The Dark Wives is the latest in Ann Cleeves’ long running series about DI Vera Stanhope. It’s a solid crime novel that should please continuing readers, but it’s also highly accessible to new readers.
I know this because I was, in fact, coming to this cold. I’d never read a Vera Stanhope novel, and I’ve never watched the TV show that it sparked, either. So believe me when I say you’ll enjoy this even if you’ve never picked up an Ann Cleeves novel.
There are some spaces where you can see that continuing readers would be getting a little bit more from their knowledge of characters or past events. But in all important elements, you don’t have to have read any earlier books to enjoy this one.
DI Vera Stanhope is called to investigate when the body of a young man is found near a care home for troubled teens. It’s easy enough to discover that he was one of the care workers, expected at work the previous evening. Beyond that, Vera struggles. Is his death related to his work? To the simultaneous disappearance of one of the teens? To something else altogether?
The investigation quickly focuses on the missing teenager. Regardless of whether Chloe Spence is a victim, a witness, or a murderer, she needs to be found before Vera can fully disentangle what’s gone on.
This is very much a standard police procedural, with a lot of focus on the day to day actions of investigating, but without getting bogged down in too much detail. I found this to be realistic and well paced. It’s a tricky enough puzzle that many readers will be surprised by the resolution Vera and her team reach, but it’s believable.
I particularly enjoyed the empathetic characters. One of Vera’s defining characteristics is the empathy she brings to bear on those she encounters in her investigations. She views with compassion her victims, witnesses, and possibly even perpetrators. Her understanding that lives and actions are complex brings a great deal of depth to the investigation.
The other senior team members, Joe and Rosie, bring quite different perspectives to bear on the investigation. Those perspectives help to round out not just the investigation but also our pictures of the people involved.
I very much enjoyed this crime novel. It skillfully respects the tropes of the genre while adding elements that make this particular novel feel original. Strong characters and a complex plot were absorbing. It was an entertaining read.
A selection of our Beauty and Lace Club Members are reading The Dark Wives by Ann Cleeves. You can read their comments below, or add your own review.
I’ve loved books for as long as I can remember, and I love sharing that joy.
I’ve been an avid reader for as long as I can remember, across all genres. There’s not much I won’t at least try. I’ve been an enthusiastic book reviewer for years. I particularly enjoy discovering writers new to me, and sharing good writing with others.
My career has included time spent writing and editing technical documents, but it’s fiction that really moves me. I’ve reviewed for a number of different outlets over the years, and have been a judge in literary competitions.
I’m now raising little bookworms of my own, which brings a whole new kind of joy to sharing books.
More of my reviews can be found on my review blog www.otherdreamsotherlives.home.blog .
As this was my first encounter with Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope, I felt that I would be somewhat at a disadvantage, being unaware of her prior background. I was pleasantly surprised that no previous experience was necessary. This is a stand alone story that was enthralling until the end, as all good sleuthing needs to be.
Vera and her colleagues, Rosie and Joe, do a more than adequate job of putting all of the pieces of the puzzle together beautifully. There are hints throughout the novel, of Vera’s past, eg former colleague Holly. Enough information, in fact, to encourage this reader to investigate more stories by Ann Cleeves and to delve deeper into the life of Vera Stanhope.
The writing itself is descriptive and displays each character in adequate detail, allowing the reader to follow the story with interest and intrigue.
I did find the title somewhat misleading, however. “The Dark Wives”, is in fact a landscape formation and did not fit the mental image I was expecting when I first picked up this book.
Many thanks to the author and publishers for the opportunity to read this book. It has now encouraged me to find my way to locate more from the same author and definitely to become better acquainted with DI Vera Stanhope.
Thankyou Beauty and Lace and Panmacmillan for the opportunity to review ‘The Dark Wives’ by Ann Cleeves.
This is the latest book in the ‘Vera’ books and this is also a televised series.
Vera Stanhope is a Detective Inspector, and together with her team members Joe and Rosie is investigating the murder of Josh Woodburn a staff member of ‘Rosebank’.
‘Rosebank’ is a care home for troubled youth and Chloe Spence is one of the residents. She has found a friend in Josh and her disappearance at the same time as his body is found is concerning.
During the investigation another body is found, another ‘Rosebank’ resident, but Chloe is still missing and it is feared that she could be in danger.
Vera is a delightful character, a real people person showing plenty of compassion and interest in others.
Such an exciting book and although it is part of a series of books, it is a stand alone and so exciting. It left me guessing all the way through as to who could be responsible!
In The Dark Wives, Ann Cleeves skilfully intertwines suspense and rich character development in a gripping narrative that captivates from the first page. Set against the backdrop of the rugged landscape of Northumberland, the novel follows the inimitable Detective Vera Stanhope as she navigates a complex web of family secrets, betrayal, and the haunting consequences of past actions.
Cleeves’ prose is both evocative and precise, painting a vivid picture of the moody setting while exploring the intricate dynamics between the characters. Through the book, tension builds steadily toward the dramatic climax and .
I really enjoyed Cleeves’ ability to delve into the psychological aspects of her characters, making them relatable and multifaceted. The themes of love, loss, and the struggles of motherhood resonate deeply, adding layers of emotional depth to the mystery.
Overall, The Dark Wives is a compelling and worthy addition to Cleeves’ amazing body of work, showcasing her skill as a storyteller and her keen insight into human nature. Fans of crime fiction will find this novel hard to put down. This was my first Vera novel, but I already know it most definitely won’t be my last.
Thanks to Beauty and Lace for the opportunity to read and review Ann Cleeves’ The Dark Wives.