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Vera Stanhope #7
The Moth Catcher
Life seems perfect in Valley Farm, a quiet community in Northumberland. Then a shocking discovery shatters the silence. The owners of a big country house have employed a house-sitter, a young ecologist named Patrick, to look after the place while they're away. But Patrick is found dead by the side of the lane into the valley - a beautiful, lonely place to die.
DI Vera Stanhope arrives on the scene, with her detectives Holly and Joe. When they look round the attic of the big house - where Patrick has a flat - she finds the body of a second man. All the two victims have in common is a fascination with moths - catching these beautiful, rare creatures.
The three couples who live in the Valley Farm development have secrets too: Annie and Sam's daughter is due to be released from prison any day; Nigel watches, silently, every day, from his window. As Vera is drawn into the claustrophobic world of this increasingly strange community, she realizes that there may be deadly secrets trapped here ...
365 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2015
2181 people are currently reading
3839 people want to read
About the author
Ann Cleeves
128 books8,722 followersAnn 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
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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 955 reviews
December 8, 2015
As good as anything Cleeves' ever written, although I find the mystery and the whodunnit a bit far-fetched. And once again, I understand that Vera is a fat, ugly old woman. It's been a known fact throughout the series. There's really no need to remind us that she's fat and ungainly every other chapter.
Still, the writing is brilliant and Cleeves remains one of my favorite mystery authors. She's never written a bad book that I've read.
Still, the writing is brilliant and Cleeves remains one of my favorite mystery authors. She's never written a bad book that I've read.
Read
October 14, 20163.5 My very first Vera Stanhope, though I absolutely love this author's Shetland series. Two bodies, in life connected by their love for moths, Vera and her team are on the job. A group of indulgent retirees, sounded fun to me, I would love to be an indulgent retiree. A good mix of characters, and Vera herself is a true leader, albeit a bit of a control freak at times, though she is trying hard to change that, giving Holly and Joe more credit for the work they do.
Had no clue who done it, but it was fun watching it all unfold, masterfully I thought. Very tightly controlled plot, all comes together in the end. My only complaint is the constant mention of Vera being large, ugly etc. After the first two times, I got it, didn't need the reinforcement of further mentions. A new series for me and one I will now be reading, not that I needed a new series, but sometimes that's just the way it goes. Cleeves is just a good storyteller.
ARC from Netgalley.
Had no clue who done it, but it was fun watching it all unfold, masterfully I thought. Very tightly controlled plot, all comes together in the end. My only complaint is the constant mention of Vera being large, ugly etc. After the first two times, I got it, didn't need the reinforcement of further mentions. A new series for me and one I will now be reading, not that I needed a new series, but sometimes that's just the way it goes. Cleeves is just a good storyteller.
ARC from Netgalley.
July 19, 2023
Have you ever watched the BBC TV Series Vera based on the books by Ann Cleeves?
It is a wonderful cozy mystery series. The lead Brenda Blethyn is brilliant! Stay with me....I have a lot to say.
The other day when I was in the library I saw Ann Cleeves book, The Moth Catchers and thought I would pick it up to read since I am such a fan of the BBC Series.
In the book, Vera is portrayed as a strong, no-nonsense, effective, confident detective. I can appreciate that the first pages might describe her physicality, but every other page makes a disparaging remark about her size.
Why does this have to be emphasized in such a mean and belligerent way?
I found myself cringing every time another character had to make some remark about her size...not just once but several times.
I am appalled that this is even necessary.
Vera is self-assured, she is aware of her shortcomings, but she still manages to be a leader, and effective in solving crimes with her team.
She knows what she wants from them, and everyone else.
I don't think her weight needs to be emphasized as much as it is over and over again.
It is distracting and belittling - even if it is just referencing a fictional character. I don't think we would ever want to treat real people in this manner!
I don't have any interest in reading any more of Ann Cleeves books because this has been so disturbing to me.
Thank you for listening.
It is a wonderful cozy mystery series. The lead Brenda Blethyn is brilliant! Stay with me....I have a lot to say.
The other day when I was in the library I saw Ann Cleeves book, The Moth Catchers and thought I would pick it up to read since I am such a fan of the BBC Series.
In the book, Vera is portrayed as a strong, no-nonsense, effective, confident detective. I can appreciate that the first pages might describe her physicality, but every other page makes a disparaging remark about her size.
Why does this have to be emphasized in such a mean and belligerent way?
I found myself cringing every time another character had to make some remark about her size...not just once but several times.
I am appalled that this is even necessary.
Vera is self-assured, she is aware of her shortcomings, but she still manages to be a leader, and effective in solving crimes with her team.
She knows what she wants from them, and everyone else.
I don't think her weight needs to be emphasized as much as it is over and over again.
It is distracting and belittling - even if it is just referencing a fictional character. I don't think we would ever want to treat real people in this manner!
I don't have any interest in reading any more of Ann Cleeves books because this has been so disturbing to me.
Thank you for listening.
March 17, 2020
This is the 7th installment of the Vera Stanhope mystery series, which I am reading out of order anyway. At the start of the book, there are 2 murders within close proximity, with Vera and her team trying to establish any connection between them. Close to the killings, is a close knit community of former urban dwellers who have escaped the city to retire to rural life. Of course they have lots of secrets which is fuel to a fire for Vera as she is at the top of her game when there is a murder or two to solve. The character development for Vera, Joe, and Holly in addition to the suspects and victims provides the reader with the backdrop for the story line without ever really giving away the answer to the whodunit until the end. Also, in this installment, we get to see a side of Holly that is opposite to her normal ambitious, cool, and seemingly unflappable self. Her internal questioning of her choice of career and the 'is this really what I want out of life', lend a little more humanity to a character that may not always evoke much sympathy with some readers.
