A well written mystery that kept me guessing until the end. Lots of twists and turns, interesting characters, and a setting that I enjoyed. I will look forward to another book by this author.

This was an enjoyable easy read.

Very character driven, police procedural type of story. Not my favorite type but it wasn't a slow burner (yeah for me). So it was okay. There were a couple of things that seemed to be too coincidental for me but things like that are what made it just okay for me.

So a couple of coincidence, secret affairs, lies and alibis makes for a decent story.

I feel like it worked fine as a stand alone and think I would rather watch the series than read them.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC copy in exchange my honest review.

CHILLS!!! I had so much fun reading this. I was hooked from the beginning. I went in with high expectations, and I can honestly say that all my expectations were met and far exceeded. Well done, Ann Cleeves!

As snow falls in near blizzard conditions, Vera Stanhope comes across an abandoned car with the door open and an infant strapped inside. Distant lights lead her to Brockburn Manor. She is familiar with this estate, having visited with her father Hector as a child. This is the home of the Stanhope family, but Hector was never accepted by the rest of the family. His drinking and questionable activities left him unwelcome. Her cousin Juliet is the current owner and Vera arrives as they are entertaining company. At first Juliet does not recognize the roughly dressed woman on her doorstep, but when she realizes it is Vera she welcomes her and takes charge of the child while Vera contacts her team. Before the evening is over, the body of a young woman is discovered on the estate by a tenant farmer. The woman is Lorna Falstone, the mother of the abandoned child and the daughter of one of the other tenant farmers.

As a child, Lorna was adored by her father but she changed in her teen years. She became reclusive and developed an eating disorder that led to a stay in a facility to treat her. On her release, she moved into a home of her own. Lorna kept to herself and never revealed who fathered her child. Vera believes that this may be the key to finding her murderer. Juliet’s husband was acquainted with Lorna when his bother was admitted to the same treatment facility, but denies knowing her. Lorna’s art instructor was becoming close to her before her death and was hoping to develop a relationship but she only saw him as a friend. Both men had a connection to her but there is also the possibility that her death is connected to the Stanhope family. Juliet’s late father was known to have affairs and Lorna’s mother was rumored to be one of his conquests.

Anne Cleeve’s Vera series has developed a devoted fan base. Television productions of her books make it difficult to read this without envisioning Brenda Blethyn and hearing her voice as she asks her questions. She is driven to find Lorna’s killer and her team understands that she will call on them at any time of the day for assistance. While she is a taskmaster, she has a team that looks up to her. Vera is a wonderful character and the release of a new Vera Stanhope book is a treat that is not to be missed. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press or allowing my review of this book.

Classic ‘Vera’ investigation that keeps the reader enthralled to the end. Anne Cleeves is so skilled at planting seeds of doubt so the reader suspects everyone and the forest setting for this new novel provides atmosphere to ramp up the chilling tension.

“The Darkest Evening” is the ninth Vera Stanhope book, but the first full-length novel in the series that I have read. I had recently read one prior short story and have seen a few episodes of the television series and I had no trouble getting to know Vera and her team. I immediately saw the caring person and excellent detective beneath Vera’s gruff exterior. The main two people on her team that are active in the investigation are Sergeant Joe Ashworth and DC Holly Jackman. Joe is very likable and works very well with Vera. It took a little longer for Holly to grow on me since she seemed like a know-it-all at first, but proves herself to be a very efficient detective. Together they make a great team and although Joe and Holly rightfully get frustrated with Vera at times, they both respect her as a detective and a boss.

This book got my attention right away with an intriguing plot and great setting. The story takes place in Northern England and Vera is driving home during a blizzard. She comes across a car that is stuck in the snow. Vera discovers a young toddler in the back seat, but the driver is gone. Vera finds refuge for herself and the baby in an unexpected place. When a body is found outside this home in the snow, Vera leads an investigation in the murder and uncovers many secrets along the way.

I read a lot of mysteries, but this is one of my favorites for the year. The book has intricate plotting and interesting characters who come alive. I was kept guessing until the end as to who had committed the murder and was moved by Vera’s low-key way of showing how much she cares for some of the other characters in the story. I was invested to see how the case would be resolved, but also was hoping Vera would find success on a personal lever. I am eager to see if she is able to maintain the connections she makes with some of the characters in the story. While waiting for the next book to come out, I will definitely be going back to read prior books in the series. I highly recommend this gem of a book to readers who are already fans of Vera, through the novels or the television show, or to those who enjoy books by Peter Robinson or Deborah Crombie.

I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of Minotaur Books. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

Don’t ya just love a book that starts out: On the first snowy night of winter….

Vera left work, regardless of the snow coming down, thinking it would be okay. After all, she’s a cop. What can happen? An abandoned car. Except for the child left alone in the backseat. Okay, I am rubbing my hands together, ready to get down to business.

I love complicated family dynamics and Vera’s family is definitely that. People’s lives will be changed and the change is not all bad. I feel Holly stole the show and I want you to meet her for yourself to see why.

The action was not slow, but methodical, like a police procedural. The pacing, danger and suspense picked up near the end and with so many suspects, I was unable to figure it out until Vera filled me in.

For some reason, British thrillers don’t usually quite get there for me. I don’t know if it is a stiffness that comes through in the writing or if it’s me, myself, and I. That doesn’t stop me from reading and enjoying them, and this is not my first Ann Cleeve novel, so that proves my point.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Darkest Evening by Anne Cleeves.

My Review:⭐️⭐⭐️/ 5 stars

This is book 9 of the DCI (detective) Vera Stanhope murder mystery series set in the Northumberland area in the UK. I had not read any of Ann Cleeves’ books before so I was afraid I would be completely lost. This was not the case to understand what was going on, but I mostly missed out on Vera’s full backstory and why she had such a riff with her rich family. It is a heavy snowstorm and she finds an abandoned car on the side of the road near Brockburn (the Stanhope family estate she always felt distant from). There is a baby in the vehicle with no driver and the door is open. They eventually find a body of Lorna, the young mother, in the snow who clearly had just died that evening. Her death leaves only a few suspects as who was in the vicinity that evening, who was at the Brockburn dinner party, and who had access to the grounds. In investigating the murder at her family’s estate, she finds other secrets the family is hiding. The pace was so painstakingly slow that I almost didn’t finish it. Ann Cleeves is wonderful at setting the ambient tone of this area, but other than that i felt all the characters were so boring. I didn’t find anything riveting about the case. Also what bothered me when she found the baby, why did she NOT call for the social worker/hospital right away to be checked out? Why give the baby to someone at the house when there was a possible murderer on the loose? That was just the first chapter, so I knew I was in for a rough ride with this cast of characters. If you are already a fan of this series, then I’m sure you would enjoy it. As a new reader, this was not my favorite.

Thank you to @netgalley and @minotaurbooks for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. This book is out on Sept 8th!

This is the first book that I have read in this series and I was able to enjoy it as a standalone. From the moment that Detective Inspector Vera finds the abandoned car with the baby in it, I know that Vera will not rest until she finds out what happened to the missing mother. I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher through Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. This is a terrific mystery. I like how Vera was able to count on her team even in the middle of the night after a long day. I like how Vera is not intimidated by her upper class relations and is not afraid to ask anyone a question. There is some British slang and terms used, but I was able to quickly look them up. I like that it took me to the end of the book to determine who was the father of Lorna's baby as well as the identity of the murderer. There are many interesting characters in the book. I look forward to seeing Holly and Joe in future books. This is such a good read that I plan to go back and read the previous books in this series.

This was my very first Vera Stanhope novel. and it was a great introduction to this series. But be warned if you're looking for a fast-paced thriller this is not it. This novel takes you through the meticulous steps of investigating what happened to a young woman who was found dead in the snow.

On a snowy night as Vera Stanhope heads home, she misses a turn and becomes lost. She comes upon a car that has skidded off the road, its front door open and no driver visible. As she investigates she hears a cry from the car and discovers a toddler still strapped in the back seat.

With no cell signal, she travels to the nearest home which just happens to be Brockburn. The estate where her father once called home. Inside there's a dinner party taking place and while Vera waits for the blizzard to pass and more information on the vehicle left in the road. The body of a young woman is discovered outside in the snow.

This is my first read from this author, and I am confident it won't last. Hail to Vera – our dear intelligent, passionate detective who gives her everything in cases she handles. This book screams suspense and danger, and it was not easy to put down. It was hard to tell who did what and that what got me hooked.

