Flight of a Witch, Ellis Peters, Mysterious Press, 1964, 232 pp
This is the third book in Ellis Peters's Inspector Felse series. I am so glad I discovered this writer and her series. Every book has been great.
The setting is a village in Shropshire, just on the border of Wales. The time is contemporary for 1964. Annet Beck, an 18 year old beauty, is loved by every lad in the town. She has a troubled relationship with her parents and is wont to disappear. This time she walks up into the bordering hills and does not return for five days. When she reappears she claims to have no memory of what she did.
While she was gone a man was murdered in nearby Birmingham and Annet was seen there. Tom Kenyon, a schoolmaster who boards with the Becks, a high school chap (both of whom are in love with Annet) and Inspector Felse set out to solve the mystery.
I think, more than any other mystery series I read, Ellis Peters delves into the psychological depths of human relationships. She does so with so much perception into her characters that I am quite spellbound as I read.
The Hallowmount, the hill over which Annet disappeared, has a local legend for being inhabited by witches. Is Annet secretly a witch? She certainly is a secretive young woman. With exquisite taste Ellis Peters examines sexuality, femininity, passion and crime. It is an intoxicating mix.
(Flight of a Witch is available in hardcover by order from Once Upon A Time Bookstore. It is also available as an ebook.)
OMG, I never thought of her other series, I loved so so much the Brother Cadfael series and was disappointed when I got to the last page of the last book. thanks for this!
ReplyDeleteYes, this series came before Brother Cadfael. I want to read those too, but I started with these so I want to finish them first.
DeleteI never read this series, but I, too, am a big fan of her Brother Cadfael books and have read every one. This sounds like more reading pleasure to look forward to.
ReplyDeleteSomething about this author is unique, that is for sure.
DeleteSounds like a wonderful read!
ReplyDeleteThat it was!
DeleteHmm. How intriguing. I'll have to give a mystery of hers a try. Has some atmosphere !
ReplyDeleteYes, it doesn't get much more atmospheric than Wales!
DeleteI kept thinking why the author's name was so familiar, then someone above mentioned Brother Cadfael series. This one sounds very good. I'll keep it in mind.
ReplyDeleteEllis Peters wrote the Inspector Felse series before the Brother Cadfael series. I decided, because of My Big Fat Reading Project to hold off on the Cadfael series until I had read the Felse series but I am looking forward to that second series.
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