Aasta pimedaim öö

Vera Stanhope #9

by Ann Cleeves, Peeter Villmann (Translator)

Pimedaimad ööd varjavad endas ka hirmsaimaid saladusi …

Detektiivinspektor Vera Stanhope asub talve esimesel tuisusel õhtul teele, et sõita mägedesse oma koju. Tee on küll tuttav, ent tugevas lumesajus möödub ta kogemata õigest ristmikust ja taipab peagi, et on eksinud. Eespool on üks auto kitsalt teelt välja libisenud, selle uks on lahti ja Vera jääb seisma, et hädalist aidata. Juhti ei ole näha, mistõttu ta oletab, et too on läinud abi otsima. Vera otsustab samuti lahkuda, kuid kuuleb siis nutust häälitsust – auto tagaistmel turvatoolis on pisike laps.

Vera haarab mudilase endaga kaasa ja edasi sõites jõuab varsti kohani, mida ta hästi tunneb. Brockburn on Northumberlandi üksildases kolkas asuv suursugune, kuid üsnagi käest lastud häärberilahmakas, mis kuulub Vera suguvõsale ja kus kasvas üles ka tema isa Hector. Majas käib pidu, vilguvad jõulutulede vanikud ja kostab naeru. Pidutsejate teadmata lamab väljas lumes surnud naine.

Ja Vera ongi paugupealt otse uue juhtumi keskpunktis. Kas surnud naine võib olla selle lapse ema? Peokülalised on majas lumevangis, Brockburn hakkab juurdluse edenedes tasapisi oma saladusi loovutama ja päevavalgele kerkib ka inspektori enda perekonna keerukas minevik.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Audiobook, British Literature, Mystery Thriller, Thriller

351 pages, Paperback

First published September 3, 2020

About the author

Ann is the author of the books behind ITV's VERA, now in it's third series, and the BBC's SHETLAND, which will be aired in December 2012. Ann's DI Vera Stanhope series of books is set in Northumberland and features the well loved detective along with her partner Joe Ashworth. Ann's Shetland series bring us DI Jimmy Perez, investigating in the mysterious, dark, and beautiful Shetland Islands...


Ann grew up in the country, first in Herefordshire, then in North Devon. Her father was a village school teacher. After dropping out of university she took a number of temporary jobs - child care officer, women's refuge leader, bird observatory cook, auxiliary coastguard - before going back to college and training to be a probation officer.

While she was cooking in the Bird Observatory on Fair Isle, she met her husband Tim, a visiting ornithologist. She was attracted less by the ornithology than the bottle of malt whisky she saw in his rucksack when she showed him his room. Soon after they married, Tim was appointed as warden of Hilbre, a tiny tidal island nature reserve in the Dee Estuary. They were the only residents, there was no mains electricity or water and access to the mainland was at low tide across the shore. If a person's not heavily into birds - and Ann isn't - there's not much to do on Hilbre and that was when she started writing. Her first series of crime novels features the elderly naturalist, George Palmer-Jones. A couple of these books are seriously dreadful.

In 1987 Tim, Ann and their two daughters moved to Northumberland and the north east provides the inspiration for many of her subsequent titles. The girls have both taken up with Geordie lads. In the autumn of 2006, Ann and Tim finally achieved their ambition of moving back to the North East.

For the National Year of Reading, Ann was made reader-in-residence for three library authorities. It came as a revelation that it was possible to get paid for talking to readers about books! She went on to set up reading groups in prisons as part of the Inside Books project, became Cheltenham Literature Festival's first reader-in-residence and still enjoys working with libraries.
Ann Cleeves on stage at the Duncan Lawrie Dagger awards ceremony

Ann's short film for Border TV, Catching Birds, won a Royal Television Society Award. She has twice been short listed for a CWA Dagger Award - once for her short story The Plater, and the following year for the Dagger in the Library award.

In 2006 Ann Cleeves was the first winner of the prestigious Duncan Lawrie Dagger Award of the Crime Writers' Association for Raven Black, the first volume of her Shetland Quartet. The Duncan Lawrie Dagger replaces the CWA's Gold Dagger award, and the winner receives £20,000, making it the world's largest award for crime fiction.

Ann's success was announced at the 2006 Dagger Awards ceremony at the Waldorf Hilton, in London's Aldwych, on Thursday 29 June 2006. She said: "I have never won anything before in my life, so it was a complete shock - but lovely of course.. The evening was relatively relaxing because I'd lost my voice and knew that even if the unexpected happened there was physically no way I could utter a word. So I wouldn't have to give a speech. My editor was deputed to do it!"

The judging panel consisted of Geoff Bradley (non-voting Chair), Lyn Brown MP (a committee member on the London Libraries service), Frances Gray (an academic who writes about and teaches courses on modern crime fiction), Heather O'Donoghue (academic, linguist, crime fiction reviewer for The Times Literary Supplement, and keen reader of all crime fiction) and Barry Forshaw (reviewer and editor of Crime Time magazine).

Ann's books have been translated into sixteen languages. She's a bestseller in Scandinavia and Germany. Her novels sell widely and to critical acclaim in the United States. Raven Black was shortlisted for the Martin Beck award for best translated crime novel in Sweden in 200

Reviews

[Paromjit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ann Cleeves latest offering in the DCI Vera Stanhope, set in the atmospheric location of Northumberland, is a delight with its Christie echoes of a country house and estate, a young woman found murdered in the grounds in a heavy snow blizzard, as a party and much merriment takes place inside. This is a story of a small community, the many and varied natures of families, what holds them together, what rips them apart, the dysfunctional nature of many, class and inequality, along with landowners and their links with locals that still have the unescapable whiff of feudalism about them, shaped by their history and obligations. On her way home, Vera finds herself lost in the heavy snow blizzard when she comes across a abandoned vehicle with its door open and a well wrapped toddler strapped in the back.

Assuming the driver has gone for help, Vera takes the toddler, leaving behind her business card, looking for the missing parent. She stumbles across the closest building, Brockburn, which turns out to be the country pile of her estranged aristocratic family, she has not seen any of them for a very long time, her father, Hector, shunned as the black sheep of the family. Her cousin, Juliet, married to theatre director, Mark Bolitho, recognises the overweight, shambolic, and unfashionable Vera, providing sanctuary to her and the toddler, Thomas. Before long, the body of his mother, Lorna Falstone, a woman with mental health issues, having suffered from and been hospitalised for anorexia, is discovered bludgeoned to death outside. Lorna is a single mother, the father of her son, Thomas, has been kept a closely guarded secret from all, although as might be expected, rumours swirl aplenty, along with those of Lorna's parentage that had plagued her since her schooldays. In the search for the truth, Vera sifts through a host of suspects, looking for viable motives, in the process of which many a secret held closely amongst families and others is revealed.

