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Wesley Peterson #20
The House of Eyes
When Darren Hatman reports his daughter missing, DI Wesley Peterson isn't too concerned. Leanne Hatman is an aspiring model, keen to abandon her native Devon for the bright lights of London. However, Darren's claim that a photographer has been stalking Leanne soon changes Wesley's opinion.
Leanne works at Eyecliffe Castle, once home to the wealthy D'Arles family and now converted into a luxury hotel. When Darren himself is found brutally murdered in the castle grounds, the police fear is that Leanne has met a similar fate. But, if so, where is her body?
Meanwhile, Wesley's friend, archaeologist Neil Watson, recently returned from a thrilling Sicilian excavation, makes a disturbing discovery near Eyecliffe Castle and surprises Wesley with the news that, while in Sicily, he met Leanne's alleged stalker.
With Eyecliffe Castle becoming the scene of another violent death, Wesley suspects a connection between the recent crimes, the disappearance of two girls back in the 1950s and a mysterious Sicilian ruin called the House of Eyes, a place feared by superstitious locals.
As he works to solve one of his most challenging cases yet, Wesley must face alarming revelations, rooted in centuries of fear and evil . . . as well as dealing with a nightmare of his own.
Leanne works at Eyecliffe Castle, once home to the wealthy D'Arles family and now converted into a luxury hotel. When Darren himself is found brutally murdered in the castle grounds, the police fear is that Leanne has met a similar fate. But, if so, where is her body?
Meanwhile, Wesley's friend, archaeologist Neil Watson, recently returned from a thrilling Sicilian excavation, makes a disturbing discovery near Eyecliffe Castle and surprises Wesley with the news that, while in Sicily, he met Leanne's alleged stalker.
With Eyecliffe Castle becoming the scene of another violent death, Wesley suspects a connection between the recent crimes, the disappearance of two girls back in the 1950s and a mysterious Sicilian ruin called the House of Eyes, a place feared by superstitious locals.
As he works to solve one of his most challenging cases yet, Wesley must face alarming revelations, rooted in centuries of fear and evil . . . as well as dealing with a nightmare of his own.
384 pages, Paperback
First published February 4, 2016
97 people are currently reading
444 people want to read
About the author
Kate Ellis
119 books603 followersKate 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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
June 26, 2016
After reading The Death Season, last year was I pleasantly surprised to receive The House of Eyes a while back from Piatkus. This was a book I really looked forward to reading, I just needed to get some other books done first. The story seemed interesting; A young girl goes missing and her father goes to the police to file a missing person report. But, is she really missing or did she just ditch her job at Eyecliffe Castle to go to London to become a model that she dreamed of and just not tell her parents about it? Or, has something bad happened to her? Could there be some truth in what the father says that a photographer has been stalking her before she disappeared? That's what DI Wesley Peterson has to find out.
Everything sounds interesting, and yet, I just couldn't get into the story. The intro chapter was interesting and hooked me right away with a baby being kidnapped, and then the story just fell flat for me. I couldn't for me life get pulled into the case with the missing girl. I put the book down several times reading other things instead until I finally just sat down to finish the book. And, still, the case just didn't work for me. Oh, there were things here and there that worked, but that mostly was related to the past with the missing girls from the 50s and the kidnapped baby. The last 60 pages or so were where I felt the book truly become a bit better for me and I started to enjoy reading the book a bit more. The conclusion of the book was good, and I loved that the ending felt open for a future book. But, still, I'm really sad that this book just didn't work out for me since the previous book was so good.
One thing that I had a problem with that definitely didn't do this book any favors was the diary notes at the beginning of each chapter. I don't like cursive fonts in books, ever! It's hard to read and frankly, I tend to just browse through the text just to get on with it.
So, despite my love for the previous book, was this just not for me. The story isn't bad, I just felt disconnected with it and the characters. Wesley's wife Pam has some personal problem for instance and I just couldn't muster any concern for her. I do think that readers will like this book, it's not badly written, it just wasn't for me.
2.5 stars
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy for an honest review.
Read this review and others on A Bookaholic Swede
Everything sounds interesting, and yet, I just couldn't get into the story. The intro chapter was interesting and hooked me right away with a baby being kidnapped, and then the story just fell flat for me. I couldn't for me life get pulled into the case with the missing girl. I put the book down several times reading other things instead until I finally just sat down to finish the book. And, still, the case just didn't work for me. Oh, there were things here and there that worked, but that mostly was related to the past with the missing girls from the 50s and the kidnapped baby. The last 60 pages or so were where I felt the book truly become a bit better for me and I started to enjoy reading the book a bit more. The conclusion of the book was good, and I loved that the ending felt open for a future book. But, still, I'm really sad that this book just didn't work out for me since the previous book was so good.
One thing that I had a problem with that definitely didn't do this book any favors was the diary notes at the beginning of each chapter. I don't like cursive fonts in books, ever! It's hard to read and frankly, I tend to just browse through the text just to get on with it.
So, despite my love for the previous book, was this just not for me. The story isn't bad, I just felt disconnected with it and the characters. Wesley's wife Pam has some personal problem for instance and I just couldn't muster any concern for her. I do think that readers will like this book, it's not badly written, it just wasn't for me.
2.5 stars
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy for an honest review.
Read this review and others on A Bookaholic Swede
June 11, 2021
Another book that delivers proper measures of murder mysteries old and new, evolving life challenges for the main characters and archaeological discoveries to add to the interest as a missing young woman investigation evolves and expands to include a good many people.
July 24, 2017
I haven't read any of this series so was wondering if I was going to enjoy this or feel like I've missed out by not reading the previous books.
I didn't, it was fine as a stand-alone.
Its every parents worse nightmare when a child goes missing and the same too for Darren Hatman.
But when the DI didn't want to pursue the investigation I was appalled even if this child did have a history of running off.
So she wants to run off to London to become a model. But if the father says hes worried then they should be also.
Anyway, the DI starts to do some investigation and finds out Darren's daughter has a stalker. So now this takes on an entire different dimension.
So where is Leanne?
Did someone take her, did she leave on her own accord, is she in danger?
Its a slow moving story at times I found frustrating until half way through then it picked up and had me on a rollercoaster ride not knowing where it might end, or crash.
This book wasn't a book that blew me away but it was nicely done.....in the end. I just needed to stick with it, so because of the slow start I knocked off one star I personally like something that grips me by the scruff of the neck almost right away.
My thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK via Net Galley for my copy
I didn't, it was fine as a stand-alone.
Its every parents worse nightmare when a child goes missing and the same too for Darren Hatman.
But when the DI didn't want to pursue the investigation I was appalled even if this child did have a history of running off.
So she wants to run off to London to become a model. But if the father says hes worried then they should be also.
Anyway, the DI starts to do some investigation and finds out Darren's daughter has a stalker. So now this takes on an entire different dimension.
So where is Leanne?
Did someone take her, did she leave on her own accord, is she in danger?
Its a slow moving story at times I found frustrating until half way through then it picked up and had me on a rollercoaster ride not knowing where it might end, or crash.
This book wasn't a book that blew me away but it was nicely done.....in the end. I just needed to stick with it, so because of the slow start I knocked off one star I personally like something that grips me by the scruff of the neck almost right away.
My thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK via Net Galley for my copy
March 4, 2016
Last year I read my first Wesley Peterson novel by Kate Ellis, and I really loved it. So when I received the latest Wesley Peterson’s novel ‘The House of Eyes’, I was super excited. I really love crime mysteries, and this series definitely is one I looked forward to reading more of.
Although I enjoyed ‘The Death Season’, book nineteen in the series, I really loved ‘The House of Eyes’. From the beginning of this book until the very last page, it was thrilling, fascinating and interesting. The writing completely pulled me in and I didn’t stop reading until I finished the book. I just really wanted to know how the story would end. Especially since the story began with the disappearance of a girl and you could just feel this was only the beginning of a very interesting story.
The best part about this book was definitely the way the history was entwined with the mystery part. Every chapter began with a journal entry written by Richard D’Arles in 1786. And this book took place in the same castle as where he lived in all those years ago. These entries definitely made for a very fascinating start of every chapter. And it was very impressive to see how good Kate Ellis made sure everything fitted perfectly with the past of the characters and their families.
This book had many different characters and there were a lot of suspects. I honestly didn’t have a clue about who the real murderer was. There was so much happening that this book just never got boring. And I could easily imagine myself walking through that castle and trying to find clues about all those weird things that were happening.
The main character Wesley definitely was my favorite. He was having a hard time in his personal life, but he still managed to work the case. Somehow reading about his struggles and worries made me like his character even more.
I really loved this read and didn’t want it to end. If you’re a fan of crime mysteries, the Wesley Peterson series is definitely one I recommend.
Although I enjoyed ‘The Death Season’, book nineteen in the series, I really loved ‘The House of Eyes’. From the beginning of this book until the very last page, it was thrilling, fascinating and interesting. The writing completely pulled me in and I didn’t stop reading until I finished the book. I just really wanted to know how the story would end. Especially since the story began with the disappearance of a girl and you could just feel this was only the beginning of a very interesting story.
The best part about this book was definitely the way the history was entwined with the mystery part. Every chapter began with a journal entry written by Richard D’Arles in 1786. And this book took place in the same castle as where he lived in all those years ago. These entries definitely made for a very fascinating start of every chapter. And it was very impressive to see how good Kate Ellis made sure everything fitted perfectly with the past of the characters and their families.
This book had many different characters and there were a lot of suspects. I honestly didn’t have a clue about who the real murderer was. There was so much happening that this book just never got boring. And I could easily imagine myself walking through that castle and trying to find clues about all those weird things that were happening.
The main character Wesley definitely was my favorite. He was having a hard time in his personal life, but he still managed to work the case. Somehow reading about his struggles and worries made me like his character even more.
I really loved this read and didn’t want it to end. If you’re a fan of crime mysteries, the Wesley Peterson series is definitely one I recommend.
April 16, 2018
My thoughts – Although this is the twentieth book in the Wesley Peterson series I had never read any of the authors work before. It starts with Leanne Hatman, an aspiring model being reported as missing, unfortunately due to her father’s criminal past, her disappearance isn’t deemed as urgent. When the father announces she has a stalker, the case starts to gain pace. Leanne worked at Eyecliffe Castle Country Hotel, previously owned by the D’Arles family, and soon all attention turns to her colleagues. Leanne is still missing when a body is found in the woods. How does her disappearance tie in to two girls going missing in the 1950’s.
The book tells two tales, interwoven. The diary of Richard D’Arles from 1786 is recounted, as he embarks on a journey around Italy as a companion for his cousin Uriah. Whilst on their travels Uriah purchases a painting called The House of Eyes. Richard’s journey is documented throughout the book. As the front cover states ‘The past is always watching’
I liked the interaction between the two detectives, Wesley and Gerry. Wesley’s home life is also referred a lot in this book and helps to round out the character, balancing out the policeman and husband.
Even though I haven’t read any of the other in the series, it works well as stand alone novel. I love the addition of history into a book and this is where the author excels, at the end of the book is a note by Kate Ellis. This goes into detail of the places and things mentioned throughout the story. This was a really good read and I will go back to the beginning and read The Merchant’s House, for the story and the history.
The book tells two tales, interwoven. The diary of Richard D’Arles from 1786 is recounted, as he embarks on a journey around Italy as a companion for his cousin Uriah. Whilst on their travels Uriah purchases a painting called The House of Eyes. Richard’s journey is documented throughout the book. As the front cover states ‘The past is always watching’
I liked the interaction between the two detectives, Wesley and Gerry. Wesley’s home life is also referred a lot in this book and helps to round out the character, balancing out the policeman and husband.
Even though I haven’t read any of the other in the series, it works well as stand alone novel. I love the addition of history into a book and this is where the author excels, at the end of the book is a note by Kate Ellis. This goes into detail of the places and things mentioned throughout the story. This was a really good read and I will go back to the beginning and read The Merchant’s House, for the story and the history.
April 2, 2018
This one was a good one.
The crimes (well past, shortly past, and present) all blended well together. This book hung well together making for a great read.
Even the side plot with Wes's wife Pam's health scare didn't rub against the grain.
Probably one of the best in this series.
The crimes (well past, shortly past, and present) all blended well together. This book hung well together making for a great read.
Even the side plot with Wes's wife Pam's health scare didn't rub against the grain.
Probably one of the best in this series.
December 7, 2016
I really enjoy this series. It may not be up there with the greatest books of all time - but it is always entertaining and the characters are interesting and well developed
In this story a young girl, Leanna, goes missing. She works in a spa and has hopes of becoming a model. In the search for Leanna, other people are murdered.
Along with the main story is a story from many years ago - these stories intertwine. If you like history and how the past relates to the present you will enjoy this series
In this story a young girl, Leanna, goes missing. She works in a spa and has hopes of becoming a model. In the search for Leanna, other people are murdered.
Along with the main story is a story from many years ago - these stories intertwine. If you like history and how the past relates to the present you will enjoy this series
April 8, 2016
Very disappointing. I have all the Wesley books and have enjoyed them, although the last one wasn't as good as the others. I appreciate there can only be so much crime in a small place and the series can't go on forever but this one doesn't have the 'feel' of Kate Ellis; certainly not up to the writer's usual standard. The characters seem watered down and the plot didn't grip me at all.
September 27, 2021
Good but some loose ends
I found this book a bit hard going. Partly because I wasn’t grabbed by the story, it’s the standard “missing young woman” plot with some extra problems for Wesley on the home front. Perhaps it’s because I’m traveling right now and so my reading is disjointed but I just wasn’t grabbed by this installment. And the solution to the murders seemed far fetched. As well, there is one rather shocking element where we don’t really know what happens after the event although Ellis winds up the book describing what happened to every other character. Unless I missed that part due to jet lag.
I found this book a bit hard going. Partly because I wasn’t grabbed by the story, it’s the standard “missing young woman” plot with some extra problems for Wesley on the home front. Perhaps it’s because I’m traveling right now and so my reading is disjointed but I just wasn’t grabbed by this installment. And the solution to the murders seemed far fetched. As well, there is one rather shocking element where we don’t really know what happens after the event although Ellis winds up the book describing what happened to every other character. Unless I missed that part due to jet lag.
January 19, 2023
My favorite part about this series is how is crystallizes the fact that regardless of time period, humans are human, and do great and terrible and mundane things. This particular book weighs the concept of "It was for the good that I did it."
March 9, 2024
Another enjoyable easy read but along the lines of the rest of the series with the same characters.
I think it’s time for a change and to put this series to rest.
I think it’s time for a change and to put this series to rest.
