I've always loved a good mystery crime fiction and The Darkest Evening definitely delivered it. Although it's part of a series, the story itself was a standalone with many references to the past so no confusion here. I liked that it is as detailed as it can be but at times it did feel a little tiring having to follow up with so many casts and plots. Other than that, it was an awesome read till the end.

I have been kept guessing 'who did it?' and gotten it all wrong! With so many casts involved, it sure caused many confusions for me. At first, I thought it could be Karan or Harriet or Juliet. Then Mark or Josh. But in the end, it was the not so obvious choice! Oh well, it was a good one too which kept me engaged from the start until the end.

I honestly felt it could have been shorter as there were many fillers to me with thoughts from various casts pondering about the case or about each other. I know that makes the case more solid but it did feel a little too much at times.

All in all, it was a crime fiction that I've enjoyed. I was surprised at how realistic it was, such a believable story and well described that I can imagined it easily. With a little art and poem, the mystery became more artistically challenged LOL!

The Darkest Evening is the ninth in the Vera Stanhope series. It begins during a blizzard. Vera is driving home and mistakes her turn. She finds a car has driven off the road. The driver is gone, the door of the car wide open, and in the back seat an infant in a car seat. Vera takes the child, leaving her card for the missing driver, and drives to the nearest home, one she knows well as it’s the childhood home of her father. It is a source of bad memories and embarrassment as her father only went there when he wanted money. Shortly after she arrives, a neighbor comes on his tractor telling everyone he found a body.

The investigation starts out fairly wide especially when the mother’s close friend, a former teacher, is murdered, but soon comes to center on the Stanhopes and the two families nearby.

The Darkest Evening is an excellent mystery. There were plenty of red herrings and misdirection. I love how the detective’s assumptions about women and what they want in a relationship misled them. I also love learning a little bit more about Vera and her family.

The mystery is completely fair. The story is exciting and one that was hard to put down. In fact, i didn’t. I read it from start to finish.

I received an e-galley of The Darkest Evening from the publisher through NetGalley

The Darkest Evening at St. Martin’s Press | Macmillan
Ann Cleeves author site

I almost held on to this book until closer to winter, but my guilt for reading my advance copies on time won out. Thankfully, the dark, wintry setting this novel paints is realistic enough to provide the reader with ample room for the imagination to run wild.

I don't read many mysteries, but something about the synopsis for The Darkest Evening spoke to me, and I couldn't resist requesting it on Netgalley. I'm happy I tried something new because I discovered I'm a fan. Despite The Darkest Evening being the ninth book in the Vera Stanhope series, (I did my research prior to requesting and made sure it could be read as a standalone) I never felt confused or lost about the characters. While I could tell there were other stories that had been told, the characters still stood on their own. And in fact, the hints at those other stories just made me want to pick them up.

I didn't know when I started it how I would feel about the story being told from so many points of view, but it was easy to follow, and I quickly realized it's necessary to the mystery being told.

I can see why this series has lasted so long, and why there's a television adaptation based on the books. Vera is a great character. She's surly, smart, and unmoved by what others think of her. It's also refreshing to see an older woman portrayed with such honesty. She's independent, and while she doesn't like to admit she needs help, she will ask for it. She's not perfect, and that's what makes her so likable. The secondary characters are great, too. Joe, Vera's right-hand-man, is stable and kind of the 'everyman' that most readers will identify with. Holly seems to be the newest and youngest addition to the team, and I enjoyed watching the character's confidence grow along with Vera's confidence in her.

The story kept me guessing until the end, which is always a nice surprise.

It's also set right before Christmas, so this would also make a perfect read over the holidays. And if you're lucky enough to read this one when it's cold and snow is on the ground, build that fire up, grab your favorite blanket and cup of tea, and get ready to wander the Northumberland woods!

When Vera heads home in a snow storm, she inadvertently misses a turn and comes across an idling car with an open drivers door and an infant inside. What happened to the driver? Vera takes the infant, after all she is the police, to the nearest house for help. Turns out the nearest house is one she knows well, one that houses family secrets. Some that are about to come out. When a body turns up, the story heightens, who wanted Lorna dead? It’s now up to Vera and her department to come up with the answers. This book is part of a series, but reads well as a stand alone. The Darkest Evening is a good old fashioned police procedural with a cast of eclectic characters that you can’t help but like. Looking forward to going back and seeing what was missed in previous books and hoping there are many more to come!

