DI Vera Stanhope and her team are called out to investigate the death of a staff member outside Rosebank, a home for troubled teens. Added to that, one of the residents, fourteen-year-old Chloe Spence, has disappeared.

When I first started reading The Dark Wives I absolutely LOVED it! It's the first book I've read in the Vera Stanhope series and I kept asking myself how on earth I had previously missed this series. I loved how the book got its name: The story was that three uppity crones who talked too much had been turned into stone by a giant who'd thought they'd also nagged their husbands too much! They're actually three large stones that resemble Stonehenge and overlook a small town in the Northumberland countryside and are known as the Three Dark Wives Monument. (Now I want to go and see them in real life, naturally.)

The more I read, the more I loved the book and I smiled every time Vera called someone pet! My enchantment lasted right up until the last few pages. Two things made me CRAZY. (Even though in the other reviews I've read they don't seem to have bothered anyone else.)
SCROLL DOWNiF YOU WANT TO SEE THE SPOILER

It makes me sad to rate The Dark Wives only three stars when I was initially so wild about it. That ending, though...

My thanks to both #MinotaurBooks and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of The Dark Wives. This book is #11 in the series with an expected publication date of August 27, 2024.

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Two things happened in the last few pages that nearly ruined the book for me. The first was when Vera was nudged while she was at the top of a staircase. She rolled down the entire staircase and was unconscious as she reached the bottom. But then someone found her, she regained consciousness and was able to continue investigating the murder. What??? Are you kidding me??? The second thing was when Vera and a member of her team (who doesn't usually work in the field) figure out who the murderer is. The other two members of the team, Joe and Rosie, have worked so hard on the case, yet she refuses to share the identity of the murderer with them??? How is that a "team"??? It felt childish.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

The previous book in the series broke me. I am so happy that I didn't have to wait long for this one so I could see the fall out from the previous book's events. This book introduces us to new characters but still includes some of our favourites from the series. I really appreciate the mystery in this one and the political commentary on private for-profit care homes. A fantastic read.

Vera Stanhope is on the case, investigating the murder of a children's home staff member plus the disappearance of Chloe, one of the children from the home on the same winter evening. Ann Cleeves brings alive the rural UK setting while bringing back Vera's colleagues Joe, David and a new investigator Rosie. The team roam the countryside, and the children's home itself, interviewing staff, family, friends and towns people. Vera masterfully works out the twisted conspiracy behind the murders which happened in the shadow of The Dark Wives, three huge monoliths. A wonderful read!

I didn't know I was an Ann Cleeves fan! But, wow, am I ever! A huge fan!

I recently discovered the SHETLAND TV series which I LOVED and when I saw this book on NetGalley, I quickly sent in the request to read!

Wow!!

Loved this book. I want to read all the others in this series and watch the VERA show!

This book has it all, great characters, fast- pace plot, and fantastic writing!

If you love crime/detective series, you are going to want to read this!!!

I do plan on going back and reading all the others, plus the Shetland series.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Chloe is having a hard time at home. She is forcedto go to a home for kids. When she disappears no one knows what happened. I enjoyed this book.

Another fine title from Ann Cleeves. It took a bit for the title to engage me however once different parts became clear I enjoyed the complexity of the plot and the story.

There is no question that Ann Cleeves is becoming one of my favorite writers. In the Dark Wives she continues her journey with Vera and her compatriots without let up.  In typical Vera form, I knew from page one, it would be a dark and mysterious journey. Northumberland is indeed a captivating place, with its rugged landscapes, ancient ruins, and rich history. It provides the perfect backdrop for a mystery like this one. As Vera delves deeper into the case, she uncovers layers of secrets hidden within the community and its surroundings. The juxtaposition of the picturesque scenery and the unsettling events adds to the intrigue.

From the beginning, Chloe's disappearance adds a sense of urgency to the investigation, especially with the discovery of the second body. Vera's determination to find her, coupled with Joe's steadfast support and Rosie's fresh perspective, creates a dynamic team ready to tackle whatever challenges come their way. Although I think Rosie will take some getting use to for Cleeves' loyal readers.

The intertwining of superstition and folklore with the investigation also promised to add an extra layer of complexity. Vera, known for her pragmatic approach, navigates through these elements to uncover the truth.

The investigation continues a thorough and compelling trip, leading to a resolution that sheds light on the darkest corners of the community. And through it all, the rugged beauty of Northumberland will stand as a silent witness to the unfolding drama.

Dark Wives by Ann Cleeves

291 Pages
Publisher: St Martin’s Press, Minotaur Press
Release Date: August 27, 2024

Fiction, British, Police Procedural

Chloe Spence is 14 years old and living in a care home. Her mother is hospitalized with mental health issues and her father moved to Dubai. Other than two school friends, she only has Josh, a care home worker, to confide in. When Josh is murdered and Chloe is missing, no one knows if she is a victim or the perpetrator. Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope and her team are investigating the death and Chloe’s disappearance. They begin interviewing people associated with the care home along with Josh and Chloe’s friends and relatives. The Dark Wives are the stone features in the rugged landscape of North Umberland. They stand like silent sentinels as the actions unfold.

The story is fast paced. The author has a descriptive writing style so the reader can feel the weather and the stark surroundings. The characters are developed, and it is written in the third person point of view. As always, the author does not disappoint with the characters or the storyline. This is the eleventh book in the DCI Vera Stanhope series. If you enjoy watching the series on the television, the books are even better.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this book ahead of time in exchange for a review. It didn't disappoint! Must read!!

One of Ann Cleeves best entries into the Vera Stanhope series, I think. The usual complex mystery with a new character on the team and fabulous character development. Ms. Cleeves continues to amaze me that she can come up with such original plot lines for this series while creating characters that you can love and hate while keeping all of them quite human. Highly recommend this book for any mystery fan, Ann Cleeves fan, and anyone who just loves a well written plot. Many thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC of this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Although I have seen the Vera television series this was my first novel by Ann Cleeves and it did not disappoint. I enjoyed the character development as well as the visuals evoked by description of the setting. The plot picked up pace and the ending was both satisfying and surprising.

Vera and her crew solves it again, along with Rosie, her newest teammate. There is much happening here, all under the guise of “high moral ground”, however the compass is skewed in so many directions. Grab this newest whodunnit in the Vera Stanhope series, an excellent read.

The latest in the Vera Stanhope series is a good one, involving a girl missing from a group home for troubled kids. The team is joined by a new detective, brash and eager to prove herself, a very different kind of cop than the detective whose shoes she's filling after the tragic events of the previous book in the series. Their investigation takes them to a village where an eerie tradition involves a witch chasing children among the "Dark Wives", large standing stones, but clues also lead to the private company that has taken over management of group homes, a development that Vera strongly opposes.

I did have a bit of trouble with the motivation of one of the characters but overall the plotting and pacing are excellent, along with the character development. An enjoyable entry in a solid series.

This series is so entertaining with a likable main character. In this one, Vera and her crew are investigating the murder of a young man who works at a home for children and the disappearance of one of the residents. It's fast-paced and exciting. I enjoy following the procedure and methods of Vera and Co. and see how their methods come to a conclusion.

Next one please!

Vera Stanhope is back in action after losing a beloved member of her team in the last novel, The Rising Tide. Vera and her team of detectives are still grieving their loss and welcoming a new member, Rosie, is very difficult. Rosie is brash and confident a bit like Vera but a looker, as Vera would say.

When a young college student is found dead outside a care home for teenagers and one of the teenagers has gone missing it is hard not to jump to conclusions. Vera keeps an open mind. She doesn't believe the young 14 year old girl is capable of beating a man to death. Vera believes the girl witnessed something and is on the run from the killer. Can the team find Chloe before the killer does?

Cleeves fills her books with the flavor of the area. Full of local vernacular, stories and traditions, like the Witch Hunt and the Dark Wives. If you have never read a Vera Stanhop mystery you don't know what you are missing. She is one of the greats like Hercule Poirot!

Another good story in the series with DI Vera and her group. Have to admit the corruption and actual killer was unexpected, but a good run of clues and leads for the reader to follow. Would highly recommend

I am a big fan of Ann Cleeves' novels, especially her Vera Stanhope books. The Dark Wives lives up to her other books, immersing the reader in a twisted story of betrayal, power, and greed. I did not see the ending coming, and I enjoyed getting to know the new detective, Rosie Bell. I can't wait for Ann Cleeves's next book!

Thank you to NetGalley and to Minotaur Books for an ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review.

I am a huge fan of Ann Cleeves and especially her Vera Stanhope series. Josh, an agency worker at a care home has been murdered and Chloe, a teenage resident of the home is missing? Did she murder Josh or did she flee because she saw something? Is she in danger or is she dead? Vera sets out to find the answers. She is still unnerved by Holly’s death. She has been replaced by Rosie and Vera is determined to be a better more open boss. A statue of Three Wives seems like another character in the story. The ending was a surprise. I absolutely recommend this book and this author. I can’t wait until the release of her next book!

Always great to read a new Vera book. You want to know who did it, but you don't want the book to end. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

It is always nice to find another Vera book, especially since the tv show is ending soon. Ann Cleeves continues the saga of Vera and her detective crew in The Dark Wives. Adding a new character, Rosie, makes for some interesting interactions with the old crew of Charlie and Joe. As always, a good mystery ensues and more of Vera's background is shown as they end up in her neighborhood. These books are always a good read and I hope to read many more.