April 4, 2023
I barely got 50 pages in but this is probably the shittiest mystery book I’ve ever read. The actual plot is apparently meant to be good but good luck if you actually manage to get there. The writing is so slow and tedious I would not recommend:(
February 13, 2016
Leanne Hatman disappears from her job at a local health spa and hotel - Eyecliffe Castle. She has been keen to get into modelling and everyone thinks she has gone to London to try and get some modelling work. Her father Darren is concerned for her safety as he claims someone was stalking her. Wesley Peterson is puzzled by the case because there seems to be no sign of the girl at all. He starts to see connections when his archaeologist friend Neil Watson returns from a dig in Sicily and tells Wesley that he met Leanne's supposed stalker there.
When Neil makes some interesting discoveries on a dig near Eyecliffe Castle, Wesley starts to see connections which his boss, Gerry, thinks he is imagining. But is Wesley really on the right track or is he just trying to distract himself with a wild goose chase to take his mind off his own worries?
This is an exciting and well written mystery story and every bit as good as the other books in this fascinating series which blends past and present with an expert hand. I loved the way the various strands of the story are carefully interwoven to make a satisfying whole. The themes of this story are really quite sinister and I found some scenes sent shivers down my spine as I was reading.
I have enjoyed all the books in this series but I think this is one of the best so far. I recommend this book and this series to anyone who likes their crime stories with an historical element. I think the series is best read in order of publication but the books can be read as standalone novels.
When Neil makes some interesting discoveries on a dig near Eyecliffe Castle, Wesley starts to see connections which his boss, Gerry, thinks he is imagining. But is Wesley really on the right track or is he just trying to distract himself with a wild goose chase to take his mind off his own worries?
This is an exciting and well written mystery story and every bit as good as the other books in this fascinating series which blends past and present with an expert hand. I loved the way the various strands of the story are carefully interwoven to make a satisfying whole. The themes of this story are really quite sinister and I found some scenes sent shivers down my spine as I was reading.
I have enjoyed all the books in this series but I think this is one of the best so far. I recommend this book and this series to anyone who likes their crime stories with an historical element. I think the series is best read in order of publication but the books can be read as standalone novels.
May 14, 2016
I love this series, it is so clever how the plot lines link the past and the present, I keep thinking she won't be able to do another one as good as the last but they keep getting better.
This one had so many plot lines and twists I kept having to stop and think things through and just when I thought I had it solved another curve ball came and twisted the story again.
I love Kate Ellis's books and can't wait for the next one.
This one had so many plot lines and twists I kept having to stop and think things through and just when I thought I had it solved another curve ball came and twisted the story again.
I love Kate Ellis's books and can't wait for the next one.
March 7, 2016
This is the 20th Wesley book, an enjoyable quick read with the usual mix of historical cases and modern, and general creepiness. Quite a high body count this time. I wish I could warm to Pam a bit more. The historic stories are a way of bringing a Gothic element to the present day setting, although one of the modern storylines is also reminiscent of the genre.
October 18, 2016
Wesley Peterson is one of my favourite detectives and this latest book had the usual mix of historic mystery reflected in current criminal investigation. Good writing, interesting plot and the usual cast of supporting characters. Felt odd not sharing this 20th novel with Dad as we shared the previous 18. He would have enjoyed it.
February 4, 2016
The Wesley Peterson series is filled with creepy mysteries that I can never solve until the plotline is revealed - however hard I try. The House Of Eyes is no different. A twisting, surprising thriller that any horror fan will lo
May 30, 2016
Good if a little gruesome in parts for me. I always enjoy the archeology details in the book.
November 20, 2017
This would be a 2.5 star-rating if possible, but since it's not, I have rounded down to indicate my disappointment with it. I have only read two books in the Wesley Peterson series by Kate Ellis, but I had a serious case of deja vue while reading this one as it uses many of the same devices and trappings that the first book in the series, "The Merchant's House," uses. The effect here is an anemic reflection of what was fresh in the previous book. Even worse, what if this set-up: abducted child, centuries-old journal narrating the current archeological dig, skeletons abounding in the recently exposed dirt, connections between very old and new murders, are the framework for EVERY book in the series?! I have no way of knowing, but found it quite disconcerting that all of the above showed up in both books I read.
Also, after 20 books, I would have expected some character development along the way, but no, Wesley's wife, Pam, is still a demanding, whiny martyr, wondering why he can't spend all his time with her and her health issues. (even that remains similar; first time around she was worried about infertility, now she may have breast cancer, but whatever, she wants more from Wesley than he is in a position to give.) And, he doesn't get off the hook either, because apparently, he is still conflicted about his attraction to Policewoman Rachel! The only character who seems to have changed is Gerry Heffernan, and not in a good way. He is now nothing like Fat Andy Dalziel of the Reginald Hill series. He is grumpy and completely uninspired. If he disappeared from the scene it wouldn't even be noticeable.
The plot here is: a former criminal gone straight reports his daughter as missing. Then he turns up dead as does her mother. What is going on? Why is this dysfunctional family being murdered? What is the connection to the island of Sicily, both anciently and currently? There is a castle-cum-Spa at the center of all the action...what secrets do the owners know?
All the elements for a great mystery are here, but it suffers from all the above-mentioned faults and they really detract from the story.
