Praise for Ann Cleeves:
“I do love Vera!” --Val McDermid
“Nothing short of riveting." --Louise Penny
"Creates a dark enough mood to keep you straining to see what will come to light next." --People
“Cleeves’ taut, atmospheric thriller will keep readers guessing until the last page . . . Chilling.” --Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Cleeves offers up evocative settings and flawed characters with depth, making her mysteries wonderfully addictive. Her latest is no exception.” Library Journal (starred)
"I didn't expect the final reveal. Those cleverly disguised dead ends had me completely fooled, which is just the way I like it. But I was sorry to say goodbye."Crime Fiction Lover
"A nice mixture, in the British tradition, of social comedy and detective work. More Vera, please." Booklist (starred review)
“Intricate and engrossing . . . offers readers the pleasures of the traditional locked room/isolated island mystery.” --Washington Post Book World
"Ann Cleeves is a skillful technician, keeping our interest alive and building slowly up to the denouement. Her easy use of language and clever story construction make her one of the best natural writers of detective fiction." Sunday Express (UK)
If you're a fan of Frances Fyfield, Minette Walters, or Val McDermid, get to know Cleeves. Globe and Mail (Canada)
"Trauma, obsession, and murder entwine in a suspense-packed crime story that puts Ms. Cleeves in the Rendell class." --Peterborough Evening Telegraph
"It's a dark, interesting novel with considerable emotional force behind it." --The Spectator
"Cleeves's softly, softly approach delivers a powerful punch." --The Observer
Demonstrating singular adeptness with mood and pacing, narrator Julia Franklin shines in this character-rich mystery set in northern England. Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope is brought in to reexamine the decade-old murder of Abigail Mantel. The murderer, Jeanie Long, had always proclaimed her innocence, and her own untimely and suspicious death raises questions about the original investigation. While Franklin's careful portrayals of persons of interest are clear and emotionally detailed, it's her portrayal of Vera that steals the show. Though much is made of Vera's appearance—she’s squat and disheveled—she is not to be underestimated. Franklin's performance is direct and punchy, matching the speed and shrewdness of Vera's first-rate mind. A.S. 2018 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine