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Vera Stanhope #3
Hidden Depths
Hidden Depths is the third book in Ann Cleeves’ Vera Stanhope series – which is now a major ITV detective drama starring Brenda Blethyn as Vera.
A killer who is making an art out of murder . . .
A hot summer on the Northumberland coast and Julie Armstrong arrives home from a night out to find her son strangled, laid out in a bath of water and covered with wild flowers.
This stylized murder scene has captured Inspector Vera Stanhope’s attention. And then another body is discovered in a rock pool, the corpse again strewn with flowers. Vera must work quickly to find this killer who is making art out of death.
As local residents are forced to share their deepest, darkest secrets, the killer watches, waits and plans to prepare another beautiful, watery grave . . .
Enjoy more of Vera Stanhope's investigations with The Crow Trap, Telling Tales, Silent Voices, The Glass Room, Harbour Street, The Moth Catcher, The Seagull , and The Darkest Evening .
A killer who is making an art out of murder . . .
A hot summer on the Northumberland coast and Julie Armstrong arrives home from a night out to find her son strangled, laid out in a bath of water and covered with wild flowers.
This stylized murder scene has captured Inspector Vera Stanhope’s attention. And then another body is discovered in a rock pool, the corpse again strewn with flowers. Vera must work quickly to find this killer who is making art out of death.
As local residents are forced to share their deepest, darkest secrets, the killer watches, waits and plans to prepare another beautiful, watery grave . . .
Enjoy more of Vera Stanhope's investigations with The Crow Trap, Telling Tales, Silent Voices, The Glass Room, Harbour Street, The Moth Catcher, The Seagull , and The Darkest Evening .
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
4345 people are currently reading
5081 people want to read
About the author
Ann Cleeves
132 books8,752 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 1,102 reviews
June 16, 2018
I think Vera, I owe you a big apology. For years I have ignored you in favor of your authors Shetlsnd series, which I like very much, but I think I may have come to like you better. You are so relateable, self described as big, clumsy, with little fashion sense, in other words flawed like most of your readers. You also eat and drink too much, and suffer from your less than orthodox upbringing. You have many saving graces though, your keen sense of right and wrong, your compassionate understanding of the victims in the crimes you must solve. It must be said though, that you are a bit of a control freak, since as an Inspector you are supposed to delegate much more than you do, convinced no one on your team can do a better job thsn yourself.
When two bodies are found, in artistically displayed, circumstances, you are convinced they are related. With only zasmallish group of suspects, you question, and question again. I tried to follow a long with you, but often could not see what you could. Experience wins out I guess. When another young girl goes missing, things heaten up fast, and it's a good thing you are there to follow your insightful hunches. You are not above playing the dotard to elicit the information you need to solve these crimes. Those innocently involved are lucky to have you on their side. Although justice may not have been thoroughly served in this ending, there was one good result.
Please be aware I will not be ignoring you again as I plan to read as many of the books you are in as I can find. You are such an interesting character, with many hidden depths yet to reveal.
When two bodies are found, in artistically displayed, circumstances, you are convinced they are related. With only zasmallish group of suspects, you question, and question again. I tried to follow a long with you, but often could not see what you could. Experience wins out I guess. When another young girl goes missing, things heaten up fast, and it's a good thing you are there to follow your insightful hunches. You are not above playing the dotard to elicit the information you need to solve these crimes. Those innocently involved are lucky to have you on their side. Although justice may not have been thoroughly served in this ending, there was one good result.
Please be aware I will not be ignoring you again as I plan to read as many of the books you are in as I can find. You are such an interesting character, with many hidden depths yet to reveal.
May 27, 2021
When I settle down with a book by Ann Cleeves do not expect me to get up any time soon. Each one is so good I just do not want to put it down until I reach the final page.
Hidden Depths is no exception. Vera Stanhope is at the top of her game as she searches for a serial killer who romanticises his victims by leaving them beautifully arranged in water and decorated with wild flowers. There are suspects aplenty but none of them are a perfect fit for all the crimes. Vera keeps her team busy with discovering all the details while she puts it all together in her head and works out 'who dunnit.' As usual she pointed me in the right general direction but I still got the specifics wrong.
As in the TV series, I really enjoy the characters especially Vera herself and the ever helpful Joe. It is amusing that each of them feels a need to look out for the other one. Plus Joe is one of those rare fictional policemen who enjoys his family and is not an alcoholic.
Another excellent book in this great series and I still have lots more to look forward to.
Hidden Depths is no exception. Vera Stanhope is at the top of her game as she searches for a serial killer who romanticises his victims by leaving them beautifully arranged in water and decorated with wild flowers. There are suspects aplenty but none of them are a perfect fit for all the crimes. Vera keeps her team busy with discovering all the details while she puts it all together in her head and works out 'who dunnit.' As usual she pointed me in the right general direction but I still got the specifics wrong.
As in the TV series, I really enjoy the characters especially Vera herself and the ever helpful Joe. It is amusing that each of them feels a need to look out for the other one. Plus Joe is one of those rare fictional policemen who enjoys his family and is not an alcoholic.
Another excellent book in this great series and I still have lots more to look forward to.
April 16, 2023
A great 'traditional' crime story by Ann Cleeves, sees overweight, sandal wearing, single and lonely(?) detective Inspector Vera Stanhope investigate a macabre, seemingly ritualised, murder of a 'special needs' youth in his own bath, leads to her taking a closer look at a group of bird watcher friends! Enjoyably different. 7 out of 12, Three Star read.
2012 read
2012 read
December 20, 2017
As an unashamed admirer of the work of Ann Cleeves my enthusiasm for the indomitable DI Vera Stanhope grows with each encounter, despite having read much of the series out of order. Ann Cleeves is an expert in exposing the undercurrents within a small community, from getting the measure of everyone she encounters to ruffling the feathers of the people with most to hide. Overweight, scruffy and brash, Vera drinks too much, has a no-nonsense attitude to her job and due to her lack of a personal life she lives and breathes every moment of her investigations. From playing up her local accent to acting the clown, DI Vera Stanhope is often underestimated, but individuals do so at their peril for she is as shrewd as they come. Reluctant to delegate and occasionally dismissive she is backed up by ‘teachers pet’, DS Joe Ashworth and young graduate DC Holly Lawson.
When single mother Julie Armstrong returns to her home in Seaton after a night out with her pals she makes the disturbing discovery of her teenage son, Luke, dead in the bath and her fourteen-year-old daughter, Laura, having slept through the whole thing. Disconcerted by the overpowering scent of bath oil and the wild flowers that surround him Julie is shocked to discover that her son, who suffered with depression and learning difficulties, has not in fact committed suicide but been murdered. Having recently returning from a spell in a psychiatric hospital and plagued with guilt about his failure to save his only friend, Thomas, from drowning months earlier this elaborately staged murder sets Vera puzzling. As preliminary investigations look into the funeral send off and flowers thrown in the Tyne in memory of his deceased friend, Vera visits Thomas’s father, Davy Sharp inside HMP Acklington to see if the family blamed Luke for their son’s death. Even after meeting with Luke’s father, Geoff and his second family the lack of leads continues to frustrate the team.
Everything changes when just days later the body of PGCE student Lily Marsh is discovered in a rock pool next to the lighthouse where birdwatcher and botanist Dr. Peter Calvert and his friends are celebrating his sixtieth birthday. Alerted to the discovery by primary school son, James, it transpires that Lily was on a teacher training placement at James’s school in Hepworth, and with the scattering of wild flowers and having been strangled there is little doubt that the two murders are connected. It is this second murder that gives Vera something to focus on as she goes to work in getting acquainted with the men who found Lily’s body, led by academic Peter, with his perfect home life and decade younger wife, Felicity, and his mix of friends, local author and librarian Samuel Parr, museum curator Clive Stringer and sound technician Gary Wright. Despite some tenuous connections between the group who discovered Lily’s body and both murdered individuals identifying a direct link between the two victims remains unclear. But with Vera accustomed to the type of men whose lives revolve around their obsessive passion for birds from her home life with father Hector she slowly unpicks her way through a complicated web of intrigue. With so many areas for exploration and possible overlaps between the lives of Luke and Lily pinpointing a specific connection proves highly engaging and remained just out of my grasp until Vera kindly pointed the way. Packed with red herrings Vera proves herself worthy of comparison to Miss Marple as the two cases bewitch her.
