Ann Cleeves

A LOCAL MYTH. A DEADLY THREAT.

A body is found by an early morning dog walker on the common outside Rosebank, a care home for troubled teens. The victim is Josh, a staff member, who never showed up to work.
DI Vera Stanhope is called out to investigate. Her only clue is the disappearance of fourteen-year-old resident Chloe. Vera can’t bring herself to believe that a teenager is responsible for the murder, but even she can’t dismiss the possibility.
Vera, Joe and new team member Rosie are soon embroiled in the case, but when a second body is found near the Three Dark Wives standing stones in the wilds of the Northumbrian countryside, folklore and fact begin to collide.
Vera knows she has to find Chloe to get to the truth, but it seems that the dark secrets in their community may be far more dangerous than she could ever have believed. . .


Vera Stanhope #11

The Dark Wives

Vera, Joe and co. are back in fine form.  Sadly they are all still grieving the loss of their colleague, Holly.  A new DC has been deployed with the team and she is big, brash, bold and everything Holly was not.  Which is probably just what they need!

Called out to a local private children's home, they find the body of Josh, student and volunteer, and 

 one of the young residents is missing.  Is she a victim, witness or suspect?

The hunt for Chloe leads the team around Northumbria and into the remote hills.  Another murder of a resident of Rosebank muddies the clues and Vera has to make some logic leaps to unravel the mess. 

I love that Vera is so untypical of most fictional detectives.  She's straightforward, down to earth and can be awkward.  She is gruff and caring at the same time.  As someone who actually works with these kinds of teams I can vouch for the warring personalities, dark humour survivor skillset and the pints in the pub after work! 

There are numerous twists and turns and red herrings. I can honestly say that I did not guess the murderer this time (don't tell my colleagues!). It illustrates the wash of money lining private companies pockets instead of looking after their vulnerable charges.

The description of the remote Northumbria is so evocative and really adds to the atmosphere of doom surrounding the area.

Nicola Sarah Brooks

Vera, Joe and co. are back in fine form.  Sadly they are all still grieving the loss of their colleague, Holly.  A new DC has been deployed with the team and she is big, brash, bold and everything Holly was not.  Which is probably just what they need!

Called out to a local private children's home, they find the body of Josh, student and volunteer, and 

 one of the young residents is missing.  Is she a victim, witness or suspect?

The hunt for Chloe leads the team around Northumbria and into the remote hills.  Another murder of a resident of Rosebank muddies the clues and Vera has to make some logic leaps to unravel the mess. 

I love that Vera is so untypical of most fictional detectives.  She's straightforward, down to earth and can be awkward.  She is gruff and caring at the same time.  As someone who actually works with these kinds of teams I can vouch for the warring personalities, dark humour survivor skillset and the pints in the pub after work! 

There are numerous twists and turns and red herrings. I can honestly say that I did not guess the murderer this time (don't tell my colleagues!). It illustrates the wash of money lining private companies pockets instead of looking after their vulnerable charges.

The description of the remote Northumbria is so evocative and really adds to the atmosphere of doom surrounding the area.

Another worthy read!

The Dark Wives Vera Stanhope #11

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