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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
“The Darkest Evening” by Ann Cleeves it's the 9th instalment in the Vera Stanhope Mystery Series. I love the Vera Mystery series and this instalment did not disappoint. In fact, I thought that it was one of the best in the series.
The Series is character-driven and also very descriptive you feel like you are right there in Northumbria, England. In this instalment we get to catch up with Vera and her team, but we also meet her estranged snooty relatives that lived in the big house. This complicated things for Vera as she dealt with in the investigation. Vera reflects on her upbringing in comparison to the way her cousin Juliette grew up.
The story is full of family secrets and half truths as well as the gossip that seems to thrive in small communities. We had lots of suspects but I did not guess until it was revealed, in fact the villain wasn’t even on my radar.
I highly recommend this book and the Vera Stanhope Mystery series to all my British Mystery loving friends.
I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from the publisher and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Series is character-driven and also very descriptive you feel like you are right there in Northumbria, England. In this instalment we get to catch up with Vera and her team, but we also meet her estranged snooty relatives that lived in the big house. This complicated things for Vera as she dealt with in the investigation. Vera reflects on her upbringing in comparison to the way her cousin Juliette grew up.
The story is full of family secrets and half truths as well as the gossip that seems to thrive in small communities. We had lots of suspects but I did not guess until it was revealed, in fact the villain wasn’t even on my radar.
I highly recommend this book and the Vera Stanhope Mystery series to all my British Mystery loving friends.
I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from the publisher and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
No
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
The Darkest Evening is the 9th outing for Vera Stanhope and her crew by Ann Cleeves. Released 8th Sept 2020 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 384 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.
There are relatively few authors whose work I know I will be seeking out no matter what. Ann Cleeves is one of a handful on my list. I especially love her Vera Stanhope books (as well as the wonderful TV series based on the characters. Brenda Blethyn has made such an indelible stamp on the character that I can "see" her in my head whilst reading). I had pretty high expectations going into this book but never expected to be blown away.
I really love the development of Vera and the people on her team. From the first book (The Crow Trap), Vera and crew were well fleshed out and believable, and the plots have been solid and tightly written and plotted. This book is so meticulously well crafted - clearly the author has hit her (masterful) stride.
Beautifully written and completely compelling. The scenery is bleak and breathtaking and lends so much atmosphere to the book. Five stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
The Darkest Evening is the 9th outing for Vera Stanhope and her crew by Ann Cleeves. Released 8th Sept 2020 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 384 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.
There are relatively few authors whose work I know I will be seeking out no matter what. Ann Cleeves is one of a handful on my list. I especially love her Vera Stanhope books (as well as the wonderful TV series based on the characters. Brenda Blethyn has made such an indelible stamp on the character that I can "see" her in my head whilst reading). I had pretty high expectations going into this book but never expected to be blown away.
I really love the development of Vera and the people on her team. From the first book (The Crow Trap), Vera and crew were well fleshed out and believable, and the plots have been solid and tightly written and plotted. This book is so meticulously well crafted - clearly the author has hit her (masterful) stride.
Beautifully written and completely compelling. The scenery is bleak and breathtaking and lends so much atmosphere to the book. Five stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
This a well crafted who-dunnit of the big country house variety. Ann Cleeves is superb at atmospheric, tight-knit community crime fiction. This book is all that with a hint of wintery magic.
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
After reading the book it offered me so excited entertainment, such as all the characters had mysterious quirks about their personalities. The husband who owns the house seemed very arrogant and stand-offish with his wife. Vera certainly has gotten herself in a pickle with the people in this house. The book moves at a moderate pace as Vera tries to come up with answers to her questions regarding her case. The narrative of the story seems a bit long winded for me.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This review is courtesy of NetGalley.
The Darkest Evening is book nine of Ann Cleeves' Vera Stanhope series. It was my first exposure to this incredible female detective that my mother has been trying to get me into for years (she's a big fan of the Vera show). Now I understand why.
Maybe it's the difference between American and British writers and directors, but I've noticed how the American female detectives have to be stunningly beautiful, thin, and know every kind of combat technique; where the Brits write their women and detectives as real hardworking average people. I loved that about Vera. She's ordinary but skilled.
In The Darkest Evening, there are so many family secrets and small town drama revealed. I could not guess who the murderer was. The pacing kept things moving forward especially since Cleeves allowed secondary characters in the detective unit to share their experiences working on the cases of the two murders which were clearly linked.
There are notes of domestic abuse in terms of gaslighting; a young woman maturing into her own but her male partner trying to control her life; and struggle for custody of a baby.
The Darkest Evening is book nine of Ann Cleeves' Vera Stanhope series. It was my first exposure to this incredible female detective that my mother has been trying to get me into for years (she's a big fan of the Vera show). Now I understand why.
Maybe it's the difference between American and British writers and directors, but I've noticed how the American female detectives have to be stunningly beautiful, thin, and know every kind of combat technique; where the Brits write their women and detectives as real hardworking average people. I loved that about Vera. She's ordinary but skilled.
In The Darkest Evening, there are so many family secrets and small town drama revealed. I could not guess who the murderer was. The pacing kept things moving forward especially since Cleeves allowed secondary characters in the detective unit to share their experiences working on the cases of the two murders which were clearly linked.
There are notes of domestic abuse in terms of gaslighting; a young woman maturing into her own but her male partner trying to control her life; and struggle for custody of a baby.
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes