I reminded you earlier, and I’ll say it again, if you haven’t yet read Ann Cleeves’ The Rising Tide, you might want to pick it up before reading The Dark Wives. This eleventh in the series is a major spoiler for the previous one. In fact, there is a point in my review that may spoil the previous one, so don’t read the review if you want to read the Vera Stanhope books in consecutive order.
When a young man’s body is found outside Rosebank, a home for troubled teens, Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope’s team is brought in. Josh Woodburn was a counselor at the home who was supposed to have worked overnight. Although it’s a murder investigation, it quickly becomes much more. Chloe Spencer, a fourteen-year-old, is missing from Rosebank. Is Chloe a killer, a runaway, or a terrified witness?
While Vera sees Chloe as a terrified witness, her team doesn’t necessarily feel the same way. Joe is inclined to see her as a killer. Rosie Bell, the newest member of the team, has wanted to work for, and learn from, Vera for quite some time. Although Vera tries to include everyone in her decisions, she still is close-mouthed, and tends to keep her own confidences.
Just before another resident of Rosebank is found dead, the investigation shifts to the wild Northumberland countryside, and the location of the legendary Three Dark Wives, standing stones that are the center of a community’s eerie post-Halloween celebration. This time, when the town’s lights go out, will the team find Chloe or her body?
Although the ending and solution seems a little abrupt, readers who are looking for Cleeves’ interesting characters will be satisfied with the latest in the series.
Ann Cleeves’ website is https://www.anncleeves.com
The Dark Wives by Ann Cleeves. Minotaur Books, 2024. ISBN 9781250836847 (hardcover), 384p.
FTC Full Disclosure – I read a galley from NetGalley in order to review the book for a journal.
Just saw that Brenda Blethyn is “retiring” from the role after the next, final, series of VERA, which is too bad..
It is, Jeff. She WAS Vera, and that’s how I view Vera when I read the books.
I only found the Vera books recently, and I’m reading them in order, so I’m still two books away from this one. Thanks for reassuring me that I’ll enjoy it, Lesa!
Oh, you will, Kim, but this book really is a spoiler for the last one. You’re okay since you’re reading them in order.
Just put a reserve in on it – thanks so much for letting me know there was a new book out – I read all of her books!
You’re welcome, Donna! Enjoy!
I love the tv series especially with Brenda Blethyn as Vera but I found this latest novel offering to be a bit disappointing. The story starts off well with a look into the awfulness of for profit care homes for troubled teens and the very sad tale of a young girl who is dumped in one because of her.mum’s mental illness and her father’s absence. But I found the novel meandered too much. There were just too many hiding places and confusing.desciptions of fields and forest. And frankly for the first time I thought wasn’t far to her team. However would love to see one more Blethyn reenactment of the indomitable Ms. Stanhope.
Christina, I totally agree with your comments about this book. It was a bit disappointing. And, I agree with everything you said about it.