March 8, 2021
Simon and I listened to the audiobook version together. We agree that while we love the TV series starring Brenda Blethyn as Vera, the books provide so much more of the backstory. This story unfurled at a pace that enabled us to get to know the characters and understand the time and appreciate the place.
There is also a sense of sly humor which made us laugh out loud! Here are two wonderful examples that made us love the character of Vera even more:
"Vera thought for a moment that she might have found a man if she had scrubbed up a bit better. Then, decided that no man was worth the time it took to plaster stuff on your face in the morning when you could have an extra cup of tea instead."
"Vera thought that he was one of those men who couldn't be quietly ill."
There is also a sense of sly humor which made us laugh out loud! Here are two wonderful examples that made us love the character of Vera even more:
"Vera thought for a moment that she might have found a man if she had scrubbed up a bit better. Then, decided that no man was worth the time it took to plaster stuff on your face in the morning when you could have an extra cup of tea instead."
"Vera thought that he was one of those men who couldn't be quietly ill."
September 13, 2024
“The Moth Catcher”, (“Vera Stanhope #7), by Ann Cleeves
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I recently watched the adaptation of this book for the tv series (“Vera”), and I was so impressed by the twists that I decided to read the book.
What I liked about the twists was that each was very well thought out and all believable.
As books tend to be better than the adaptations, I ordered a copy from the library, but as the condition of it was not very good, I purchased a box set of paperbacks containing the first 8 books of this series.
I read the first 3 chapters, and although I was enjoying the writing, I noticed that in every other pages there were derogatory comments about Vera’s weight (in some parts she is described as an ugly woman), which thankfully were not in the tv adaptation.
I do believe that it was done with the intention of showing how underestimated she was, but I think it could have been done in a different way, after all this book was released in 2015, not in the 80’s or even the 90’s, when such remarks were thought to be funny.
Anyways… as I said, I did enjoy the writing, the storyline and its slow (and not so thrilling - that’s why it took me longer than usual to finish this book) development, and the conclusion, hence my ratings.
I loved Vera’s personality and her line of inquiries, and the other characters were well crafted.
The book was well structured and I enjoyed some alternating POV.
I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series. I will try to set at least one book per month.
Paperback (Pan Books): 370 pages + 16 pages with the 2 first chapters of the next book, “The Seagull”
E-book (Kobo): 105k words, 385 pages (default - including 2 chapters from “The Segull)
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I recently watched the adaptation of this book for the tv series (“Vera”), and I was so impressed by the twists that I decided to read the book.
What I liked about the twists was that each was very well thought out and all believable.
As books tend to be better than the adaptations, I ordered a copy from the library, but as the condition of it was not very good, I purchased a box set of paperbacks containing the first 8 books of this series.
I read the first 3 chapters, and although I was enjoying the writing, I noticed that in every other pages there were derogatory comments about Vera’s weight (in some parts she is described as an ugly woman), which thankfully were not in the tv adaptation.
I do believe that it was done with the intention of showing how underestimated she was, but I think it could have been done in a different way, after all this book was released in 2015, not in the 80’s or even the 90’s, when such remarks were thought to be funny.
Anyways… as I said, I did enjoy the writing, the storyline and its slow (and not so thrilling - that’s why it took me longer than usual to finish this book) development, and the conclusion, hence my ratings.
I loved Vera’s personality and her line of inquiries, and the other characters were well crafted.
The book was well structured and I enjoyed some alternating POV.
I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series. I will try to set at least one book per month.
Paperback (Pan Books): 370 pages + 16 pages with the 2 first chapters of the next book, “The Seagull”
E-book (Kobo): 105k words, 385 pages (default - including 2 chapters from “The Segull)
January 3, 2021
The deaths of P.D. James and Ruth Rendell have left a slight void in my need for an occasional crime fiction fix (of the non-hard-boiled type), which is being filled to an extent for me by Ann Cleeves. The Moth Catcher is the latest in her Vera Stanhope series, the only series I have sampled so far, and it is quite a complex plot, with many well-drawn characters from different strata of society. It is difficult to review a crime writer's work in any detail without inserting spoilers. Suffice to say that The Moth Catcher will satisfy those who like their murder mysteries to be more than jigsaw puzzles. Acute social commentary and observations on human nature are a part and parcel of Ann Cleeves' work, and she is an extremely skilled writer. In this novel, some critical observations about the criminal justice system in the UK are included, which we can assume are based on the author's previous experiences working as a probation officer.
If you are bereft at the loss of P.D. James and Ruth Rendell, you could do a lot worse than to check out this writer. I have just bought a couple of books from her Shetland series (there are three series on the go), and am looking forward to sampling her other detectives (fond and all as I am of Vera Stanhope, I sometimes wish she would find a life beyond her job and memories of her dead taxidermist father).
If you are bereft at the loss of P.D. James and Ruth Rendell, you could do a lot worse than to check out this writer. I have just bought a couple of books from her Shetland series (there are three series on the go), and am looking forward to sampling her other detectives (fond and all as I am of Vera Stanhope, I sometimes wish she would find a life beyond her job and memories of her dead taxidermist father).
June 7, 2021
Wow. Really really good! Nothing to complain about here. I have to say though, the book was much better than the actual episode based on the book I thought. I loved all of the characters and the three couples who center on the investigation. I did like how everything came together in the end. And this one gave us more Holly (which I appreciated) who seems to be going through a crisis and wondering if she just wants to remain with the police force.
"The Moth Catcher" follows an investigation Vera and her team are put on when a young man is found dead in a ditch. At first it appears it can be a car accident (someone hitting and running) but when the police go back to a home that young man was staying at, they find another body and realize that someone murdered both of the men who at first glance appear to have nothing linking them.
Vera is a bit softer (for her) in this one. She still has some bite, but is doling out compliments to not only Holly, but also to Joe. She seemed to get off before on playing them off of each other, but in the last book and this one has knocked that off. There's still competition between Holly and Joe, but in this one, we have Holly wondering whether she is still a good fit for the police. She seems to realize she has no ties to anyone or anything in the area and wonders if she will ever be good at interviewing and getting into people's heads.
As I said above, I like the three couples we follow. The married late in life couple (he was a former security company owner, she's an artist) the former restaurant owners, and then the professor and his wife. They all at first glance seem happy until you see behind the masks they have on display. And of course you have Vera digging at them.
The ending I thought was really well done and I liked it.
"The Moth Catcher" follows an investigation Vera and her team are put on when a young man is found dead in a ditch. At first it appears it can be a car accident (someone hitting and running) but when the police go back to a home that young man was staying at, they find another body and realize that someone murdered both of the men who at first glance appear to have nothing linking them.
Vera is a bit softer (for her) in this one. She still has some bite, but is doling out compliments to not only Holly, but also to Joe. She seemed to get off before on playing them off of each other, but in the last book and this one has knocked that off. There's still competition between Holly and Joe, but in this one, we have Holly wondering whether she is still a good fit for the police. She seems to realize she has no ties to anyone or anything in the area and wonders if she will ever be good at interviewing and getting into people's heads.
As I said above, I like the three couples we follow. The married late in life couple (he was a former security company owner, she's an artist) the former restaurant owners, and then the professor and his wife. They all at first glance seem happy until you see behind the masks they have on display. And of course you have Vera digging at them.
The ending I thought was really well done and I liked it.
January 12, 2020
At the risk of repeating myself; I love this series and Vera is my fave!
This is another strong and complex murder mystery with as much character focus as plot focus (as in all the books).
I think I've now read all the books in the series which makes me sad...but I will be revisiting them and I am going to give the TV series a go too.
This is another strong and complex murder mystery with as much character focus as plot focus (as in all the books).
I think I've now read all the books in the series which makes me sad...but I will be revisiting them and I am going to give the TV series a go too.
June 6, 2016
Good book as usual but wondering if author is fat phobic. From her photos she looks anorexic. I lost someone very close to me from anorexia. I have read several of her books and she is always stressing on body size. The Vera books n particular really focus on how fat Vera is in a very negative way. I worry about people reading these books and developing an eating disorder. It was one comment that started my relatives eating disorder. I believe in creative licence but I really feel author almost obsessive about weight in all her books. I won't be referring her books to anyone.
Should add in case anyone thinks I am making too much of this and being PC about the anorexia....every book stresses the fat comments and the gratuitous usage of the descriptive words of the fat woman detective being made by every character is over used. It becomes a distraction from. Reading the book because it is so obvious and seems to indicate the authors bias then flow from story development.
Should add in case anyone thinks I am making too much of this and being PC about the anorexia....every book stresses the fat comments and the gratuitous usage of the descriptive words of the fat woman detective being made by every character is over used. It becomes a distraction from. Reading the book because it is so obvious and seems to indicate the authors bias then flow from story development.
June 23, 2016
I had such high hopes for this Vera Stanhope mystery! A killing of two men, who seem to have nothing else in common than catching moths - it sounded so promising. I was so disappointed. There was no real character development among the old faithfuls and the murder mystery never interested me much.
January 24, 2024
Another great read in this series. Imlove the series Vera and this book was part of that. These books are great to read as a stand alone but I prefer to try and read them in order.
February 10, 2018
Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope and her team have little to go on when a house sitter with a PhD and a former teacher are murdered near the English Northumberland village of Gilswick. Are the murders connected and how?
Vera is a shrewd investigator, but the case is a puzzle. Why would Patrick Randle, fresh out of university, defer a research position and sign on as a house sitter? Who was Martin Benton and what happened when the two met? Detectives Joe Ashworth and Holly Clarke are at Vera’s command and they soon discover a possible connection: moth catching. This strange interest, shared by both men, may be the link.
There is much to understand, however, including the relationships between three retired couples who live down the lane. They call themselves the “retired hedonists” and seem to be good friends, but Vera senses an undercurrent. Other characters with shady or unknown histories make the mystery a challenge for readers who like to crack a case before the last page.
This is my first Ann Cleeves mystery, but fans will know the Vera Stanhope character well and may have watched Vera, the British television series, starring Brenda Blethyn. Cleeves has created a unique personality—Vera is middle-aged, overweight, controlling, a little obsessed, with a few regrets and buried insecurities. But she’s a genius detective who knows how to dig. She is often bossy with Joe and Holly, who have their own talents and a little personal baggage. Both Joe and Holly silently crave Vera’s respect and confidence, and hope for one of Vera’s rare nuggets of praise. I enjoyed this work dynamic and think it’s one of the book’s strongest elements.
I also enjoyed the author’s descriptions of homes, their interiors, and a sort of running commentary on what the gardens were like and whether or not they were weeded. Food and caffeine sources also get frequent mention, keeping the reader amused.
