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dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Although I love the TV show "Vera", I had never read any of the books - so I started with the last one, but really enjoyed this mystery! Love the setting and the characters, and Vera delving into her family history.
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book started out strong. It had great potential and was a somewhat good story. I had a few problems though. A car on the side of the road with the door open. A baby inside. A cop, Vera, getting lost??? I can't believe the cop who was headed home got lost. That was a bit out there but I could overlook that. She takes the baby and goes to a house close by where a dinner party is taking place. Also she is related to the owner. When Vera finds there is a dead woman on the property she does not tell the guests to stay put. She does not make the house a crime scene and demand that everyone present separate and not discuss things. She's supposed to be a seasoned DI and yet she does not treat this crime the way I would have expected. I didn't find that believable. There were just some things about this that didn't read right. But I was still interested and wanted to know who killed this young woman and why.
This book takes you through a lot, including two murders and a kidnapped baby. It's got some twists and the descriptions are quite vivid. Maybe a bit much at times but still good. You will feel the cold in this book. The deep snow and the pain the middle aged DI feels while trying to solve this case. I don't mean mental pain either. She's feeling the pain in her job, walking, running, falling, being attacked. I would have loved this book if it would not have read more like a Murder She Wrote episode or even a Colombo in part. Vera could get on a nerve for sure. But she did do a good job and did catch the killer. I didn't at all guess who it was. Though it may have been because I was losing interest by this point. I hate when books do this to me.
This book honestly had great potential and it may just be me in that I didn't like the slowness it took. It starts out with a bang and then kind of drags. It finally did pick back up but at almost the end. It just was not my kind of book. It was more of a mystery than a thriller which would be ok if it would have held my attention better. It was just ok for me.
Thank you #NetGalley, #AnnCleeves, #StMartin'sPress for this ARC. This is my own review.
I gave it a 3/5 stars. I say read it for yourself and decide. It was just not for me. Sorry.
This book takes you through a lot, including two murders and a kidnapped baby. It's got some twists and the descriptions are quite vivid. Maybe a bit much at times but still good. You will feel the cold in this book. The deep snow and the pain the middle aged DI feels while trying to solve this case. I don't mean mental pain either. She's feeling the pain in her job, walking, running, falling, being attacked. I would have loved this book if it would not have read more like a Murder She Wrote episode or even a Colombo in part. Vera could get on a nerve for sure. But she did do a good job and did catch the killer. I didn't at all guess who it was. Though it may have been because I was losing interest by this point. I hate when books do this to me.
This book honestly had great potential and it may just be me in that I didn't like the slowness it took. It starts out with a bang and then kind of drags. It finally did pick back up but at almost the end. It just was not my kind of book. It was more of a mystery than a thriller which would be ok if it would have held my attention better. It was just ok for me.
Thank you #NetGalley, #AnnCleeves, #StMartin'sPress for this ARC. This is my own review.
I gave it a 3/5 stars. I say read it for yourself and decide. It was just not for me. Sorry.
I don’t usually like murder mystery books but this book had me guessing the whole way through and made me want to read on. It looses track a bit towards the start-middle but I would recommend if you want to give murder mysteries a go.
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Graphic: Death, Eating disorder, Murder
Minor: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Injury/Injury detail
A snowy night, a missed turn, an open car door, a baby... Vintage Vera. Nothing left to solve.
A brilliant read! Great storyline, enjoyed the witty characters especially Vera.
I Highly recommended this book!
I Highly recommended this book!
Driving home during a snow storm, DCI Vera Stanhope comes across an abandoned car with a toddler inside. Taking the child she drives to the nearest house which happens to belong to her relations where a dinner party is in progress. Not long after at the back of the house a body is discovered.
But what could the possible motive be, Stanhope and her team investigate.
An entertaining well-written modern crime story with its interesting cast of characters. A fine addition to the series.
ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
But what could the possible motive be, Stanhope and her team investigate.
An entertaining well-written modern crime story with its interesting cast of characters. A fine addition to the series.
ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.