Wow...wow..another unputdownable book from Ann Cleeves.

It's always become a personal case for me, the journey to find out the truth, what kind of person the victim was, what's the connection between each suspects, what's the motive, it's just so engrossing, and when the secrets unveiled one by one, the pain, the struggle, the tragic truth, I can't not feeling all those things, it's so heartbreaking when everything finally revealed.
The characters are so strong, I'm so infatuated with the victim and really admire all the detectives, everyone left a big impressions in the end.

Captivating mystery thriller with amazing characters, totally recommended for everyone who loves mystery read.

I have not read a book by Anne Cleeves yet, but I was drawn into her writing right away. Even with this being the ninth book in this series, I was not lost with starting on this one and jumping into the series. You can definitely tell the writer is British but the use of certain words and phrases, but I enjoyed getting the chance to read something different for a change.

Vera Stanhope is a detective inspector and is on her way home on the first snow of the season when she sees a car that has driven off the road. Vera was hoping that she could follow their tire tracks to a town she would recognize, but that was not the case. When Vera gets out to check on the car and driver, she sees that the car door is left open and she hears a cry. Vera finds a small child in it's carseat, but all alone. Vera takes the child in it's car seat and leaves a note with her number telling the owner that she has the child with her.

Vera continues on her way with the child and soon comes upon a house that she is very familiar with. Brockburn is a large, grand house in the wilds of Northumberland, now a little shabby and run down. Vera's father grew up here and she knows that the house is still in her family so she goes to the house to seek some shelter for the night. When Vera gets to the house, she realizes that there is some sort of dinner party going on and thinks that surely the car belongs to one of the party goers. Not the case, but she does get to warm up and use the phone while the baby is taken care of. Vera is just finishing up her dinner that was provided by the tenants of the Brockburn house when some of the waitresses are getting ready to go home. They are young girls so their father comes to collect them with a tractor because of the weather. When he gets there, Vera realizes that she is in for a very long night.

I got caught up in the whole story of this book and with the way that Anne Cleeves writes, you feel like you can visualize the surroundings and be a part of the story. I did like how Vera has issues of her own and that she began to uncover some secrets of her own family while trying to figure out who was a fault. If you love getting lost in mystery books, this is one for you for sure. You will wonder whodunnit with several people sticking out in my mind the whole time, but was it really one of them? You have to read this one to find out what all took place.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book and all opinions are my own. Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a copy of this book. I highly recommend this read!

4 stars

You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.

This is a good Mystery set in small village in snowy Northumberland. DI Vera Stanhope sets off for home, but gets lost in a blizzard. She comes across a car abandoned at the side of the road with the door open. Upon inspection she finds a baby strapped into a car seat in the back seat.

As she drives on, Stanhope realizes that she is near Brockburn, the once grand house where her father grew up. She has a complicated relationship with the family, but is out of choices and stops. There is a Christmas party going on inside, but they welcome her in. A short time later, a dead woman if found laying in the snow at the back of the house. Stanhope starts an investigation, which uncovers secrets her family, and the village, would rather keep hidden.

I haven't read any of the previous books in the series, but this is a stand alone mystery and I didn't feel like I missed out on anything. I liked Stanhope. Both her body and her car are slow and creaky, but they both get the job done. Stanhope is the epitome of not judging a book by the cover. Her mind is sharp and she sees details others miss. It seems like she even enjoys letting people underestimate her. Her fellow police officers were good side characters, although they weren't too developed.

The mystery was interesting and there were plenty of red herrings to throw the reader off. I enjoyed the story and will read more books in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Last year I reviewed a new book by Ann Cleeves I had read. I gave it a try as I liked the TV adaption of Shetland which was based on another series of her books. I liked it very much so when I saw another Ann Cleeves book on Netgalley, I jumped at the chance to read another.

The Darkest Evening is part of the Vera Stanhope series. I had heard of this series but had not read any or watched the TV adaption. I was very pleased with the book. Now I’ll have to give the TV show a try.

