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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
This was not nearly one of my favourite thriller books. I thought it was just ok and somewhat entertaining to listen to mindlessly.
It's hard to know whether I appreciated this Vera Standhope mystery particularly strongly because after 2020, any phenomenon familiar and consistent that is still going strong is to be welcomed by definition. This can include anything, really: my appreciation for dark chocolate and mashed potatoes (though not at the same time); the fact that significant clusters of the Irish population still reliably go into a state of CPTSD when Irish youth are depicted on RTE TV dramas as having a sex life (the latest incidence of which was the somewhat-unwatchable-beyond-two-episodes - though not for moral reasons - 'Normal People', though I may try reading the book instead); and the exact same group of insecure but dangerous cranks (down to the individual - it's amazing) that touted wild theories about 9/11 and vaccinations now coming out with all the Covid19 conspiracy theories. All these phenomena are, to varying degrees, predictable and therefore strangely welcome, though the predictability of an encounter with Vera Stanhope is entirely more welcome than some of the others.
Vera is still the overweight, hard-working, shrewd detective to whom we are accustomed; that strange mixture of no-nonsense policewoman doing necessary legwork, and brilliant policing instinct that puts the pieces together to resolve murders before anybody else can figure them out. This particular book provides some insight into Vera's family background that goes a little beyond her delinquent father, and the insight into the family allows us to have a little more sympathy than heretofore for the ever-influential Hector.
The Darkest Evening is a modern take on the traditional murder mystery format that is centered around a Big House and its residents and guests, updated somewhat to reflect current social realities. As always, Cleeves's insight into human nature is impressive and the plot twist that shows us who the murderer really is comes as a surprise, but makes sense in a world where murder often takes place for rather banal reasons. The book explores the nature of sexual predation on the part of older, more powerful men on much-younger women, and the damage it can do to individuals, family dynamics, and entire communities. A strength of Cleeves as an author that I've always thoroughly enjoyed is her ability to depict scenarios where all is not as it seems, and those who seem to have the moral high ground and/or the high social status and respectability, are living double lives.
Although Vera is thinking seriously of retiring from the police, my hope is that she doesn't do so for another few books. At some point, I am convinced, she will realize the necessity of installing a central heating system in that cottage of hers before old age arrives, and will work for a while longer to pay for it!
Vera is still the overweight, hard-working, shrewd detective to whom we are accustomed; that strange mixture of no-nonsense policewoman doing necessary legwork, and brilliant policing instinct that puts the pieces together to resolve murders before anybody else can figure them out. This particular book provides some insight into Vera's family background that goes a little beyond her delinquent father, and the insight into the family allows us to have a little more sympathy than heretofore for the ever-influential Hector.
The Darkest Evening is a modern take on the traditional murder mystery format that is centered around a Big House and its residents and guests, updated somewhat to reflect current social realities. As always, Cleeves's insight into human nature is impressive and the plot twist that shows us who the murderer really is comes as a surprise, but makes sense in a world where murder often takes place for rather banal reasons. The book explores the nature of sexual predation on the part of older, more powerful men on much-younger women, and the damage it can do to individuals, family dynamics, and entire communities. A strength of Cleeves as an author that I've always thoroughly enjoyed is her ability to depict scenarios where all is not as it seems, and those who seem to have the moral high ground and/or the high social status and respectability, are living double lives.
Although Vera is thinking seriously of retiring from the police, my hope is that she doesn't do so for another few books. At some point, I am convinced, she will realize the necessity of installing a central heating system in that cottage of hers before old age arrives, and will work for a while longer to pay for it!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love Vera Stanhope, cranky old broad and DCI.
In her latest outing, Vera drives home while a blizzard rages. After taking the wrong turn - that happens to be the road to her ancestral home - she comes across a car blocking the road, mired in the snow. The driver's door is open, and there's a baby in a carseat in the back, but the driver is missing. As the snow continues to fall, Vera takes the child into her car, leaves a note on the car, and carries on to said ancestral home, knocking on the door to seek harbor from the storm, and in the process seeing relatives she hasn't seen in quite a long time.
When a young woman's body is found on the property, it's clear the woman is likely the mother of the child, and that the people in the house (both er relatives and the dinner guests they are hosting) probably know more about the woman than they let on.
The investigation is then off, with no shortage of suspects and Vera and her team wringing information out of people and chasing down leads and connections, no matter how slim they may appear.
We get more background on Harold, Vera's father and black sheep of the Stanhope family, and more insight into how Vera views the familial tree (spoiler: she's not into having to put on the facade of genteel landowner, benificent landlord). I believe these short interludes were both worthy of inclusion to the story and not disruptive to the narrative. Well done on that.
As Vera and her team put together the puzzle of circumstances, the perpetrator becomes more violent and aggressive, and the final showdown is a lulu.
Highly recommended. Five out of five stars.
Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the review copy (which was approved after I'd already bought it ).
In her latest outing, Vera drives home while a blizzard rages. After taking the wrong turn - that happens to be the road to her ancestral home - she comes across a car blocking the road, mired in the snow. The driver's door is open, and there's a baby in a carseat in the back, but the driver is missing. As the snow continues to fall, Vera takes the child into her car, leaves a note on the car, and carries on to said ancestral home, knocking on the door to seek harbor from the storm, and in the process seeing relatives she hasn't seen in quite a long time.
When a young woman's body is found on the property, it's clear the woman is likely the mother of the child, and that the people in the house (both er relatives and the dinner guests they are hosting) probably know more about the woman than they let on.
The investigation is then off, with no shortage of suspects and Vera and her team wringing information out of people and chasing down leads and connections, no matter how slim they may appear.
We get more background on Harold, Vera's father and black sheep of the Stanhope family, and more insight into how Vera views the familial tree (spoiler: she's not into having to put on the facade of genteel landowner, benificent landlord). I believe these short interludes were both worthy of inclusion to the story and not disruptive to the narrative. Well done on that.
As Vera and her team put together the puzzle of circumstances, the perpetrator becomes more violent and aggressive, and the final showdown is a lulu.
Highly recommended. Five out of five stars.
Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the review copy (which was approved after I'd already bought it ).
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I was quite pleased with this despite my sense that a series often goes on longer than it should. Some clever plotting and a real sense of location. A new spin on the Country House murder. Does take some liberties with geography and travel times and the idea of easy bus rides from Kirkhill to Newcastle?????
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
If you like Anne Cleese’s this one will not disappoint.. I am just getting back into the Vera Stanhope series and I can honestly say I love her character. She’s a no nonsense kinda gal. At least in my eyes and she’s good at what she does.. without going into too much detail this book gives some more background on Vera. I love the writing and the way Anne Cleeves tells the story. I’m hoping that I can get to read more upcoming books in this series because now I’m hooked
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this arc
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this arc