A Painted Doom

Wesley Peterson #6

by Kate Ellis

Teenager Lewis Hoxworthy discovers a disturbing painting in a medieval barn that excites archaeologist Neil Watson, who is excavating an ancient manor house nearby. When former rock star Jonny Shellmer is found shot in the head in Lewis's father's field and Lewis himself goes missing after contacting a man on the internet, Detective Sergeant Wesley Peterson suddenly faces one of his most intriguing cases yet. Is Jonny's death linked to Lewis's disappearance? And does Jonny's best-known song, "Angel," contain a clue? It soon becomes clear to Neil that the painting—a portrayal of hell and judgment more than half a millennium old—holds the key to the mystery. As events reach a terrifying climax, Wesley has to act swiftly in order to save a young life.

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

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 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

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Painted Doom is the 6th book in the Wesley Peterson police procedural series set in the Devon area of England. It has the archeological theme that runs along side of the current mystery as all of the past books in the series do. They do tie together by the end as in past books.

A aging rock star is found murdered in a field by a local farmer. When exploring an old barn on the property, a painting call the Doom is discovered up hidden in the hayloft. It is from medieval times.

Also, a fifteen year old boy goes missing and besides solving the murder Wesley Peterson and his team look for him. The boy lives on the property where the body was found.

Neil Watson who is a reoccurring character in the series is a archeologist excavating an area before a village hall in built on the land. He finds an old skull from medieval time and later in a different area the rest of the skeleton is found. He wants to find out why the body is buried in two different locations and whatever else he can find out about the skeleton.

Each chapter starts out with letters written around 1471 between a husband and a wife. The husband is off fighting in the War of the Roses

I thought while reading this book that it is a "meaty" book. There is history, a descriptive location ,several mysteries and best of all the characters who the reader gets to know through out the series. It is a character driven book. Looking forward to reading the next book.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This episode presented a complex set of events both current and past intertwined, some mirroring 15th Century events in the area. Wesley's friend, the archaeologist, is again working a dig in the midst of current murders and murder attempts. As pages from 15th Century documents become central to current misadventures it makes for one dangerous tapestry to untangle.
I enjoyed the discovery of a Doom discovered in a barn that was in good condition though it nearly led to the death of a young teen.
Another thread resolved in this book was the circumstances surrounding the death of the wife of Wesley's boss. The historical notes were of great interest as well. A good read.

Loan from Friend - Thank you!

[Ligibookishmind · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly, A Painted Doom by Kate Ellis was just… not it for me. I thought I was in for a cool, twisty mystery with some spooky medieval vibes and maybe a dash of ancient secrets,but it just fell flat. The whole plot with Lewis Hoxworthy discovering a painting in a barn seemed super intriguing at first, but then it just dragged on forever with characters I couldn’t care less about, like, yawn.

The detective duo of Wesley Peterson and Gerry Heffernan were kinda forgettable, and the whole thing felt like it was trying way too hard to be mysterious and dramatic. Add in a former rock star’s death, a missing teen, and some cryptic song lyrics, and I just couldn’t get on board. I mean, hello, there’s a DOOM painting, and it just doesn’t live up to its potential?! Ugh.

By the time things started to heat up,I was already zoning out. Not sure if it was the slow pace, the constant unnecessary side plots, or the fact that the big reveal felt like a letdown… but overall, it just wasn’t gripping enough to hold my attention. A mystery that should’ve been creepy and clever turned out to be more of a snooze fest. Not for me. 😩

[Pgchuis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a few niggles with this one - Wesley still regarding his son as an inconvenience for his teacher-wife to manage between work and housework, the character of Lewis (specifically what happened to him after he disappeared - really?), and the fact that a large part of the solution to the mystery was so evident from the halfway mark that waiting for the police to catch up was frustrating. I also found it unbelievable that no one recognized James - he was 17 or 18 when last seen - men don't change that much after that age...

