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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
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
So glad I got a chance to read this before it’s made into the Vera tv series (which I love)! Did not disappoint. A well-crafted murder mystery.
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Okay, it's Vera, so 4 stars, and the narrator Janine Birkett is top notch, so 5 stars, but to be brutally honest, this 11th Vera Stanhope is not the strongest of the very good series, so 3 stars.
The story is a standard murder mystery: a body, a missing youngster in a care home, and then a second body connected to a care home. Vera, the shrewd, grumpy, heart-of-gold detective inspector who has been working this beat her whole career is trying out a new team member after a recent loss.
Set in the UK, Northumberland, where the sacred trust of a social safety net: caseworkers, caseworkers, youth care homes, socialized medicine, and socialized mental health help—is assumed, so the failure of the society to care for youngsters is enough to make Vera's blood boil.
Despite the best of intentions to share the work of solving the case, Vera again, mostly solo, makes the mental jumps to connect the evidence and catch the killer(s).
The narrator Janine Burkett does a great job presenting the story, and while I felt the plot itself unfolded with an uneven jerky-jerky mechanical hitch ( would that guy have done that violence for the reason given? and would the runner have been found under those circumstances? Really?), I enjoyed it, and look forward to Vera's next case.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for my unfettered opinion.
The story is a standard murder mystery: a body, a missing youngster in a care home, and then a second body connected to a care home. Vera, the shrewd, grumpy, heart-of-gold detective inspector who has been working this beat her whole career is trying out a new team member after a recent loss.
Set in the UK, Northumberland, where the sacred trust of a social safety net: caseworkers, caseworkers, youth care homes, socialized medicine, and socialized mental health help—is assumed, so the failure of the society to care for youngsters is enough to make Vera's blood boil.
Despite the best of intentions to share the work of solving the case, Vera again, mostly solo, makes the mental jumps to connect the evidence and catch the killer(s).
The narrator Janine Burkett does a great job presenting the story, and while I felt the plot itself unfolded with an uneven jerky-jerky mechanical hitch ( would that guy have done that violence for the reason given? and would the runner have been found under those circumstances? Really?), I enjoyed it, and look forward to Vera's next case.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for my unfettered opinion.
Another fantastic Vera Stanhope mystery! As always, the characters themselves are fascinating, and Ann Cleeves changes narrators seamlessly throughout the book. The diary entries at the beginning of some chapters were a great addition to the mystery and suspense. Rosie, the new team member, added a new level of depth to the characters and the dynamic of the team. I love these mysteries and this lives up to every expectation.
I highly recommend this and the whole Vera series!
Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!
I highly recommend this and the whole Vera series!
Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Another enjoyable Vera book. She is, as always, still my favourite detective. Some new characters which I felt fitted in well and the story was well developed though not as engaging as some.
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes