by Lorie Lewis Ham

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the book and a link to purchase it on Amazon.

I am a huge fan of the Vera TV show, as well as Shetland, and I love Ann’s Matthew Venn books, but I had never read any of her other books until this one. Because I have seen the TV series twice I didn’t feel lost at all jumping into her new Vera Stanhope book, The Dark Wives, and honestly now I can’t wait to read more Vera books.

Amazon description: 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.

I would say that the TV show portrays the characters perfectly. Vera is a stubborn, snarky, and brilliant detective. She can at times be a bit gruff with her team members, but it is obvious she has a kind heart by how much she cares about young Chloe and is determined to find the truth. We get a nice feel for the atmosphere of the coastal small town where some of those involved grew up and which is at the heart of their investigation—a town that Vera is familiar with from her childhood. The new team member Rosie is interesting, but Vera’s right hand man Joe isn’t sure what he thinks of her. There are references to past cases, some of which I recognize from the show. The point of view goes back and forth between Vera, Rosie, and Joe, which I really liked as it provides different perspectives on the investigation.

Ann Cleeves is a skilled storyteller weaving together all of the different details and perspectives and she provides plenty of twists and turns in the mystery. I love her work, whether I am consuming it via books or TV, and can’t wait to read more. If you love a great mystery with interesting characters her books are for you. The mystery stands on its own, but if you haven’t read any of the books or watched the show I feel you would miss out on a lot character wise and the characters are wonderful, especially Vera. So I HIGHLY recommend you check out the other books and/or the show first and then dive right into The Dark Wives. The show is one of my all-time favorites. Ann Cleeves is amazing!

You can click here to purchase this book from Amazon.

To enter to win a copy of The Dark Wives, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “wives” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen November 2, 2024. U.S. residents only, and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

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Lorie Lewis Ham is our Editor-in-Chief and a contributor to various sections, coupling her journalism experience with her connection to the literary and entertainment worlds. Explore Lorie’s mystery writing at Mysteryrat’s Closet. Lorie’s latest mystery novel, One of Us, is set in the Tower District of Fresno and the world of community theatre!

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.