Vera takes many a walk, leaving her mind free to think and make unlikely connections as she closes in on a killer, she is supported by her team of DS Joe Ashworth and DC Holly Jackman. Joe's wife, Sal, remains unhappy with how much Joe's job encroaches on their family life and children, but Joe needs his job, he needs that outlet to escape his claustrophobic family, and Vera is happy to be the bad guy that Sal blames. Holly and Vera begin to see each other a little more clearly, developing a stronger relationship with each other. We learn of Vera's past, her family, the care she had to provide for her father. It is the concept of the family that holds centre stage here, Juliet's yearnings for a child, the happy families facades that turn out to be not so, the threats and obsessions that lurk in the shadows for the unsuspecting family, the estrangements, the betrayal, the infidelities, the secrets, rumours and deception. A tantalisingly engaging, riveting and entertaining crime read, a welcome return of the blunt, straight talking Vera in her latest case with its hints of the darkest of fairytales, amidst the central place held in the narrative of the bitter wintry rural location, with its creepy and menacing forestry plantations, and the beautiful inclusion of a Robert Frost poem. Highly recommended! Many thanks to Pan Macmillan for an ARC.

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 4 out of 5]

I imagine myself curled up on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, sipping brandy, sitting by the fireplace, listening to the crackling fire as it snows outside—perfect for reading a heart-throbbing, dark mystery. But instead, I’m in baggy sweatpants, it’s sunny outside, birds are chirping, and I’m drinking ginger-cayenne-lemon shots. Welcome to my quarantine read! Thankfully, the author’s world-building transports me elsewhere.

After being hooked on the British crime thriller series Vera, based on the books, I was eager to dive into the ninth installment. I welcomed Vera Stanhope with open arms, ready to enjoy her quirky, unkempt appearance, sharp wit, and the amusing, yet caring dynamic she shares with her colleagues Joe and Holly.

This time, the murder investigation pulls Vera into her own past—confronting estranged family ties and unresolved issues. On the first snowy night of winter, Vera stubbornly drives into an expected snowstorm, missing her turn and stumbling upon an abandoned car, skidded off a narrow road with the front door wide open. As she leaves her car to investigate, the cry of a baby signals that something is terribly wrong.

She takes the baby, who was left alone in the back seat, and leaves her business card, assuming the mother had gone to find cell reception. Vera’s search for answers leads her to Brockburn, the grand estate where her father, Hector—black sheep of the family—grew up, estranged from his wealthy, pretentious relatives.

Vera knocks on the door, needing to use a phone, and discovers a Christmas party—her cousin’s husband Mark is hosting a fundraiser for his new art project. Her cousin Juliet reluctantly lets her in, but Vera soon notices Juliet’s unusual interest in the baby she’s holding.

After contacting her team and calling the car’s owner, Constance Browne, Vera learns the vehicle was borrowed by her young neighbor, Lorna Falstone, who had a baby. Moments later, a local farmer bursts into the kitchen in a panic—he’s found a dead woman in the backyard. Tragically, the murdered woman is Lorna, the baby’s mother.

As Vera’s investigation unfolds, dirty family secrets and town gossip come to light. Lorna and Juliet might be stepsisters, or Lorna might have been involved with Juliet’s husband, who could even be the baby’s father.

Vera’s intense investigation forces her to confront her own childhood—her sadness, loneliness, and complicated relationship with her father—as well as the condescension of her estranged relatives. She empathizes with Lorna, who battled anorexia, struggled to raise her child alone, and ultimately met a tragic end.

This book will make you want to sip tea and nibble biscuits as you immerse yourself in the dark, gripping mystery, following Vera’s quirky, straightforward, and always entertaining tactics.

While this isn’t my favorite in the series, it’s still an unputdownable page-turner, and I highly recommend it to crime thriller fans and longtime Vera readers.

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for sharing an ARC of one of my favorite series in exchange for my honest review.

medium.com
instagram
facebook
twitter

[David Putnam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yikes, not for me. (I really hate giving these kind of reviews)
I won this book on Goodread giveaway and hence felt obligated.
This is the first book by this author I have tried to read. An editorial note, as a rule I’m not a big fan of the police procedural mysteries set in Great Britain, never have been. But I thought I’d give this one a go.
This is a “dark and stormy night,” locked room mystery. There’s a dinner party and the weather turns foul trapping the party goers in an old mansion overnight. So far so good. A little trite but I was invested in the story. I liked Vera the strong female character who seemed real and just flawed enough.
I had a problem with the initial setting of the conflict (the four C’s, of the story arc Conflict, Complication, Crisis, Conclusion). To set the conflict and make the story work there are two pretty huge coincidences. Yikes. Sometimes I can handle one, but not two. Vera is driving home on a dark and stormy night when she comes across an abandon car that slid off the road. There’s a baby in the car and the door is left open. The driver is missing. She rescues the baby and drives to the closest house, the mansion with the dinner party. Which, Vera happens to have family history with the owners (yikes number one). Vera calls in the license plate then sits down for a dinner of pheasant. The driver of the abandoned vehicle, a woman is found dead in the snow behind that same mansion (yikes number two).
Then there are the procedure issues, this is probably just me with my law enforcement background. After Vera is made aware of the murdered woman, the dinner party is allowed to continue as if nothing has happened. In a real situation, everyone in the house would be secured and told not to talk to one another. But back up the bus, had Vera been working for me she’d have been given days off for not calling in a critical missing from the onset. How could she sit down to dinner when she knows the driver of the car is out in the elements? That’s a full-blown call-out with a command post and, nobody-goes-home-until-she’s-found type of situation.
There is also what I call telescoping the point of view, going in and out of third distant to third close, which for me is like fingernails on a blackboard.
I can easily see why these books are so popular. They are easy to read and engaging. This one is just not for me. Though, I will be trying another.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up. This is a police procedural set in Northumbria, England. It is book 9 in the Vera Stanhope series. I have read 2 other books by this author, 1 of them, The Crow Trap in the Vera Stanhope series. That book did not introduce Vera until 1/3rd of the way into the book. This book introduces Vera at the beginning. She finds an abandoned vehicle in a snowstorm. The vehicle has a baby in it. Vera goes to a nearby house, owned by distant relatives, to call in her team to start a search for the missing mother. The mother is found dead. Vera discovers that the mother, Lorna Falstone, was murdered. Vera and her team(she is a DCI-Detective Chief Inspector) , begin investigating and interviewing. There is another murder, but Vera and her team eliminate suspects. I didn't suspect the killer until it was revealed at the end.
Pros: The plot is fast paced, the characters are well written and believable, which adds up to an entertaining story.
Cons: The author has Vera, an out of shape, middle aged woman putting herself in danger by going after the killer alone. Police officers are taught to have a partner for safety reasons.
#TheDarkestEvening #NetGalley
Thank You St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for sending me the eARC through NetGalley