Set against a backdrop that Cleeves knows well and that Vera has made her own the breathtaking Northumbria coastline is portrayed with real affection and with Vera a native she understands what makes the locals tick and the changing dynamic of the communities. Part of Vera’s skill is her approach to questioning, often opting for informal settings and a penchant for listening and taking it all in over direct quizzing. A skill that defies her younger modern police colleagues, it is this aspect more than any other that puts Vera’s personal stamp on a case and often proves pivotal in turning the tide. Matter of fact rather than falsely sympathetic there is something reassuring straightforward about Vera and her dogged determination to get to the heart of a crime.
Whilst this third outing in the series lacks the more recent addition of the perspectives of Vera’s colleagues and the gradual development of the recurring cast Cleeves does a fine job of illustrating the often exasperated responses that Vera draws from her team. Having read the excellent eighth instalment of this series before this novel I did note some elements of similarity with the group of four birdwatchers who discover the body of Lily and the Group of Four in The Seagull. However there can be little doubt that this is a markedly different novel with some tremendous sleight of hand at work and Hidden Depths feels like Ann Cleeves’s take on classic crime. An ingenious puzzle, fascinating character studies and a solid dose of tongue in cheek humour on everything from writing crime fiction to staging an theatrical murder scene combine to make this third outing a gem. An absorbing and hugely satisfying mystery with tight plotting - an encounter with DI Vera Stanhope comes very highly recommended!
When single mother Julie Armstrong returns to her home in Seaton after a night out with her pals she makes the disturbing discovery of her teenage son, Luke, dead in the bath and her fourteen-year-old daughter, Laura, having slept through the whole thing. Disconcerted by the overpowering scent of bath oil and the wild flowers that surround him Julie is shocked to discover that her son, who suffered with depression and learning difficulties, has not in fact committed suicide but been murdered. Having recently returning from a spell in a psychiatric hospital and plagued with guilt about his failure to save his only friend, Thomas, from drowning months earlier this elaborately staged murder sets Vera puzzling. As preliminary investigations look into the funeral send off and flowers thrown in the Tyne in memory of his deceased friend, Vera visits Thomas’s father, Davy Sharp inside HMP Acklington to see if the family blamed Luke for their son’s death. Even after meeting with Luke’s father, Geoff and his second family the lack of leads continues to frustrate the team.
Everything changes when just days later the body of PGCE student Lily Marsh is discovered in a rock pool next to the lighthouse where birdwatcher and botanist Dr. Peter Calvert and his friends are celebrating his sixtieth birthday. Alerted to the discovery by primary school son, James, it transpires that Lily was on a teacher training placement at James’s school in Hepworth, and with the scattering of wild flowers and having been strangled there is little doubt that the two murders are connected. It is this second murder that gives Vera something to focus on as she goes to work in getting acquainted with the men who found Lily’s body, led by academic Peter, with his perfect home life and decade younger wife, Felicity, and his mix of friends, local author and librarian Samuel Parr, museum curator Clive Stringer and sound technician Gary Wright. Despite some tenuous connections between the group who discovered Lily’s body and both murdered individuals identifying a direct link between the two victims remains unclear. But with Vera accustomed to the type of men whose lives revolve around their obsessive passion for birds from her home life with father Hector she slowly unpicks her way through a complicated web of intrigue. With so many areas for exploration and possible overlaps between the lives of Luke and Lily pinpointing a specific connection proves highly engaging and remained just out of my grasp until Vera kindly pointed the way. Packed with red herrings Vera proves herself worthy of comparison to Miss Marple as the two cases bewitch her.
Set against a backdrop that Cleeves knows well and that Vera has made her own the breathtaking Northumbria coastline is portrayed with real affection and with Vera a native she understands what makes the locals tick and the changing dynamic of the communities. Part of Vera’s skill is her approach to questioning, often opting for informal settings and a penchant for listening and taking it all in over direct quizzing. A skill that defies her younger modern police colleagues, it is this aspect more than any other that puts Vera’s personal stamp on a case and often proves pivotal in turning the tide. Matter of fact rather than falsely sympathetic there is something reassuring straightforward about Vera and her dogged determination to get to the heart of a crime.
Whilst this third outing in the series lacks the more recent addition of the perspectives of Vera’s colleagues and the gradual development of the recurring cast Cleeves does a fine job of illustrating the often exasperated responses that Vera draws from her team. Having read the excellent eighth instalment of this series before this novel I did note some elements of similarity with the group of four birdwatchers who discover the body of Lily and the Group of Four in The Seagull. However there can be little doubt that this is a markedly different novel with some tremendous sleight of hand at work and Hidden Depths feels like Ann Cleeves’s take on classic crime. An ingenious puzzle, fascinating character studies and a solid dose of tongue in cheek humour on everything from writing crime fiction to staging an theatrical murder scene combine to make this third outing a gem. An absorbing and hugely satisfying mystery with tight plotting - an encounter with DI Vera Stanhope comes very highly recommended!
July 10, 2024
EXCERPT: She returned to the bathroom and banged on the door with the flat of her palm. 'Hey, are you going to be in there all night?' With the third bang, the door opened. It hadn't been locked. There was a smell of bath oil, heavy and sweet, which Julie didn't recognise as hers. Lukes clothes were neatly folded on the toilet seat.
He had always been beautiful, even as a baby. Much lovelier than Laura, which didn't seem fair. It was the blond hair and the dark eyes, the long, dark eyelashes. Julie stared at him, submerged beneath the bath water, his hair rising, like fronds of seaweed, towards the surface. She couldn't see his body because of the flowers. They floated on the perfumed water. Only the flower heads, not the stems or the leaves.
ABOUT 'HIDDEN DEPTHS': A hot summer on the Northumberland coast and Julie Armstrong arrives home from a night out to find her son strangled, laid out in a bath of water and covered with wildflowers.
This stylized murder scene has Inspector Vera Stanhope intrigued. But then another body is discovered in a rock pool, the corpse again strewn with flowers. Vera must work quickly to find this killer who is making art out of death.
As local residents are forced to share their deepest, darkest secrets, the killer watches, waits and plans to prepare another beautiful, watery grave . . .
MY THOUGHTS: Who doesn't love Vera? She is so very relatable. She can be kind. She can be snarky. She's no fashion plate - she's overweight, doesn't walk like a model and wouldn't be caught dead in high heels. She doesn't mind the odd drink and enjoys a meat pie and eats fish and chips out of the paper. She has a razor-sharp mind (unless dulled by a hangover) and doesn't suffer fools gladly. She's a chameleon, often presenting herself as 'a bit thick' in order to get more from a suspect. I love her.
I love that she's very much 'hands-on', defying her superiors' instructions to stay in the office and coordinate and direct. She's very good at reading people, most of the time. She does, of course, miss the odd thing - she's only human after all - but stupid she's not.
Having read many of these books, randomly and out of order, I decided to start at the beginning of this series and read them in order and I have to admit, I am getting so much more out of them. I hadn't before picked up on her envy and disdain of Joe's penchant for 'playing' happy families, something Vera has never experienced. 'Happy families' play a big role in this novel and present some interesting scenarios.
Hidden Depths is an intriguing 'whodunnit' with a small pool of suspects. Even then, I got it completely wrong as, no doubt, is intended. Very enjoyable.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.1
#HiddenDepths #VeraStanhope
THE AUTHOR: Ann grew up in the country, first in Herefordshire, then in North Devon. Her father was a village schoolteacher. 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.
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.
DISCLOSURE: I own my copy of Hidden Depths by Ann Cleeves.
He had always been beautiful, even as a baby. Much lovelier than Laura, which didn't seem fair. It was the blond hair and the dark eyes, the long, dark eyelashes. Julie stared at him, submerged beneath the bath water, his hair rising, like fronds of seaweed, towards the surface. She couldn't see his body because of the flowers. They floated on the perfumed water. Only the flower heads, not the stems or the leaves.
ABOUT 'HIDDEN DEPTHS': A hot summer on the Northumberland coast and Julie Armstrong arrives home from a night out to find her son strangled, laid out in a bath of water and covered with wildflowers.
This stylized murder scene has Inspector Vera Stanhope intrigued. But then another body is discovered in a rock pool, the corpse again strewn with flowers. Vera must work quickly to find this killer who is making art out of death.
As local residents are forced to share their deepest, darkest secrets, the killer watches, waits and plans to prepare another beautiful, watery grave . . .
MY THOUGHTS: Who doesn't love Vera? She is so very relatable. She can be kind. She can be snarky. She's no fashion plate - she's overweight, doesn't walk like a model and wouldn't be caught dead in high heels. She doesn't mind the odd drink and enjoys a meat pie and eats fish and chips out of the paper. She has a razor-sharp mind (unless dulled by a hangover) and doesn't suffer fools gladly. She's a chameleon, often presenting herself as 'a bit thick' in order to get more from a suspect. I love her.
I love that she's very much 'hands-on', defying her superiors' instructions to stay in the office and coordinate and direct. She's very good at reading people, most of the time. She does, of course, miss the odd thing - she's only human after all - but stupid she's not.
Having read many of these books, randomly and out of order, I decided to start at the beginning of this series and read them in order and I have to admit, I am getting so much more out of them. I hadn't before picked up on her envy and disdain of Joe's penchant for 'playing' happy families, something Vera has never experienced. 'Happy families' play a big role in this novel and present some interesting scenarios.
Hidden Depths is an intriguing 'whodunnit' with a small pool of suspects. Even then, I got it completely wrong as, no doubt, is intended. Very enjoyable.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.1
#HiddenDepths #VeraStanhope
THE AUTHOR: Ann grew up in the country, first in Herefordshire, then in North Devon. Her father was a village schoolteacher. 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.
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.
DISCLOSURE: I own my copy of Hidden Depths by Ann Cleeves.
September 5, 2019
The third book in the Vera Stanhope series might not be as strong as the previous two entries, but our straight talking Geordie and the Northumberland setting continues to be the strengths of this series.
After Julie Armstrong arrives home to find her son Luke’s strangled body is found laid out in a bath of water and covered in wild flowers.
As Vera starts to investigate another seemingly unconnected murder of Lily Marsh adds confusion to the case, as her body is found in a rock pool alongside wild flowers too.
Whilst this wasn’t the strongest case for Vera to solve, it was the characteristics of the series main detective that help drives the story forward.
A good crime series to savour!
After Julie Armstrong arrives home to find her son Luke’s strangled body is found laid out in a bath of water and covered in wild flowers.
As Vera starts to investigate another seemingly unconnected murder of Lily Marsh adds confusion to the case, as her body is found in a rock pool alongside wild flowers too.
Whilst this wasn’t the strongest case for Vera to solve, it was the characteristics of the series main detective that help drives the story forward.
A good crime series to savour!
April 2, 2020
Wow! The cases in this one were fairly terrifying and I liked the long list of suspects that all seemed horrible in their own literary way. Vera Stanhope has quickly worked her way into my bookshelves.
Goodreads review published 02/04/20
Goodreads review published 02/04/20
May 21, 2020
The 3rd installment in the Vera Stanhope mystery series starts with Julie, a single mother, returning home late and finding her young son murdered in the bathtub surrounded by flowers. This is followed later by a similar murder of a young woman, Lily, who is found outside and posed, surrounded by flowers.
Vera is more prominently featured than in the earlier series and is quite a formidable but sympathetic character. Obviously she relishes the puzzle aspect of solving a crime. Her team of Joe, Charlie, and the newer member, Holly are all aboard on this mystery also.
I find Ann Cleeves books quite addictive and Vera is one of my favorite detectives of hers.
Vera is more prominently featured than in the earlier series and is quite a formidable but sympathetic character. Obviously she relishes the puzzle aspect of solving a crime. Her team of Joe, Charlie, and the newer member, Holly are all aboard on this mystery also.
I find Ann Cleeves books quite addictive and Vera is one of my favorite detectives of hers.
September 2, 2018
This is one of my favourite crime series - I love the combination of detective/mystery and nature themes.
Always these books are built around British nature and birds which I love!
Vera Stanhope is a wonderful character - flawed but intriguing , she has a way with people that is unlike others in the detective genre but she is aware of her limitations and will allow others to intervene where required which is also refreshing in the genre.
This follows the detective formula pretty closely but it is the extra details that make it so much more:- in-depth character studies, beautiful descriptions of nature and surroundings, bird/animal references worth looking up, believable characters etc.
I could go on raving about this series but I think it's either something you love or not - all the books in the series so far have drawn on the same themes and this suits me down to the ground but may not be for everybody.
Note : You don't really need to read these in order if you don't want to - each book has it's own story and introduction of the unusual Vera Stanhope!
Always these books are built around British nature and birds which I love!
Vera Stanhope is a wonderful character - flawed but intriguing , she has a way with people that is unlike others in the detective genre but she is aware of her limitations and will allow others to intervene where required which is also refreshing in the genre.
This follows the detective formula pretty closely but it is the extra details that make it so much more:- in-depth character studies, beautiful descriptions of nature and surroundings, bird/animal references worth looking up, believable characters etc.
I could go on raving about this series but I think it's either something you love or not - all the books in the series so far have drawn on the same themes and this suits me down to the ground but may not be for everybody.
Note : You don't really need to read these in order if you don't want to - each book has it's own story and introduction of the unusual Vera Stanhope!
August 7, 2018
4/5 Estrellas ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (me ha encantado)
Un libro súper adictivo que se desarrolla en la campiña inglesa.
Es un tipo de novela ideal para el verano y con la que suelo disfrutar muchísimo.
Aquí va el argumento principal del libro: Una madre separada decide salir una noche y a la vuelta descubre a su hijo muerto en la bañera y rodado de flores. Así es como empieza y como no puedes dejar de leerlo.
La inspectora Vera y su equipo serán los encargados de investigar cómo murió el chico y porqué.
La acompañaremos en sus múltiples entrevistas, si así se las puede llamar porque ella las rodea de informalidad y una cerveza, a un grupo de amigos que tienen en común la observación de pájaros y sospechas vinculaciones con lo ocurrido.
Vera es divertida, descarada, impulsiva y picarona y son sus principales virtudes para la intervención de un caso tan complejo.
El entorno, la ambientación y vida de la campiña no puede ser más agradable y resulta para el lector alentadora entre tanto suceso dramático.
Él quien lo hizo es lo importante, no puedes saberlo ni imaginarlo hasta el desenlace donde la autora compone las piezas y se ve el puzzle sin fisuras.
La inspectora Vera se viene a mi biblioteca y a mi lista de personajes favoritos, ojalá muy pronto tengamos nueva entrega y nuevas aventuras de Vera en sus pueblos ingleses tomando té y cerveza mientras se resuelve grandes misterios
Un libro súper adictivo que se desarrolla en la campiña inglesa.
Es un tipo de novela ideal para el verano y con la que suelo disfrutar muchísimo.
Aquí va el argumento principal del libro: Una madre separada decide salir una noche y a la vuelta descubre a su hijo muerto en la bañera y rodado de flores. Así es como empieza y como no puedes dejar de leerlo.
La inspectora Vera y su equipo serán los encargados de investigar cómo murió el chico y porqué.
La acompañaremos en sus múltiples entrevistas, si así se las puede llamar porque ella las rodea de informalidad y una cerveza, a un grupo de amigos que tienen en común la observación de pájaros y sospechas vinculaciones con lo ocurrido.
Vera es divertida, descarada, impulsiva y picarona y son sus principales virtudes para la intervención de un caso tan complejo.
El entorno, la ambientación y vida de la campiña no puede ser más agradable y resulta para el lector alentadora entre tanto suceso dramático.
Él quien lo hizo es lo importante, no puedes saberlo ni imaginarlo hasta el desenlace donde la autora compone las piezas y se ve el puzzle sin fisuras.
La inspectora Vera se viene a mi biblioteca y a mi lista de personajes favoritos, ojalá muy pronto tengamos nueva entrega y nuevas aventuras de Vera en sus pueblos ingleses tomando té y cerveza mientras se resuelve grandes misterios
September 8, 2022
This was quite a slow-burner took a long time to get to who did it but, i did enjoy it. I read this quickly as it had huge writing and short chapters.
December 18, 2019
Another fantastic book by Ann Cleeves! While not for everyone, I am a huge fan of her atmospheric, slow-burn storylines. This is the third book in the Vera Stanhope series and each one has been just as good as the previous. I’m already looking forward to the next one.
