When a young man's body is found outside Rosebank, a home for troubled teens, DI Vera Stanhope is called to investigate. The only clue she has to go on is the disappearance of one of the home's residents, fourteen-year-old Chloe Spence. Although Vera doesn't want to believe a teenager is responsible for the murder, she can't rule out the possibility.
A second connected body is found near the Dark Wives monument, far out in the Northumberland countryside. As a result, Vera, Joe, and new team member Rosie Bell find themselves forced to separate the facts from superstition and folklore. More than ever, Vera knows that she must find Chloe Spence to get to the truth.
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Any time spent with Ann Cleeves' Vera Stanhope is well spent, and The Dark Wives is no exception. Vera and her team are still reeling from events in the previous book (The Rising Tide). Vera is very much affected, and she finds herself not only thinking of her own mortality but also trying to work on her management style.
It will come as no surprise to longtime readers of this series that the interactions between the characters are an integral part of the book. The new detective constable, Rosie Bell, is smart, ambitious, and wants to get ahead. She believes that anticipating what Vera wants will be very important to her upward rise in the police force. Vera's righthand man, Joe Ashworth, doesn't react well to Rosie's methods, so the two can be a bit competitive. Kath Oliver, a woman well versed in the system of care homes for troubled teenagers, is a character I wouldn't mind seeing more of-- and neither would Vera as she found Oliver to be a kindred spirit. However, for me, the strongest character outside of Vera herself is the fourteen-year-old Chloe Spence, even though her presence is only felt through the pages of a diary she left behind.
As usual, the mystery is a strong one, rooted in the Northumberland countryside and the folklore surrounding the Dark Wives (Northumberland's answer to Stonehenge). The privatization of care homes for children plays an important part that touches Vera deeply. ("It doesn't seem right to be making a profit from troubled children.")
As always, a mesmerizing blend of characters, landscape, folklore, and mystery, The Dark Wives is another compelling addition to the Vera Stanhope series.
The Dark Wives by Ann Cleeves
eISBN: 9781250836854
Minotaur Books © 2024
eBook, 377 pages
Police Procedural, #11 Vera Stanhope
Rating: A
Source: Net Galley
I'm not at all surprised you liked this as much as you did, Cathy. Cleeves is so good at creating atmosphere and weaving in the characters and their stories. And I like how she introduces new characters, has other characters move on, and so on. It's the way things happen naturally, and it helps keep a series fresh.
ReplyDeleteShe is a master of her craft.
DeleteA new Vera Stanhope to look forward to - you have made my day! I wonder if there are any plans to continue with the excellent television series based on these books. One can hope...
ReplyDeleteBrenda Blethyn is 78, so I can certainly see why she wants to retire, but I also can't see anyone else playing that part. Northumberland is one of my favorite places, so I love the scenery as much as the stories and actors.
DeleteSounds like another really good one! And that first line made me laugh.
ReplyDeleteYeah. I used to feel that way about February! LOL
DeleteThis really is a good addition to the series. For a while, I wondered in Rosie was destined to make it to the next week, feeling that she was either going to ask for a transfer or manage to get herself fired. Looks like we'll be seeing more of her, and I'm looking forward to that competitiveness between her and Joe to continue for a while.
ReplyDeleteYes, that "fight" between them will be interesting.
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