Cleeves’ characters struggle with many issues. For Vera, Joe and Holly, they question their career choices. The hedonists secretly wonder if retiring out in the country has given them enough to do with their days. Other themes include family, money, relationships and women’s roles.
Although Cleeves includes many interesting personalities and scenery, I was disappointed by the plot. I’m a “go along for the ride” mystery reader, so it didn’t bother me that the finish was difficult to predict, but the moth catching angle fell flat, especially the author’s reference to global warming. Moths became a small and irrelevant connection and I felt misled by the title.
Despite this gripe, I enjoyed The Moth Catcher and would recommend it to mystery readers who like strong personalities and entertaining commentary.
Vera is a shrewd investigator, but the case is a puzzle. Why would Patrick Randle, fresh out of university, defer a research position and sign on as a house sitter? Who was Martin Benton and what happened when the two met? Detectives Joe Ashworth and Holly Clarke are at Vera’s command and they soon discover a possible connection: moth catching. This strange interest, shared by both men, may be the link.
There is much to understand, however, including the relationships between three retired couples who live down the lane. They call themselves the “retired hedonists” and seem to be good friends, but Vera senses an undercurrent. Other characters with shady or unknown histories make the mystery a challenge for readers who like to crack a case before the last page.
This is my first Ann Cleeves mystery, but fans will know the Vera Stanhope character well and may have watched Vera, the British television series, starring Brenda Blethyn. Cleeves has created a unique personality—Vera is middle-aged, overweight, controlling, a little obsessed, with a few regrets and buried insecurities. But she’s a genius detective who knows how to dig. She is often bossy with Joe and Holly, who have their own talents and a little personal baggage. Both Joe and Holly silently crave Vera’s respect and confidence, and hope for one of Vera’s rare nuggets of praise. I enjoyed this work dynamic and think it’s one of the book’s strongest elements.
I also enjoyed the author’s descriptions of homes, their interiors, and a sort of running commentary on what the gardens were like and whether or not they were weeded. Food and caffeine sources also get frequent mention, keeping the reader amused.
Cleeves’ characters struggle with many issues. For Vera, Joe and Holly, they question their career choices. The hedonists secretly wonder if retiring out in the country has given them enough to do with their days. Other themes include family, money, relationships and women’s roles.
Although Cleeves includes many interesting personalities and scenery, I was disappointed by the plot. I’m a “go along for the ride” mystery reader, so it didn’t bother me that the finish was difficult to predict, but the moth catching angle fell flat, especially the author’s reference to global warming. Moths became a small and irrelevant connection and I felt misled by the title.
Despite this gripe, I enjoyed The Moth Catcher and would recommend it to mystery readers who like strong personalities and entertaining commentary.
April 26, 2020
I don't know how I feel towards this story...
It was good in general but the resolution didn't satisfy me!
I get the motive but the explanation about one murder didn't add much! If it was not premeditated then why did the murderer go there holding a knife in the first place?
The case takes place in a small community and as the story unfolds you get more glimpses to the people involved and there was when I thought about who might have done it but couldn't figure out why!
Vera Stanhope is her usual self and I like her character! Because I read Harbour street first I didn't remember much of Joe's family status and I think in this installment we got to know Holly a little better!
I like Ann Cleeves's stories because not much is said about the main characters personal affairs and the plot is about the characters involved in the investigation and the reader can "meet" many types of people and their behaviour!
A nice read all around!
It was good in general but the resolution didn't satisfy me!
I get the motive but the explanation about one murder didn't add much! If it was not premeditated then why did the murderer go there holding a knife in the first place?
The case takes place in a small community and as the story unfolds you get more glimpses to the people involved and there was when I thought about who might have done it but couldn't figure out why!
Vera Stanhope is her usual self and I like her character! Because I read Harbour street first I didn't remember much of Joe's family status and I think in this installment we got to know Holly a little better!
I like Ann Cleeves's stories because not much is said about the main characters personal affairs and the plot is about the characters involved in the investigation and the reader can "meet" many types of people and their behaviour!
A nice read all around!
November 9, 2020
As always, Ann Cleeves presents us with a complicated investigation. This time a young man, house-sitting at a country estate, is found in a ditch off the road. When his identify is determined, a second body is found in his living quarters. Both victims seem unlikely targets of a homicide. Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope's officers will spend time determining the victims' connection to each other in order to establish an investigative avenue to pursue.
Ann Cleeves' skillful plotting and flawless character development are on display again. It's why she is one of my favourite authors. One quibble though, Cleeves went overboard in this entry with her constant snipes about Vera's weight. We love Vera for her unending curiosity and razor-sharp brain, clothing size doesn't matter.
Ann Cleeves' skillful plotting and flawless character development are on display again. It's why she is one of my favourite authors. One quibble though, Cleeves went overboard in this entry with her constant snipes about Vera's weight. We love Vera for her unending curiosity and razor-sharp brain, clothing size doesn't matter.
January 26, 2023
Another well-crafted, plotted murder mystery in the Vera series. I enjoy the books as well as the tv series, but the books are better in getting to know the characters. One issue I have, with this book in particular, is the author's overuse of body shaming Vera. Her size is quite often noted in derogatory terms and I just don't understand the need to emphasize this so much.
November 13, 2017
Two seemingly unrelated murders occur in the small picturesque community of Valley Farm. Tasked with finding the murderer(s) is Vera Stanhope and her team. Vera wades through soap opera secrets among the residents to find the killer.
