"An Unhallowed Grave"
This is a contemporary mystery by Kate Ellis. While it is set in the modern day, there is a second thread woven in that harkens back to a murder in the fifteenth century.
There is a murder in a small English village, and the locals and police alike don't know why the victim was killed. She seemed to be well liked and respected by everyone. Detective Sergeant Wesley Peterson and his partner veteran Gerry Heffernan are faced with the difficult task of making sense of a woman's murder by hanging, and must also solve the mysteries of the past which seem to be related to the case.
The main characters in this story are very likable and well conceived. Wesley is a young black detective who is rather a fish out of water after his transfer to the small town of Tradmouth, and he is still negotiating his way around his new environment. He and his wife have a new baby, and the stress of marriage and parenthood is an undercurrent to his story.
Gerry Heffernan, an older policeman and recent widower, is a sturdy, experienced officer who respects Wes and is trusts his judgment. They work well as a team and share a camaraderie that seems natural and real.
In addition to the mysterious murder, a second mystery turns up when an archaelogical dig in a nearby churchyard uncovers medievil artifacts and another body, long-buried. The elements of this ancient mystery are eerily echoed in the modern one, with interesting results.
I enjoyed this story very much. It has a smooth pace, good dialogue, and believable characters who are smart and likable. The setting of a small English village is a good backdrop for the mystery as it unfolds, and the parallel story lines are interesting and well researched without becoming tedious. Kate Ellis has created a fascinating mystery that entwines the threads of two times and solves questions long unanswered. I recommend this book for readers on both sides of the pond.
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