March 18, 2018
It is such a long wait for the Ann Cleeves books in the US. One has long ago watched and enjoyed the televised version, but still - reading the book is quite a different experience. Sometimes the physical description of Vera clashes as well as some alterations made for production purposes, so I wouldn't say I like this upside-down sequencing. I enjoy reading and then later viewing. "Elephantine dirty feet in sandals"? Brenda Blethyn does not come to mind when reading such descriptions in the book. One favorite aspect of viewing is watching the interplay between Vera and her staff. In the book these exchanges are perfunctory and seem to only have meaning in Vera's head.
This series of murders plus one attempted murder Vera was able to prevent appeared to be dramatically staged by a unique sort of madman as clues were hard to find, but Vera knew they were linked and that was the focus of the investigation.
This investigation is conducted over 370 pages by many conversations over tea, sometimes dumped out discreetly. Vera keeps knocking on doors, visiting her focus group at work and further follow-up visits, always asking probing questions until she finds a link that makes some kind of sense.
Reading the book allows entry to thoughts of the characters, yielding something of a social commentary.
This series of murders plus one attempted murder Vera was able to prevent appeared to be dramatically staged by a unique sort of madman as clues were hard to find, but Vera knew they were linked and that was the focus of the investigation.
This investigation is conducted over 370 pages by many conversations over tea, sometimes dumped out discreetly. Vera keeps knocking on doors, visiting her focus group at work and further follow-up visits, always asking probing questions until she finds a link that makes some kind of sense.
Reading the book allows entry to thoughts of the characters, yielding something of a social commentary.
February 12, 2018
Hidden Depths by Ann Cleeves.
VERA is a solitary figure. She lives alone and rarely has guests/visitors except for Joe Ashworth her back up on the police force. The pub(s) are also not her usual haunt since she prefers to drink in the privacy of her home. These traits are what set VERA apart from other Scottish detectives. I became aware of the differences while reading Hidden Depths, finding it a bit difficult to stay focused. The riotous social life or chaotic police station conflicts didn't exist as they do in the other series' I'd become addicted to. Nevertheless, VERA is her own person and apologizes to no one for her chosen way of life.
The first victim was found by his mother strangled and in the bath surrounded by flowers. Luke Armstrong had no enemies or that was the story VERA was handed by almost everyone including his parents. He was a needy child with an attentive Mom. VERA had to think fast to prevent another murder from taking place...was this the beginning of a serial murderer having his/her way or did other murders already take place.
A good read for VERA fans and the 3rd in the series.
VERA is a solitary figure. She lives alone and rarely has guests/visitors except for Joe Ashworth her back up on the police force. The pub(s) are also not her usual haunt since she prefers to drink in the privacy of her home. These traits are what set VERA apart from other Scottish detectives. I became aware of the differences while reading Hidden Depths, finding it a bit difficult to stay focused. The riotous social life or chaotic police station conflicts didn't exist as they do in the other series' I'd become addicted to. Nevertheless, VERA is her own person and apologizes to no one for her chosen way of life.
The first victim was found by his mother strangled and in the bath surrounded by flowers. Luke Armstrong had no enemies or that was the story VERA was handed by almost everyone including his parents. He was a needy child with an attentive Mom. VERA had to think fast to prevent another murder from taking place...was this the beginning of a serial murderer having his/her way or did other murders already take place.
A good read for VERA fans and the 3rd in the series.
March 29, 2022
An excellent third Vera book! I really liked the intricate plot, drawing on two families and their connections, ultimately making for a plethora of suspects. I enjoy the Vera character but thought she was a bit more coarse than usual this time out. Had a sense of deja vu throughout most of the book which I chalked up to having watched the tv series but after finishing it I don't believe that was it.
September 19, 2022
I'm really enjoying my romp through the Vera Stanhope mystery series. Ann Cleeves does not disappoint with her smartly written characters and storylines that are plotted so that anyone could be the murderer! Plenty of twists and turns and red herrings. Vera, herself, is a flawed detective, utterly obsessed with solving murders, which she feels is her one gift in life. Start with the first in the series
The Crow Trap for the best introduction to the characters and Ms. Cleeves' writing.
Here we have a serial killer who turns his victims into statement pieces of art. All of the victims are beautiful and young. The setting includes Deepden, an area that has been restored many years prior to become a haven for migrating birds, and the main characters are linked by their love of the outdoors, birds, plants and nature. Detective Stanhope is in a race against time when a third victim is kidnapped.
Recommended for anyone who enjoys an enthralling mystery series with smartly written, realistic characters. 4.5 stars ****
The Crow Trap for the best introduction to the characters and Ms. Cleeves' writing.
Here we have a serial killer who turns his victims into statement pieces of art. All of the victims are beautiful and young. The setting includes Deepden, an area that has been restored many years prior to become a haven for migrating birds, and the main characters are linked by their love of the outdoors, birds, plants and nature. Detective Stanhope is in a race against time when a third victim is kidnapped.
Recommended for anyone who enjoys an enthralling mystery series with smartly written, realistic characters. 4.5 stars ****
September 3, 2019
I am working my way through the Vera Stanhope series by Ann Cleeves and what a pleasure it has been! Cleeves has created a strong, credible, relatable female protagonist in DI Vera Stanhope and her technical proficiency in creating an excellent balance of puzzle, character, and setting keeps our interest alive as she methodically builds her story. Moreover, the unlikely murders in this particular entry are plausible because they are grounded in recognizable small communities. The relationships in those communities create lots of tension and plenty of red herrings. Misdirection and creating red herrings is another area in which Cleeves excels.
This story takes place during a hot summer in the Northumberland coastal area. It begins with Julie Armstrong, a single mother of two teenagers, having a night out on the town with friends. She arrives home very late to find her troubled son, Luke, dead. He has been strangled and laid out in a bathtub filled with water, covered in flowers. She rushes to check on her daughter in the bedroom across the hall, but she is sound asleep and undisturbed. She wakes her and takes her to a neighbor's house and calls the police. Her immediate assumption had been that her son had committed suicide and that it is her fault, but the large, ill-dressed, woman detective in charge of the investigation informs her that in fact her son was murdered and nothing is her fault. Thus, Julie meets Vera.
The investigation proceeds and seems to be making no progress when another murder occurs in the community. This one is a young student teacher, Lily Marsh, whose body is found laid out in a rock pool near an observatory frequented by birders and she, too, has been covered by flowers. And she had been strangled. It seems obvious that the crimes are connected.
The body had been initially discovered by the son of one of a group of local birders. The group of four, plus the boy and his mother, had gone to the observatory to watch seabirds. The young boy got bored and wandered away and happened upon the body.
Vera, because of being raised by a father who was obsessed with birds, is familiar with the craze that can become a fixation and ruling passion with some hobbyists and it gives her insight into the lives of the four essentially solitary men who have created their own kind of family with the birding group. And that leads her eventually to cracking open the mystery behind the killings of these two seemingly unrelated people. There is a connection there and we can trust Vera to find it.
Vera always seems to be underestimated and misunderstood by those with whom she comes in contact in the course of her investigations, but slowly they come to understand that she's not just bumbling along and they begin to respect her. She certainly has the respect of her team, especially her sergeant, Joe Ashworth, but she exasperates them as well. She reminds me in many ways of a female Columbo - remember that old TV show?
This was a thoroughly absorbing mystery and I can't wait to get on to the next one in the series. I adore and identify with Vera Stanhope. She is most definitely a woman of hidden depths.
This story takes place during a hot summer in the Northumberland coastal area. It begins with Julie Armstrong, a single mother of two teenagers, having a night out on the town with friends. She arrives home very late to find her troubled son, Luke, dead. He has been strangled and laid out in a bathtub filled with water, covered in flowers. She rushes to check on her daughter in the bedroom across the hall, but she is sound asleep and undisturbed. She wakes her and takes her to a neighbor's house and calls the police. Her immediate assumption had been that her son had committed suicide and that it is her fault, but the large, ill-dressed, woman detective in charge of the investigation informs her that in fact her son was murdered and nothing is her fault. Thus, Julie meets Vera.
The investigation proceeds and seems to be making no progress when another murder occurs in the community. This one is a young student teacher, Lily Marsh, whose body is found laid out in a rock pool near an observatory frequented by birders and she, too, has been covered by flowers. And she had been strangled. It seems obvious that the crimes are connected.
The body had been initially discovered by the son of one of a group of local birders. The group of four, plus the boy and his mother, had gone to the observatory to watch seabirds. The young boy got bored and wandered away and happened upon the body.
Vera, because of being raised by a father who was obsessed with birds, is familiar with the craze that can become a fixation and ruling passion with some hobbyists and it gives her insight into the lives of the four essentially solitary men who have created their own kind of family with the birding group. And that leads her eventually to cracking open the mystery behind the killings of these two seemingly unrelated people. There is a connection there and we can trust Vera to find it.
Vera always seems to be underestimated and misunderstood by those with whom she comes in contact in the course of her investigations, but slowly they come to understand that she's not just bumbling along and they begin to respect her. She certainly has the respect of her team, especially her sergeant, Joe Ashworth, but she exasperates them as well. She reminds me in many ways of a female Columbo - remember that old TV show?
This was a thoroughly absorbing mystery and I can't wait to get on to the next one in the series. I adore and identify with Vera Stanhope. She is most definitely a woman of hidden depths.
May 10, 2018
Υγρός θάνατος
Ann cleeves
Εκδόσεις Κλειδάριθμος
Δεν με ενθουσίασε δυστυχώς,δεν ήταν καλοδουλεμένη η πλοκή του...το τέλος η ανακάλυψη του δολοφόνου ( πάρε να έχεις τώρα άρρωστε που διάβαζες 440 σελιδες) πολύ απότομο και σε μια σελίδα.Η αληθεια είναι ότι το μυαλό μου πήγαινε αλλου για τον δολοφόνο,ήταν μια ανατροπή καλή. Αλλα πολύ ψυχρό πολύ απότομο. Το μόνο που με ενθουσίασε είναι η ντέντεκτιβ βέρα που είναι το αντοιστοιχο του αρσενικού ντέντεκτιβ.....αλκοολική χοντρούλα...ξεφεύγει απο τα κλισέ ( λόγο φύλλου)μου αρεσε ο χαρακτήρας της
Του βαζω 3/5 θα διαβάσω όμως και τα υπόλοιπα της 💋
⭐️⭐️⭐️💋
Περίληψη
Ένα μυθιστόρημα, γεμάτο αγωνία, ανατροπές, ανατριχιαστικά μυστικά και άρωμα θανάτου... Είναι ένα ασυνήθιστα ζεστό καλοκαίρι στα παρ��λια της βορειοανατολικής Αγγλίας. Η Τζούλι 'Αρμστρονγκ επιστρέφει στο σπίτι της μετά από μια νυχτερινή έξοδο και βρίσκει τον γιο της στραγγαλισμένο, ξαπλωμένο σε μια μπανιέρα γεμάτη νερό και καλυμμένο με λουλούδια... Αυτός ο επιτηδευμένος φόνος συνεπαίρνει την ντετέκτιβ Βέρα Στάνχοουπ. Σύντομα ανακαλύπτεται άλλο ένα πτώμα καλυμμένο με λουλούδια, αυτή τη φορά στη σχισμή ενός παραθαλάσσιου βράχου. Η Βέρα πρέπει να ενεργήσει γρήγορα και να ανακαλύψει αυτόν τον δολοφόνο που μετατρέπει τον θάνατο σε τέχνη. Καθώς οι κάτοικοι της περιοχής αναγκάζονται να μοιραστούν τα πιο βαθιά και σκοτεινά μυστικά τους, ο δολοφόνος παρακολουθεί, περιμένει και ετοιμάζεται να δημιουργήσει άλλον έναν όμορφο, υγρό τάφο...Περίληψη
Ένα μυθιστόρημα, γεμάτο αγωνία, ανατροπές, ανατριχιαστικά μυστικά και άρωμα θανάτου... Είναι ένα ασυνήθιστα ζεστό καλοκαίρι στα παράλια της βορειοανατολικής Αγγλίας. Η Τζούλι 'Αρμστρονγκ επιστρέφει στο σπίτι της μετά από μια νυχτερινή έξοδο και βρίσκει τον γιο της στραγγαλισμένο, ξαπλωμένο σε μια μπανιέρα γεμάτη νερό και καλυμμένο με λουλούδια... Αυτός ο επιτηδευμένος φόνος συνεπαίρνει την ντετέκτιβ Βέρα Στάνχοουπ. Σύντομα ανακαλύπτεται άλλο ένα πτώμα καλυμμένο με λουλούδια, αυτή τη φορά στη σχισμή ενός παραθαλάσσιου βράχου. Η Βέρα πρέπει να ενεργήσει γρήγορα και να ανακαλύψει αυτόν τον δολοφόνο που μετατρέπει τον θάνατο σε τέχνη. Καθώς οι κάτοικοι της περιοχής αναγκάζονται να μοιραστούν τα πιο βαθιά και σκοτεινά μυστικά τους, ο δολοφόνος παρακολουθεί, περιμένει και ετοιμάζεται να δημιουργήσει άλλον έναν όμορφο, υγρό τάφο...
Ann cleeves
Εκδόσεις Κλειδάριθμος
Δεν με ενθουσίασε δυστυχώς,δεν ήταν καλοδουλεμένη η πλοκή του...το τέλος η ανακάλυψη του δολοφόνου ( πάρε να έχεις τώρα άρρωστε που διάβαζες 440 σελιδες) πολύ απότομο και σε μια σελίδα.Η αληθεια είναι ότι το μυαλό μου πήγαινε αλλου για τον δολοφόνο,ήταν μια ανατροπή καλή. Αλλα πολύ ψυχρό πολύ απότομο. Το μόνο που με ενθουσίασε είναι η ντέντεκτιβ βέρα που είναι το αντοιστοιχο του αρσενικού ντέντεκτιβ.....αλκοολική χοντρούλα...ξεφεύγει απο τα κλισέ ( λόγο φύλλου)μου αρεσε ο χαρακτήρας της
Του βαζω 3/5 θα διαβάσω όμως και τα υπόλοιπα της 💋
⭐️⭐️⭐️💋
Περίληψη
Ένα μυθιστόρημα, γεμάτο αγωνία, ανατροπές, ανατριχιαστικά μυστικά και άρωμα θανάτου... Είναι ένα ασυνήθιστα ζεστό καλοκαίρι στα παρ��λια της βορειοανατολικής Αγγλίας. Η Τζούλι 'Αρμστρονγκ επιστρέφει στο σπίτι της μετά από μια νυχτερινή έξοδο και βρίσκει τον γιο της στραγγαλισμένο, ξαπλωμένο σε μια μπανιέρα γεμάτη νερό και καλυμμένο με λουλούδια... Αυτός ο επιτηδευμένος φόνος συνεπαίρνει την ντετέκτιβ Βέρα Στάνχοουπ. Σύντομα ανακαλύπτεται άλλο ένα πτώμα καλυμμένο με λουλούδια, αυτή τη φορά στη σχισμή ενός παραθαλάσσιου βράχου. Η Βέρα πρέπει να ενεργήσει γρήγορα και να ανακαλύψει αυτόν τον δολοφόνο που μετατρέπει τον θάνατο σε τέχνη. Καθώς οι κάτοικοι της περιοχής αναγκάζονται να μοιραστούν τα πιο βαθιά και σκοτεινά μυστικά τους, ο δολοφόνος παρακολουθεί, περιμένει και ετοιμάζεται να δημιουργήσει άλλον έναν όμορφο, υγρό τάφο...Περίληψη
Ένα μυθιστόρημα, γεμάτο αγωνία, ανατροπές, ανατριχιαστικά μυστικά και άρωμα θανάτου... Είναι ένα ασυνήθιστα ζεστό καλοκαίρι στα παράλια της βορειοανατολικής Αγγλίας. Η Τζούλι 'Αρμστρονγκ επιστρέφει στο σπίτι της μετά από μια νυχτερινή έξοδο και βρίσκει τον γιο της στραγγαλισμένο, ξαπλωμένο σε μια μπανιέρα γεμάτη νερό και καλυμμένο με λουλούδια... Αυτός ο επιτηδευμένος φόνος συνεπαίρνει την ντετέκτιβ Βέρα Στάνχοουπ. Σύντομα ανακαλύπτεται άλλο ένα πτώμα καλυμμένο με λουλούδια, αυτή τη φορά στη σχισμή ενός παραθαλάσσιου βράχου. Η Βέρα πρέπει να ενεργήσει γρήγορα και να ανακαλύψει αυτόν τον δολοφόνο που μετατρέπει τον θάνατο σε τέχνη. Καθώς οι κάτοικοι της περιοχής αναγκάζονται να μοιραστούν τα πιο βαθιά και σκοτεινά μυστικά τους, ο δολοφόνος παρακολουθεί, περιμένει και ετοιμάζεται να δημιουργήσει άλλον έναν όμορφο, υγρό τάφο...
