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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
reflective
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:
Yes
So many references to how fat Vera is. (Yet how quiet. And agile). Sheesh. We get it. She’s fat.
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). I had pretty high expectations going into this book but never expected to be blown away.
What a great reading experience! There's an almost nostalgic vibe as the plot reveals events and crimes from the late 1990s surrounding an expensive nightclub called the Seagull. In addition to the extremely well written narrative, there are murders (multiple) and cover-ups and corrupt police and organized crime.
The book also fills out Vera's back-story with more information about her father, Hector, and his bird-watching and poaching associates. 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 well crafted. This book is so well written and clearly Ms. Cleeves has hit her (masterful) stride. In my opinion, it's the best and most intricate one yet in the series.
There are plot twists and reveals right up to the very end and a really shocking denouement. I sat in my reading chair with my mouth (literally) hanging open.
Beautifully well written and completely compelling. Seriously.. five stars doesn't come close to being enough.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.
What a great reading experience! There's an almost nostalgic vibe as the plot reveals events and crimes from the late 1990s surrounding an expensive nightclub called the Seagull. In addition to the extremely well written narrative, there are murders (multiple) and cover-ups and corrupt police and organized crime.
The book also fills out Vera's back-story with more information about her father, Hector, and his bird-watching and poaching associates. 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 well crafted. This book is so well written and clearly Ms. Cleeves has hit her (masterful) stride. In my opinion, it's the best and most intricate one yet in the series.
There are plot twists and reveals right up to the very end and a really shocking denouement. I sat in my reading chair with my mouth (literally) hanging open.
Beautifully well written and completely compelling. Seriously.. five stars doesn't come close to being enough.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
I started reading the Vera Stanhope series by Ann Cleeves in the middle, and it quickly became one of my favorite series. Since then, I've been reading the prior books in the series that I had missed. They have all been great, but what makes this book so interesting is seeing Vera deal with things from the complicated past with her deceased father as part of a cold case she is investigating. As always, this is a well-written book that shows what a great, and often underestimated, detective Vera is. Vera fans as well as mystery fans in general will enjoy this book.
This is the eighth installment of the Vera Stanhope series and like the others The Seagull did not disappoint. The Northumberland coastline is itself a looming character. I enjoy how its atmospheric murk blends with the twists and intrigues of the plot.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It is a while since I have read any detective fiction, having gone through a non-fiction phase for about 18 months, so it was with anticipation that I picked up The Seagull to re-acquaint myself with Vera Stanhope. The shadow of her late father still hangs over her life, which is to be expected, and the plot centres around his group of dodgy friends and acquaintances. The unravelling of the drama surrounding a once-glamorous nightclub that burned to the ground, and a group of organised criminals with respectable day jobs, is skillfully done. Although at times I felt the plot could move more quickly, the probability is that the slow-moving nature of the disclosures is probably closer to real-life investigations than many other writers can achieve.
Internally, I keep hoping that Vera Stanhope will crawl out from under the shadow of Hector and move house, and for a moment in The Seagull, it seems that this might actually happen (it doesn't). But I will keep reading the Vera books for as long as they continue to appear, for the understanding of human nature and the subtlety of the observations about human motivations displayed. Four stars, as it's not my favourite Vera book, but it's definitely worth a read.
Internally, I keep hoping that Vera Stanhope will crawl out from under the shadow of Hector and move house, and for a moment in The Seagull, it seems that this might actually happen (it doesn't). But I will keep reading the Vera books for as long as they continue to appear, for the understanding of human nature and the subtlety of the observations about human motivations displayed. Four stars, as it's not my favourite Vera book, but it's definitely worth a read.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced