Once again we soon become familiar with the islands, this time in Orkney while the previous books involving Jimmy Perez were set in Shetland. We also get to know the local villagers and discover that there are many secrets that may, or may not, be relevant to the case.
Settle down to once more becoming immersed with Jimmy Perez and his family as he investigates the death of his friend as well as subsequent deaths.
Rosie Bell is a new addition to the team, working with Joe, Charlie and Vera to solve the murders and locate Chloe. Vera greatly misses Holly who had died when working on a previous case. Would Rosie be able to fit in as a successful member of Vera's team?
The Dark Wives is number 11 in the Vera Stanhope series written by Ann Cleeves. As the detectives work to solve the murders and locate Chloe the reader gets to experience much of the Northumberland scenery plus a glimpse of the history of the former coal mining area. Three large standing stones, the Dark Wives, feature throughout the novel.
Ann Cleeves has written another suspenseful character driven murder mystery which will keep readers involved until the novel's conclusion.
The book being discussed in the podcast is The Darkest Evening, the ninth book in the Vera series published in 2021. Driving home in a storm Vera discovers an abandoned car by the side of the road. When she investigates she discovers a young child in the back of the car. Needing assistance she takes the child to a large house nearby. The house is known to her as members of her father's family live there. Why is the child in the back of the car alone and what has happened to the child's mother?
In the podcast Ann Cleeves discusses the importance of place in her novels. She especially likes the comparison of people who own land with the people who live on it. In The Darkest Evening the reader learns more about Vera's early life with her father.
For Ann Cleeves family and community are also important in her books. The author likes to play with relationships of both major and minor characters as the story evolves. She likes writing about ordinary people and how they would react in stressful circumstances. Compassion is important in the Vera novels. Vera is written as a real person. In The Darkest Evening there are themes of kindness and honesty and the importance of keeping family together.
Although when beginning a book there are plot lines, the story evolves as the writing progresses. However when reading a book, each reader will experience it differently.
Also in the podcast the importance of the editing of her books was discussed. She also discussed how in times of trouble such as the Great Depression and the Second World War people tended to turn to books, including crime fiction, to escape. This might help to explain why in the current uncertain times readers are devouring crime fiction.
Like many small communities there are numerous stories as to what might have happened in the community, now and in the past. Many of the inhabitants of this north Devon town belong to the Barum Brethren, a sect that Matthew's parents belonged to, as did he until he rebelled when a teenager. Returning to this region therefore brings back many memories from the past. The rivalry between Jen Rafferty and Ross May continues as they assist in the investigation.
Scully Cove appears to be a key to the investigation, but why? A second body is found at the cove then another key character disappears. As to be expected there are lots of twists and turns until the crime is solved.
The Raging Storm is the third book in the Two Rivers series by Ann Cleeves.
Rick had recently lost his television job when he was accused of sexual assault by a young intern. However he now had a new project which he revealed to his friends at the retreat - he is going to write a novel based on the events at the first reunion when one of the group drowned while attempting to cross the causeway at high tide. Next morning he is found dead in his room.
When Vera and her team go to the island to investigate they soon discover that there are many secrets to uncover involving an extended range of people associated with the victim, not just those on the island. Vera also wants to know more about the death that occurred forty-five years earlier as it may have a bearing on the present case as well as the assault allegations brought against Rick. As the investigation continues a second murder occurs and Vera and her team discover that they are also in danger.
The Rising Tide by Ann Cleeves is another excellent installment in the Vera Stanhope series (number 10). The atmospheric setting along with a collection of well drawn characters add to the suspense of finding the murderer before more people die.
This book formed the basis of an episode of Vera shown in Australia the week before Christmas 2023.
Set in North Devon, England, The Heron's Cry is the second book in the new Two Rivers series by Ann Cleeves.
When Matthew Venn is called to investigate the murder of Dr Nigel Yeo it is obvious that this is not going to be a simple case to solve. The murder occurred at an art studio used by Dr Yeo's daughter, Eve, and the murder weapon was a shard of glass from a vase that Eve had made. Investigations revealed that Dr Yeo had been researching the treatment of mental patients by medical authorities, including the death of a young man several years earlier. Who would want Nigel Yeo dead and why?
Then another body is discovered also stabbed with a shard of glass.
DI Matthew Venn and his team DS Jen Rafferty and DC Ross May work hard trying to establish links between three probable suicides and the two deaths in order to solve the crimes. They also have personal challenges to resolve.
The Heron's Cry is welcome addition to a new series dealing not only with crimes to be solved but with the lives of the police involved in solving the crimes as well as the life of the local community.