Another Ann Cleeves novel that has Vera the same unlikable, "fat and sloppy" detective she seems to be in all the author's Vera novels. Why is Ann Cleeves so determined to make Vera Stanhope as unappealing as possible? Why must she hammer the "fat" descriptions home in each and every chapter? I found her depiction of Vera downright rude and unnecessary. The Vera television series is SO much better than the books. My suggestion would be for the author to start writing Vera's character the way she is in the television series and things will be so much better for readers.
Another Ann Cleeves novel that has Vera the same unlikable, "fat and sloppy" detective she seems to be in all the author's Vera novels. Why is Ann Cleeves so determined to make Vera Stanhope as unappealing as possible? Why must she hammer the "fat" descriptions home in each and every chapter? I found her depiction of Vera downright rude and unnecessary. The Vera television series is SO much better than the books. My suggestion would be for the author to start writing Vera's character the way she is in the television series and things will be so much better for readers.
April 29, 2021
Now caught up with the Vera books I had neglected to read having enjoyed them in video format. As usual Vera works closely with her team, not always harmoniously with Holly...but Holly cracks it in the end discovering what was at the root of several murders. A very good read.
March 27, 2021
3.5 rounded up! I’m really enjoying this series & although this book was still very good, I do think it was my least favorite so far. I loved the characters (the regulars & the new ones) & their interactions, but this mystery didn’t interest me quite like the others have. Still excited to see what’s coming next though!
November 27, 2023
Apburoši atrisināta vecu vecā problēma - kā finālā aprakstīt un izskaidrot nozieguma motīvus, neizmantojot tik banālu paņēmienu kā notvertā slepkavnieka monologs
January 20, 2020
During my recent struggles with health issues, I took comfort in returning to some of my guilty reading pleasures. One of the chief among these is the Vera Stanhope mystery series by Ann Cleeves. I've been working my way through this series and this is the seventh entry. So far I've found every book to be tightly plotted with well-drawn characters and plenty of social commentary and philosophical observations on human nature to go along with the puzzle of the mystery.
And they are puzzles. I can never guess who the perpetrator is and that held true in The Moth Catcher as well.
Cleeves had a previous career as a probation officer and it seems obvious that that experience has informed her understanding of the UK criminal justice system and those philosophical observations on human nature that I mentioned. Here, she gives us the tale of two very different human beings who are brought together by their interest in moths. One is a recent college graduate, a young ecologist who has been hired by a couple to house sit and care for their dogs while they are in Australia for the birth of their granddaughter. The other is a middle-aged former teacher who is a bit of an outcast, someone who never can quite manage to fit in. They are both passionate about moths and thereby hangs a tale.
When the dead body of the young ecologist is found in a ditch by a country lane, DI Vera Stanhope is called to the scene. When she and her sergeant Joe Ashworth go to the victim's flat to search for clues, Vera stumbles upon a second body. It is that of the former teacher. What could possibly have led to the murder of these two mild-mannered, inoffensive men? Could it have anything to do with their mutual interest in moths?
In investigating the crime, Vera and her team find themselves looking into the lives and secrets of a group of hedonistic retirees who live in the quiet little community of Valley Farm. The three couples would seem to have no real connection to the victims and no motive for wishing them harm and yet Vera's unerring sense of something out of kilter leads her to take a closer look and focus her investigation there. Vera is a brilliant detective and if she thinks that something doesn't add up, it's time to recheck the calculator!
This was an entirely entertaining book to read, but I do have one quibble with the author. She insists on reminding us in practically every chapter that Vera Stanhope is a fat, somewhat slovenly woman with a bad case of recurring eczema that torments her and she's a control freak in her job. The reaction of people who meet her is always that she is a physically unattractive human being. Okay, Ann Cleeves, we get it! You don't have to keep hitting us over the head with it! The beauty of Vera is that of the mind and the indomitable spirit. Her team, who are her only real family, know and appreciate that. And so do her admiring readers.
And they are puzzles. I can never guess who the perpetrator is and that held true in The Moth Catcher as well.
Cleeves had a previous career as a probation officer and it seems obvious that that experience has informed her understanding of the UK criminal justice system and those philosophical observations on human nature that I mentioned. Here, she gives us the tale of two very different human beings who are brought together by their interest in moths. One is a recent college graduate, a young ecologist who has been hired by a couple to house sit and care for their dogs while they are in Australia for the birth of their granddaughter. The other is a middle-aged former teacher who is a bit of an outcast, someone who never can quite manage to fit in. They are both passionate about moths and thereby hangs a tale.
When the dead body of the young ecologist is found in a ditch by a country lane, DI Vera Stanhope is called to the scene. When she and her sergeant Joe Ashworth go to the victim's flat to search for clues, Vera stumbles upon a second body. It is that of the former teacher. What could possibly have led to the murder of these two mild-mannered, inoffensive men? Could it have anything to do with their mutual interest in moths?
In investigating the crime, Vera and her team find themselves looking into the lives and secrets of a group of hedonistic retirees who live in the quiet little community of Valley Farm. The three couples would seem to have no real connection to the victims and no motive for wishing them harm and yet Vera's unerring sense of something out of kilter leads her to take a closer look and focus her investigation there. Vera is a brilliant detective and if she thinks that something doesn't add up, it's time to recheck the calculator!
This was an entirely entertaining book to read, but I do have one quibble with the author. She insists on reminding us in practically every chapter that Vera Stanhope is a fat, somewhat slovenly woman with a bad case of recurring eczema that torments her and she's a control freak in her job. The reaction of people who meet her is always that she is a physically unattractive human being. Okay, Ann Cleeves, we get it! You don't have to keep hitting us over the head with it! The beauty of Vera is that of the mind and the indomitable spirit. Her team, who are her only real family, know and appreciate that. And so do her admiring readers.