June 30, 2020
Tough one to rate, it didn't absorb me as the others have. Can't fault the writing, I've got used to the varying povs. I'm not sure if part of the issue is I started this immediately after the previous meaning no break from the Vera world.
Cleeves has an interesting way of writing people, all her characters are flawed there's no rosy endings I've thought previously it wasn't without a measure of sympathy; you could feel for some and want things better for them even if reality could go many ways. In this book it was hard to like anyone, there was a general aloofness and the outlook presented was very bleak. Depressing.
A lot of empathsis on being over forty and childless equaling a meaningless existance - as someone over forty and childless I would protest that is not what defines me.
Character themes are repeated; undiagnosed mental illness, infedelity, obsession, troubled youths considered aloof. I'm hoping there's a wider pool of characters as the series continues. Vera is boarderline alcholic, far more present and closer to the tv show character in this one.
The murders are perhaps another part of the issue for me. More elaborate staging than in previous books, though strangulation does appear the default. CSI and it's ilk focus on the body and clues, and it felt odd so little attention was paid to them here, Vera is all about delving into the people involved unveiling they're many secrets.
I found this book had an unfinshed feel. There's a strong sense justice wasn't done. Despite Vera's smugness it seemed as much last minute luck as investigative prowess.
I have the next book lined up and a few more reserved (library) but think I'll find a short fluffy story to read first, to freshen up so to speak.
Cleeves has an interesting way of writing people, all her characters are flawed there's no rosy endings I've thought previously it wasn't without a measure of sympathy; you could feel for some and want things better for them even if reality could go many ways. In this book it was hard to like anyone, there was a general aloofness and the outlook presented was very bleak. Depressing.
A lot of empathsis on being over forty and childless equaling a meaningless existance - as someone over forty and childless I would protest that is not what defines me.
Character themes are repeated; undiagnosed mental illness, infedelity, obsession, troubled youths considered aloof. I'm hoping there's a wider pool of characters as the series continues. Vera is boarderline alcholic, far more present and closer to the tv show character in this one.
The murders are perhaps another part of the issue for me. More elaborate staging than in previous books, though strangulation does appear the default. CSI and it's ilk focus on the body and clues, and it felt odd so little attention was paid to them here, Vera is all about delving into the people involved unveiling they're many secrets.
I found this book had an unfinshed feel. There's a strong sense justice wasn't done. Despite Vera's smugness it seemed as much last minute luck as investigative prowess.
I have the next book lined up and a few more reserved (library) but think I'll find a short fluffy story to read first, to freshen up so to speak.
January 2, 2020
Vera is called into a case when a teen boy is found drowned in his bathtub. Vera and others wonders if it has anything to do with his best friend accidentally drowning months ago. When a young woman is found dead posed the same way, Vera starts to wonder if it ties into an amateur bird watching group.
I really enjoyed "Hidden Depths". Cleeves did a fantastic job of having Vera on the scene quite quickly in this one. We also get a chance to see into her "head" more in this one too. She's very good at her job, and is reluctant to allow others on her squad to do a lot without her input. I thought that Cleeves did a great job of allowing us to see mode depth with Vera wondering about a potential life she could have had if not for her father.
Cleeves offers up different points of view in this one with several characters, the divorced mother racked by grief (Julie Armstrong), and three separate men (Peter Calvert, Gary Wright, and Samuel Carr) who are part of the bird watching group, along with one of the men's wife (Felicity Calvert). We eventually see how things tie together in this one, and although it's a slow read, it's a satisfying one.
I do think Cleeves does a great job of showing how toxic personalities can shape a group or person (no spoilers) and loved the slightly unsatisfied ending in this one. I honestly wish the tv series had followed more of the book's plot since I thought it worked better.
I really enjoyed "Hidden Depths". Cleeves did a fantastic job of having Vera on the scene quite quickly in this one. We also get a chance to see into her "head" more in this one too. She's very good at her job, and is reluctant to allow others on her squad to do a lot without her input. I thought that Cleeves did a great job of allowing us to see mode depth with Vera wondering about a potential life she could have had if not for her father.
Cleeves offers up different points of view in this one with several characters, the divorced mother racked by grief (Julie Armstrong), and three separate men (Peter Calvert, Gary Wright, and Samuel Carr) who are part of the bird watching group, along with one of the men's wife (Felicity Calvert). We eventually see how things tie together in this one, and although it's a slow read, it's a satisfying one.
I do think Cleeves does a great job of showing how toxic personalities can shape a group or person (no spoilers) and loved the slightly unsatisfied ending in this one. I honestly wish the tv series had followed more of the book's plot since I thought it worked better.
December 6, 2022
4+ star
Three books into the series and I’ve decided I like it even better than the Shetland series. There’s a nimble complexity and spot on pacing to this series that makes it stand out, and I believe the characters are more dimensional and memorable.
Shetland has the breathtaking locale that I know only from the books and a strong arc of protagonist development that I favor. Still, my disappointment that Shetland seems complete is made up for knowing Vera Stanhope is going strong.
The wrap-up in this novel is weaker than the book as a whole, otherwise this might have been a round-up.
Three books into the series and I’ve decided I like it even better than the Shetland series. There’s a nimble complexity and spot on pacing to this series that makes it stand out, and I believe the characters are more dimensional and memorable.
Shetland has the breathtaking locale that I know only from the books and a strong arc of protagonist development that I favor. Still, my disappointment that Shetland seems complete is made up for knowing Vera Stanhope is going strong.
The wrap-up in this novel is weaker than the book as a whole, otherwise this might have been a round-up.
January 11, 2019
Ωραία πλοκή, καλό pageturner. Για να περάσει κανείς κενό χρόνο, είναι μια χαρά!!!
July 5, 2020
Another excellent read in the Vera Stanhope series. I have watched the TV show and some of them were based on the books [but not in the order the books were written so there is some jumping around], but others were not. This one was. And even though I had watched it, I totally forgot just who the killer was and the why. Which made it doubly good. I really enjoy the books as they delve deeper into the whole story and flesh out the characters.
My one issue was the crappy audiobook. The narrator was excellent, but most of the chapters were cut off at the end of them; sometimes it was just a word or two, sometimes it was more and it was completely frustrating!!
My one issue was the crappy audiobook. The narrator was excellent, but most of the chapters were cut off at the end of them; sometimes it was just a word or two, sometimes it was more and it was completely frustrating!!
November 17, 2023
Jo vairāk lasu šīs autores detektīvus (kuri ir tieši manā gaumē), jo vairāk brīnos, cik nenozīmīgi aizvainojumi un (iedomāti) pāridarījumi kļūst par viņas iztēloto slepkavnieku motīviem. Interesanti, protams, bet ticamības koeficientu tas kaut kā nepaaugstina...
September 2, 2017
Thank heaven for Vera! Having just finished a book I detested, I was able to turn to Ann Cleeves for healing. Vera is wonderful. She is smart, amazingly intuitive, tough when she needs to be but always kind to those who are hurting. The characters are ordinary people (well, except for the fact that it is a murder mystery after all), and as they are being masterfully developed, you become totally involved with them and can't help wondering what is going on in their lives that you haven't been told yet. Such intricate plots, with bits of humor thrown in.
Julie comes home after a night on the town to find her teenaged son drowned in the bathtub with flowers floating around him. Then there's another murder.....a beautiful student teacher is found in a rock pool, also with flowers floating around her. Vera has her work cut out for her solving the puzzle of how these murders are related and why anyone would kill these two apparent innocents. Wonderful stories!!! With such talented authors available to be read, why should I waste my time on books I dislike?!
Julie comes home after a night on the town to find her teenaged son drowned in the bathtub with flowers floating around him. Then there's another murder.....a beautiful student teacher is found in a rock pool, also with flowers floating around her. Vera has her work cut out for her solving the puzzle of how these murders are related and why anyone would kill these two apparent innocents. Wonderful stories!!! With such talented authors available to be read, why should I waste my time on books I dislike?!
March 23, 2021
Τρίτο βιβλίο της σειράς αλλά πρώτη γνωριμία για μένα με τη Βέρα, ντετέκτιβ σε μια παραθαλάσσια περιοχή της Βορειοανατολικής Αγγλίας.
Σε ένα βιβλίο που διάβασα πρόσφατα ("Η γυναίκα στο παράθυρο") είχαμε να κάνουμε με ένα φόνο και πολύ κρασί μερλό. Εκνευριστικά πολύ όμως ...
Χαμογέλασα όταν διάβασα και εδώ σε μια γραμμή "μερλό" αλλά ήταν μόνο μια εξαίρεση.
Εδώ είχαμε να κάνουμε με τη Βέρα η οποία λύνει τον αστυνομικό γρίφο κουβεντιάζοντας εδώ κι εκεί, ή κουβεντιάζοντας με τους υπόπτους πίνοντας ένα τσάι. Μα τί ήθελα κι εγώ;; στην Αγγλία είμαστε, τσάγια θα πίναμε.
Η Βέρα είναι η μοναχική ντετέκτιβ - ηρωίδα της συγγραφέως. Είναι ψηλή και σωματώδης. Για να το πούμε αλλιώς, νταρντάνα με δυνατή φωνή και πατούσες (που ίσως παραπέμπουν ενδόμυχα τον αναγνώστη σε ελέφαντα) περιβαλλόμενες από σανδάλια με λουράκια.
Ζει μόνη της, δεν έχει κοινωνική ζωή πέραν του αστυνομικού τμήματος και είναι σχεδόν αλκοολική. Δίνει την εντύπωση αφηρημένης ώρες ώρες, ίσως αφελούς και εσκεμμένα γλυκιάς αλλά οι ενδόμυχες σκέψεις της κάθε άλλο παρά συμπονετικές ή καλοκάγαθες είναι.
Από τις πρώτες κιόλας σελίδες ερχόμαστε αντιμέτωποι με τον πρώτο φόνο.
Ομολογώ ότι το πήρα λίγο βαριά και σκέφτηκα μήπως έπρεπε να παρατήσω το βιβλίο, αν και ως γνωστόν, δεν παρατάω ποτέ βιβλία. Εάν τυχαίνει ως αναγνώστης να τρέφεις άπειρα αισθήματα αγάπης και έννοιας για τους έφηβους (διότι μεγάλωσες δύο τέτοιους αλλά και έρχεσαι συχνά πυκνά σε επαφή μαζί τους λόγω δουλειάς) και σου περιγράφουν ένα πεντάμορφο έφηβο αγόρι πνιγμένο σε μια μπανιέρα και στολισμένο με λουλούδια που επιπλέουν στο νερό .... ε .... άνθρωπος είσαι, στομάχι έχεις, θα σφιχτεί.
Κάπως έτσι ξεκινάει η πλοκή και η είσοδος της Βέρας στη σκηνή. Εννοείται ότι δε θα βρείτε κυνηγητά και δράση, ούτε θα ξενυχτήσετε γυρίζοντας μανιωδώς σελίδες. Είπαμε ... κουβεντούλα και τσάι, τσάι και κουβεντούλα.
Δε θα μακρηγορήσω άλλο. Γίνεται και δεύτερος φόνος με παρεμφερές σκηνικό και οι υποψίες πέφτουν σε 5-6 άτομα, μέλη της μικρής κλειστής κοινωνίας της περιοχής. Όπως όλες οι μικρές κοινωνίες, έτσι και αυτή κρύβει μυστικά, απογοητεύσ��ις, νωθρούς γάμους, συζυγικές απιστίες, ενοχικά συναισθήματα, δεσποτικές μητέρες, περιέργεια και κοινωνικό σχολιασμό ...
Συμπαθητικό βιβλίο αλλά μέχρι εκεί.
Εκείνο που μου άρεσε και έκανε την όλη ιστορία να ξεχωρίσει ήταν ο τρόπος που μιλούσε η Βέρα, ο γλυκός της τρόπος (σε αντίθεση με την εξωτερική της εμφάνιση) ακόμα και αν ήταν ψεύτικος και επιτηδευμένος στο βάθος. Μου άρεσε που αποκαλούσε τη συνομιλήτρια της "κούκλα μου" ή "αγάπη μου".
Σε ένα βιβλίο που διάβασα πρόσφατα ("Η γυναίκα στο παράθυρο") είχαμε να κάνουμε με ένα φόνο και πολύ κρασί μερλό. Εκνευριστικά πολύ όμως ...
Χαμογέλασα όταν διάβασα και εδώ σε μια γραμμή "μερλό" αλλά ήταν μόνο μια εξαίρεση.
Εδώ είχαμε να κάνουμε με τη Βέρα η οποία λύνει τον αστυνομικό γρίφο κουβεντιάζοντας εδώ κι εκεί, ή κουβεντιάζοντας με τους υπόπτους πίνοντας ένα τσάι. Μα τί ήθελα κι εγώ;; στην Αγγλία είμαστε, τσάγια θα πίναμε.
Η Βέρα είναι η μοναχική ντετέκτιβ - ηρωίδα της συγγραφέως. Είναι ψηλή και σωματώδης. Για να το πούμε αλλιώς, νταρντάνα με δυνατή φωνή και πατούσες (που ίσως παραπέμπουν ενδόμυχα τον αναγνώστη σε ελέφαντα) περιβαλλόμενες από σανδάλια με λουράκια.
Ζει μόνη της, δεν έχει κοινωνική ζωή πέραν του αστυνομικού τμήματος και είναι σχεδόν αλκοολική. Δίνει την εντύπωση αφηρημένης ώρες ώρες, ίσως αφελούς και εσκεμμένα γλυκιάς αλλά οι ενδόμυχες σκέψεις της κάθε άλλο παρά συμπονετικές ή καλοκάγαθες είναι.
Από τις πρώτες κιόλας σελίδες ερχόμαστε αντιμέτωποι με τον πρώτο φόνο.
Ομολογώ ότι το πήρα λίγο βαριά και σκέφτηκα μήπως έπρεπε να παρατήσω το βιβλίο, αν και ως γνωστόν, δεν παρατάω ποτέ βιβλία. Εάν τυχαίνει ως αναγνώστης να τρέφεις άπειρα αισθήματα αγάπης και έννοιας για τους έφηβους (διότι μεγάλωσες δύο τέτοιους αλλά και έρχεσαι συχνά πυκνά σε επαφή μαζί τους λόγω δουλειάς) και σου περιγράφουν ένα πεντάμορφο έφηβο αγόρι πνιγμένο σε μια μπανιέρα και στολισμένο με λουλούδια που επιπλέουν στο νερό .... ε .... άνθρωπος είσαι, στομάχι έχεις, θα σφιχτεί.
Κάπως έτσι ξεκινάει η πλοκή και η είσοδος της Βέρας στη σκηνή. Εννοείται ότι δε θα βρείτε κυνηγητά και δράση, ούτε θα ξενυχτήσετε γυρίζοντας μανιωδώς σελίδες. Είπαμε ... κουβεντούλα και τσάι, τσάι και κουβεντούλα.
Δε θα μακρηγορήσω άλλο. Γίνεται και δεύτερος φόνος με παρεμφερές σκηνικό και οι υποψίες πέφτουν σε 5-6 άτομα, μέλη της μικρής κλειστής κοινωνίας της περιοχής. Όπως όλες οι μικρές κοινωνίες, έτσι και αυτή κρύβει μυστικά, απογοητεύσ��ις, νωθρούς γάμους, συζυγικές απιστίες, ενοχικά συναισθήματα, δεσποτικές μητέρες, περιέργεια και κοινωνικό σχολιασμό ...
Συμπαθητικό βιβλίο αλλά μέχρι εκεί.
Εκείνο που μου άρεσε και έκανε την όλη ιστορία να ξεχωρίσει ήταν ο τρόπος που μιλούσε η Βέρα, ο γλυκός της τρόπος (σε αντίθεση με την εξωτερική της εμφάνιση) ακόμα και αν ήταν ψεύτικος και επιτηδευμένος στο βάθος. Μου άρεσε που αποκαλούσε τη συνομιλήτρια της "κούκλα μου" ή "αγάπη μου".
November 10, 2019
Greek - English review
Η τέταρτη ιστορία με πρωταγωνίστρια τη Βέρα Στάνχοουπ που διαβάζω και μου άρεσε αρκετά!
