The Dark Wives - Ann Cleeves

 The Dark Wives - Ann Cleeves

Pub Date: Aug. 27, 2024

She read

When a staff member at a home for troubled teens is found murdered and a  fourteen year old female resident of the home disappears, Vera and her team are drawn to the countryside of Northumberland to investigate.  

I really enjoy Ann Cleeves’ writing, having read her Two Rivers series.  This book is the eleventh of the Vera Stanhope series (there are also some short stories); it is the second I have read.  Some may recognize the name Vera Stanhope from the very successful TV series based on these stories starring Blenda Blethyn and available on a number of streaming platforms.

Vera is a bit overweight and unkempt, very forthright, and no fashion plate. She isn’t always a team player. She is, however, a stellar detective. 

Cleeves is an excellent writer.  All of her books that I have read have been engrossing, well plotted, with good character development.  Her atmospheric, descriptive, detailed language draws the reader into the scenes.  

I did like the new addition to the team, Rosie Bell.  She is also quite the character! Although the main players’ stories progress with successive books, each one can be read as a stand alone.

Ann Cleeves is recommended for fans of British police procedurals and other mystery lovers.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress #Minotaur for the DRC.

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