[Beata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging plot, characters and the feel of Northumberland setting. I liked all ingredients. Despite having watched some episodes of the TV series, I never dared to read a book featuring mysterious Vera. My mistake!
The murder of a young mother close to the place so important to Vera narrows the number of suspects and allows a reader to find out more about DI Stanhope. I already had some idea of her personality and methods, but this book digs deep into Vera's past which was not all roses ...
Anyway, I liked DI Stanhope and will follow her.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have watched every episode of Vera, but until now, have not read any of the books. My mistake! This is a well done police procedural. No fast paced craziness here. Just good solid investigating by a solid team. The book is very character driven, not just the team but every person in the village and how they interconnect.
The premise is that on a snowy night, Vera comes upon an abandoned car on the side of the road. Driver door open, with a baby still in the back seat. She takes the baby to the nearest house, the manor house of the village, which is actually owned by her estranged relatives. Within hours, the driver of the car turns up dead on their driveway.
Because of the connection with her family, we learn about Vera’s past, her black sheep father and her lonely childhood. I enjoyed Cleeves’ writing, which made it very easy to see the scenes play out in my head.
Maybe because I’ve seen the tv show, this worked fine as a stand alone. But now that I’ve read this one, I intend to go back and read the others.
I recommend this for those who like team oriented police procedurals by the likes of Archer Mayor, Louise Penny or Joy Ellis.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.

[PattyMacDotComma · Rating 5 out of 5]

5★
“Vera sat heavily on one of the wooden chairs by the table.

‘Stick the kettle on, pet. I’m parched and this might take a while. It’s not a courtesy call.’”

I considered counting the number of cuppas, both tea and coffee, but why be so petty? It was December, they’d had blizzards in Northumbria (northern England), and it was bl**dy freezing, so Vera always welcomed a warm mug to wrap her frozen hands around.

This is the latest book. I’ve not read Ann Cleeves before, but I’m a longtime fan of Vera, the TV series, which I gather from Cleeves that she is also. I heard her say in an interview that Brenda Blethyn has captured the character of Vera Stanhope so well, that on occasion she’s contacted Cleeves about a TV script (which someone else writes) to say “our Vera wouldn’t say such a thing, would she?!” And Cleeves agrees. She and Blethyn know their Vera! Our Vera.

This opens in the middle of a blizzard – the kind of blizzard where you’re not even sure if there’s a road in front of you or if it might be veering off to one side or the other. When Vera spots a car off the side of the road with a door open, she really doesn’t want to get out in the blinding snow. But she does, and she discovers a small toddler in a car seat with no sign of anyone else. Where’s the driver? Why would he or she leave the car door open?

The nearest house is her father’s family’s estate. Hector was the black sheep of the Stanhopes, and Vera spent her life looking after him as he drank himself to death making fun of her and her aspirations.

“As a teenager, Vera had loved reading traditional detective novels. Hector had thrown that back at her when she’d joined the police as a cadet. She could still remember the sneer in his voice and wondered now if there had been something else there too. A fear of being left alone? Or a fear of his daughter passing on information about his squalid criminality? It won’t be like Agatha Christie, you know. It won’t be all country houses, vicars, butlers and wills.”

Ironically, Vera does feel nervous approaching this ‘country house’ with a strange toddler in a snowstorm. There may be a butler, who knows? But she is a relative, she has a good reason to seek help, and she’s dealt with far worse.

“Besides, Vera thought, if she could face murderers and rapists, she wasn’t going to be intimidated by a few weak-chinned minor aristos.”

She is a solid, plainly dressed woman, wearing her trademark hat and heavy coat. It’s easy for people to underestimate her acuity. She seems far too simple to be as perceptive as she is. Attractive Juliet opens the door.

“The detective stood there, legs slightly apart, as solid as the hills from which she’d grown.”

She’s persistent. Polite but persistent. So are her detectives, Sergeant Joe Ashworth and Constable Holly Jackman. They are at her beck and call, sometimes reluctantly but always loyally. Their chief may call them in the middle of the night, a sore point with Joe’s wife but a relief from her insomnia for Holly.

“Holly thought this was one of the strangest cases she’d ever worked. She was slightly thrown by it: by the big house, the suspects trapped by the weather, the snow. It reminded her of the TV dramas her parents had forced her to watch when she went home for Christmas. They expected her to solve the mystery before they did and were disappointed when she showed no interest. ‘You must know who the killer is, darling. It’s what you do for a living.’”

The story moves through and around the small village that surrounds the estate, with various villagers related to each other through past relationships, current activities, or simply old rumours. No butlers to speak of, but there is a vicar, a will, and an excellent mystery Agatha Christie would have enjoyed.

The characters are well-drawn and easily recognisable. Vera knows her strengths but she also knows when Holly or Joe is more likely to get a warmer reception when interviewing people.

And somebody else has to help drink all that tea and coffee! I’m looking forward to reading the back catalogue now.

In her acknowledgements, the author thanks many people, but she adds this special note.

“Again, I can’t mention everyone, but Louise Penny provided help, support (and a rather lovely bed for the night) when I most needed it and has been there during the bad times.”

I read that before I read the book, so perhaps I was predisposed to like it because I’m such a fan of Louise Penny’s Armand Gamache series.

No, I’d have loved it anyway. The fact that these two authors are such good friends just adds to my enjoyment and my appreciation of them both.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the preview copy from which I've quoted.

[Paula K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ann Cleeves has just proved again that she is an outstanding author of police procedural mysteries.