Tip: If you can only read one Wesley Peterson book, make it "The Merchant's House," and not this one!
Also, after 20 books, I would have expected some character development along the way, but no, Wesley's wife, Pam, is still a demanding, whiny martyr, wondering why he can't spend all his time with her and her health issues. (even that remains similar; first time around she was worried about infertility, now she may have breast cancer, but whatever, she wants more from Wesley than he is in a position to give.) And, he doesn't get off the hook either, because apparently, he is still conflicted about his attraction to Policewoman Rachel! The only character who seems to have changed is Gerry Heffernan, and not in a good way. He is now nothing like Fat Andy Dalziel of the Reginald Hill series. He is grumpy and completely uninspired. If he disappeared from the scene it wouldn't even be noticeable.
The plot here is: a former criminal gone straight reports his daughter as missing. Then he turns up dead as does her mother. What is going on? Why is this dysfunctional family being murdered? What is the connection to the island of Sicily, both anciently and currently? There is a castle-cum-Spa at the center of all the action...what secrets do the owners know?
All the elements for a great mystery are here, but it suffers from all the above-mentioned faults and they really detract from the story.
Tip: If you can only read one Wesley Peterson book, make it "The Merchant's House," and not this one!
January 18, 2023
Three stars because "I liked it". In fact I've quite liked most books by Kate Ellis because her prose is a pleasure to read and her detective, Wesley Peterson, is just the sort of decent, thoughtful man that you'd want to have as a detective if you were ever in trouble. But I'd be pushed to say that "I really liked it". And so (deep breath)...
The House of Eyes is typical of the sort of novel-by-numbers that seems to dominate traditional publishing these days: passably written, carefully edited, politically correct, and churned out by either a long-established legacy author, a celebrity or a well-connected media-insider. Safe within the comfort zone, it pushes no boundaries and sticks rigidly to precisely the same formula as (almost) all of Kate Ellis's other novels. At which stage I'd better issue a spoiler alert...
Now, I understand that it makes a certain amount of sense to stick to a winning formula - but only up to a point. Because there comes a moment when readers will recognize what you're doing and will then be able to anticipate your moves in advance. In this instance the oft-repeated combination of "detective mystery", "archeological dig" and "historical document" enabled me to guess the main culprit before I was even one third of the way through the story - at which stage I rather lost interest. Memo to Kate: when you mix history, old documents and contemporary crime, the only possible way to connect them is through a family that traverses the generations. In this instance there was only one character who did that, and - Bingo! - she was indeed culprit Numero Uno.
And then there's the title, "The House of Eyes", which relates to a building in Sicily that may or may not play a part in the story. Except it doesn't. In fact, the building barely features in the plot, either physically or within the mind of any leading character - which is a shame, because it had the potential to be one of the most interesting aspects of the novel, and I was genuinely disappointed not to visit it.
And I'd better mention the Wesley Peterson problem. He's nice. Actually, he's too nice. In fact he's so nice that he isn't very interesting. Perhaps it's just me, but I've always found the most appealing (fictional) detectives to be those with significant flaws: Poirot is a monstrous egotist, Miss Marple is a nosey-parker, Morse is a boozy misanthrope, Holmes is a drug-addicted sociopath and Rebus a self-righteous thug; yet somehow they seem to outwit their opponents, in spite of their deficiencies. This is what makes them interesting.
And then there's Wesley's wife's health scare. Hmm. Yup. OK. Like, yes, it's sad she's got a breast lump. I get that. It happens. Some of my closest relatives have had that happen too. But, you know, if I'd wanted to read a book about breast cancer, I'd have picked up a book about breast cancer. In a light-hearted detective thriller, this sort of thing is tedious and unwelcome. But I guess it pads out the pages.
But worst of all - WORST OF ALL - is the cardinal sin of all crapulous commercial fiction, namely the unconnected secondary and tertiary subplots, whose purpose is to give a (wholly fictitious) impression of depth and complexity to what is otherwise an extremely simple, if totally implausible, story. Kate Ellis is far from alone in this. In fact most legacy authors are now resorting to this nonsense, presumably because they've exhausted their imagination (She Who Must Not Be Edited being arguably the worst offender); and the celebrity authors are generally doing likewise, self-evidently because they're useless. But this particular novel is a really egregious example. And so (SPOILER ALERT +++++):
1) The House of Eyes is a meaningless red herring. Its connection to the contemporary crime is tenuous to the point of non-existence. Actually, it is non-existent.
2) The archeological dig is also completely incidental to the contemporary crime. Ignore all the tosh about buried bodies and buried coins. They're 18th century. No time-travelling ghosts here.
3) There are in fact two entirely unrelated murderers - connected, only in the loosest sense that the victim of one criminal was the daughter of the victims of the other. No other connection. None.
4) There are three crossbows in play, two of which belong to dodgy blokes who have nothing to do with either of the murders. This is perhaps the most blatantly pathetic red herring I've come across in any novel for a very long time.
5) Ah, yes. Lots of dodgy blokes with seedy back-stories and records of GBH. Red herrings too. All completely innocent. Don't waste your mental energy on them.
