Dead Man's Lane

Wesley Peterson #23

by Kate Ellis

The gripping twenty-third mystery in the Wesley Peterson series from acclaimed crime writer Kate Ellis. 'A beguiling author who interweaves past and present' The Times

Strangefields Farm is notorious for its sinister history ever since artist Jackson Temples lured young women there to model for disturbing works of art. Some of those girls never left the house alive.

Now, decades later, Strangefields is to be transformed into a holiday village, but the developer's hopes of its dark history being forgotten are dashed when a skull is found on the site. And when a local florist is found murdered in an echo of Temples' crimes, DI Wesley Peterson fears that a copy-cat killer is at large. Especially when another brutal murder in a nearby village appears to be linked.

As Wesley's friend, archaeologist Dr Neil Watson, uncovers the secrets of Strangefields' grisly past, it seems that an ancient tale of the dead returning to torment the living might not be as fantastical as it seems. And Wesley must work fast to discover who's behind the recent murders . . . before someone close to him is put in danger.

Praise for Kate Ellis's compelling crime mysteries:

'Unputdownable' Bookseller

'The chilling plot will keep you spooked and thrilled to the end' Closer

'A fine storyteller, weaving the past and present in a way that makes you want to read on' Peterborough Evening Telegraph

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Procedural, Murder Mystery, Historical Fiction, Archaeology

388 pages, Hardcover

First published February 7, 2019

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

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dead Man's Lane is the twenty-third instalment of this superb police procedural series featuring DI Wesley Peterson and based in the stunning Devon countryside. However, it would read perfectly well on its own as the story is self-contained. When Wesley and his team are called in to investigate the brutal murder of local florist, Linda Payne, they find themselves baffled by what they see. Everything about the gruesome slaying reminds them of the decades-old case of serial killer Jackson Temples who was convicted of bumping off four women and sentenced to a 30-year prison term for his barbaric actions. Is this a copycat killer and Temples groupie or is the similarities merely a coincidence?

This above is the primary plotline. However, there is a secondary thread which revolves around a body being discovered at Temples former home, known as Strangefields. Both of these storylines are gripping and compelling and I found myself unable to stop reading. The unique and potent mix of police procedural and historical crime fiction makes this addictive and compulsively readable, and the plentiful twists, surprises and misdirection are executed adeptly. The cases are complex and fascinating with a superb sense of time and place which added to the atmosphere. It's well-paced and gains your attention pretty quickly and from then it never falters. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Piatkus for an ARC.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Shauna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The central theme in this book is people coming back from the dead. This radiates through both the modern and the historical stories. What I did find increasingly irritating is that Wesley has become the focus of female attention and it seems to be turning his head. From a previously happily married man he is now tempted by not just Rachel but now an old flame who surfaces in this story.
Just how easy is it to disappear, presumed dead and then carve out a new life I wonder? Not quite as easy as the author would have you believe, especially in this high tech age

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book wouldn't allow me to put it down, so instead of sleeping I read through the night. There is just one book from this series I haven't yet read so I will soon make up for that before the newest book is released here in US later this summer. Yes, I am a fan of the series. I find the Devon location of interest and the weaving of archaeology with crime always keeps me turning the page. There are a number of characters attempting to stay under the radar for various reasons with many secrets to be uncovered before more loss of life.

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group Ltd for a review copy of Dead Man’s Lane, the twenty third novel to feature DI Wesley Peterson of the Devon police.

When a local florist, Linda Payne, is found murdered Wesley and the team are on the case but it presents a puzzle. In 1996 local artist, Jackson Temples, was convicted of the murder of four young women and sentenced to 30 years. Linda’s murder is eerily reminiscent of these crimes but with Temples locked up what is going on? In the meantime his old home, Strangefields, is being converted into holiday homes until a body is unearthed.