We first meet Matthew Venn at his father's funeral. His family belong to a strict religious sect and he became an outsider when he denounced the beliefs of the group. Consequently he observes the service from outside the church building. At the end of the service he receives a phone call alerting him to the discovery of a body on the beach not far from where he lives. The murder of Simon Walden is his first big case in this region where he grew up and left many years ago.
As Matthew Venn, Jen Rafferty and Ross May attempt to discover information about the victim in order to solve his murder, two women with learning disabilities disappear. The murder victim and the two women have links to the Woodyard, an art centre which also houses facilities for people with disabilities. The Woodyard is managed by Matthew's husband, Jonathan, and governed by a committee of management made up of town leaders.
As the novel progresses we meet a number of the key players in the community and gradually secrets are revealed. For the police a major focus is to locate the missing girls and discover how their disappearance is linked to the murder. Another interesting crime series to watch out for.
The Long Call is currently being made into a television series.
Investigating this cold case reveals much information about Whiley Bay's past history, particlarly the former club, The Seagull, destroyed in a fire many years previously. References to The Gang of Four - John Brace, Robbie Marshall, Hector Stanhope plus someone referred to as 'The Prof'. - occur during the case and Vera knows that finding out the identity of the Prof will help in solving the mystery. Then another body connected with the case is discovered. Many of the key players living in the town when the bodies were placed in the drainage pipe are still around but are reluctant to talk and Vera is dubious that she can always trust the information available.
The Seagull by Ann Cleeves is no. 8 in the Vera Stanhope series. It was the basis for episode 4 series 9 in the Vera television series.
Vera and her team discover that there are many suspects including three retired couples who live in buildings near the big house. As the investigation into the deaths of Patrick Randle and Martin Benton gets underway the initial discovery of what they had in common was their love of moths. Then another body was found revealing that there must be another connection between the victims.
As the plot is revealed the reader learns more of the lives and secrets of those living in the valley and of the past lives of the three people killed. Some members of Vera's team also have concerns regarding policing, particularly Holly.
The Moth Catcher by Ann Cleeves is another good book in the Vera Stonehope series - no. 7. The plot was also used for the Vera television series - no. 3 in series 6.
Margaret Krukowski lived in Mardle, a small seaside town where Harbour Street was the focal point of the community. However, when Vera and her team set out to find Margaret's killer they also find a number of long held secrets about Margaret and the town itself. Then a second woman is murdered in the town.
There are many suspects for the two murders evolving into a complex and perplexing case to solve. The focus of the book is not only on solving the case but also on the working relationships between members of Vera's team.
Harbour Street is number 6 in the Vera series by Ann Cleeves. The book was the basis for episode 1 in series 4 of the television series, Vera.
The investigation examines why each participant is at the retreat and what they hope to achieve by attending. The guests are not just aspiring writers but are also lecturers and tutors. When a second murder occurs it becomes apparent that the murderer has staged the setting of the murder to resemble a setting for a murder written by one of the guests at the retreat. Working on a case committed by someone interested in creating crime fiction provides challenges for Vera and her team as they race to avoid a third murder. The chemistry between Vera and members of the team continue to be a feature of the novel.
The Glass Room is book number 5 in the Vera television series. The plot from this book has not featured in the TV series.
Jenny Lister was a social worker who had been overseer of a case where a young boy had drowned. Connie Masters had been appointed as the social worker responsible for the family and when the boy drowned she not only lost her job but also was hounded by the media. Connie and her young daughter, Annie, had moved to the village of Barnard Bridge to escape but she was soon recognised and the victimisation began again. With the discovery of Jenny Lister's body she became a prime suspect.
As the investigation gathers pace it soon becomes obvious that there is much more to this death and Vera and Joe with the rest of the police team have a challenge to persuade the villagers to reveal their secrets in order to discover what really happened.
As well as solving the crime this book is largely about the working relationship between Vera and Joe, her younger colleague.
Silent voices formed the plot of the second episode of the second series of the television series, Vera.
Long held secrets in this small community are unearthed as the investigation continues. There are many suspects, particularly among a group of men who share the hobby of bird watching and were close to the scene where the second body was discovered.
The novel is character driven focusing on the past and present lives of the victims and their families plus the suspects. We also learn more about Vera and members of her team.
Hidden depths is the third book in the Vera Stanhope series and part of the plot formed the basis of the first episode in the first series of the Vera television series.
As Vera investigates the murders she uncovers many long hidden stories about the villagers of Elvit and many possible suspects before the truth is revealed.