6) Also - pouffff (as they say in France) - the tiresome excerpts from an 18th century diary that sit at the start of every chapter. Just ignore them. They're totally irrelevant - except to suggest that there might have been madness in the family several hundred years ago. That's thirty minutes of my life that I'll never get back. Also, reading the cursive script was enough to give me a headache. Zut alors...
And the murderer? Yup. So, what we're looking at here is a story involving no less than FOUR potential killers - and all in a small town called Dartmouth (whoops, sorry - a small town that looks and sounds exactly like Dartmouth). I'd be safer seeking sanctuary in St Mary Mead.
But you know what? I did actually enjoy it. And I do like Wesley Peterson. It's just the sort of thing that ought to be made into a cozy Sunday evening TV drama. So, a well-deserved three stars.
The House of Eyes is typical of the sort of novel-by-numbers that seems to dominate traditional publishing these days: passably written, carefully edited, politically correct, and churned out by either a long-established legacy author, a celebrity or a well-connected media-insider. Safe within the comfort zone, it pushes no boundaries and sticks rigidly to precisely the same formula as (almost) all of Kate Ellis's other novels. At which stage I'd better issue a spoiler alert...
Now, I understand that it makes a certain amount of sense to stick to a winning formula - but only up to a point. Because there comes a moment when readers will recognize what you're doing and will then be able to anticipate your moves in advance. In this instance the oft-repeated combination of "detective mystery", "archeological dig" and "historical document" enabled me to guess the main culprit before I was even one third of the way through the story - at which stage I rather lost interest. Memo to Kate: when you mix history, old documents and contemporary crime, the only possible way to connect them is through a family that traverses the generations. In this instance there was only one character who did that, and - Bingo! - she was indeed culprit Numero Uno.
And then there's the title, "The House of Eyes", which relates to a building in Sicily that may or may not play a part in the story. Except it doesn't. In fact, the building barely features in the plot, either physically or within the mind of any leading character - which is a shame, because it had the potential to be one of the most interesting aspects of the novel, and I was genuinely disappointed not to visit it.
And I'd better mention the Wesley Peterson problem. He's nice. Actually, he's too nice. In fact he's so nice that he isn't very interesting. Perhaps it's just me, but I've always found the most appealing (fictional) detectives to be those with significant flaws: Poirot is a monstrous egotist, Miss Marple is a nosey-parker, Morse is a boozy misanthrope, Holmes is a drug-addicted sociopath and Rebus a self-righteous thug; yet somehow they seem to outwit their opponents, in spite of their deficiencies. This is what makes them interesting.
And then there's Wesley's wife's health scare. Hmm. Yup. OK. Like, yes, it's sad she's got a breast lump. I get that. It happens. Some of my closest relatives have had that happen too. But, you know, if I'd wanted to read a book about breast cancer, I'd have picked up a book about breast cancer. In a light-hearted detective thriller, this sort of thing is tedious and unwelcome. But I guess it pads out the pages.
But worst of all - WORST OF ALL - is the cardinal sin of all crapulous commercial fiction, namely the unconnected secondary and tertiary subplots, whose purpose is to give a (wholly fictitious) impression of depth and complexity to what is otherwise an extremely simple, if totally implausible, story. Kate Ellis is far from alone in this. In fact most legacy authors are now resorting to this nonsense, presumably because they've exhausted their imagination (She Who Must Not Be Edited being arguably the worst offender); and the celebrity authors are generally doing likewise, self-evidently because they're useless. But this particular novel is a really egregious example. And so (SPOILER ALERT +++++):
1) The House of Eyes is a meaningless red herring. Its connection to the contemporary crime is tenuous to the point of non-existence. Actually, it is non-existent.
2) The archeological dig is also completely incidental to the contemporary crime. Ignore all the tosh about buried bodies and buried coins. They're 18th century. No time-travelling ghosts here.
3) There are in fact two entirely unrelated murderers - connected, only in the loosest sense that the victim of one criminal was the daughter of the victims of the other. No other connection. None.
4) There are three crossbows in play, two of which belong to dodgy blokes who have nothing to do with either of the murders. This is perhaps the most blatantly pathetic red herring I've come across in any novel for a very long time.
5) Ah, yes. Lots of dodgy blokes with seedy back-stories and records of GBH. Red herrings too. All completely innocent. Don't waste your mental energy on them.
6) Also - pouffff (as they say in France) - the tiresome excerpts from an 18th century diary that sit at the start of every chapter. Just ignore them. They're totally irrelevant - except to suggest that there might have been madness in the family several hundred years ago. That's thirty minutes of my life that I'll never get back. Also, reading the cursive script was enough to give me a headache. Zut alors...
And the murderer? Yup. So, what we're looking at here is a story involving no less than FOUR potential killers - and all in a small town called Dartmouth (whoops, sorry - a small town that looks and sounds exactly like Dartmouth). I'd be safer seeking sanctuary in St Mary Mead.