I thoroughly enjoyed Dead Man’s Lane which is a good mixture of police procedural and historical investigation. It has taken me long enough but this is the first Wesley Peterson novel I have read, brought to it by the very good Albert Lincoln series. This is not as dense as those novels although equally absorbing and has a lighter tone. I like the idea of two separate investigations, one very much in the present and the other dating to the seventeenth century. The historical investigation mixes diary entries from the time to tell the tale and is interspersed with Wesley’s friend Neil’s excavation. As Neil has the diaries it’s more a case of describing the excavation. I found this mix fascinating and very readable. The modern day murder plot is also absorbing. It is wide ranging and with no immediate suspects or motive Wesley grabs any loose thread until a more coherent picture starts to emerge. I really like this gradual funnelling of information to reach a conclusion. I also like the realistic way that other crimes and secrets get discovered and solved in the course of the investigation.

The novel is told from various points of view as required. It fleshes out the narrative for the reader without giving any hint of how the novel will develop or be resolved. It is this mystery that kept me turning the pages. Mostly the novel revolves around Wesley and I’m not too sure if I like him. He seems a bit self centred. Nevertheless he is a smart investigator, able to move the case forward with his clear thinking.

Dead Man’s Lane is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

[LavenderPoodle · Rating 2 out of 5]

What I like about the series (I have read several titles) and this book:

- the atmosphere
- the integration of archeology and forensic science
- the general plot and plot twists


What I do not like:

- the repetitive style of storytelling
- the flat characters (Tim is always surrounded by women whose main characteristic is how much they are drawn towards him; Pam is mainly ill and very insecure; Della is mainly egoistic and a nuisance; Jerry is mainly a jolly-grouchy northerner...)
- the way the cliffhangers are done (they often feel very unnecessary).

So even though I have appreciated the obvious giant amount of work that has been put in the series I felt more annoyed and impatient than usual with this particular one and I think this will now be my last one.

2.5 stars

[Louise Marley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Kate Ellis's Wesley Peterson crime series and I've read all of them! It is the combination of a fiendishly difficult puzzle to solve running alongside a historical mystery that pulls me in every time.

No one knows how Dead Man's Lane got it's name but everyone's heard of the notorious Strangefields Farm. Twenty years ago, an artist by the name of Jackson Temples murdered four beautiful young girls before he was caught and sent to prison - protesting his innocence all the way. Now someone appears to be copying his murders - or was Jackson innocent all along?

It is hard to review this book without giving away any spoilers! Although I read it in sizeable chunks, I did find it hard to work out who-was-who at the start. There are a lot of characters, but there is a good reason for this, and murder mysteries do need a good choice of potential suspects and victims! Once I got into the book, I was completely gripped and read the last half in one go!

I particularly enjoyed the historical parts, explaining the origins of how that road got its name, and the gruesome deaths (and burials!) that happened at the farm over the centuries. And Kate's plots are always so clever I can never work out 'whodunnit'. I also enjoy catching up with the regular characters and getting a glimpse into how their lives are progressing. (Memo to Rachel: Don't do it!)

It is not essential to have read the previous books in this series but I feel you would definitely get more out of this story if you have. It would appeal to anyone who loves the 'puzzle' kind of murder mystery or fans of authors who mix murder mysteries and archaeology, such as Elly Griffiths.


Thank you to Kate Ellis and Piatkus for my copy of this book, which I requested from NetGalley and reviewed voluntarily.

[Chinch · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book at a holiday stay and decided to read it because of the high rating on goodreads. However, from the first page on, I was disappointed by how dull each and every sentence was. It was simply a statement of facts, one after the other. There were several strange phrases that were repeated in different contexts that left me wondering if the author actually wrote the book themselves or outsourced it, and someone wrote it in their style.

None of the characters were appealing. I felt like I had walked into a British tv series that had been playing for years, and all the characters had formative experiences in previous episodes, and I was rapidly catching up. There were so many people in this book. Many of whom were returning characters. And several extras who didn't have a distinct identity, and it was hard to keep track of them all.

There was so much going on as well. I felt like I needed to construct a board with characters and connections just to keep track of everything.

I finished it in 3 days just so I could get to the bottom of things before I left the book behind. In the end, there were so many plotholes that I was left puzzled. The solution doesn't really fit together.