This is my first Vera Stanhope book. It is very entertaining and a page-turner. The fact that this is #9 in the series does not take away from reading this as a stand-alone novel. If you like well written, character driven mystery books this is a winner.

In THE DARKEST EVENING, British DI Vera Standhope comes across an abandoned car with a young child in it during a snowstorm. She makes her way to the closest estate which happens to be owned by her estranged family. She finds a party going on , as well as, a dead body in the snow close by. This sets her investigative team in motion and gives us some insight into Vera’s past.

Prior to reading my first Vera Stanhope, I have read the first in Cleeves’ recent TWO RIVERS series along with #1 in her SHETLAND ISLAND series (I’m a big fan of the BBC TV production). I have found them all to be outstanding and plan to continue with each series.

I received a free ARC of THE DARKEST EVENING by Ann Cleeves from Macmillan in exchange for an honest review.

5 out of 5 stars

Publication Date - September 8, 2020
Posted to Goodreads on 9/02/20

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rural Northumberland, a blinding blizzard with no visibility, village signs covered in heavy snow. Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope came upon a car, driver's door left wide open, a toddler strapped into a car seat. "Wouldn't a mother have shut the door to keep out the bitter wind?" Assuming the driver went for help, Vera left a note and work business card on the dashboard stating she was taking the baby to safety. Safety turned out to be Brockburn, the Stanhope family estate. "Vera wasn't going to be intimidated by a few weak chinned minor aristos...her relatives would have a phone...It was the closest form of habitation to the abandoned car".

"...a huge Christmas tree, decorated completely in silver...A handful of people...all grandly dressed, were chosen by Mark Bolitho [Juliet Stanhope's husband] for their wealth and professional standing...the vicar and her husband for local color...". For Vera, "a glamorous life that would not be hers...Cinderella looking in...". Juliet Stanhope informs her guests, "This is Vera, my cousin, sort of...she's found a baby in an empty car that ran off the road".

A frightful discovery! The body of a bludgeoned young woman was found near the estate. Vera called in her team to the crime scene. DC Holly Jackman was a natural detective, always curious. "She'd regret leaving [a criminal investigation] with the story still untold...the job was Holly's life". Joe Ashworth, pathologist, worked in tandem with Vera "...experiencing...the thrill of excitement and exhilaration that compensated for the boredom of family life...". The invited guests at Brockburn staying the night due to inclement weather, were excited to be in their very own country murder mystery...Juliet...not so much...there were buried secrets to protect.

Investigating the murder of the baby's mother, Lorna Falstone, was like "wandering into one of Mark [Bolitho's] film sets". Mark was trying to set up a theatre in Brockburn, the winter party was meant to fund his venture and simultaneously pay for repairs to the crumbling mansion. Why would anyone want to hurt Lorna Falstone?". Her life was on the right track according to close friend and former teacher, Connie Browne. Rumors swirled in the small town. Who was Lorna's father? Why would Crispin Stanhope have payed Lorna's costly medical bills? Who was the baby's father? Lorna refused to say. In this small place where everyone knew everyone, a killer was among them. Vera was determined to find the murderer and unmask the Stanhope family secrets.

For this reader, "The Darkest Evening (Vera Stanhope #9)" by Ann Cleeves was a first foray into police procedurals headed by Vera Stanhope. The characters were extremely well developed and included Dorothy Felling, the highly educated housekeeper at Brockburn, the unpleasant Harriet Stanhope, matriarch of Brockburn, and the families of tenant farmers in the immediate area. There were many misleading twists and turns and continuous servings of tea and digestive biscuits. I can't wait to accompany Vera Stanhope on future investigations. Highly recommended.

Thank you St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grabbing the latest book in this series is a no-brainer for a couple of reasons. First, I know I’m in for a well written, twisty murder mystery. Second, I get to spend time with the wonderful Brenda Blethyn. Ever since I saw her portrayal of Vera Stanhope, she’s become the voice in my head as I read these books. And that’s no bad thing.

The story begins when Vera ends up with a baby. But not the usual way. In the middle of a blizzard, she comes across an abandoned car with a tiny person inside. Their only hope is to make it to the nearest house which just happens to be the ancestral home of her father’s estranged family. Awkward.

And so Vera is reunited with snooty matriarch Harriet, her daughter Juliet & son-in-law Mark. She hasn’t seen this side of the family since childhood & it sets up an interesting dynamic. But any chit-chat will have to wait as Vera calls in reinforcements to deal with the baby, the car…..wait, where is the mom? By the time help arrives, there’s another more pressing question: who is the dead woman in the back yard?

And we’re off. Joe, Holly & all the regulars are back as the team tries to identify a killer who is hiding in plain sight. Motive is key to solving the case & as Vera digs with her typical persistence, family secrets & hidden ties are revealed. Appearances can deceive & even the happiest families have fault lines, soft spots that must be protected to maintain a facade.

The plotting is excellent & there are several credible “killers” to choose from. But what elevates the story is the addition of Vera’s personal history & present day interaction with long lost relatives. As local connections are uncovered, she has to wonder if her family knows more than they’re telling. They remember her as the awkward, frumpy daughter of the family’s black sheep. She may still be all those things but now she’s also an intuitive cop with the power to sort through & air their dirty laundry.

Picking up one of these books is like bumping into old friends. I love Vera & enjoy watching as criminals underestimate her at their own expense. Joe continues to be her long suffering righthand man while Holly’s character & relationship with the boss is further developed.

The pages fly by driven by a steady pace, clever dialogue & well rounded characters. By the end, the woman’s death is not the only mystery solved as Vera gains new insight into her father that may help put some of her personal demons to rest.

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this author. I love her plots and her characters, and of course the setting. This is from the series she wrote first. Vera Stanhope is older, kind of clunky and frumpy, but she has a first rate mind. Once again in Vera, she has assembled a very likable, relatable character and a team to go with.

This mystery hits close to home for Vera, to a place she has never been accepted or included. Vera though little cares what others think of her, though she does have moments of introspection. She is close to retirement, but has no intention of doing so soon, her work, her team is her life.

Like the Shetland series, Vera, played by the wonderful Brenda Blethyn, can also be streamed. It's a wonderful show and a fantastic series. Although this is the ninth in series, this can be read as a standalone. I've watched them all and now when I read these books I picture her character as the one she plays on television. It is a perfect typecast.