Vera is trying to get home in rural Northumberland as a blizzard and whiteout conditions make the trip a strange one. She misses her and ends up on an unfamiliar road and almost collides with another car that has slid off the road. She finds the driver’s door open, but no driver in sight. And then there is a toddler in the baby seat alone in the cold, abandoned car.

Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope is determined to return the child to safety. Who abandon this child? Did they go for help? Vera goes to the nearest house to see what she can learn to solve this missing person case and soon ends up in the middle to a murder?

To make it more complicated the nearest house turns out to be the Stanhope ancestral home which is still occupied by a branch of Vera’s family. The mystery deepens as many characters including relatives of Vera are introduced.

This was my first introduction in the “Vera series” so I can say with confidence that new readers will not be lost and I believe avid fans will enjoy this mystery.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Darkest Evening, thank NetGalley for the chance to read it, and highly recommend it.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC of this book. Love Ann Cleeves. Vera is a delight. The story moves along with lots of twists. Delightful characters. Hope she keeps them coming.

The Darkest Evening by Ann Cleeves is the 9th book in the Vera Stanhope mystery series, and my first book by this author. First of all I'd like to say that in the last year, I have discovered the British TV show Vera, and love it. I was so excited to read a book this series was based on, because we all know books are always better. I found this book to be exciting, with many twists and turns, that keep me reading. The plot and characters are well developed, and I enjoy the quirky characters in the book. I strongly recommend this book, and am looking forward to reading more books in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Just before Christmas, Vera finds a young boy, strapped in his car seat, in an abandoned car close to Brockburn, her family’s ancestral estate. Vera’s complicated family history—her father Hector grew up at Brockburn—plays into the narrative. She well remembers strained visits to Brockburn with her father.

That branch of the clan used politeness as a method of mass destruction. But Hector had always come away humiliated and angry. Vera, who’d never felt any obligation to be loyal to her father, had understood the family’s point of view. Hector would be rude and demanding, usually halfway drunk on the most recent visits. She’d been hugely embarrassed and they’d been kind to her.

Since her father’s funeral, she’d had no contact with his family. However, needs must. Vera must figure out who the child is and where his mother might be: “Besides, Vera thought, if she could face murderers and rapists, she wasn’t going to be intimidated by a few weakchinned minor aristos.” A glamorous Christmas party is in full swing. Her cousin Juliet ushers her into the kitchen, shows her the phone, and finds a nappy for the baby. Holly Jackman, Vera’s DC (detective constable), tracks down Miss Constance Browne, the owner of the car, who tells Vera: “I let Lorna use my car sometimes. Lorna Falstone.” Miss Browne says the little boy’s name is Thomas, but an agitated man interrupts the call.

‘I need to use that phone.’



‘Sorry, pet. This is important.’



‘There’s a woman out there. A dead woman. I doubt what you have to say is more important than that. The police need to know.’

Well. We can’t have that: ‘I am the police,’ says Vera, savoring his “incredulity” “just for a moment,” before going outside to look at the body. Vera’s competent staff are feeling their oats: they know how she likes to play it, but they also have detecting chops. Christmas is the season when family time is prioritized, so Vera’s single detective, DC Holly, comes to the fore. She knows her strengths and weaknesses, and although she follows Vera’s instructions to the letter, she adds a spin or two of her own.

She knew she was a competitive woman. It was pathetic, but she saw her colleagues as rivals and collaborative working had never come easily to her. Now she thought she’d do as Vera would want and check into the background of the male suspects of the case, but she’d do some of her own research too. Perhaps the ladies of the manor and the farmers’ wives weren’t as harmless or ineffectual as they first appeared, and she’d find the murderer before the rest of the team.

The second verse in Robert Frost’s Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening is the source of the title. “‘The darkest evening of the year’ would be the night before the Winter Solstice (December 21), which is the longest night of the calendar year.”

My little horse must think it queer



To stop without a farmhouse near



Between the woods and frozen lake



The darkest evening of the year.