I've decided to let my brain cells rest and not try to plug unpluggable holes. Detective Wesley Peterson and gang are simply not my cup of tea

[Lynn Hutchinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book interesting, the characters were likeable and the plot well-written.

[Melanie Peak · Rating 5 out of 5]

23rd in the series, great characters and storyline. A proper good twists at the end which I just managed to guess before I got to the reveal. really enjoyed this book.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

The latest DI Wesley Peterson novels wasn't too bad, but it dodn't have me desparate to know what happened next.

Kind of bland a lot of the way through, making it hard to review.

For fans of the series only.

[Puzzle Doctor · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the strongest titles in a very strong series.

[Vivienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thanks to Little, Brown Book Group U.K. /Piatkus for an eARC via NetGalley of Kate Ellis’ ‘Dead Man’s Lane’ in exchange for an honest review.

“Some paths lead only to the grave.”

In the late 1990s Strangefields Farm became notorious after artist Jackson Temples had lured young women there to model for disturbing works of art. Some of those girls never left the house alive. Temples was convicted of their murders and imprisoned.

Now Strangefields is being redeveloped as a holiday village. Yet when a skull is discovered it triggers an investigation even if it appears to be centuries old. On top of this a local woman is murdered in a fashion that is reminiscent of Temples. Interspersed with the police investigation are occasional entries from the journals of a 17th Century gentleman visiting Strangefields.

Ellis’ mysteries always have a link to the past and her Author’s Note gives her readers details of the real life historical influences for this tale.

This is the twenty-third in Ellis’ DI Wesley Peterson series of police procedurals. I have previously read nineteen of them and given them consistent 4-5 star reviews. So I began reading with confidence in Ellis’ storytelling and well rounded characterisations. It was like meeting up with old friends after a time away. My favourite character since the start has been DS Rachel Tracey.

The Wesley Peterson mysteries are always such a delight with plenty of suspects along with the intriguing historical connections. This was no exception and proved a highly engaging and satisfying whodunnit.

[Kerrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wesley Peterson's boss Gerry was on the investigation that saw the conviction of Jackson Temples for the death of a number of young women. However one of the young victims was never found and Jackson Temples has throughout his imprisonment always refused to confess his guilt. Now a skull has turned up. Could it be from the missing body?

And two people are now claiming to have seen people they thought were dead.

The strands of this plot are cleverly interwoven with a journal begun in 1666, which among other things, describes the steps taken to stop the dead from rising. I like the interweaving of archaeological considerations with the main story. A very good read.

I have read far too few titles by this author.

[Jan Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strangefield Farm had a bad name. Gruesome murders had happened there, and when developers began work there and uncovered several skeletons, the killings start again, despite Jackson Temple -the man convicted of those murders and house's original owner - being in prison.

The premise of copycat killer V miscarriage of justice is a good one. I have enjoyed a great many of the Wesley Patterson books, of which Dead Man's lane (#23)and it did keep me page turning.
But... I found the sub plots (Wesley's wife sulking like a teenager because he spoke to another woman, and Sergeant Rachel Tracey still mooning after him despite her pending wedding) quite exasperating, hence the lower rating. lower 4 rating (7/10

Not a bad read as a crime novel, and one that Ellis fans will love.

[Sherri B · Rating 3 out of 5]

These books have lost their way. The writing is still crisp, clear and interesting. The plots just dont work though. When part of the solution is that several people just left and changed their names -- but continued to work and travel and presumably get sick and register to drive etc...in this day and age, with no special skills...naw.

[Larraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fairly recent book in the Wesley Peterson series, published in 2019. It's a very popular and long running series. She also has another series, the Joe Plantagenet series, which she has, apparently, abandoned or perhaps it hadn't sold well plus a limited series starring a scarred World War 1 veteran, Albert Lincoln, which she says was meant to be a limited series.

If you are unfamiliar with the character, Wesley is a police officer in a seaside town in Devon. He had been a police officer specializing in art and antiquities in London, but now he's just pursuing ordinary cases like robberies and murders. He has an unusual education for a police officer: a degree in archaeology.