[Gary Van Cott · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this book probably deserves 3.5 stars, I have decided to give it a higher rating because I thought the plot was better than the previous few books. The end was a bit predictable but I had guessed that someone else was the villain.

[Caroline Ingvaldsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the sixth Wesley Peterson police procedural, an extraordinary painting is the clue to the solution of a medieval mystery and a modern murder.

[Pam Hutley · Rating 3 out of 5]

First Wesley Peterson murder mystery I’ve read.
I like the story - the plot is rich and convoluted - and its structure in 15 chapters mirrors one of each of the 15 medieval letters telling the parallel 15th century story ( discovered through artefacts and archeology). The main plot is a tale with a history- with folks not being who you think they are- of sins of the past looping back . I learnt something of Doom paintings ( last judgements ) common in churches of the period.
All that said, the writing is not the greatest- sometimes it over explains ( just in case you didn’t pick up a reference) and a couple of times it seems to summarise the story thus far- which feels a little patronising. I enjoyed it though!

[Rob Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good tead from Kate Ellis. The body of a former rock star if found in a field. He has been shot. A painted doom is found in the barn of the same farm, together with letters from the former land owners family. In the letters it appears that one of the land owners sons has taped his sister. Is history repeating itself? 9/10, enjoyable read.

[Olivermagnus · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Olga Godim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good installment in the Wesley Peterson series. In this one, an aging musician, former rock star Jonny Shellmer, is murdered. Nobody can understand the crime: according to everyone who knew Jonny, he was a decent and likable man, with no enemies. As Wesley investigates, some chilling truths come to the light, truths many people would prefer buried. Intertwined with Jonny’s murder is a story of an awkward teenager Lewis, trying to fit in with his classmates. And as in any other novel of the series, a dreadful medieval tale, unearthed by Wesley’s friend, archeologist Neil Watson, reverberates with the same depravity that had led to Jonny’s murder. People seem to be prone to the same wicked passions in any age.
I enjoyed this book but I have one serious complaint. By now, the characters of the series have become a bit stale. Although there are outward developments: a new baby on the way, a doctorate almost finished, inside, all the characters stay essentially the same. I wish the author would stop trying to develop her characters, because it feels contrived, and concentrate on what she does best: the plot of the mystery.
The only character of this series I never get tired of is Devon, the beautiful county in the south-west of England. With its picturesque villages, its narrow lanes between hedged-in fields, and its multitude of small towns, each with her own personality and architectural quirks, Devon stands alive in Ellis’s novels. Steeped in history but striving for progress, it sports a number of controversies that enrich the author’s prose tremendously. It’s almost unbelievable that she made up all the towns and villages in this series. What a wealth of imagination she has!
A must-read for all the fan of the series and anyone who likes British mysteries.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is so uneven! I was quite reluctant to start reading this entry(#6) so soon after reading book #5, "The Bone Garden," because I was so disappointed in that book's plot and characters.
However, I was between other books just then, so I took the plunge, and I must admit to being pleasantly surprised! While many of the recurring plot devices (history repeating itself through a series of ancient family letters, etc.) are off-putting and redundant, the plot made a LOT more sense this time around and even the characters seemed more balanced and less intrusive.
I really enjoyed watching and even anticipating, some of the plot lines and how they developed. There were plenty of red-herrings, but they were believable and fit well into the parameters of the story. One thing was a bit bothersome and that was that I felt the murderer was not presented fairly to the reader. It felt like Agatha Christie on a bad day, when she would pull the rabbit randomly out of a hat and try to make us believe that we had had plenty of clues! However, it was just plausible enough to be forgiven, and I did!
I do have to admit I am getting tired of the "parallel mysteries," by ALWAYS having Neil Watson's archeological team around digging up old bones! One would think that small section of Devon where these mysteries take place, would be free of all unidentified skeletons by now!
Also, I loved the homage to the Beatles! (aging rock star from Liverpool and his 3 band mates!)

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Example of a medieval "Doom" (Last Judgement):

[VeganHiker · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I enjoyed this book, it is getting quite ridiculous how closely the modern cases mirror the historic ones.

