The Darkest Evening by Ann Cleeves

From Ann Cleeves—New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of the Vera and Shetland series, both of which are hit TV shows—comes the stunning new Vera Stanhope novel.

On the first snowy night of winter, Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope sets off for her home in the hills. Though the road is familiar, she misses a turning and soon becomes lost and disorientated. A car has skidded off the narrow road in front of her, its door left open, and she stops to help. There is no driver to be seen, so Vera assumes that the owner has gone to find help. But a cry calls her back: a toddler is strapped in the back seat.

Vera takes the child and, driving on, she arrives at a place she knows well. Brockburn is a large, grand house in the wilds of Northumberland, now a little shabby and run down. It’s also where her father, Hector, grew up. Inside, there’s a party in full swing: music, Christmas lights and laughter. Outside, unbeknownst to the revelers, a woman lies dead in the snow.

As the blizzard traps the group deep in the freezing Northumberland countryside, Brockburn begins to give up its secrets, and as Vera digs deeper into her investigation, she also begins to uncover her family’s complicated past.

Book 9
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the ninth book in the series, and unless you have failed to see an episode on TV, then I challenge you not to see the wonderful Brenda Blethyn as you enjoy this clever and unusually close to home story for Vera.

I found this book to be a very easy read, which was a good thing, as I devoured it in a day. Weirdly, it was lovely to be reading about a cold winter, on a hot day. The plot itself was clever, with plenty of possibilities and distractions, and a good mix of Vera, Holly, and Joe going about their investigations. I felt we got quite a lot of introspection from Holly as she tries to gain the respect and approval of her boss, and how she chose to consider whether her running need was anything like the victim's issues with food and control. But most of all, we got to see Vera really think about her lack of familial attachments, and when the possibility of a change in circumstances presents herself, we get some insight into her way of thinking – I thought it was utterly charming.

A very good read, I expected no less!

 

 

ANN CLEEVES is the multi-million copy bestselling author behind two hit television series—the BBC’s Shetland, starring Douglas Henshall, and ITV’s Vera, starring Academy Award Nominee Brenda Blethyn—both of which are watched and loved in the US. Her brand new Two Rivers series will launch in September 2019, with The Long Call.

Shetland is available in the US on Netflix, Amazon Video, Britbox, and PBS, and Vera is available on Hulu, Amazon Video, BritBox, and PBS.

The first Shetland novel, Raven Black, won the CWA Gold Dagger for best crime novel, and Ann was awarded the CWA Diamond Dagger in 2017. She lives in the UK.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of The Darkest Evening (Vera Stanhope #9) by Ann Cleeves to read and review.