Enjoyed all the Vera novels. Good descriptions of settings. Great writing and premise. Amazing characters. Page turner. Plenty of suspense to keep me guessing..Definitely looking forward to the next offering. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it

Another fast paced, gripping episode in the Vera series. The plotting is based around the disappearance of a teenage girl from a children's home and I was engrossed from the start. I like the new addition of Rosie to the team, it will be interesting to see how she will fit in. All the usual characters are back investigating and Vera is just as we have come to expect in this atmospheric, well written crime thriller. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Well the wonderful Brenda Blethyn may be hanging up her Vera hat but thank goodness Ann Cleeves is still writing. Of course the on screen Vera and book Vera diverged a long time ago as often happens. Here in book world Vera, still grieving, has a new DC to break in. Rosie Bell is full of energy, a city girl at heart and very keen to impress the legendary Vera. She'll get her chance with a new case.

Josh Woodburn's body has been discovered outside Rosebank children's home - a privately run home for troubled teens. A resident teenager, Chloe Spence, is missing having disappeared on the same night.

Vera and her team have to dig into the family circumstances of Josh and Rosie as well as the history of the home and the school where Rosie attended. When further tragedy - another body - is discovered near the standing stones, The Dark Wives, where Chloe's family have their roots, the coincidences become too overwhelming to be ignored.

Vera has to get to the bottom of the mystery of the bodies and the missing teen before another child is lost.

What can you say about Ann Cleeves work that hasn't been said before. So I'll stick with the usual - this is a well plotted, not too complicated (but obviously enough for me to have zero clue whodunnit). The well established characters are always a joy to meet again- they feel like old friends and Rosie, despite being a bit brash, is so in awe of Vera that she'll fit right in plus Joe might have to up his game to shine.

I would definitely highly recommend this latest addition to Vera's story. Thankyou Ann Cleeves for making her such an irascible but loveable detective.

Thankyou so much to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for the advance review copy. Most appreciated.

My thanks to Ann and Netgalley for allowing me to read The Dark Wives prior to publication.
The Vera Stanhope series is invariable enjoyable and this latest book is no exception.

There is a subtle shift, a softening, in Vera’s character as she struggles to deal with the death of DC Holly Clarke in book 10, The Rising Tide.
She is determined to take a more inclusive approach with the new DC, Rosie Bell, than she did with Holly.

Little does she know that the opinionated city girl Rosie is a force unto herself with her own agenda.

This book takes the reader into the very real issues and complexities of “cared for” children, some of whom have been carers themselves.
Unusually, Vera finds a kindred spirit in Kathleen Oliver, a social services duty manager, when they have a conversation in which Kathleen describes the problems with the delays in referrals to CAMHS and the lack of suitable placements for troubled children.

I love the Vera Series, The writing style is perfect for me, it is easy to follow but always interesting and entertaining.

Ann Cleeves continues to write searing social commentary under the guise of crime fiction with The Dark Wives.

Cleeves tackles the subjects of privatisation of public services, mental health and sexism in this atmospheric novel featuring a missing teen and a murdered children’s home worker.

Using the landscape of Vera Stanhope’s north east to up the ante, Cleeves invites the reader onto the stark Northumberland hills while trailing a seemingly indomitable foe.

Yet another page turner complete with plenty of bite.

“This book is dedicated to teens everywhere, and especially to the Dark Wives – uppity young women with minds of their own, struggling to find a place in a difficult world.”
Yet another excellent book featuring DI Vera Stanhope. The storyline, the characters and the atmosphere of the north east of England all fit together beautifully. Thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend this well plotted and gritty murder mystery. Many thanks to Ann Cleeves, the publisher and netgalley for an early read.

"On the fell, three standing stones - the Dark Wives - that pulled in the occasional history buff. She'd always loved the legend of the Dark Wives. The story was that three drones had been turned to stone by a giant who'd thought they talked to much. There were times when Vera thought of herself as a crone and she hoped something horrible happened to the giant. At least the drones were remembered and he'd disappeared from the story."

Book 11 and the latest of the DI Vera Stanhope series, some of which has been televised. It sees Vera and her team searching for a missing teenager from a care home in rural Northumberland (home turf for Vera) where the Dark Wives pagan stones and a local myth are celebrated.

Always a reliable author for her location- and character-driven crime fiction, this was no exception. I love that this series is set in my adopted home of North-East England and the returning characters of stubborn but caring Vera and her determined sergeant, Joe. Grieving the loss of their late colleague Holly the reader meets their new team member, a very different and sparky Rosie, who it was good to begin to get to know. With its autumnal timeframe and rural location, this police procedural combines an atmospheric mystery with identifying those profiting from vulnerable children in care. It kept me engrossed and ready for the next installment!

Thank you to Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am a massive fan of Vera and I really enjoyed this book. Unfortunately I did not realise there was book between this and The Darkest Evening so the context of the character death didn't quite hit me the way it should have done. I enjoyed the concept of the story and found it easy to follow. I quite liked the new addiction to the team, Rosie and my personal favourite scene is the banter in the car with Joe when they are talking about Vera. I also loved the more personal reflections when Vera is thinking about Holly. I also found the moment when Vera describes Rosie as an Asset to the team pretty heart warming.

I follow the TV show and I can't help but wonder if this story will be used for one of the episodes and how it will be altered and adapted to fit the slight character deviations on the small screen. For anyone wanting a place to begin after being introduced to DCI Vera on TV I would suggest starting with book one the Crow Trap as there are character's on the TV show that are not in the books.