[Carole Tyrrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s 1966 and a young girl walks into the cold waters of the River Trad. She feels that she has no choice but to end it all as the river takes her into its icy embrace….
In 1471, Marjory and Richard Merrivale, the local landowners, exchange letters about their plans for their adult children and the increasingly dangerous political situation of the time. What happens within their family will have repercussions down to the centuries.
Now in 2002, in the Devon town of Derenham, Terry Hoxworthy makes an unwelcome discovery on his farm. He’s hoping to develop a barn into a holiday home but, instead, finds a creepy medieval painting. It’s a Doom according to the local archaeological expert, Neil Watson, who is directing a local dig. They’ve already discovered evidence of a long vanished manor house and a decapitated skeleton. Now the proposed village hall which was to have been built on the site will have to wait.
And Paul Haygarth, a local estate agent, finds something that will halt the sale of a very desirable property known as The Old Vicarage. A dead body…
Meanwhile, DCI Gerry Heffernan and DI Wesley Peterson have been called out to look at a body that has been found on Terry Hoxworthy’s land. It soon becomes apparent that it’s been dumped there and that they have a murder investigation on their hands. Gerry recognises the victim as one time pop star, Jonny Shellmer, who had recently come to the live in the village. Wesley muses that Jonny had managed to ‘leave the world violently with a field of cows for company.’ But where was he murdered and by whom? And when Lewis, Terry’s teenage son, vanishes after selling a collection of medieval letters to a collector he ‘met’ online, his mum finds a gun in his room….
The clues seem to lead to Derenham’s past. Has it returned to haunt the present day residents. The Doom painting with its disturbing images of saints and sinners takes centre stage and Wesley begins to suspect that it may hold clues. The answer may lie in Jonny Shellmer’s past and in the events of 1966 as well as in the medieval letters.
This is the sixth book in the Wesley Peterson mysteries but it’s the first that I’ve read. I’m interested in Dooms and was intrigued by one being a central theme of the novel. Gerry and Wesley are a good double act and the contrast of their lives worked well. Gerry is a widower whose wife was killed in a hit and run in which the driver was never found. Wesley is married to Pam and they have a young baby, Michael. But he is aware of newly promoted DS Rachel Tracey’s attraction to him and with her sidekick, DC Steve Carstairs, around he needs not to act upon it.
Like the location of Midsomer Murders, Derenham is an apparently sleepy country town but with many dark secrets which come to light as the investigation progresses. The imagery of Dooms was well described as it was this element that intrigued me. I liked the blend of the historical and the present day with the device of linking the medieval letters, the gradual revelations of the terrible events in the Merrivale family and their echoes. I also liked the idea of the Doom holding clues with in it.
However, I felt that it became a little rushed at the end as the murderer was finally unmasked and it wasn’t who I thought it might be.
Also, I wasn’t convinced by Paul Haygarth’s actions after making his discovery at The Old Vicarage. Surely, he knew that it wouldn’t work? But desperate people in urgent need of selling a house will do stupid things as he did.
A Painted Doom was well plotted and the author masterfully wove them altogether. I would definitely read another one in the series.

[Larraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I dip in and out of this series rather than trying to read them in order. The previous book I read had Wesley with two children and his wife recovering from breast cancer. In this book Michael is a baby and Wesley is still relatively new at his job.

The only criticism that I had of the last book was that there was less a weaving together of past and present as in the previous books. That's not the case at all in this book which opens with a letter dated 1471 during the "War Of The Roses" in England.

The Devon Coast where Wesley now lives has become a haven for wealthy Londoners looking for second homes and/or retirement homes. When a formerly famous rock star is found dead in a field the hunt begins for his killer. At the same time Wesley's friend Neil, an anthropologist, is working on a dig that could yield some exciting finds. One of the questions is what happened to the family that lived there. When a local farmer finds a Medieval "doom" painting that has been sitting in the loft of his barn for years, there are clues. The letters that begin each chapter let the reader know well ahead of the characters in the book.

