The Dark Wives by Ann Cleeves

As New York Times bestseller Ann Cleeves's beloved Vera series explodes in popularity in print and on TV, this stunning eleventh book explores the web of secrets surrounding a young man's death.

The man’s body is found in the early morning light by a local dog walker in the park outside Rosebank, a home for troubled teens in the coastal village of Longwater. The victim is Josh, a staff member, who was due to work the previous night but never showed up.

DI Vera Stanhope is called out to investigate the death, with her only clue being 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 monument in the wilds of the Northumberland countryside, superstition and folklore begin to collide with fact. Vera knows she has to find Chloe to get to the truth, and the dark secrets in their community that may be far more dangerous than she could have ever believed possible.

Don’t miss our reviews of other books in the Vera Stanhope series!
For book nine, The Darkest Evening, click HERE.
For book #10, The Rising Tide, click HERE.

 

 

Book 11
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Apple Books  ~  B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  Kobo
Hardcover (US)  ~  Minotaur Books (Macmillan)

Audiobook (US)
Narrated by Janine Birkett

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆☆
This is the eleventh book in the series, and they are always such fabulous reads! I really should have done the things I had to do today before I started reading... but no! It was a very satisfying read!

Vera is still mourning the loss of Holly (wow, I am still reeling over that event too!), and we know from her inner voice that she wants to try much harder with her new team member, Rosie. I will leave it to you to decide if she manages it, but she definitely tries!

This story was really well plotted, with some hints here and there, some misdirections, and although a wide cast of characters, they were all brought to life brilliantly. From the two lads that had a secret den, the manager of the hotel, and the two workers in the children's home, little touches just make them so real to the reader. I find that Ann Cleeves draws us in so well to the detail that makes people real. She also gives us Vera's inner voice in a way which makes it an essential part of the book – when generally I am not a fan – and knowing what Vera is thinking is often so moving, as she is not the most outwardly warm person, yet she cares to the depth of her soul. This is probably why she is such a favourite book friend of mine!

Delicious Sunday treat – thank you, Ann Cleeves, for another excellent installment.

 

 

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 launched 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.

Connect with Ann Cleeves!

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

 

 

ARC provided by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided with a free copy of The Dark Wives (Vera Stanhope #11) by Ann Cleeves to read and review.