September 14, 2016
After reading several short stories by Ann Cleeves I was drawn to my first full length novel in The Moth Catcher, which is the seventh outing in the DI Vera Stanhope series. I am a fan of the TV adaptations featuring Brenda Blethyn as the redoubtable Vera of Northumbria Police who I think epitomises the character perfectly. Cleeves has the ability to take a handful of people in what appears to be a settled environment and conjure up an intriguing tale, and The Moth Catcher is a fine example of this as she tackles a double murder in a small community and weaves a fascinating tale of the residents and their hidden secrets. If there is gossip to be had, Vera has a knack of digging it out as she prods and pokes her way into community life, all made possible by her blunt approach and failure to embarrass. Rather like Columbo, underestimate DI Vera Stanhope at your peril!
Spring in the remote community of Valley Farm near Gilswick and the last place you expect to stumble across a double murder with a bizarre thread linking both corpses, especially when the area only has a handful of residents. Presiding over the valley is the big country house belonging to Major Carswell and his wife which seems to dominate the landscape and stand relatively aloof from the development below which comprises a farmhouse and two barn conversions, all occupied by recent arrivals to the area. When Percy Douglas is caught short on his way home from the pub he gets more than he bargained for when he ventures into the woods to relieve himself and comes across the body of a young man, half-hidden in a ditch. Swiftly identified as the house-sitter at the big house his identity is established as Patrick Randle, aged twenty-five and taking time out after completing his PhD. Vera suspects the positioning of his body is intended to suggest a hit and run accident rather than what is actually confirmed as bludgeoning to death. Vera and DS Joe Ashworth decide to visit Randle's temporary residence and come across a second body in Patrick's living quarters this time with multiple knife wounds. Middle-aged, clad in a grey hair, suit and spectacles, identifying this man is a harder task but eventually it is discovered that the victim is one Martin Benton. Two very different men but connected by an unlikely fascination with moths. Two bodies, clearly with a connection and bizarrely in two separate locations with different causes of death, an ideal case for an inspector with an innate sense of nosiness as the team dig deeper to discover how this shared enthusiasm has caused both men to be murdered.
It is the three houses nestled in close proximity and combining the development that seem to be unsettled most by Vera digging her nose in and a disquieting tension permeates the atmosphere, although they are all very keen to create the illusion of a carefree friendship and a life of decadence. Vera knows the unlikelihood of two men connected by an esoteric fascination for moths ending up dead in the area is more than a coincidence, and when a third follows she is sure the answers lie buried within this quiet community. Vera can sense the anxieties that exist as the three couples try to portray themselves as 'retired hedonists' when in fact they are the most affected bunch of couples you could encounter! Annie and Sam Redhead have sold their restaurant in Kimmerston and they await the return of their daughter, Lizzie, from Sittingwell open prison. The move to Valley Farm is an effort to put some distance between themselves and the town that was the cause of Lizzie's downfall and the local hard man that she crossed, Jason Crow. Nigel Lucas has sold his own building company and now clearly has too much time on his hands as he watches at his window with binoculars at the ready and obsesses about wife Lorraine. Self-satisfied to the point of conceitedness, Nigel is always keep to get the party started. The third couple is Professor John O'Kane and his devoted wife, Janet, who seems to leave her husband free to write his planned book and keep herself occupied.
Vera is a joy to watch as she probes; her lack of care for her appearance and her failure to "stand on ceremony" often causing people to underestimate just how shrewd she is. As she hurtles onwards, Cleeves delivers a continuous dialogue, with both her spoken and unspoken thoughts and perceptive insights. This works wonderfully well as readers see Vera sizing up and taking the measure of community interactions, and delivering an internal commentary on what she finds. Likewise, with her team, DS Joe Ashworth and DC Holly Clarke, Vera delivers a warts and all view of their strengths, weaknesses and life outside of work. Her mind never seems to stop churning, chivvying up and chasing, often making her subordinates feel like naughty school children. Her exertion and drive means that the plot continually moves forward as the team fumbles to grasp what they have come across and work out just what has brought all three victims to the secluded community of Valley Farm. It is fascinating and highly amusing to see the reactions Vera provokes as she enters the comfort zones of the 'retired hedonists' and ruffles feathers.
Although the third person narrative predominantly focuses on Vera and her internal monologue, I really appreciated the sections where the focus switched to DS Joe Ashworth and DC Holly Clarke to hear things from their perspective, in regard to their own feelings and how they view each other and Vera! DS Ashworth is a local lad whom Vera feels she knows where she stands with, certainly more so than with Holly. Joe has a young family and according to Vera he is a 'soft touch' who combines a family life with his work and a young toddler disturbing his sleep and sending him in bleary eyed to Vera, much to her chagrin! DC Holly Clarke is younger and more uptight with reservations as to whether her personality suits the work of a detective and whether she is cut out for the job. She is often judgemental and a little reserved when she engages with Vera , and there is an impression that she does not feel worthy of her place on the team. Between Holly and Joe a begrudging acceptance that they both vie for Vera's praise is barely concealed and they both make valuable contributions to the team and work well alongside a commanding DI Stanhope!