Περιγράφει καλά το σκηνικό της ιστορίας και δίνει όσα στοιχεία χρειάζεται για να υποψιαστεί ο αναγνώστης αρκετά άτομα χωρίς να είναι ποτέ σίγουρος για το ποιος είναι ο ένοχος!
Υπάρχουν κάποιες προσωπικές σκέψεις της Βέρα για να καταλάβεις καλύτερα τον ψυχισμό της χωρίς όμως να καταντάει κουραστικό!
Θα ήθελα να μάθω τι έκαναν οι χαρακτήρες μετά το τέλος της υπόθεσης αλλά η συγγραφέας δεν επεκτάθηκε σε αυτό και ένιωσα σαν να να λείπει κάτι όταν τελείωσα την ανάγνωση!
Επίσης από τους εμπλεκόμενους σε αυτή την υπόθεση μόνο έναν αντρικό χαρακτήρα συμπάθησα μιας και η συγγραφέας με ιδιαίτερο ταλέντο κατάφερε να κάνει όλους τους άλλους αντιπαθείς!
Απογοητευτική η επιμέλεια κειμένου από τις εκδόσεις που αφαιρεί με τον τρόπο της κάτι από την ευχαρίστηση της ανάγνωσης!
Αν και σειρά η ιστορία μπορεί να διαβαστεί και μόνη της μιας και η συγγραφέας δεν μπλέκει αισθηματικού τύπου δράματα στις ιστορίες των μόνιμων πρωταγωνιστών της σειράς!
It's the fourth story starring Vera Stanhope that I read and liked it a lot!
It describes the scenery well and gives what information the reader needs to suspect enough people without ever knowing who the guilty one is!
There are some personal thoughts of Vera to better understand her psyche without getting tired!
I would like to know what the characters did after the end of the story but the writer didn't expand on it and I felt like something was missing when I finished reading!
Also from the people involved in this case, I liked only one male character since the writer with great talent managed to make everyone else dislikable!
I was disappointed by the greek text editing from the publisher that in its own way removes something from the pleasure of reading it!
The story can be read as a standalone because the author does not engage in emotionally charged dramas in the stories of the permanent protagonists of the series!
Η τέταρτη ιστορία με πρωταγωνίστρια τη Βέρα Στάνχοουπ που διαβάζω και μου άρεσε αρκετά!
Περιγράφει καλά το σκηνικό της ιστορίας και δίνει όσα στοιχεία χρειάζεται για να υποψιαστεί ο αναγνώστης αρκετά άτομα χωρίς να είναι ποτέ σίγουρος για το ποιος είναι ο ένοχος!
Υπάρχουν κάποιες προσωπικές σκέψεις της Βέρα για να καταλάβεις καλύτερα τον ψυχισμό της χωρίς όμως να καταντάει κουραστικό!
Θα ήθελα να μάθω τι έκαναν οι χαρακτήρες μετά το τέλος της υπόθεσης αλλά η συγγραφέας δεν επεκτάθηκε σε αυτό και ένιωσα σαν να να λείπει κάτι όταν τελείωσα την ανάγνωση!
Επίσης από τους εμπλεκόμενους σε αυτή την υπόθεση μόνο έναν αντρικό χαρακτήρα συμπάθησα μιας και η συγγραφέας με ιδιαίτερο ταλέντο κατάφερε να κάνει όλους τους άλλους αντιπαθείς!
Απογοητευτική η επιμέλεια κειμένου από τις εκδόσεις που αφαιρεί με τον τρόπο της κάτι από την ευχαρίστηση της ανάγνωσης!
Αν και σειρά η ιστορία μπορεί να διαβαστεί και μόνη της μιας και η συγγραφέας δεν μπλέκει αισθηματικού τύπου δράματα στις ιστορίες των μόνιμων πρωταγωνιστών της σειράς!
It's the fourth story starring Vera Stanhope that I read and liked it a lot!
It describes the scenery well and gives what information the reader needs to suspect enough people without ever knowing who the guilty one is!
There are some personal thoughts of Vera to better understand her psyche without getting tired!
I would like to know what the characters did after the end of the story but the writer didn't expand on it and I felt like something was missing when I finished reading!
Also from the people involved in this case, I liked only one male character since the writer with great talent managed to make everyone else dislikable!
I was disappointed by the greek text editing from the publisher that in its own way removes something from the pleasure of reading it!
The story can be read as a standalone because the author does not engage in emotionally charged dramas in the stories of the permanent protagonists of the series!
December 22, 2012
Despite the fact that Ann Cleeves has published twenty-five novels since 1986, this is the first of her books I’ve read, and that’s probably thanks to the excellent TV series Vera, starring the excellent Brenda Blethyn.
Set in the northeast of England, this book evokes my home area very well: Foxhunters, Whitley Bay, Seaton Sluice, North Shields, Morpeth and Newcastle.
Julie Armstrong arrives home after a night out to discover her young son strangled, laid out in a bath of water and covered with wild flowers. And all that evening his sister was asleep in the next room. It’s a tantalising case for Inspector Vera Stanhope, the fat and ungainly and deceptively gauche copper. Not long after, another body is found, and this time it’s a young woman in a rock pool, again covered in flowers.
Vera’s ably helped by Joe Ashworth and the rest of her team, even though ‘she scared the pants off most of them; even those who shouted their mouths off in the police canteen were too timid to commit themselves to an opinion which Vera might consider foolish.’ As they investigate the local bird ringing club and friends of the dead woman, undercurrents of guilt, incompetence and adultery muddy the waters. The characters are rich and have depth, the plot is convoluted, but it all seems very real, down-to-earth without being gratuitous or offensively gritty.
As I read this book, I could hear Blethyn speak Vera’s words, a tribute to Cleeves and the actress and also the scriptwriters who have captured the essence of the book. I’ll certainly be reading more Ann Cleeves books.
Set in the northeast of England, this book evokes my home area very well: Foxhunters, Whitley Bay, Seaton Sluice, North Shields, Morpeth and Newcastle.
Julie Armstrong arrives home after a night out to discover her young son strangled, laid out in a bath of water and covered with wild flowers. And all that evening his sister was asleep in the next room. It’s a tantalising case for Inspector Vera Stanhope, the fat and ungainly and deceptively gauche copper. Not long after, another body is found, and this time it’s a young woman in a rock pool, again covered in flowers.
Vera’s ably helped by Joe Ashworth and the rest of her team, even though ‘she scared the pants off most of them; even those who shouted their mouths off in the police canteen were too timid to commit themselves to an opinion which Vera might consider foolish.’ As they investigate the local bird ringing club and friends of the dead woman, undercurrents of guilt, incompetence and adultery muddy the waters. The characters are rich and have depth, the plot is convoluted, but it all seems very real, down-to-earth without being gratuitous or offensively gritty.
As I read this book, I could hear Blethyn speak Vera’s words, a tribute to Cleeves and the actress and also the scriptwriters who have captured the essence of the book. I’ll certainly be reading more Ann Cleeves books.
March 23, 2013
Vera Stanhope was reached the point in her life where her regrets are catching up with her. She lives the life of the loner and has faced up to the reality that she will probably never have a family. Her childhood was lonely and difficult because her father was on obsessive birder who dragged her along on many of his hunts for rapters. The coping skills she developed during those days have been a boon in her career as a police officer and her introspective personality leads her into understanding the motives of the people she gets involved with.
In this case of the death of two very different but equally beautiful young people it is going to be up to Vera to see just how these victims are related and she and her team are looking for every possible clue that might shed some light on the matter.
As always Cleeves is very strong on characterization and sense of place. I always look forward to reading another of her stories.
In this case of the death of two very different but equally beautiful young people it is going to be up to Vera to see just how these victims are related and she and her team are looking for every possible clue that might shed some light on the matter.
As always Cleeves is very strong on characterization and sense of place. I always look forward to reading another of her stories.
July 24, 2022
Vera is back, calling other people “pet”. Even when she finally apprehends a murderer it’s with an almost affectionate “it’s all over, pet”. Vera likes people, even though she’s in the field of murder, but always feels a bit like an outsider looking in, a child at a bakery window when she gets close with “happy families”. This is part of how she finds her killers. She looks for the outsiders, the loners, the broken ones. She relates to them. She goes home every night and drinks too much so she can fall asleep, and shuts down a mind that roars at her. 4 stars for another great mystery by Cleeves.
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