‘The Shining Skull’  by Kate Ellis

Published by Soundings Audio Book. ISBN 978-1-84559-823-5 (10 CD’s)

Read by Peter Wickham

DI Peterson and Rachel are investigating a bogus taxi driver who abducts young women with blonde hair drives them to a remote place, and then cuts off their hair.  Whilst no harm, other than being scared half to death and having their hacked off, has come to these girls Wesley is worried that these abductions could escalate into something more sinister.

Meanwhile Marcus Fallbrooke abducted in 1976, returns home after thirty years and introduces himself to his half brother Adrian.  As Marcus was never found the case has remained open, and when Leah Wakefield a teenage singing sensation is also abducted, Wesley is concerned to discover many similarities between the current case and the unsolved thirty-year old one.

As in previous books in the series, Wesley’s friend, archaeologist Neil Watson  has a case of his own, to check on the bodies in a vault with the records —he is astonished to find that he has one extra body  for which he had no documentation and investigation leads him to a religious cult ca 1815.

On a personal level Wesley’s boss DCI Gerry Hafenhan, has a new girl friend Joyce who has the dilemma of trying to care for her mother and hold down a job, or put her in a home. Gerry’s dilemma is should he tell his daughter he has a girlfriend. Wesley, is a nice chap, so unsuspicious of his wife Pam who is has a secret—a secret that unfortunately Neil is privy to.

Peter Wickham is one of my favourite readers and brings exactly the right tone to Wesley Peterson and  I enjoyed the Liverpool accent of Gerry Hefenham.

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Lizzie Hayes