Info
Written By: Ann Cleeves.
Published By: Pan Macmillan.
Thanks to the publisher for sending me a physical copy of the book for the purpose of this review, also thanks to Random Things Blog Tour for adding me to the tour.
Overview
Vera Stanhope returns in the eleventh formidable novel in Ann Cleeves' acclaimed series
The man's body is found in the early morning light by a local dog walker on the common outside Rosebank, a care home for troubled teens. The victim is Josh, a staff member, who was due to work the previous night but never showed up.
DCI Vera Stanhope is called out to investigate the death. Her only clue is the disappearance of one of the home's residents, fourteen-year-old Chloe Spence. 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 Bell are soon embroiled in the case, and when a second connected body is found near the Three Dark Wives standing stones in the wilds of the Northumbrian countryside, superstition and folklore begin to collide with fact.
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 possible.
Overview taken from the official book press release.
Review
For those that have been following the long running series Vera either on TV or in the many books this was definitely one that people were waiting for, The Dark Wives is the next investigation for DCI Vera Stanhope and this particular one is dark not only by name but by the very nature too.
All is quiet in Rosebank as is normally the case that is until a body is found on the outskirts by a local dog walker the body turns out to be careful home worker Josh all seems standard investigating process that is until young care home Chloe Spence goes missing which turns the look of suspicion firmly in her direction. Vera from her years of investigative experience has a gut feeling that it just can't be Chloe I mean surely a teenager can't commit murder ??
All seems cut and shut in terms of the investigation that is until a second body mysteriously turns up by the stone monument known locally as the Three Dark Wives, Vera suspects something dark is in the midst here other forces may be at play, digging further could be deadly but dig Vera will do.
I will say this is probably one of the best thrillers I have read recently, I haven't been an avid fan of the series either in written form or on the TV but after reading this one I will certainly do some catching up. Anne Cleeves certainly knows her art form (37 books in is good going) and it shows on the pages. The first few pages set the tense atmosphere that grows throughout the book. For me a good thriller always has you wanting to know what happens and quite early on in this book you just need to know the answers.
Summary
Time now then for me to put my thoughts into a summary, overall I really enjoyed this book as thrillers go it definitely ticked all the boxes for me, the tension grew at a natural pace and the book had an almost hypnotic feel to it when you just can't out it down. I loved Anne's writing style and I definitely want to see more.
Verdict-Out of 5 ⭐
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
EXCELLENT
I give The Dark Wives an excellent full marks score of 5 ⭐, if I could give more I would one of the best books I've read this year, I may not have been a Vera fan but I am now. A definite must have for any bookshelf.
Note on the Author
ANN CLEEVES is the author of 37 critically acclaimed novels, an international bestseller translated into over 20 languages worldwide.
In 2017 was awarded the highest accolade in crime writing, the CWA Diamond Dagger.
She is the creator of popular detectives Vera Stanhope, Jimmy Perez and Matthew Venn, who can be found on television in ITV's Vera, BBC One's Shetland and ITV's The Long Call respectively. The TV series and the books they are based on have become international sensations, capturing the minds of millions worldwide.
Ann worked as a probation officer, bird observatory cook and auxiliary coastguard before she started writing. She is a member of 'Murder Squad', working with other British northern writers to promote crime fiction. Ann also spends her time advocating for reading to improve health and wellbeing and supporting access to books.
In 2021 her Reading for Wellbeing project launched with local authorities across the North East, and in 2022 she was awarded an OBE for her services to reading and libraries. The Dark Wives, is her 11th Vera novel.
She lives in Northumberland where the Vera books are set.
This review was part of the Random Things Blog Tour please check out the other bloggers on the tour
No comments:
Post a Comment