I liked this story and I think if I had read some of the previous books in the Vera Stanhope series I would have had a little better grasp of Vera. This is book 5 and Vera is well established in her job and the small English village where she resides. Her neighbor, Joanna has disappeared and her husband wants Vera to find her, she hasn't been taking her medicine. Vera finds her at a writer's retreat just as Joanna is seen walking away from a dead body. This is a very English murder mystery in the style of Agatha Christie. It's a good police procedural with a woman who doesn't care if she's older, fatter or unliked by everyone. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Unlike many series, Vera remains fresh and clever. While one occasionally may tire of the tired description of Vera as fat or her use of the word 'pet,' the stories remain vital and engaging. Count The Glass Room as another hit for Cleeves.

First Sentence: Vera Stanhope climbed out of Hector’s ancient Land Rover and felt the inevitable strain on her knees.

What is an Inspector to do when one’s neighbor goes to a writer’s retreat and another of the attendees turns up dead? In Vera’s case, and with the approval of her Superintendent, she, and her team, investigate it. But is her neighbor truly as innocent as Vera thought?

Ann Cleeves has the most wonderful voice and creates such a strong sense of place—“It was October and the light was going. A smell of wood-smoke and ice. Most of the trees were already bare and the whooper swans had come back to lough.”

Vera is definitely not a cozy Miss Marple—“Let folk into your life and they started making demands. She hated people making demands.”—yet her internal monologue, which is delightful, tells so much more about her—“And why had she agreed to do as Jack asked…Because I’m soft as clarts. Because I enjoy happy endings and want to bring the couple together again, like I’m some great fat Cupid in wellies.”

Cleeves explains perfectly why—“…everyone loved a murder… They loved the drama of it, the frisson of fear, the exhilaration of still being alive. People had been putting together stories of death and the motives for killing since the beginning of time, to thrill and to entertain.” Such a perfect statement and small truth.

It’s nice that we have Joe’s internal thoughts as well. They reveal information about the character, his relationship with Vera—“You’re my eyes and my ears, Joe. I’m a simple soul; I can’t talk and observe at the same time.”--and about Vera herself as she is perceived by others. In fact, the way in which we are introduced to the supporting characters is very well done. Rather than the author introduce them to us, many of them introduce themselves to another character.

Vera’s relationships with people, particularly Joe, are fascinating. She reads them well and knows just how to manipulate them, but never in a malicious way. With her team, she knows how to get the best out of them. The way in which she conjectures abut other people’s lives makes one realize that many may do the same.

There’s nothing better than a good plot twist. One dealing with the forensics of the murder is even more clever. There is, however, one significant problem; the author/editor couldn’t seem to decide on the manner by which the first victim died. This could rather throw one out of the flow of the story. Still, the plot twists are well spaced and very well done. As should be, one doesn’t see them coming, but they are very effective when they do. There is very good drama and suspense. In the end, all the questions are answered.

“The Glass Room” has a wonderful theme and setting for readers and hopeful writers. Being inside Vera’s head, combined with the several well-placed twists, makes this a very good read.

THE GLASS ROOM (Pol Proc-Insp. Vera Stanhope-England-Contemp) – VG+
Cleeves, Ann – 5th in series
Minotaur Books – April 2019

I love Vera Stanhope and her grumpy intelligence. Ann Cleeves always writes great mysteries full of interesting character and mystery that is a stumper.
In the latest offering, Vera's hippy neighbor, Jack asks Vera for help. His companion Joanna has gone missing. Vera tracks her down only to arrive at the Writer's House as a lecturer is murdered. How does Vera handle a crime in which she knows the prime suspect?