What I like about this series is how the past mirrors the present in so many ways and in so many details. I really enjoyed this book a lot. I'll be "dipping in" again soon.

[Marian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Just the right amount of characters and plot lines. I'd never heard of a doom before. And I didn't guess who done it.

The only flaw was the reasoning behind what the bad guy did what he did when he was young. Not giving specifics here so as not to be a spoiler. Too much of stretch. Didn't seem plausible to me. A case of the author trying to tidy things up and going a little too far.

While I enjoy the series, the weakest part from book to book is the author's treatment of Wesley's relationship with his wife and the added tension created with Rachel. The wife seems amazing but the author seems conflicted about letting her be amazing. Wesley seems like a jerk of a husband and father most of the time. And the extra tension thing is silly. It's like the author thinks that a mystery needs to have a little bit of romance or soap opera added to it. It's a mystery - it doesn't need it! I'd like to see both the wife and Rachel turn into strong characters and for Wesley to step up as well.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these DI Wesley Peterson books. They are all based around the South Devon area and each detective case is twinned with a historical murder which is always being pursued by the local archaeologist and best friend of Wesley's, Neil.

This story begins with the death of an aging rock star called Jonny Shellmer, who has returned to the village to buy a property. At the same time a 500 year old painting called "The Doom" has been found in a local barn and Neil who is currently excavating a medieval manor house, has found a headless skeleton. As the murders in the two different eras begin to be solved, the similarity between the two are identical!
It's very cleverly written and I personally have never been able to guess who either murderer was!
If you love Elly Griffiths, Ruth Galloway books, you will love this serious as they based around the same sort of stories but in different counties.

[John Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

My 6th of the series and with 23 more to go I wonder if I will get much further.

Regret that I didn't enjoy this one as much and felt that there was too much of a similarity developing with previous stories.


I still enjoy the background concerning the police team especially as we have learnt so much about them from previous books but even in this aspect there was some disappointment with the almost anticlimactic way one long standing question was answered.


Maybe it was because my interest had started to wane but I felt as if I was losing track of the characters in the main story which wasn't a good sign.


Was it  just me, I hope so. I will return to the series after a few different books and see if I feel the same.


19th Aug 2025

[Kerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the fifth entry in the Wesley Peterson series by Ellis, and the pace is a bit more leisurely than earlier books, but nonetheless is a good mix of old and new mysteries that touch upon the archaeology and culture of the fictional Tradmouth area (based on Dartmouth, England). It's fun to learn while enjoying any novel, and Ellis introduces some interesting, obscure historical elements into her contemporary stories, in this case, the discovery in an old barn of a 15th century "doom", a depiction of the potential horrors of the afterlife for medieval sinners. Is there a link for Wesley and his pal Neil between the past and present that will emerge in the new investigation of a murdered rock star?

[Carol Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fact that the theme of each novel is based on Historical facts, I find fascinating and when I have finally come to the end I have to do my own research on the subjects.
Having spent a good deal of time in Devon and can relate to the areas and towns which make the plot even more interesting. The characters are believable and have personalities and situations which are recognisable.
The research that has gone into each book in commendable. I have found the whole series interesting, a good old British Detective series written by one of those authors who, when they decide to terminate the collection leave you at a loss as to who and what to read next.

[Trevor · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the third of Kate Ellis' 'Wesley Peterson' novels that I've read and it is as good as the earlier two, which I rated 3. I've given this a 2, mainly because I'm beginning to find the storylines a little too repetitious and the main characters just a little flat. They joy of reading a series of novels featuring a common set of characters is seeing the characters develop over time and I think this is seriously lacking in this collection. What development there is seems to be among the minor characters. The major characters are all good and each has the potential to develop beyond the caricature.