But you know what? I did actually enjoy it. And I do like Wesley Peterson. It's just the sort of thing that ought to be made into a cozy Sunday evening TV drama. So, a well-deserved three stars.
August 30, 2017
I've been following this series from the very beginning, and it seems that there's still no shortage of cases for Tradmouth CID (and Neil) to investigate. Not that the high murder rate seems to be detering the tourists, who keep endless local businesses afloat -- some more so than others. Eyecliffe Castle is one such, although it may not be doing as well as first appearances suggest, so the disappearance of one of the staff, and the later appearance of her father's dead body probably isn't going to be good for business. Meanwhile, the former owner of the castle, whose family lived there for centuries, now inhabits the old dower house (ripe for development) and seems very interested in the goings on up at her old home, though less keen on the encroaching developers.
Wesley meanwhile is distracted by his own family concerns, although I was pleased to see Ellis avoid using the misfortunes of female loved-ones as a way to demonstrate her hero's great man-pain. Wesley is stoical and practical as ever, even as tragedy threatens more than one of the women in his life.
A definite high for this series, and I'm greatly looking forward to the next book already.
Wesley meanwhile is distracted by his own family concerns, although I was pleased to see Ellis avoid using the misfortunes of female loved-ones as a way to demonstrate her hero's great man-pain. Wesley is stoical and practical as ever, even as tragedy threatens more than one of the women in his life.
A definite high for this series, and I'm greatly looking forward to the next book already.
July 11, 2018
I have been a fan of Kate Ellis's Wesley Peterson mysteries since the very first book, The Merchant's House. The series now spans twenty-two books, and as long as she writes them, I'll be reading them and urging you to do the same. Ellis is superb at blending present-day and historical mysteries as well as creating a cast of characters that become your friends as you read through the investigations.
Speaking of those characters, Wesley wonders about DC Rob Carter's ambition-- how far will it get him, and at what cost? We also experience more of Rachel's world's longest lead-in to a wedding (and longtime fans will know the reason why she's in no great hurry to get married). Wesley and Pam also have a scare that is beautifully handled, and Wesley's boss may be his old irascible self, but shouldn't he really start thinking about retirement? A wonderful cast of characters and we get first-rate mysteries to solve, too!
Wesley's friend, archaeologist Neil Watson, tends to get short shrift in the series, so I was happy to see that he not only had a larger role in the proceedings, he actually got to go to Sicily for a dig at the Temple of the Gods. (It was nice to see him out of the Devon mud.) Watson uncovers information about the creepy House of Eyes on Sicily as well as background on the D'Arles family and the Grand Tour that the son and heir went on in the 1780s. If you are a mystery lover who also loves a bit of history, this Grand Tour element should be right down your alley. It is also the perfect conduit for the chill factor that pervades the book all the way to the ending.
The House of Eyes is another strong mystery with excellent misdirection. This has always been a superb series, but somewhere along...say...book eighteen (The Shroud Maker), Kate Ellis seems to have raised her game into an even higher gear. I always try to stay a book or two behind in this series-- a safety margin of sorts so that I know I will always have something good to read-- but the way Ellis is writing now, this is harder and harder for me to do. Should all my reading dilemmas be so pleasant!
Speaking of those characters, Wesley wonders about DC Rob Carter's ambition-- how far will it get him, and at what cost? We also experience more of Rachel's world's longest lead-in to a wedding (and longtime fans will know the reason why she's in no great hurry to get married). Wesley and Pam also have a scare that is beautifully handled, and Wesley's boss may be his old irascible self, but shouldn't he really start thinking about retirement? A wonderful cast of characters and we get first-rate mysteries to solve, too!
Wesley's friend, archaeologist Neil Watson, tends to get short shrift in the series, so I was happy to see that he not only had a larger role in the proceedings, he actually got to go to Sicily for a dig at the Temple of the Gods. (It was nice to see him out of the Devon mud.) Watson uncovers information about the creepy House of Eyes on Sicily as well as background on the D'Arles family and the Grand Tour that the son and heir went on in the 1780s. If you are a mystery lover who also loves a bit of history, this Grand Tour element should be right down your alley. It is also the perfect conduit for the chill factor that pervades the book all the way to the ending.
The House of Eyes is another strong mystery with excellent misdirection. This has always been a superb series, but somewhere along...say...book eighteen (The Shroud Maker), Kate Ellis seems to have raised her game into an even higher gear. I always try to stay a book or two behind in this series-- a safety margin of sorts so that I know I will always have something good to read-- but the way Ellis is writing now, this is harder and harder for me to do. Should all my reading dilemmas be so pleasant!
February 16, 2025
DI Wesley Peterson #20. A good plot with an interesting twist at the end. Bodies pile up, Wes's wife Pam has health problems, Gerry seems problem free for the moment. Neil is on a dig in Sicily which is like a holiday for him, but his return to England soon brings problems for Wes. So, nothing out of the ordinary, the formula is in place.
On this occasion, the personal issues, and indeed all the main characters, seem flat. They seem to go through the motions.
The only omission would be an investigation into the carelessness which caused an officer to be injured. That situation was quite predictable, and the senior officer was distracted and gullible.