Telling Tales is the second book in the Vera Stanhope series by Ann Cleeves. It formed the basis of the second episode of the first season of the television series, Vera.
The story is revealed in three sections - part one describes the initial experiences of Rachel, Anne and Grace as they start the project as well as revealing past events and personal experiences in their lives; part two introduces Inspector Vera Stanhope and Sergeant Joe Ashworth who arrive to investigate a murder as well as reasons for a suicide that occurred at a nearby farm, while part three continues the story from Vera's viewpoint including establishing links between the previous two deaths and a third death. Rachel, her mother and Anne also spend time exploring leads, later passing on the information to Vera. During the investigation Vera remembers an unsolved case of the disappearance of a two year old boy in the same area many years before. This proves to be a challenging series of crimes to solve.
The television series, Vera, based on the characters and sometimes the book plots, first aired in England in 2011. The plot of The Crow Trap formed the basis for the story in episode 3 of series 1.
Dervla McTiernan Book club that isn't a book club book selection for March 2025.
Secrets of the Soil - Willow Reeves returns home when her father discovers a body in the sand, reminding her of her earlier life on a commune when she was growing up
The Writer in Residence - Jackie Tait returns to Shetland to discover the truth about an apparent suicide many years previously (Jimmy Perez makes an appearance at the end of the story)
The spinster - As Joan does her knitting she recalls events that occurred when the miners first came to the island (a Jimmy Perez story)
Stranded - A young student meets a young girl at a party, but who is she really?
Smoothmothers - Three people from the south spend the evening at a pub - only one survives. When Jimmy Perez investigates a story from the past is revealed
Hector's Other Woman - When Vera and her father visit Holy Island, her father slops away for an encounter with another woman. Thirty-five years later Vera and the other woman meet.
The Pirate - When artist, Maureen Dance, noticed the young girl wearing the pirate hat she kew that the past had returned to the island.
Stranded in Skokholm by Lynne Chitty (featuring George and Mollie Palmer-Jones) - Thge discovery of a postcard on the ground produces questions about the owner of the card and the person who sent it.
A collection of miscellaneous short (sometimes very short) stories set in the northern islands of Scotland.
This novella is only 94 pages and is published as part of the Quick Read series designed to introduce well known authors to adults who want a quick read or may not have read for pleasure for a while. The story is therefore slight compared to Ann Cleeves normal novels but I can see the value in the Quick Read series in introducing books to readers.
The first four books in the series - Raven Black, White Nights, Red Bones and Blue Lightning - were written as the Four Seasons Quartet. The next four - Dead Water, Thin Air, Cold Earth and Wild Fire - formed the Four Elements Quartet.
The weather is a dominant feature of the islands so each section of the book involves one of the seasons. As well as descriptions of the physical features of the islands, photographs show us the beauty of the landscape and the wildlife who inhabit the different islands at various times of the year. We also learn about the families living in Shetland (often for many generations) how they live, customs, occupations old and new plus festivals and other entertainment.
The author often provides background information about incidents relating specifically to Shetland that feature in the novels. If you enjoy reading the books you will enjoy this guide to the islands that feature so prominently in each novel.
When a family from England moves to Shetland to live in a house they have purchased and renovated the locals are not impressed. When the body of the original owner of the house is found hanging in the byre on the property some local residents increase their hostility, even though the death was declared suicide. Consequently when the body of a nanny who looks after the children of the local doctor is found dead in the same location consternation from some community members increases.
As Jimmy Perez, Willow Reeves and Sandy Wilson investigate the case we learn of tensions that exist between members of the two families - adults and children - most involved in the case as well as issues in other families. Gossip concerning events in this small isolated community has a tendency to spread like wild fire, often making the investigation of the case more difficult.
When Willow arrives in Shetland she also has news for Jimmy that causes him to reevaluate what he wants from life. Sandy also makes an important decision. The environment of the Shetland islands once again forms a major feature of the book.
After a long illness Magnus Tait died however his burial was interrupted when a landslide of mud and water passed through the cemetery on its way to the sea. During its journey the landslide crashed through a croft in its path and when the house was later checked the body of a woman was found. Who was the woman, why was she in the supposedly unoccupied house and why was she murdered are just some of the questions faced by Jimmy Perez, Willow Reeves and Sandy Wilson as they investigate.
Once again the midwinter Shetland landscape sets the scene for this novel. The police need to uncover long held secrets of members of the local community as they end up investigating two murders which are probably connected. As the novel progresses we also learn more about the lives, concerns and fears of those investigating the crimes.
Cold Earth is number 7 the Shetland series by Ann Cleeves.
