A review by constantreader471
The Darkest Evening by Ann Cleeves

4.0

3.5 stars rounded up. This is a police procedural set in Northumbria, England. It is book 9 in the Vera Stanhope series. I have read 2 other books by this author, 1 of them, [b:The Crow Trap|97569|The Crow Trap (Vera Stanhope, #1)|Ann Cleeves|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1390709674l/97569._SY75_.jpg|94057] in the Vera Stanhope series. That book did not introduce Vera until 1/3rd of the way into the book. This book introduces Vera at the beginning. She finds an abandoned vehicle in a snowstorm. The vehicle has a baby in it. Vera goes to a nearby house, owned by distant relatives, to call in her team to start a search for the missing mother. The mother is found dead. Vera discovers that the mother, Lorna Falstone, was murdered. Vera and her team(she is a DCI-Detective Chief Inspector) , begin investigating and interviewing. There is another murder, but Vera and her team eliminate suspects. I didn't suspect the killer until it was revealed at the end.
Pros: The plot is fast paced, the characters are well written and believable, which adds up to an entertaining story.
Cons: The author has Vera, an out of shape, middle aged woman putting herself in danger by going after the killer alone. Police officers are taught to have a partner for safety reasons.
#TheDarkestEvening #NetGalley
Thank You St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for sending me the eARC through NetGalley