A series of gruesome murders in the town adds to the burden already felt by Wesley's boss, the Chief Inspector. There have been a series of burglaries in the area. A woman posing as a social services workers talks elderly people into allowing her to "check their security." She and her partner have a nice collection of expensive jewelry.

The murders are in the style of an artist who was found guilty of the murders of several young woman who were strangled and had their faces mutilated after death. Temple has always denied his guilt and spoke of a fellow artist who had a studio in his home, Strangefields. After the murders were discovered the other artist, Jonny Sykes, disappeared and was never found so the authorities believe that the murderer simply made him up. Most of the women's bodies were recovered except for Gemma Pollinger's whose body was never found.

Strangefields has it's own grisly history as Wesley soon discovers when he shares information with Neil his archaeologist friend from his college days.

I had my suspicions as to who the murderer was and it was confirmed, but it was interesting to see how the author gets us to that conclusion.

I still have a lot of catching up in the series, plus the final book in the Lincoln series and a new Wesley Peterson are due to come out this year.

[Anne, Unfinished Woman · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a long, SLOW read. I was not drawn to the characters. Both DI Peterson and DCI Hefferman seemed weak, "head in their hands", unorganized and lost. Peterson was too interested in other women, but in a vague way, while DS Tracey was in doubt about her marriage in the presence of her mirrored reaction to Peterson. There were many persons to interview each revealing a minute clue that usually seemed to go nowhere. While three cases were open in the present the story alternated with the contents of a diary of a gentleman, who had lived at Strangefields, scene of part of the current story, in the late 1600s. This account related the killing and buriel of persons believed to have committed murder and who were ritualistically interred in a chapel, with large boulders on their bodies so they could not come back from the dead. This idea of a Revenant seems mirrored in the present story as various characters have seen people they believed to be dead in Tradmouth.

The covicted killer Jackson Temples MO has allegedly been copied with the new victims. So there is the old case against which the new occurs, with the venue of Strangefields, where Temples had killed multiple girls, and the method of killing, as well as numerous individuals who had a connection to him, including his half sister. Each of these connections lies or withholds their relationship to him. There is the cliched female fan who is intent on defending him and wanting to marry him. And alongside this is the archaeological site created when old bones are found on the site of the old farm where a new luxurious holiday park is being built.

The plot jumps around, is vague, plodding and boring at times. I confess that I have not read any of the previous installments of this series, and so those may have revealed more about the characters and built a more solid and interesting family. But as of this reading I do not plan to read any more of the books.

[V.E. Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't believe that Kate Ellis is up to number twenty-three already in her excellent Wesley Peterson series and, happily, she and her lead detective show no signs of flagging! In this outing, local florist Linda Payne is found murdered and her death evokes memories of a local series of killings committed years earlier by a man called Jackson Temples. Wesley's boss, Gerry Heffernan, worked on that case and remains convinced that Temples is guilty as sin. There is however an excavation underway at Temples former home, Strangefields Farm, where Wesley's friend, Dr Neil Watson, is in charge. Soon enough, a body is unearthed there and two horrible scenarios emerge: a Temples copycat is at large or Jackson Temples is as innocent as he has always claimed and the true killer is out there still plying his trade...
"Dead Man's Lane" follows the established formula for this series in that a modern day investigation plays out alongside a historical one but this time I preferred the former to the latter (usually it is reversed). The killings at the old communal farm, and the doubtful guilt of the long incarcerated Temples, really grabbed my interest and I was a bit less intrigued by the old diary entries, though they did provide a satisfactory tie-in to the title of the book. As always, the Devon countryside and the town of Tradmouth were both definite highlights of the novel and it was nice to feel that, at last, the long-running Wesley/Rachel storyline may finally have been resolved. All that is needed now is for Wes and Della to finally make friends and all will be well in DI Peterson's life! Overall, this is a strong and absorbing book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Four stars!

