The Seagull

When Vera is sent to the local prison to give a talk to a group of prisoners she is approached by one of the inmates who says that he has information that he will give her if she checks up on his daughter. Former police officer, John Brace tells Vera about the body of Robbie Marshall that he placed in a drainage pipe at Whitley Bay twenty years previously. However when the body is recovered it is revealed that there are two bodies in the drainage pipe.

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.