Vera seems to come to life when there is murder in the air, as she hurtles along like a juggernaut, barely pausing to draw breath and firing questions off at a rate of knots. Her conversational style of interview and open ending questioning often draws unexpected details from witnesses and suspects alike. Ann Cleeves' prose is all consuming and creeps up on her readers so they suddenly find themselves preoccupied with the lives of the villagers and the undercurrents at play. As I have learnt, a DI Vera Stanhope novel is a bloody good opportunity to be nosey, and whilst we might not want someone prying into our secrets, who can resist being a fly on the wall?
Spring in the remote community of Valley Farm near Gilswick and the last place you expect to stumble across a double murder with a bizarre thread linking both corpses, especially when the area only has a handful of residents. Presiding over the valley is the big country house belonging to Major Carswell and his wife which seems to dominate the landscape and stand relatively aloof from the development below which comprises a farmhouse and two barn conversions, all occupied by recent arrivals to the area. When Percy Douglas is caught short on his way home from the pub he gets more than he bargained for when he ventures into the woods to relieve himself and comes across the body of a young man, half-hidden in a ditch. Swiftly identified as the house-sitter at the big house his identity is established as Patrick Randle, aged twenty-five and taking time out after completing his PhD. Vera suspects the positioning of his body is intended to suggest a hit and run accident rather than what is actually confirmed as bludgeoning to death. Vera and DS Joe Ashworth decide to visit Randle's temporary residence and come across a second body in Patrick's living quarters this time with multiple knife wounds. Middle-aged, clad in a grey hair, suit and spectacles, identifying this man is a harder task but eventually it is discovered that the victim is one Martin Benton. Two very different men but connected by an unlikely fascination with moths. Two bodies, clearly with a connection and bizarrely in two separate locations with different causes of death, an ideal case for an inspector with an innate sense of nosiness as the team dig deeper to discover how this shared enthusiasm has caused both men to be murdered.
It is the three houses nestled in close proximity and combining the development that seem to be unsettled most by Vera digging her nose in and a disquieting tension permeates the atmosphere, although they are all very keen to create the illusion of a carefree friendship and a life of decadence. Vera knows the unlikelihood of two men connected by an esoteric fascination for moths ending up dead in the area is more than a coincidence, and when a third follows she is sure the answers lie buried within this quiet community. Vera can sense the anxieties that exist as the three couples try to portray themselves as 'retired hedonists' when in fact they are the most affected bunch of couples you could encounter! Annie and Sam Redhead have sold their restaurant in Kimmerston and they await the return of their daughter, Lizzie, from Sittingwell open prison. The move to Valley Farm is an effort to put some distance between themselves and the town that was the cause of Lizzie's downfall and the local hard man that she crossed, Jason Crow. Nigel Lucas has sold his own building company and now clearly has too much time on his hands as he watches at his window with binoculars at the ready and obsesses about wife Lorraine. Self-satisfied to the point of conceitedness, Nigel is always keep to get the party started. The third couple is Professor John O'Kane and his devoted wife, Janet, who seems to leave her husband free to write his planned book and keep herself occupied.
Vera is a joy to watch as she probes; her lack of care for her appearance and her failure to "stand on ceremony" often causing people to underestimate just how shrewd she is. As she hurtles onwards, Cleeves delivers a continuous dialogue, with both her spoken and unspoken thoughts and perceptive insights. This works wonderfully well as readers see Vera sizing up and taking the measure of community interactions, and delivering an internal commentary on what she finds. Likewise, with her team, DS Joe Ashworth and DC Holly Clarke, Vera delivers a warts and all view of their strengths, weaknesses and life outside of work. Her mind never seems to stop churning, chivvying up and chasing, often making her subordinates feel like naughty school children. Her exertion and drive means that the plot continually moves forward as the team fumbles to grasp what they have come across and work out just what has brought all three victims to the secluded community of Valley Farm. It is fascinating and highly amusing to see the reactions Vera provokes as she enters the comfort zones of the 'retired hedonists' and ruffles feathers.
"An investigation couldn't be a route march. More a meander,...."
Although the third person narrative predominantly focuses on Vera and her internal monologue, I really appreciated the sections where the focus switched to DS Joe Ashworth and DC Holly Clarke to hear things from their perspective, in regard to their own feelings and how they view each other and Vera! DS Ashworth is a local lad whom Vera feels she knows where she stands with, certainly more so than with Holly. Joe has a young family and according to Vera he is a 'soft touch' who combines a family life with his work and a young toddler disturbing his sleep and sending him in bleary eyed to Vera, much to her chagrin! DC Holly Clarke is younger and more uptight with reservations as to whether her personality suits the work of a detective and whether she is cut out for the job. She is often judgemental and a little reserved when she engages with Vera , and there is an impression that she does not feel worthy of her place on the team. Between Holly and Joe a begrudging acceptance that they both vie for Vera's praise is barely concealed and they both make valuable contributions to the team and work well alongside a commanding DI Stanhope!
Vera seems to come to life when there is murder in the air, as she hurtles along like a juggernaut, barely pausing to draw breath and firing questions off at a rate of knots. Her conversational style of interview and open ending questioning often draws unexpected details from witnesses and suspects alike. Ann Cleeves' prose is all consuming and creeps up on her readers so they suddenly find themselves preoccupied with the lives of the villagers and the undercurrents at play. As I have learnt, a DI Vera Stanhope novel is a bloody good opportunity to be nosey, and whilst we might not want someone prying into our secrets, who can resist being a fly on the wall?
September 29, 2016
I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley and St. Martin's Press Minotaur Books.
The only good thing about me waiting so long to experience my first immersive indulgence in this Ann Cleeves novel is that I know there are others I can read now that I'm thoroughly hooked. I certainly can't say this series has never been brought to my attention, but I finally made time and read one. What a satisfying time I spent getting to know Vera Stanhope and her investigative team.