ARC from Edelweiss

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ann Cleeves latest novel in her Vera Stanhope series has an eerie, gothic feel and could almost be a murder mystery from the golden age of crime fiction, featuring a murder on a bitterly cold snowy night on a country estate surrounded by dark woods, where a house party is taking place. Vera Stanhope arrives just before dinner is served, clutching an infant she found in an abandoned car on the road not far from the house. The country estate is one known to Vera, a place where her father grew up before he became the black sheep of the family, and one where his brother's wife and married daughter still live. The whereabouts of the infant's mother, Lorna Falstone, a young woman from the nearby village, is resolved when a local farmer finds her body behind the house.

The murder investigation proceeds at a good pace as Vera and her team of Joe, Holly and Charlie try to find out more about Lorna's past and her life in the village where she lived with baby Thomas. There are several suspects among the dysfunctional families on and around the estate, not least Vera's own estranged family, the Stanhopes and the farming families that lease their farms and it takes a lot of sleuthing and dead ends for Vera to find the killer.

If you enjoy watching the TV series 'Vera', it will be hard not to picture the inimitable Brenda Blethyn marching through the snow in her mac and wellies with her hat pulled down over her face, bossing everyone around in her Northumbrian accent. She is so perfect for the role of the disheveled, middle aged, irascible Vera. I do love Vera's relationship with Joe and Holly, expecting them to drop everything and jump when she says but at the same time caring deeply for them. It was also interesting to learn more of Vera's estranged family and to see Vera make some friendly connections with some of the community. A riveting and engaging thriller, albeit a very cold, wintery one, perfect for a winter fireside read.

With thanks to St Martin's Press and Netgalley for a digital copy to read

Brenda Blethyn as Vera:

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Darkest Evening by Ann Cleeves is the ninth entry in the Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope series but it reads well as a stand-alone. I’m a little embarrassed to admit that this is my first Vera book, after having enjoyed the television series for many years. I now intend to read the rest of the series as well as other series by Ann Cleeves. The story begins with Vera Stanhope on her way home on a stormy winter’s night. On the road home, she spots a car on the side of the road. The driver’s door is wide open, indicating that the driver left quickly. She soon realizes that a baby has been left in the car, abandoned by whoever the driver was. She brings the baby to the closest home which turns out to be Brockburn, an estate owned by the Stanhopes, estranged relatives of Vera. This is the only shelter in this terrible storm for her and the baby and ring the bell she must. Soon the evening turns from bad to worse when a body is discovered on the property and it looks like a case of murder. Vera calls in her people and the investigation begins. This unusual police procedural has great characters and a plot like no other. The Darkest Evening is a most enjoyable read. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Heidi (can’t retire soon enough) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the library, I had to take a 4-5 week break between the first 30% of this book and the rest. Could that be why I didn’t guess the villain(s)? Maybe.

But I like to think that I wasn’t able to tie all the story threads together because of the brilliant plotting of Ms Cleeves. What an amazing novelist— and while I may be nearly caught up on the Vera Stanhope series, I think there’s two more series to check out… thank goodness!

I’ve come to love Vera Stanhope and after this book, I’m sure most of her devoted readers have come to appreciate the mostly maligned (by Vera) Holly (because she’s not Joe… Vera’s young mentee). I predict that Holly, not Joe, could fill Vera’s shoes, should she ever (she won’t) retire.

And finally, this book deals with the remaining Stanhope family — we’ve been hearing for all of the series that Vera’s criminal and addicted to wildlife poaching dead father was the black sheep of the prominent Stanhope family. Cleeves sets the crimes on or near the Stanhope family estate and then sprinkles family history throughout the story. Moreover, Vera finds herself feeling slightly off kilter as she contemplates family and connections.

As always, the characters’ and their back stories both inform and complicate Vera’s crime solving. In this case, Vera connects some really tiny dots (which I managed to miss) to confront a murderer. Did you guess who that was? I sure didn’t and that’s when this book earned its 5 stars. I LOVE being stumped.

Until next time, Ms. Cleeves…

(Reviewed 4/21/24)

[Carolyn Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to NetGalley and St.Martins Press for this compelling ARC. I had never read this series but found it worked very well as a stand-alone. I have been streaming and enjoying the TV series, Vera, and now intend to read more books by Ann Cleeves.

The Darkest Night is character-driven and also very descriptive. Set in modern times in a small, rural English village, there are throwbacks to an earlier era and way of life. Centre to the story is a family of landed gentry living in Brockburn, a grand mansion needing repairs. Living on their vast property are farm families and an educated woman who helps around the mansion in return for a cottage on their land. It reminded me of the feudal system of the past.

Vera, a dedicated police officer, is related to the Stanhopes who own Brockburn and its surrounding land. Her father grew up in the mansion but became estranged from the family. Vera is uneasy around the Stanhopes. She is a dowdy, middle-aged, overweight detective but astute and hard working. The rumpled, plain spoken Vera is aware of a condescending and disdainful attitude from the stylish, sophisticated lady of the mansion.


The story takes place in mid-winter with Christmas approaching with a chill ever-present. The homes lack central heating and even the great mansion offers little warmth. The village is a hotbed for gossip, misinformation, and rumour.

This is a well-constructed novel focusing on a police investigation by Vera and her team. She is gruff with them but keeps them well motivated and grateful for any praise. The detailed descriptions slowed down the pace and suspense for me, but the solution to the mystery was hard to predict.

Vera becomes lost while driving in heavy snow. She notices a car abandoned in the blizzard with the driver’s door wide open and discovers a baby in the backseat. It seems the mother must have started walking to find help. Vera arrives at Brockburn carrying the infant, the home of her distant, estranged relatives where a party is in progress. Her complicated perception of this family and their attitude towards her deepens the characterization. As the party winds down a woman’s body is discovered in the snow outside. and the verdict is murder. Soon another dead woman is found in the forest. Are the killings connected and what are the motives?

Vera and her team must sort through a series of secrets, illicit affairs, lies, alibis and rumours to solve this tangled and intriguing mystery.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Driving home from work – against the advice of her fellow detectives – DI Vera Stanhope began to think they might have been right. But she wouldn’t let the flurries of snow and icy wind deter her. Getting lost wasn’t something she could possibly do, but it was fortuitous she did, as she came across a car which had slithered into a ditch. The driver’s door was open with no driver in sight. But there was a baby in a car seat in the back. What would have taken the person away from the car, leaving a child inside in the frosty wintery weather they were having?

Vera’s arrival at the next house along the road, Brockburn, was a place she recognized. Removing the car seat and child from her car, she found she was disrupting a party of sorts. Vera remained in the kitchen where she made phone calls, getting her force to start their investigations. Vera’s father had grown up at Brockburn and now the elderly matriarch, Harriet lived there with her daughter Juliet and her husband Mark. The old house was crumbling around them; Vera remembered some of it from visiting as a child. Were there secrets residing in Brockburn?

The discovery of a body in the snow outside Brockburn was a dreadful shock – Vera’s investigations led to dark secrets. Was the killer someone who didn’t want those secrets revealed?

The Darkest Evening is the 9th in the Vera Stanhope series by Ann Cleeves and the first of the series I’ve read. I found it read easily as a standalone, and had no trouble keeping up with Vera and her team. I’ve also read the 1st in Shetland Island series, and the 1st in Two Rivers series – I do like the author’s writing. The intrigue and mystery was well done in The Darkest Evening: I didn’t pick the right person for the killer although I had a few guesses 😉 Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and Maggie Rothfus of Minotaur/St Martin's Press for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Luvtoread (Trying to catch up) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Detective Vera Stanhope is driving home in an unexpected early snowstorm when she makes a wrong turn due to bad visibility and finds a car off the road with the door wide open. Vera gets out of her SUV to make sure no one is injured and finds it empty until she hears a cry in the back seat and sees a young toddler strapped into his carseat and no mother or father to be found anywhere nearby. There is no phone reception on her mobile so she looks for the nearest house so she can call the station to inform them of this incident. Within a few hours a body is found murdered on the property of relatives of Vera who are having a lively dinner party and now there seems to be plenty of suspects and many unanswered questions. What a coincidence that Vera came upon this abandoned baby but Vera doesn't believe in coincidences. Prepare yourself to see if you can figure out The
Darkest Evening mystery.

This was a tough read for me while I enjoyed the characters and the initial storyline, it just dragged on for me after the first 30 percent of the book. I really like Vera and her team but I felt the story was too wordy and repetitive in many places and It just didn't have the suspense I was looking for in a mystery. I must say though, that the story did pick up some and got better in the last quarter of the book. I would read another Vera Stanhope book since I was engaged with the series characters.

I want to thank the publisher "St. Martin's Press" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book and any thoughts and opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!

I have given this book 2 1/2 Sleepy 🌟🌟🌠 Stars

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gentle and persistent snow turns into heavy blizzards.

That's what Inspector Vera Stanhope comes face-to-face with when leaving the police station one evening. All that swirling and blurring has played havoc on her sense of direction. A missed turn here or there in the Northumberland countryside can frost you in more ways than one.

Vera's windshield clears for a brief moment and she spots a white vehicle left to the side of the road with the door open. Vera pulls over to help. She peers inside and finds a toddler strapped in his carseat alone. With no one else in sight, Vera surmises that the adult went for help. No way was she going to leave this child abandoned in a blizzard. Carseat and child are transferred to Vera's Land Rover.

And here's where Vera will come to find that she's got more than what she bargained for. Vera pulls into the first driveway of a well-lit house. Memories hit her straight on. It's the Brockburn House. Our Vera is on the bottom rung of the well-heeled Stanhopes and this is their mansion and its surrounding acreage. She's greeted by a distant cousin who brings Vera and newly found child in. We'll get an eye full of the comings and goings here.

But before long a woman's body is found near the entrance of the Brockburn House. The identity of this woman will send Vera and her team (DC Holly Jackman and Sgt. Joe Ashworth) into a maze of detective work. And Ann Cleeves is not one to give away the store on the first outing. This one will have more likely murderers than you can swing a stick at. The lineup of guilty faces is remarkable.

The Darkest Evening can be read as a standalone. Even if this is your first go-round with Vera Stanhope, you'll be drawn in by her straightforward, no frills, arrow-sharp personality and her sleuthing skills to match. Cleeves does herself proud in this one that entertains as well as wickedly holds back that final card until the end. Fine detective work and fine writing as always in this superb series.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Minotaur Books (St. Martin's Press) and to the talented Ann Cleeves for the opportunity.

[Phrynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is always fun to start a Vera Stanhope book. I enjoyed the TV series very much and I immediately start picturing the actors who played Vera, Joe and Holly as I read.

In The Darkest Evening Vera is lost while driving in a snow storm. She discovers a car abandoned with a door open and is startled to find small child alive and well, strapped into his car seat in the back. She takes the child to safety and then the search for the driver begins. It leads Vera and her team on a very tricky investigation involving more than one dead body.

This was an intriguing book which gave us a lot of Vera's back story as well as information about Joe and Holly's lives outside their working hours. Vera shows a slightly softer side to her character especially regarding the small boy and there is a nice touch regarding this at the end of the book.

As always with this author I enjoyed it all very much and I am glad I still have several Vera books yet to read.

[Amy Imogene Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

The perfect read for a winter night... with a dash of murder and buried secrets, naturally.

Enjoyment: ★★★★ 1/2
Plot/Pacing: ★★★★
Villain(s)/Reveal(s): ★★★★ 1/2

A car is found on the side of a snowed-in road later one dark evening. The door is open. Inside the rapidly freezing car is a small baby boy staring out.

What happened to the mother? Why did she appear to go peacefully, yet leave her child to the freezing elements with the door open?

Vera Stanhope and her squad of British cops are on the case. It's Vera herself who discovers the baby and the car, and when she takes him to the nearest lit house in the dark she's shocked to realize that it's the ancestral manor home of her estranged father. That side of the family is rich and snooty and Vera's not thrilled to be back. But the baby and his mother take priority.

This interesting clashing of the classes occurs in the midst of the missing persons case turned deadly: within a few hours, the mother's body is discovered brutally murdered on the grounds of the estate.

With a closed list of suspects, a small town filled with buried secrets, and the threat of an undiscovered murder, it's time for Vera to connect the dots of the past and see just what happened on the darkest evening.

So this was my first Vera Stanhope and Ann Cleves novel, but it will NOT be my last one. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Vera took some getting used to and her team was odd, but overall a really solid mystery tale with all the hallmarks of the classics. Strong points in this novel were the final reveals, the atmosphere, and the unfolding of secrets.

