton is found in a Devon field: Wesley Peterson sees clue that it might be an ancient body, perhaps a Viking, while his boss, Gerry Heffernan believes its a slippery local villain who vanished three years before.

Meanwhile, the duo are looking into the disappearance of a Danish tourist. All the signs seem to lead to a kidnapping but who would do it? And does it connect to the disappearance of the villain or the rash of robberies of farmers in the area?

Following Wesley Peterson in his various cases is always interesting and Kate Ellis has created a wonderful world of interesting characters, scenarios and mysterious deaths. Her writing, descriptions and dialogue create a wonderful reading experience, especially Wesley's relations with his wife, his friends, coworkers who feel realistic and add layers to the mysteries, while his boss undoubtedly is a big feature in the story. The story draws the reader in and is ultimately a very satisfying read.

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This murder mystery thematically connects the disappearance of a Scandanavian tourist to Tradmouth (a version of Dartmouth) with a thousand-year old Viking raid in the same seaside community. Detectives Gerry Heffernan and Wesley Peterson and the rest of the team are suddenly confronted with other serious crimes as well, including a second disappearance and a troubling spate of armed robberies on local farms. Meanwhile, Wesley's university pal Neil Watson, from the county archaeology department, is called in to manage the excavation of a skeleton he suspects is that of a Viking warrior, an unusual and exciting find. Author Ellis cleverly weaves together these seemingly disconnected events and multiple characters in such a satisfying way that one accepts a conclusion that, upon reflection, would otherwise be too neat.

[Eadie Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a skeleton is discovered on a small farm, DS Wesley Peterson—a keen amateur archaeologist—is intrigued by the possibility that it is a Viking corpse, buried in keeping with ancient traditions. He also has a more urgent crime to solve, namely the recent disappearance of a Danish tourist. His boss Gerry Heffernan believes that the attractive Dane’s disappearance is linked to a spate of brutal robberies, but is her disappearance linked to far older events?
I loved the tie in of the historical Viking story and the present time story. Murderer was a surprise and hard to guess with lots of suspects. Interesting characters and plot. Looking forward to the next book and recommend this one to those who love history with mystery.