[Virginia Van · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Lewis Hoxworthy discovers a long forgotten Medieval "Doom painting" in his father's barn, it becomes tied to a series of events including the murder of former rock star Jonny Shellmer, who is planning to buy a house in the Devon village of Derenham. Then Lewis goes missing, the owner of a new age shop selling angels is attacked, and it becomes clear that the Derenham Doom with its portrayal of hell and judgement holds the key. A well crafted mystery with enough clues and threads to create a challenging puzzle, with the added appeal of the story of the ancient Merrivale family reflecting the modern story.

[Liette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love that series and this book was up to my expectations.

This time, the story turns around a medieval family that was somewhat plagued by some mental issues and a modern day death, attempted murder and disappearance that all have a link between themselves.

I was glad that Wesley’s wife, Pam, wasn’t much in this story as I find he complaints and whining to be useless to the story. For once, I was also disappointed by the newly appointed sergeant Rachel whose view seemed to have narrowed with her misadventure of the previous book and her promotion.

On the other hand, Wesley, Gerry and Neil were their usual selves.

[Ribbqah · Rating 3 out of 5]

England’s medievil Catholic Churches still present and operating today under the auspice Church of England. A overindulged teenage boy hides in a barn to escape working and discovers a painted doom. Although most 11-13th century dooms were burnt, this doom survived and has two paintings (heaven and hell) with the Trinity between, were often hung in or outside the church to remind parishioners of their futures after death.
Dysfunctional families lived together over 1,000 years ago with fretting parents …as occurs today. Both families had missing dead bodies and both had disturbed teenagers making poor choices that affected many people.

[John Hardy · Rating 3 out of 5]

DI Wesley Peterson #6. Follows the typical pattern of this series. The ancient writings usually provided a clue. I get a bit sick of them, though. It drags the story out to be a little over-long. As usual there are many possible motives, and suspects, all unclear. DCI Heffernan is being a bit more of a nuisance than usual - personal issues. Wesley could be on track for family troubles if he doesn't pay more attention to them.
It's not a bad story, and the reader learns the special meaning of 'doom'. The things people have done in the name of religion over the centuries is truly horrifying.
Rating 3.3.

[Janet C. Simpson]

This series doesn’t seem to move forward so I’m not sure if I will continue reading. The personalities of the characters are weak I think. I don’t know the inner workings of the police service, but would a DCI and a DI partner up? I find Wesley Peterson a very weak character and seems able to drop everything when the annoying Neil Watson snaps his fingers. His poor wife! The DCI seems as thick as two short planks and Constable Steve should by now be out of CID and back in uniform pounding the beat!

[Mickey Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written tale of two eras. The historical accounts in this book are particularly interesting and the contemporary mystery is more compact than it is in some of her books. I don't like Prologues very much and this one did not seem to have any relevance until the end of the story. The characters are interesting and the teenager is very well portrayed. I do wonder how Detective Peterson manages to say married.

[Phaedra Casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book in this series I've read. To be honest, I picked it up as something to read while waiting for the next Elly Griffiths book to come out. I found it a bit slow and clunky to start with, but towards the end I couldn't put it down - the sign of a good who-dunnit. I didn't find the characters as interesting or fully-rounded as those in Elly Griffith's books - especially Neil, the archaeologist, but perhaps this will change if I read more in the series.

[Eadie Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devon UK - Lewis Hoxworthy finds a medieval painting in his barn. Rock star, Jonny Shellmer, is shot & found on Terry Hoxworthy’s field & Lewis goes missing. DI Wesley Peterson & Chief Gerry Heffernan need to figure out what is going on. The village of Derenham is full of secrets, ancient and modern. How does the medieval painting (a 500 year old Doom) hold the key? Read this series and find out how Ellis interweaves the past & present.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm addicted now to this series and its twisty turny plots and crime/history combination. I'm reading them one after another and becoming fond of the characters and invested in their lives and I'm really enjoying the land/seascapes of Devon. 'A Painted Doom' involves a family with a dark secret in the turbulent times of the Wars of the Roses. Its the same secret which devastates another family in the 1960s and leads to a murder in the present day for the Tradmouth team to solve.