Thank you to the publisher for my copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ninth instalment in Ann Cleeves' Vera Stanhope series is a variant of the traditional "Country House murder", set in a snowy Northumberland landscape in the lead up to Christmas.
Disoriented while driving home in a blizzard, DCI Vera Stanhope comes across an abandoned car, its drivers' door left open, by the side of the road. When she pulls over to investigate, she finds a toddler alone in the car, still strapped into his carseat. Vera sets off with the well-bundled infant in search of help and shelter, and as luck would have it, finds that the nearest dwelling is the family seat of the Stanhopes, Brockburn, the country pile where her father Hector grew up. Vera makes a rather awkward re-acquaintance with the surviving Stanhopes - Vera's late cousin's wife and their daughter - who are in the progress of holding a fancy dinner party.


Fairfield House, near the village of Stanhope, County Durham, is very much as I picture the fictional Brockburn.

Not long after Vera's arrival and retreat to the warmth of the house's kitchen, the body of a young single mother is discovered in snow not far from the house. Despite her connection to the family, Vera calls in the cavalry and sets about solving an intriguing case.
Vera is supported by the usual cast of police characters, including DS Joe Ashworth and DC Holly Jackman, and plenty of potential witnesses and suspects from the local community and further afield. The character development is excellent and the dialogue snappy and frequently amusing, as always. Cleeves' description of the wintry landscape is evocative, as is her depiction of a small rural community recovering from the violent death of one of their own. Not only does Vera successfully reveal the identity of the killer, but a few skeletons from her own extended family's closet as well!
I enjoyed the opportunity this plot gave to Cleeves to delve further into the background of Vera and her late father, Hector, as it gives avid readers of the series added insight into some of the nuances of Vera's complex and somewhat peculiar character and motivations. We also learn more of DC Jackman's character, and what drives her, through this story. Cleeves has the knack of interweaving material related to the police characters' private lives and relationships, without distracting from the onward momentum of the story. She creates an immersive and rewarding reading experience.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Darkest Evening and have no hesitation recommending it to any reader who enjoys a good mystery, whether in the traditional or contemporary style.

[Bam cooks the books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second book by Ann Cleeves, having read The Long Call, the first in her Two Rivers series, last September. But this is my first read in her long-running Vera Stanhope series and I'm happy to say it wasn't difficult at all to jump into the series with book #9.

Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope is caught in a blinding snowstorm on her way home after a long day on the job in rural Northumberland. She comes upon a car that is partially pulled off the road. The driver's door is standing open and there's a toddler strapped in a car seat in the back. There's no way to call for back up with no cell signal, no time to start a search for the driver with the baby to protect, so Vera decides to take the baby and drive to the nearest welcoming habitat, which turns out to be the Stanhope country manse--owned by distant relatives of Vera's. They apparently have guests over and the house is aglow with twinkling lights. While the Stanhopes are still dealing with this surprise, a local farmer drives up on his tractor to report he has found the baby's mother, Lorna, dead in the snow, an apparent victim of murder.

Vera and her team get to work to solve the crime: the style of this story is very reminiscent of some of Agatha Christie's best mysteries. Vera is an older unmarried woman, a bit of a curmudgeon and poorly dressed (gasp!), who must be dealt with carefully by young Joe and Holly as they work the case. There is a cast of very interesting characters, many of whom seem to have something to hide. 'This whole case...was about families, about what held them together and what ripped them apart.' A very intriguing, entertaining mystery with a surprising reveal. I would definitely enjoy reading more in this series, I believe.

I'm always interested to learn where the title of a book comes from and here the source seems to be a phrase in the Robert Frost poem, 'Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening', one of my personal favorites, and which has significance to the victim in the story. The darkest evening of the year of course is the winter solstice, in the bleak midwinter.

I received an arc of this new mystery from the publisher via netGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

So nice to read this latest of Ann Cleeves’ Vera series. It’s like being in a comfortable chair in a cozy room on a stormy day. Cleeves and Vera will capably, and with interesting plot lines and characters, see you through. This story begins with Vera trying to drive home from the station in what is becoming a dangerous snowstorm. She can’t recognize any landmarks and then comes upon a car that appears to have gone off the road. She pulls her old Land Rover off near it to check for injured people. But all she finds is an open door and a toddler in a child seat. With no other option, she leaves her card and a note in the car and takes the child in its seat to her car. And continues on her way...but gets little further. She recognizes the drive that she approaches...relatives who won’t be particularly pleased to see her but who can shelter her and the child. Her Stanhope relatives in their big house.

From this point, the story takes off, with more of Vera’s personal back story with her father Hector, the various lives of her relatives, a matter of a murder during the night she is at the house, and the gradual unwinding of the case. Each book seems to provide more details of members of Vera’s team. Here it is Holly who is given much attention and we also see much of this case from her perspective.

To date I have probably seen more episodes of Vera than I have read the books. I think I should remedy that as there is so much that can’t possibly make it into a script.

Definitely recommend this series.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[Producervan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Darkest Evening, a Vera Stanhope novel (Vera Stanhope #9) by Ann Cleeves. St. Martin's Press. Minotaur Books. Mystery & Thrillers. Publication date: 08 Sep 2020. 374 pages. ISBN: 9781250204509. Electronic ARC. 5 Stars.

This is my second Ann Cleeves read, and I think she’s fantastic. I liked this standalone even better than the last. Pitch perfect, I thoroughly enjoyed this latest book featuring Ann Cleeves’ superstar character, Vera, as well as her use of regional slang words like ‘cack-handed’ and ‘knaa’ and ‘hinny’ for honey… This mystery gets your attention and keeps it forever! Great tie-up at the end. Highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for providing this ebook ARC for review.