[Billie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some paths lead only to the grave . . .
Strangefields Farm is notorious for its sinister history ever since artist Jackson Temples lured young women there to model for disturbing works of art. Some of those girls never left the house alive.
Now, decades later, Strangefields is to be transformed into a holiday village, but the developer's hopes of its dark history being forgotten are dashed when a skull is found on the site. And when a local florist is found murdered in an echo of Temples' crimes, DI Wesley Peterson fears that a copy-cat killer is at large. Especially when another brutal murder in a nearby village appears to be linked.
As Wesley's friend, archaeologist Dr Neil Watson, uncovers the secrets of Strangefields' grisly past, it seems that an ancient tale of the dead returning to torment the living might not be as fantastical as it seems. And Wesley must work fast to discover who's behind the recent murders . . . before someone close to him is put in danger.

This is the twenty-fourth in Ellis’ DI Wesley Peterson series of police procedurals. It can easily be read as a standalone if you have not read the others in the series.
It's wonderful to pick back up with the characters again as it feels like meeting up with old friends.
Wonderful well written plot with plenty of twists and turns to keep you glued and guessing.
Amazing characters that you love to read about.
Really enjoyable read as always.
Hope there will be plenty more to come with these characters.

My thanks to Little, Brown Book Group U.K. /Piatkus for an eARC via NetGalley.

[Cathy Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dead Man's Lane is yet another deeply satisfying mystery from the talented Kate Ellis. Her Wesley Peterson police procedural series always features dual timelines: one in the present and one in the past, both of which involve the same location. I always learn something new when I read a book in this series. This time as the sinister past of Strangefields Farm was revealed, I learned about deviant burials.

I do admit that I had to smile when I learned that developers were turning the former home of a serial killer with an address on Dead Man's Lane into luxury holiday homes. I mean, what could possibly go wrong? And as usual, I had to deduce how the historical timeline of Strangefields tied in with what was going on in the present. I love how Ellis ties everything together. Do the present-day murders tie into what Jackson Temples did? Did Temples actually kill those girls? Did one of the developers actually see a man reported to be dead? Who's robbing local elderly residents? What, exactly, does the history of that farm have to do with what's happening? In Dead Man's Lane, identity is key. Do we really know who all these people are? The journey to enlightenment is an enjoyable one, as it normally is with a Wesley Peterson mystery.

If you're in the mood for a character-, history-, and mystery-rich read, Dead Man's Lane is it. If you're in the mood for a long-running, high quality mystery series in which the cast of characters become friends and family, start at the beginning with The Merchant's House. I will never intentionally miss reading a book in this series. In fact, I've already started reading the next one!

[John Hardy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read and liked several books from this series, and in general they are a good read, but sometimes there are also too many annoyances. Of course, the overall plots are similar - human bones found, maybe during property development. Are they historical or current enough for police investigation? DI Wesley Peterson will have to determine that, and of course his old mate Neil Watson gets involved as an archaeology inspector. DCI Gerry Heffernan still likes to get out of the office more than he should, but he is still a solid copper despite his personal problems. Then there are usually extracts from a diary or suchlike from hundreds of years ago which are supposed to tie up old threads with current ones, but in fact rarely shed any light on the matter.
This story follows those guidelines, but we begin to see why Wesley is still a DI after so many investigations. He's a bit careless, to be honest, potentially putting other people at risk. Could it be that he's paying a bit too much attention to the opposite sex? Well, they are certainly paying a lot of attention to him. He meets an old flame on a police matter, and eats a casual lunch with her, but somehow cannot bring himself to tell his wife, and he also lies to his boss. It just doesn't ring true.
The book was readable and the plot fairly interesting, so I'll award a rating of 3.3.

[Louise Bath · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strangefields Farm in Devon is being transformed into a holiday village, but its sinister past can't help but come barrelling into the present when a skull is found on the site. Artist Jackson Temples is serving time in prison for the grisly murders of young girls that he lured to Strangefields to pose for unsettling portraits, and DI Wesley Patterson begins to fear that there's a copycat killer at large when more murders in Temples' style are committed.

