The Blood Pit

DCI Gerry Heffernan and DI Wesley Peterson have been called to the site of a murder.  A man has been drained of all his blood in his home.  Two small entry wounds have been discovered on his neck.  How could he have allowed this to happen?

Surprisingly, at the same time Peterson’s friend, Dr. Neil Watson, an archaeologist, has received what appears to be a threatening letter that also discusses blood letting.

On the night of the Peterson’s anniversary, his mother-in-law was supposed to babysit, but she begged off, ruining the couple’s plans.  That same evening Peterson and Heffernan are called out to where a skeleton has been discovered.  The pathologist says that it had been there quite some time.

The following morning the pair are called out to another murder scene, which matches the first.  However, there seems to be nothing to connect the pair.  When the investigation is expanded to check for other similar cases, the Cheshire police inform them that they had had one, which they had suspected to be suicide, but would now share their info and review their own case in light of these two.

Up in Chester, Heffernan and Peterson discover that all three victims had been at the same school at the same time.  The day after Heffernan and Peterson speak to one of the teachers at the school, he is found dead.  The pathologist suspects poison.  Peterson also finds a suspicious email on the victim’s computer.

Can the Spider, as the press is calling the killer, be captured before he strikes again?  Author Kate Ellis has plenty of detective work remaining for Heffernan and Peterson before they can close the case.  She also provides the reader with a couple of surprises before the end.  A good, quick read.