In the “lovely, dark and deep” woods near Brockburn is a secluded, run-down cottage; not fit for habitation but a place beloved by those looking for privacy. Vera learns Lorna was a talented artist: she is impressed with Lorna’s many renditions of the abandoned building. Uncovering Lorna’s backstory is difficult: no one knows the identity of her little boy’s father. Her relationship with her parents is strained at best. As a teen, she developed anorexia, eventually recovering in an expensive residential treatment center. Her parents could never have afforded the fees, so who foot the bill?

The Darkest Evening abounds in metaphors and memories. Food is an evocative Christmas memory for many, and we know Vera Stanhope likes to tuck in. We discover her feelings about homemade versus store-bought Christmas treats when she pays a visit to Thomas’s grandparents Jill and Robert Falstone. They happily embrace the joy of Christmas as they shower love on their grandson.

‘Could you manage a mince pie?’ Jill said. ‘Shop-bought. Obviously.’



‘Eh, hinnie,’ Vera smiled. ‘That’s just how I like them.’

It wouldn’t be a Vera Stanhope mystery without the colloquialisms of Scotland and Northern England: hinnie is a “term of endearment.” The setting of the books, “Northumberland, England’s northernmost county—lends itself to regional dialect.”

What is Vera Stanhope’s genesis? According to Ann Cleeves: “Vera appeared suddenly, in one of those incredible moments that make writing such a joy. The Crow Trap was never intended as a traditional detective novel, which is why she doesn’t arrive until a good way in. I never plan my books in advance and I was stuck! I needed to move the story on but couldn’t see how. I was writing a funeral scene and followed Raymond Chandler’s advice to authors struggling with plot; to have a door burst open to see who comes through. As the service starts, the chapel door is flung open and in bursts Vera, looking more like a bag lady than a detective.” “Bag lady,” what a description. But perhaps not far off from what Holly thinks while she watches Vera “writing furiously on the whiteboard.”

She reminded Holly of some elderly, eccentric graffiti artist, arms flying in wide sweeps, occasionally balancing on her toes to reach the top of the board. Finally satisfied, the inspector turned back to face them, eyes narrowed, soft bum planted on the edge of the desk behind her, stretching the dreadful crimplene trousers, which were her go-to office wear, into wrinkles round her belly. ‘Well, team, what have you got for me?’

If you’re on team Vera Stanhope, what Ann Cleeves has for you is a complicated, absorbing mystery. An early holiday present, if you like. We don’t just learn why a young mother was killed, we are drawn into the Brockburn orbit, from the slightly shabby estate to the tenant farmers that sustain it. Lastly, pets, we come away with a deeper understanding and respect for Vera, her failsafe methods of detection, and the choices she’s made for her life.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am biased because I already know that I enjoy Ann Cleeves' mystery novels. I've read all of the Shetland books and I read her first in the new series - The Long Call.

I have probably read half of the Vera Stanhope novels. This is number 9 and the most recent. I couldn't get into a different book so I started this one and it was a fast and compulsive read.

Having the backstory on Vera is nice when reading this one. It involves estranged family of hers and some history with her father. She is her usual self - obsessed with work, lonely, cantankerous, brash, etc. She has grown on me as a character for sure. The mystery is really good, as usual. Multiple suspects, multiple red herrings, and though I did guess the murderer at about 65% through - I didn't guess all the reasons why they did it.

The setting is excellent as usual too. Northumberland on an estate (the Stanhope estate!) during a snowstorm before Christmas. One thing that bugs me about the Vera novels is that Vera always figures out the killer by herself, then she keeps the reader and her employees (Joe, Holly, and the other detectives) in the dark about it until she is absolutely sure - which of course at times leads to dangerous situations. And the reader potentially doing a little eye roll when Vera does the big reveal. But, if you can move past that, these are solid mystery novels with lots of memorable characters and stories.

The Darkest Evening is the ninth book in Ann Cleeves's Vera Stanhope series. Heading home after a long day on a snowy midDecember evening, Vera takes a wrong turn and comes upon a stranded car, driver’s door open and a car seated toddler in the backseat. With no sign of the driver and any footprints obliterated by the driving snow, Vera puts the child, car seat and all, into her old Land Rover and sets out to find the driver. As she had seen no one as she came, Vera proceeds towards distant lights.

These lights turn out to be coming from the ancestral home of her dishonored late father, Hector. By all rights, she should be able to get out of the storm and be able to call in what has happened as cell service is sporadic at best in this region. Vera arrives as her distant cousin Juliet and her husband Mark are holding a dinner party to raise funding for an arts project to keep the old homestead from crumbling. Jane, not wanting to interfere with Juliet’s gathering, takes the child to the kitchen and meets with her housekeeper, Dorothy. As Vera awaits help to find the missing driver, a neighbor reports that he has found a dead person in the snow in behind the mansion.

In a convoluted story that seems to pull in possibilities from all over the region, Vera and her crew travel far and wide seeking to find out who killed the delicate young mother. Between the many rural rumors and the actual truth, the story meanders until the riveting conclusion.

This story is so good! I had many guesses as to the culprit, none of them accurate! This story held me spellbound until the very end. I really enjoyed this well plotted mystery and I do recommend it!

I rather enjoyed this book. It is my first book to read in this series and I was quite surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I had thought without reading the previous books, I’d be lost but, I wasn’t. I will be reading the previous books as time allows.
The Darkest Evening is a mystery thriller that takes you on a quest to find the person who murdered a young mother. I found it a very easy read to follow with many twists and turns..
I would recommend this book for anyone that is a fan of a charming mystery intrigue.
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martins Press and author, Ann Cleeves, for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Ann Cleeves' books are always so well written, you can see the characters and their towns as they go about their everyday jobs. In The Darkest Evening, Vera Stanhope, a Cleeves character we have grown to love for her "quirks", gets turned around in a snow storm. She stops to help a stranded motorist only to find there is no driver, only a child latched into the backseat and crying. With few choices available, Vera takes the child to the closest home. Now a story thread is added in as the home is one Vera is familiar with. With both stories pulling her attention, the book moves quickly, you will not want to stop and miss what comes next!
A very good mystery wrapped up in some family history that causes Vera heartburn but keeps the rest of us entertained. And that's what a good book is supposed to do!

In The Darkest Evening, Inspector Vera Stanhope of the Northumbria Police is driving home in a blinding snowstorm when she finds a car abandoned by the side of the road. The driver’s door is wide open. There is a sleeping baby in a car seat in the back. Failing to find the driver nearby, she takes the baby to the nearest house. It happens to be the Stanhope family home rarely visited by Vera and her black sheep father, Hector. Eventually, the child’s mother is found bludgeoned to death outside in the snow.

The characters within The Darkest Evening drove my interest in the book. As this is the ninth book in the series, I feel I might have missed some of the nuances though. However, there was one unbelievable part at nearly the beginning that told me who the murderer was early on. Then, it was a bit of a slog to wait for Vera and her team to catch up. While this book has atmosphere for days, it made me cold when the temperature here was 111, I prefer to be surprised by the reveal. 3 stars.

Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Truthfully, I was kind of hesitant about reading this because when I requested the ARC, I’d mistakenly thought I was getting book #2 in her newest Two Rivers series, but I managed to land in #9 in the Vera Stanhope universe. Oops! After peeking around I saw that a few other readers said it works as a standalone which encouraged me to read it anyway. I had absolutely no trouble at all getting in to this. Cleeves has a very inviting way about her stories and I never felt that I was missing anything that was pertinent to Vera’s background or that of her inspectors, Joe and Holly. I’ll add that I’ve seen maybe two or three episodes of the Vera TV series so having those images in mind helped me picture the setting better.

The story itself is what I love about mysteries - tantalizing, suspenseful, thoughtful. Vera, who’s such a unique personality, adds humanity to the victims and I love how she can barrel through and not give any f’s. Her detective work is fascinating as she's a no frills, gritty kind of personality. She’s not infallible but there’s something at once admirable and intimidating about her. The dynamics between Vera, Holly and Joe are equally interesting as they show how they work in unison and independently of each other. I also liked gaining insight as to how Vera relies on each of them for specific things e.g. Joe is always good about reeling her back in if she gets too far ahead of herself. In return, she encourages but doesn't coddle. I also liked getting a peek into Vera's family's background as there's a sort of unexpected reunion thanks to their links to the murder victim.