A real page-turner, this is the first book by Kate Ellis that I've read, and I look forward to reading more. Ellis sets her Wesley Peterson novels in Devon, where he's the first black officer at his level in the station where he works, but interestingly she disguises placenames; eg her 'Tradmouth', I'm guessing, is Dartmouth, whilst 'Neston', given Ellis' description of it, is most likely to be Totnes. Granted there are a lot of faintly contrived coincidences, but I was quite happy to let those pass. Ellis' characters seem slightly flat and interchangeable, but that might be because this is the 23rd book in the series and it may be that Ellis feels there's no reason to keep reintroducing them!

[Sarah Hearn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book because I didn’t figure out whodunit right till almost the very end, and even then, it was by process of elimination. Ellis writes very smoothly, the characters are clearly drawn, and the plots are believable. I always read the author’s notes, though not till I’ve finished the book, and with this one, she set out how she came up with the idea for Dead Man’s Lane. This is the second book of hers I’ve read that had a time travel aspect to it. This time, it was a very old diary, dated from the years 1666 and subsequently, 1685, that dealt with the subject of “revenants” since the modern portion of the novel also had that idea as the underlying message, i.e., people keep seeing people they thought - everyone thought - were dead. I can’t wait to read another Wesley Peterson book.

[Theunis Snyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner by Kate Ellis. Her inventiveness amazes me. How she thinks of the plots in her different stories is beyond me. There is always something new and original. The detective Wesley Peterson, his family, his friend Neil Watson, the archeologist, and his colleagues in the police once more feature in a baffling mystery. They are like old friends and over the years we have grown fond of them all, except for Wesley’s mother in law. But this time she even helps a little bit with the investigation. An unputdownable mystery with many strands. And as always there is a link with an archeological dig nearby. A neat solution and a final scene which is both comic and tragic. Luckily it doesn’t concern the characters we love. I just love the books of Kate Ellis.

[Amanda Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strange fields farm is notorious for the disappearance and murder of 3 girls, the killer caught and in prison. When a friend of Wesley comes down from London a architect re-doing strange fields in to holiday apartments she meets up with Wesley and says she’s seen someone who she thought was dead, but Wesley is caught up in a case of a woman’s murder who was murdered in the same way the murderer of Strange Fields farm is it a copy cat or is it the real murder?
I found this so disappointing I knew what the twist would be and who was behind it before I got 1/2 way through the book it was so predictable, I love Kate Ellis writings but this one I was disappointed

[Christine Rennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book by Kate Ellis that I have read and found it really interesting and intriguing.
The storyline focused on Strangefields Farm which was to be transformed into a luxury holiday complex.
It was previously the site of brutal murders of attractive females who all modelled for the artist who lived there and was convicted of the young women’s murders.
The storyline is interwoven with the tale of the of the revenants which gives the whole storyline a spooky feel to the latest murders.
An excellent read with all different plots and intrigues to keep the reader interested.
Highly recommended.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy to read mystery set in Great Britain. It's a few mysteries in one. One from the past as skeletons halt a current housing development, and one from the present as a convicted criminal declares his innocence, new victims are found, and supposedly dead people reappear years later. The killer wasn't obvious though the plot was simple once explained. The misdirection served it's purpose as I wondered how the past and the present would collide, and which of the shady characters killed the girls. I just wish the bones had more of a purpose in the story rather than just being backstory for the title and a museum exhibit.

[Bobby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good Wes thriller so was excited to have the opportunity to read the latest in the series. This book was as good as the others in the series, and it seems that it continues to be written by teh author herself rather than, as other seriess seem to do, pass this on to a ghost writer when the characters become completely different. We have our usual cast here Wes, annoying Neil, solid Gerry, demmanding Della etc! If you enjoyed the others you will enjoy this. If you haven't read any yet, then get reading them you've lots to catch up on!

[Phaedra Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having only read a couple of earlier Wes Peterson books, I was pleasantly surprised at how much better this later one is. Having said that, I've only read three, and already some of the themes have been repeated, eg newly discovered Medieval / 17th C diaries. I'm an archivist, so I find the idea that the characters can pick up a hundreds of years old hand-written diary and just read it quite amusing. I also cringe whenever they casually throw them onto the back seats of cars, or stuff them in their pockets!