Overall the story was well paced however one particular problem turned this book into a four star and that was the addiction of swearing. I can't recall seeing any in previous books. For me it doesn't fit the vibe of the story and the series. Still I look forward to the next instalment of the series.

I always enjoy the next Vera Stanhope novel. This was no exception although I was not as taken with it as her previous Vera novels. But would not have missed reading it and glad I read it.

When the body of a young careworker is found outside Rosebank Care Home DI Vera Stanhope and her team have the task of finding the killer. Josh worked at Rosebank helping to look after the teenagers who live there. But, one of them is missing, Chloe, who was staying at Rosebank while her mum receives hospital treatment.
Vera is sure that the killing of Josh and the disappearance of Chloe are linked in some way, but they will need to find Chloe to find out how. When they find another body in a secluded spot on the fells Vera knows time is running out to find Chloe safe.
With pressure mounting from above and Rosie and Joe learning how to work together, Vera has never been more conflicted, should she trust her instincts or will they let her down when she most needs them.
This is filled with tension that builds up to a dramatic conclusion, characters that will intrigue, and a setting that is full of atmosphere all brilliantly woven together by the amazing Ann Cleeves.

Another great Vera Stanhope book.
A volunteer at a children's home is found murdered and one teenage resident is missing, Vera is on the case with Joe and a new team member Rosie who has to get used to Vera`s unusual ways.
A great book in the series but can be read alone.
I loved how you saw more of Vera`s private life come out, which you don`t usually see.
Read most of the series and all of the series on TV just love Vera and her strange ways.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC and I give my honest review.

Vera fans rejoice! This fall, we once again travel into rural Northumbria as our favourite detective as she searches for a vulnerable young woman at the epicentre of a grisly murder outside a care home for young people.

What worked for me:
🍂 It’s always such a pleasure to spend time in Northumberland with this wonderful cast of characters including the wonderful addition of Rosie Bell
🍂 Sitting with Vera as she processed her grief from the events of the previous book
🍂 The autumnal setting and feel
🍂 Realistic portrayal of the wonky priorities in social care, education, policing, etc which increasingly prioritize corporatization over function and profit over purpose
🍂 A timely commentary of how austerity and climate breakdown are impacting rural communities

What I wasn’t so keen on:
🍂 While I was heartened to see that Vera’s body wasn’t the on the sharp end of cruel commentary as much as The Rising Tide, there are some language choices that I think could be more conscious and improved

I anticipate this being a hit with Vera fans (the books and the programme) and for anyone looking for an atmospheric mystery to enjoy this fall alongside your hot drink of choice and favourite fleece blanket! I genuinely think this book could work as a standalone, but would caution folks to start earlier as you’d be doing the character and story arcs a disservice to jump in here.

Pan Macmillan, you have made my week with this ARC - thank you so much! 🥰

Good read. Did lose a little interest half way but picked it up again. Love the witch hunt at the end found it page turning

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan for allowing me to read this early release of the latest Vera book.

Overall I really enjoyed this book, the new addItions to Vera's team keep the dynamic fresh and a new dimension to Vera as a character.
The story kept me guessing the whole way along and I didn't see the twists and turns coming, which is perfect for a crime story.

The story was so good, I was reading it at every opportunity as I had to know what happened next.

Vera has a new addition to her team. Rosie is quickly thrown into the latest murder enquiry and the search for a vulnerable teenage girl.
When a second body is found near the Dark Wives standing stones the team's focus moves to a remote village and a local myth.
There are so many characters and threads to this story but as usual Ann Cleeves leads us through Vera's investigation until the final showdown which leaves us shocked and a little horrified that thus might actually be happening in our world. Another brilliant read from a totally reliable author.

Vera and her team, including new member Rosy, are called in when Josh, a volunteer at a local home for troubled teens is found murdered.
Chloe a 14 year old resident at the home and had become friends with Josh. Now Chloe has disappeared!
Could she have been involved in his death or did she see the killer?
Vera keeps an open mind, though she cant believe the girl is the killer.
When another teen from the home is killed, his body discovered in a lonely hillside bothy above the Northumbrian village of Gillstead.
The village has a local attraction of the standing stones, The Dark Wives.An ancient monument connected to the villages annual witch hunt which attracts people from all around.
Could Chloe be hiding out in this wild area? There are plenty of hiding places.
Is she still alive ? Is she in danger?
This one does did not disappoint,another intriguing tale.

Another great read from Ann Cleeves. I have enjoyed all the DI Vera books. This one is her next big case after the loss of her team member Hollie. She still feels guilty about this whilst introducing a new member to the team. This case takes us out into the Northumbrian countryside, an area I haven't visited but it is so well written I feel I have. As always the solving of the case is also very well written and we are kept in the dark till the end.
Highly recommended.

You really can't go wrong reading a Vera book by Ann Cleeves. We live "up North" and adore the settings of these books even before we get to the characters and the plot ( which is almost always too clever for me to work out till the end). These stories just get better and better. Beloved by Grumpy Grandad so I get a couple of days peace and quiet, win win situation. Thank you Ann Cleeves.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I always love a good Vera mystery, and this book was one of the best. Ann Cleeves doesn't disappoint. Another winner. I', looking forward to watching this one on TV.