I was able to guess the ‘whodunit’ though I came to that conclusion from a different angle; I don't think my guesswork would hold up to Vera's standards 😉 The Darkest Evening is what I enjoy best about British mysteries. It's compelling without relying on being graphic. The characters gradually shed their layers as they react to tighter scrutiny, and that's what makes Cleeves stories so exciting to me. I will absolutely go back and start this series from the beginning!

~ Bel

The Darkest Evening is the 9th outing for Vera Stanhope and her crew by Ann Cleeves. Released 8th Sept 2020 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 384 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.

There are relatively few authors whose work I know I will be seeking out no matter what. Ann Cleeves is one of a handful on my list. I especially love her Vera Stanhope books (as well as the wonderful TV series based on the characters. Brenda Blethyn has made such an indelible stamp on the character that I can "see" her in my head whilst reading). I had pretty high expectations going into this book but never expected to be blown away.

I really love the development of Vera and the people on her team. From the first book (The Crow Trap), Vera and crew were well fleshed out and believable, and the plots have been solid and tightly written and plotted. This book is so meticulously well crafted - clearly the author has hit her (masterful) stride.

Beautifully written and completely compelling. The scenery is bleak and breathtaking and lends so much atmosphere to the book. Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

This is my second book by Ann Cleeves, having read The Long Call, the first in her Two Rivers series, last September. But this is my first read in her long-running Vera Stanhope series and I'm happy to say it wasn't difficult at all to jump into the series with book #9.

Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope is caught in a blinding snowstorm on her way home after a long day on the job in rural Northumberland. She comes upon a car that is partially pulled off the road. The driver's door is standing open and there's a toddler strapped in a car seat in the back. There's no way to call for back up with no cell signal, no time to start a search for the driver with the baby to protect, so Vera decides to take the baby and drive to the nearest welcoming habitat, which turns out to be the Stanhope country manse--distant relatives of Vera's. They apparently have guests over and the house is aglow with twinkling lights. While the Stanhopes are still dealing with this surprise, a local farmer drives up on his tractor to report he has found the baby's mother, Lorna, dead in the snow, an apparent victim of murder

Vera and her team get to work to solve this crime, which is very reminiscent of some of Agatha Christie's best mysteries. Vera is an older unmarried woman, a bit of a curmudgeon and poorly dressed (gasp!), who must be dealt with carefully by young Joe and Holly as they work the case. There is a cast of very interesting characters, many of whom seem to have something to hide. 'This whole case...was about families, about what held them together and what ripped them apart.' A very intriguing, entertaining mystery with a surprising reveal. I would definitely enjoy reading more in this series, I believe.

I'm always interested to learn where the title of a book comes from and here the source seems to be a phrase in the Robert Frost poem, 'Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening', one of my personal favorites, and which has significance to the victim in the story. The darkest evening of the year of course is the winter solstice, in the bleak midwinter.

I received an arc of this new mystery from the publisher via netGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity.

4.5 stars

The perfect winter night read with a dash of murder and buried secrets.

Enjoyment: ★★★★ 1/2
Plot/Pacing: ★★★★
Villain(s)/Reveal(s): ★★★★ 1/2

A car is found stranded on the side of a snowed-in road later one dark evening. The door is open. Inside the rapidly freezing car is a small baby boy staring out.

What happened to the mother? Why did she appear to go peacefully, yet leave her child to the freezing elements with the door open?

Vera Stanhope and her squad of British cops are on the case. It's Vera herself who discovers the baby and the car, and when she takes him to the nearest lit house in the dark she's shocked to realize that it's the ancestral manor home of her estranged father. That side of the family is rich and snooty and Vera's not thrilled to be back. But the baby and his mother take priority.

This interesting clashing of the classes occurs in the midst of the missing persons case turned deadly: within a few hours, the mother's body is discovered brutally murdered on the grounds of the estate.

With a closed list of suspects, a small town filled with buried secrets, and the threat of an undiscovered murder, it's time for Vera to connect the dots of the past and see just what happened on the darkest evening.

So this was my first Vera Stanhope and Ann Cleves novel, but it will NOT be my last one. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Vera took some getting used to and her team was odd, but overall a really solid mystery tale with all the hallmarks of the classics. Strong points in this novel were the final reveals, the atmosphere, and the unfolding of secrets.

Thank you to the publisher for my copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.