The Dark Wives by Ann Cleeves

THE DARK WIVES by Ann Cleeves is the latest (#11) in the Vera Stanhope mystery series. These are generally best read in order, but the individual stories (see reviews for The Darkest Evening and The Rising Tide) do stand on their own. The series takes place in the Northeast of England and this time DI Stanhope and her team (loyal Joe, persistent Charlie, and newcomer Rosie) are attempting to solve the murder of a young man, Josh Woodburn, who worked as a caregiver at Rosebank, a children’s home. Cleeves not only crafts a puzzling murder mystery; she includes the disappearance of a fourteen-year-old, Chloe Spence, on the same night Josh died. Those events and the death of another Rosebank resident offer ample opportunity to weave in social commentary on child services in the UK. In fact, Cleeves dedicates THE DARK WIVES to “teens everywhere, and especially to the Dark Wives - uppity young women with minds of their own, struggling to find a place in a difficult world.” There are undercurrents about power and money in this well-written and suspenseful tale. Like many of Vera’s fans, I am already looking forward to the next in the series.

Interested readers may also want to investigate the website Reading for Wellbeing which Ann Cleeves founded a few years ago in order to promote solace through stories.

More Mysteries ... by Ann Cleeves and Frances Brody

THE DARKEST EVENING by Ann Cleeves is the latest (number nine) in the Vera Stanhope series of mystery stories, but the first that I had the pleasure of reading. In its starred review, Publishers Weekly declared, “This page-turner is must reading for fans as well as newcomers." I heartily concur! In this wintery tale, Vera finds a toddler in an abandoned car in the snow.  The young and troubled mother, Lorna Falstone, is later found dead on the grounds of Brockburn, a large, grand house in rural Northumberland. That is actually where Vera had headed with the child; she knew the manor house was nearby because it is where her father was raised although he was later estranged from the family. Vera and her colleagues, Joe and Holly, now must work to solve the puzzle of Lorna’s death. The suspects are many, involving tangled ties amongst family members, business associates, and community members.  After enjoying this tale, I was disappointed to learn that the ITV-produced British crime drama is only available in the US through smaller services like Acorn or Britbox. But I was encouraged by Louise Penny’s comment that "Ann Cleeves is one of my favorite mystery writers.” I will be looking forward to reading more by BOTH of these best-selling authors! 

MURDER IS IN THE AIR by Frances Brody is number 12 in Kate Shackleton mystery series. I always enjoy these charming mysteries set in the late 1920s and early 1930s Britain. Kate is a resourceful sleuth and this story begins as she sends her assistant, Jim Sykes, to a brewery in Yorkshire which is experiencing some financial and management issues. Sykes mingles well with the locals and becomes increasingly suspicious, particularly after the brewery’s extremely capable and knowledgeable secretary, Miss Crawford, is killed while cycling. Exploring the role of women at this time, Brody interweaves the family story of Ruth Parnaby, another capable employee who works in the accounting area and is representing the brewery in a marketing contest. MURDER IS IN THE AIR features more than one puzzle and plenty of inter-relationships which give rise to numerous suspects. Enjoy! 

 

The Heron's Cry by Ann Cleeves

THE HERON'S CRY by Ann Cleeves (The Darkest Evening) is another intriguing mystery, this one features Detective Matthew Venn and is set in rural North Devon. It is a bit dark, with multiple suicides and murders, but the suspense is maintained throughout this complicated plot and readers will likely be surprised at the outcome. Shockingly, Dr. Nigel Yeo is found stabbed to death with a piece of glass from his own adult daughter’s art. Subsequent events add to an intricate web of connections and Venn and his team, impulsive Jen Rafferty and young Ross May, work together to establish motive and opportunity. As Cleeves notes, Venn appreciated speculation: "Our job is all about What If? No harm creating a number of scenarios and seeing if the facts fit. The danger comes when you twist the facts to fit the theory." THE HERON'S CRY received a starred review from Kirkus (“character-driven exploration of people’s darkest flaws is a sterling example of Cleeves’ formidable talents”) and is likely to become an ITV TV series soon.

The Rising Tide by Ann Cleeves

THE RISING TIDE by Ann Cleeves is the latest in the Vera Stanhope mystery series. The setting is in the North of England, specifically Holy Island which is periodically cut off from the mainland when the causeway is flooded due to changing tide levels. Forty-five years ago, a young women died when she misjudged the timing of the tides. Her friends have been holding reunions on the island (it “transported them back to a time when they were young and free, and life was exciting and full of possibilities”) every five years and during the most recent visit someone else perishes. Vera and her team, Joe and Holly, are assigned to investigate the apparent suicide. In addition to the group of friends (baker Annie, loyal wife Lou and husband Ken who has dementia, BBC commentator Rick, and priest Philip), there are several other local connections and some dubious links to the deceased’s reputation regarding exploiting young female colleagues. Kirkus summed up THE RISING TIDE as “a character-driven puzzler that ends in a painful denouement.” It is quite a tangle for Vera, her team and Cleeves’ many readers. I enjoyed listening to the audio version read by Janine Birkett and am already looking forward to the next installment!

The Raging Storm by Ann Cleeves

THE RAGING STORM by Ann Cleeves is the latest Matthew Venn novel following The Long Call and The Heron's Cry). As this title indicates, the environment of North Devon (with stormy days and often treacherous tides at the seaside) is once again a key feature in building atmosphere and suspense. Inspector Venn and his colleagues, Ross May and Sergeant Jen Rafferty, are out to investigate the death of around-the-world sailing phenom, Jem Rosco. A local boy made good, Rosco had moved back recently to a small village where its inhabitants (local schoolteacher, taxi driver, magistrate, landowners, tavern keeper and so on) are now suspects in his death. Venn quietly leads the investigation, focusing on the many past relationships (several characters were at school together or romantically linked) along with current tensions and jealousies. With plenty of twists and strong character development, THE RAGING STORM received starred reviews from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly (“Cleeves’s fans and newcomers alike will be hungry for the next entry.”).

Hunter's Heart Ridge by Sarah Stewart Taylor

HUNTER'S HEART RIDGE by Sarah Stewart Taylor (Agony Hill) is the second in a mystery series featuring state police detective Frank Warren and his neighbor Alice Bellows set in 1965 Vermont. It is the start of deer season when Warren and his assistant, Pinky Goodrich, are called to the Ridge Club, an exclusive hunting club, due to what is first presumed to be an accidental shooting death. Soon an early blizzard arrives, and the two police officers are marooned at the club, with plenty of likely suspects (diplomats, soldiers, and businessmen who have known each other for over twenty years) and even more weapons. Although Warren seems out of his depth at times and his questioning of suspects is rather repetitive, Taylor adds suspense due to the dangerous storm, discovery of another body, and an unexpected childbirth. She clearly cares for these characters, flaws included, and their tense, edgy adventures are likely to appeal to readers who enjoy works by Elly Griffiths, Ann Cleeves, and Jane Harper.