I guess there were fewer annoying parts than in others of the series, so it sneaked in to a four star rating of 3.7.
On this occasion, the personal issues, and indeed all the main characters, seem flat. They seem to go through the motions.
The only omission would be an investigation into the carelessness which caused an officer to be injured. That situation was quite predictable, and the senior officer was distracted and gullible.
I guess there were fewer annoying parts than in others of the series, so it sneaked in to a four star rating of 3.7.
January 3, 2018
The eyes have it.
A superb five star thriller. Well we are used to that from Kate Ellis. The detective Wesley Peterson, his family and colleagues feel like old friends. The formula of combining a historical mystery with a modern murder works brilliantly. In this one, there is evidence of a family fatally flawed with evil. Add a missing girl, a photographer who may or not be dodgy, less than perfect parents and Wesley fretting over his wife who is faced with serious illness. Yet, Wesley solves it all. However, there is a delicious little cynical twist in the tale. Read, and enjoy. Roll on the next volume.
A superb five star thriller. Well we are used to that from Kate Ellis. The detective Wesley Peterson, his family and colleagues feel like old friends. The formula of combining a historical mystery with a modern murder works brilliantly. In this one, there is evidence of a family fatally flawed with evil. Add a missing girl, a photographer who may or not be dodgy, less than perfect parents and Wesley fretting over his wife who is faced with serious illness. Yet, Wesley solves it all. However, there is a delicious little cynical twist in the tale. Read, and enjoy. Roll on the next volume.
July 2, 2018
This book is the twentieth in the Wesley Peterson series but works as a standalone. I haven't read any others in the series and this book didn't present with gaps and queries. The melding of past and present in this murder mystery is skillfully done. We have the Grand Tour diary of an aristocrat, an archaeological dig in Sicily and a very modern murder in Neston.
We are privy to the family troubles of Wesley Peterson, who doubts his own ability with this case. Are the connections he sees real or just a fabricated distraction from his own problems?
Well-paced, kept me guessing and a nice twist in the tale.
We are privy to the family troubles of Wesley Peterson, who doubts his own ability with this case. Are the connections he sees real or just a fabricated distraction from his own problems?
Well-paced, kept me guessing and a nice twist in the tale.
November 9, 2024
This is the first Wesley Peterson novel, to my memory, that I have read.
I have conflicting opinions of this one. I genuinely like the characters, and whilst I haven’t previously experienced them, I found them to be quite engaging, detailed and there was enough there not to make me think I need to read some others.
On the other hand, I found the story hard. It was a slow burner, then blurred the lines with various odd little bits which I found challenging. Some of the outer characters didn’t gel for me and I found the use of language, dialogue and general descriptions throughout the book a little poor. On some occasions it just didn’t capture me, yet on others I couldn’t stop reading.
A very odd mismatch.
Three out of five.
I have conflicting opinions of this one. I genuinely like the characters, and whilst I haven’t previously experienced them, I found them to be quite engaging, detailed and there was enough there not to make me think I need to read some others.
On the other hand, I found the story hard. It was a slow burner, then blurred the lines with various odd little bits which I found challenging. Some of the outer characters didn’t gel for me and I found the use of language, dialogue and general descriptions throughout the book a little poor. On some occasions it just didn’t capture me, yet on others I couldn’t stop reading.
A very odd mismatch.
Three out of five.
June 18, 2017
The police aren't much concerned when Darren Hatman reports his daughter Leanne missing. Her mother thinks she has given up her job at the spa at Eyeciffe Castle, the historic home of the D'Arles family, to go to London to pursue a career in modeling. However, when Darren is killed, DI Wesley Peterson find himself involved in a case with connections to long ago Sicily sand the Grand Tour. This is a pleasant mystery series with appealing characters and an interesting tie-in always to the past and archaeology. The number of sub-plots is sometimes confusing, but everything ties up nicely.
March 25, 2018
This is not the first book in the Wesley Peterson murder mystery series but it is the first book by this author that I have read. Right from the outset, it has a complex plot, interweaving many narratives. At first, I wondered whether the complexity of its design would be worth the read but it was. The only thing about the book that I found annoying was the fact that the author seemed to have a compulsion to let us know on multiple occasions that the hero, DI Peterson, is black. Why is that such an issue?
February 13, 2018
I cannot believe this is the 20th book in the series, and I am still hooked on the characters and the author. A theft of a baby in 1958, a journal dating back to 1786, a missing 17-year-old girl leads Wesley and Gerry on an investigation that leads to more murders. A few red herrings thrown in to keep the readers on their toes. The author has the ability to draw from several events and weave a tale that brings everything full circle in the end. Looking forward to the 21st book!
April 1, 2020
I enjoy Kate Ellis books combining a current day murder mystery with a historical crime. Wesley Peterson is the modern day detective and his friend Neil is an archaeologist. In all of these books there are two stories running side by side. Set in a Devon coastal town, we also get involved in the family lives of the main characters. I don't feel this is one of her best and I did find it rather gruesome in parts.
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