[Gail C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I’m a big fan of Vera Stanhope. That said, this book fulfills all my expectations regarding the writing, the mystery, the pacing, and the solution. From the outset, the book is engaging as Cleeves begins with a quick look at the victim. Throughout the book the point of view is most often Vera Stanhope’s, with occasional peeks into the minds of two of her detectives; Joe and Holly, as well as even shorter peeks into the minds of some of the suspects.
In this novel, Vera has decided, against the advice of her team, to try and drive home late at night in the middle of a snowstorm. She gets lost momentarily and in her attempt to find her way she comes upon a car, stopped in the snow with the door open. Taking a closer look, Vera discovers an infant in a carseat in the back.
As she tries to work her way out of this situation, Vera realizes she is not far from the Stanhope ancestral home and although her father was a disgraced member of the family, she decides she will press forward into the house to seek shelter for the child. As things progress, she learns the child’s mother, who is an unwed young woman from the area, has been found dead in the snow; brutally murdered.
The Stanhope family is not sure how Vera should be treated, but as a member of the police she takes charge and soon is treating them the way she would treat most any suspects of a murder. The contrast between Vera, who has little concern for the opinions of others and Harriet, the matriarch of the Stanhope family who lives and dies by her reputation is well drawn. The various characters are all well developed and the reader has ample opportunity to deepen their knowledge of them as they move through the book.
As expected, there are twists and turns throughout the book as individual’s positive traits along with their past and present foibles are revealed. As Vera explains, it’s a murder investigation and nothing is irrelevant. The investigation is conducted in large part by Vera with some additions from Joe and Holly which give insight into how the team functions as well as how Very works to get her staff to develop good investigative skills.
From the very first page, I was engaged in the novel and didn’t want to put it down. When I had to interrupt my reading I found myself thinking about the book, picturing the individuals in it and imagining what would happen next. The solution, while a twist, was not a surprising one; but that in no way detracted from the novel. This is a book any lover of detective fiction would enjoy and is a must not miss for anyone who is a Vera Stanhope fan.
I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me an advanced read digital copy of this novel. The opinions expressed in this review are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.

This is a good Mystery set in small village in snowy Northumberland. DI Vera Stanhope sets off for home, but gets lost in a blizzard. She comes across a car abandoned at the side of the road with the door open. Upon inspection she finds a baby strapped into a car seat in the back seat.

As she drives on, Stanhope realizes that she is near Brockburn, the once grand house where her father grew up. She has a complicated relationship with the family, but is out of choices and stops. There is a Christmas party going on inside, but they welcome her in. A short time later, a dead woman if found laying in the snow at the back of the house. Stanhope starts an investigation, which uncovers secrets her family, and the village, would rather keep hidden.

I haven't read any of the previous books in the series, but this is a stand alone mystery and I didn't feel like I missed out on anything. I liked Stanhope. Both her body and her car are slow and creaky, but they both get the job done. Stanhope is the epitome of not judging a book by the cover. Her mind is sharp and she sees details others miss. It seems like she even enjoys letting people underestimate her. Her fellow police officers were good side characters, although they weren't too developed.

The mystery was interesting and there were plenty of red herrings to throw the reader off. I enjoyed the story and will read more books in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Darkest Evening is the ninth novel in the Vera Stanhope series by Ann Cleeves.
The snow storm had developed into a full blown blizzard when DCI Vera Stanhope finally left the station. Warned of poor conditions, Vera, as is her want, proceeded on. Soon she is lost and disoriented. But that is not all. She spies a car that has slid off the road. Stopping to help she finds an open door, no driver and a young toddler strapped in the back seat.
Vera realizes that the child cannot be left in the car. She leaves a note, takes the child with her and sets off to find shelter and warmth for themselves.
A short drive later she notices a well lit house. She pulls into the drive and slowly approaches the house. A shock of recognition hits her. It is Brockburn, the ancestral home of her father's estranged aristocratic family.
Vera has no choice but to seek refuge with the residents who shunned her black sheep of the family father. Luckily, Vera and the toddler are welcomed in the home.
Vera joins the dinner party of family and local residents being held in the house. The child is recognized as Thomas, the son of Lorna Falstone, a young woman from a neighboring village. The father of Thomas is unknown.
Soon after,k a local farmer drops in to say the a beaten body has been found on the property. Yes, it's Lorna Falstone. Now DCI Vera - not relative Vera - takes charge.
First call goes to her team. There is an investigation needed to be run. Who better than the skillful, intelligent, diligent team of DC Holly Jackman and Sgt. Joe Ashworth to sort through motives and suspects, There are an abundance of seemingly guilty fold around.
The clues are laid out but are easy to ignore. But Vera will see them and put them together to solve this case. Vera may appear dumpy, frumpy and slow but underneath it all shes as sharp as a tack.
While this is the ninth in the series, The Darkest Evening, is a fine stand alone novel. This is an enjoyable read that checks all the categories of an engaging crime novel.
I received an advance copy of the book from NetGalley. #NetGalley #TheDarkestEvening

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading the Cleeves because I have fallen in love with the British tv series, Vera (based on the Cleeves books).

Usually, I prefer the book to its filmed version but in this case, I like both equally. They're very similar, even the tv episodes that are "based on characters" from the books but not dramatizations of the actual books (probably because the tv show, which is very popular and still running, now in its 11th season, has more episodes than there are books).

Also, I'm in love with Brenda Blethyn, who plays Vera in the show. She seems a perfect incarnation of the character (a little more attractive but Blethyn successfully plays down her looks and emphasizes Vera's lack of interest in her appearance).

Part of my devotion to the books, I admit, is that as an older woman it's wonderful to see a character played by a middle aged actress (although the actress is actually much older than the character, which is hard to believe: she looks great!) who is not at all glamorous.

The plot in The Darkest Evening is satisfyingly complicated and I found all the characters engaging. The victim was fully realized as a character and not just a body. The locale was also interesting as was Vera's connection with the upper class people who are suspects in the murder.

Altogether highly enjoyable. I can't wait to read more.

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm somewhere between a 3.5 and 4 star on this one. It was my first outing with Ann Cleeves and I must say I was charmed! This is well into the Vera Stanhope series, but I had not read any of the previous books & I can safely say you don't need to have read the previous books in the series to enjoy this one. While this is not my very favorite trope (an isolated closed circle mystery), it does have a lot of elements I enjoy in a procedural whodunnit: small town/rural setting, the claustrophobia of movement being restricted by snow, a big old country house with suspicious characters, and a lovely rapport between the recurring series characters. This wasn't revolutionary, but if you are like me & like your mystery on the cozier end of the spectrum, I think this will be a delightful little whodunnit for you to enjoy

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simon and I enjoyed listening to the audiobook together. It's another great entry in the Vera Stanhope series. With each volume we learn a little more about Vera and her team, their personalities and how they interact and work together. I especially enjoyed learning that Vera found a haven in her local public library growing up.

"She stood at the front of the emptying room, lost in space and time. Her mind had suddenly jumped back to her youth. Visits to Kimmerston library had provided welcome escape from home on Saturdays and during school holidays. As a teenager, Vera had loved reading traditional detective novels."