I really enjoyed this Vera Stanhope mystery. I've been wanting to watch the TV shows based on this series. Reading the book was the next best thing. The storytelling and the Vera character made for an enjoyable read. I was engrossed from start to finish. I need to get the other books in this series. Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This is the first DCI Vera Stanhope title I have read but it didn't keep me from easily following the character or the story line. However I don't think I fully understood the dynamics between Vera, Joe and Holly.
Vera, driving home from work in a snow storm, comes across a stopped car with door open. No one in sight but Vera finds a baby in the back seat. This sets the mystery up as Vera takes the baby to the closest building, the home of her estranged aristocratic cousin Juliet. Not long after Vera arrives at the family mansion, the body of the babies mother, Lorna, is found not far from the house.
Vera sets out to find the killer, but first she needs to find out who the father is and that is almost a bigger mystery to solve then the murder. No one is talking. Vera, Joe and Holly dig into Lorna' s past and dig up family secrets that no one wants talked about.
This plot is fast paced and keeps the reader on their toes trying to figure out who the father/killer is, as there are a few characters that fit the profile.

“The Darkest Evening” by Ann Cleeves it's the 9th instalment in the Vera Stanhope Mystery Series. I love the Vera Mystery series and this instalment did not disappoint. In fact, I thought that it was one of the best in the series.

The Series is character-driven and also very descriptive you feel like you are right there in Northumbria, England. In this instalment we get to catch up with Vera and her team, but we also meet her estranged snooty relatives that lived in the big house. This complicated things for Vera as she dealt with in the investigation. Vera reflects on her upbringing in comparison to the way her cousin Juliette grew up.

The story is full of family secrets and half truths as well as the gossip that seems to thrive in small communities. We had lots of suspects but I did not guess until it was revealed, in fact the villain wasn’t even on my radar.

I highly recommend this book and the Vera Stanhope Mystery series to all my British Mystery loving friends.

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from the publisher and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Darkest Evening was my first experience with Vera and I have to say I am hooked! Vera has just the right amount of no nonsense combined with caring. I loved that this was a classic murder mystery with a good amount of possible perpetrators. In this case, I was blind sided by the outcome. Great characters- I almost wish I could follow them and see how their lives go after the murderer was found. I definitely will be reading more Vera!

An intense police procedural. Vera and her team work to solve the murder of a young girl, Lorna. The story is filled with the usual sharp dry British wit. Vera is a hard nosed investigator who digs in and uses her instincts to find the clues and solve the crime. The author does a great job of keeping the reader in the dark on who the killer is until the very end. It is a well written story with some worthy characters.

The more she writes, the better she gets. Another great story with a great cast and totally un-put-downable! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher!

Another great book from Ann Cleeves! Vera is back and exciting as ever with Joe and Holly. I enjoyed this book and got quite caught up in the story. As usual didn't guess who had done it and loved all the characters and twists and turns. Will be recommending.

This intriguing murder-mystery held me captivated until the end. Vera is an excellent detective and she has such a wonderful team. I enjoyed watching all the details unfold. Filled with mystery and danger, this story is sure to keep you well entertained.

This is a great addition to the Vera Stanhope mysteries. Lorna had Thomas, her son, after her darkest days of illness. Just over a year old, he was her life. She pulled on his snow suit and steps out.

Meanwhile, Vera was ready to go home from work. A snow storm was just beginning, but she wanted to get home. However, the snow got worse and she could barely see. She missed a turn, and had to get out of the car to read the signs. Then she sees a car pulled over with the driver door open. The car doesn't seem to be damaged, but then she hears a child and sees it in the car seat. She puts the child in the seat into her car. There is no signal on her phone, so she writes down the registration number for herself, leaves a note in the car, and drives on. Soon she sees Brockburn, the old Stanhope family seat, where she visited as a child with her father. Her father, Hector, was estranged from his family. Now his brother's wife and daughter and the daughter's husband live there. They are having a party when Vera arrives with the child in her arms. Juliet, her cousin, changes the baby, and Vera is led to the kitchen to make calls. Juliet's husband, Mark, is making a pitch to friends to make the home into a theater. Two young women who are neighbors are waiting table, and their father, Neil comes to pick them up on his tractor. He arrives and tells them he has just found a dead woman in the snow, who he believes to be Lorna.

Neil takes Vera out to the body and tells her he believes it is Lorna, who grew up on one of the tenant farms on the Stanhope estate. Vera takes the child to Lorna's parents. Lorna had been anorexic, and Joe later found out the psychological hospital had been paid for by Vera's cousin. There were many rumors around town that Lorna's mother had an affair shortly before Lorna was born. Now Lorna's child's father is unknown as well. There are several possible suspects in the murder including all the possible men in Lorna's life as well as anyone in the Stanhope family. When someone else is murdered and found in the woods near the Stanhope estate, Vera is sure it must be the same killer. Vera is not only out to find the killer, but to also learn more about her own heritage.