Outside Gilswick village, secluded in a valley not far from the Hall live three couples who have built their homes in their personal paradise. That might have been true at one time, but the first dead body leads to a second and the seemingly unconnected threads of two murder investigations begin to circle around coincidences involving either the residents of the valley themselves or someone they are close to. The hobby of moth catching and identification seems to be the only thing the two victims had in common. Vera Stanhope is not what these people would think of if they imagined a police Inspector, but Vera is exactly who they've got to deal with. And Vera doesn't trust in coincidence.
Each of these characters are so well portrayed they feel as if they are real. Vera was a treat for me to meet in the pages of this story and she is the reason I will go looking for previous novels in the series and waiting for book #8 to be released. This is one of my favorite types of police procedural mystery novels; there are separate investigations by the team members, there are sessions where they all gather to compile the information they've dug up, but there are also private thoughts and actions by team members which show them to be more than automaton rule followers. This was a highly engaging novel and I contemplate reading more with delight.
The only good thing about me waiting so long to experience my first immersive indulgence in this Ann Cleeves novel is that I know there are others I can read now that I'm thoroughly hooked. I certainly can't say this series has never been brought to my attention, but I finally made time and read one. What a satisfying time I spent getting to know Vera Stanhope and her investigative team.
Outside Gilswick village, secluded in a valley not far from the Hall live three couples who have built their homes in their personal paradise. That might have been true at one time, but the first dead body leads to a second and the seemingly unconnected threads of two murder investigations begin to circle around coincidences involving either the residents of the valley themselves or someone they are close to. The hobby of moth catching and identification seems to be the only thing the two victims had in common. Vera Stanhope is not what these people would think of if they imagined a police Inspector, but Vera is exactly who they've got to deal with. And Vera doesn't trust in coincidence.
Each of these characters are so well portrayed they feel as if they are real. Vera was a treat for me to meet in the pages of this story and she is the reason I will go looking for previous novels in the series and waiting for book #8 to be released. This is one of my favorite types of police procedural mystery novels; there are separate investigations by the team members, there are sessions where they all gather to compile the information they've dug up, but there are also private thoughts and actions by team members which show them to be more than automaton rule followers. This was a highly engaging novel and I contemplate reading more with delight.
March 21, 2017
A decent enough murder mystery but a bit flat and boring. This book is a good example of where the blurb sounds super amazing but the actual story doesn’t quite match up. The blurb places a lot of emphasis on the shared interest of the murder victims (moth catching), but this plays such a small part in the actual story. I would even argue that it’s totally unnecessary, which is a shame as this was the reason I bought the book in the first place (I thought it would add an interesting storyline / theme / layer to the story). I can’t even remember what happened at the end, which shows how much of a non-event the ending of this book was. In fairness, the book was written well, had an intriguing setting and some interesting characters, it just lacks that extra edge.
October 31, 2021
Too much completely gratuitous fat shaming! Really ruined the story.
January 26, 2024
Both a student working as a house sitter and an older man volunteering at a nonprofit for ex-offenders are found murdered. Was there any connection between the two besides an interest in moths? Vera is diligent in her investigation, but then there's another murder. The team desperately looks for a connection between these three victims, hoping to solve the case before there's another death.
April 20, 2022
Never disappointed:)
October 9, 2020
I started listening to some of the Vera audiobooks after absolutely loving the series, and this is the second one I listened to in which I the degree of fat shaming and negative description of Vera's appearance utterly distracted me from the plot. On almost every page there was some reference to Vera being fat and unattractive, and the other characters bothered by how she looks. Every single person she interviews seems *SHOCKED* that she is a DCI, and the reader is supposed to take great pleasure in watching them change their tune once she introduces herself. There's also an obsession with the idea that all single women are lonely. All of the characters feel so typecast in a way they do not in the series. Joe is always the beleaguered family man, resentful that he has to go home to his (ugh) wife and kids rather than solve a cool murder. Holly is always the uptight, assumption-making perfectionist. And Vera always described as having no bedside manner despite her displaying keen emotional intelligence in many situations--as though the narration is fighting against its own characterization of her. Anyway, despite Cleeves's talent with plot and landscape depiction I think this is the last Vera book I'll read. It was so disappointing after getting to know Vera as such a multidimensional, brilliant, witty, kickass character in Brenda Blethyn's depiction in the series. I did enjoy Cleeves's new book The Longest Call--hope she'll continue to be more kind to her new protagonist.
November 2, 2019
Don’t be fooled by the reading dates. I just got around to putting it into my profile. It took me a month to read because it was so dull. The author seemed to take a certain glee in writing about the lead detective’s weight; it made me wonder if she has some sort of loathing toward overweight people. She needed a full chapter to explain the reveal, which is telling. Clues were withheld, and that’s not the way I like my mysteries. The only thing I got out of this book is an appreciation about how Americans’ “I’m sorry for your loss” as an expression of sympathy is considered odd by other cultures, as it sounds like the person lost a glove or something.
December 28, 2016
First, let me say I really enjoyed Ann Cleeves's Shetland series. But about half way through this book I realized I didn't really care what had happened or who had done it. The constant description of Vera as being fat and unattractive started to distract and annoy me. Ok, she's unattractive physically. But she's a good detective and takes care of her team, Joe and Holly--that's what I want to read. The other characters are described more by personality or work habits and I don't know why Vera's physical description is constantly mentioned. I doubt I'll read another Vera Stanhope book.
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