THE DARK WIVES – by Ann Cleeves

I did not realize THE DARK WIVES is part of a series, Book 11, to be precise—until there is mention of the demise of a main character—a member of DI Vera Stanhope’s team. Color me intrigued, now I am delighted to read the whole series.

This novel centers around a fourteen-year-old lass by the name of Chloe Spence who has gone missing from Rosebank—a home for troubled teens—at the same time a staff member is found dead in a nearby park.

Is Chloe the murderer or is she too a victim?

Who are The Dark Wives and what part do they play in the story??

Welp, you will have to read the book and find out. ;)

Thank you, NetGalley and Minotaur Books (St. Martin’s Publishing Group), for providing me with an eBook of THE DARK WIVES at the request of an honest review.

DI Vera Stanhope and her team are called to Rosebank Children's Home to investigate the murder of Josh Woodburn. Josh was a student at university and a volunteer at the home. One of the residents - 14 year old Chloe Spencer - is missing. It doesn't seem possible the two incidents aren't connected, but Vera can't imagine the young teen killing a college boy.

Another murder, this time of a boy from Rosebank, is found near three ancient standing stones known to the locals as The Three Dark Wives. Complicating the investigation for Vera and her team is an influx of tourists for the local witch festival.

Prior to reading this book, my knowledge of Vera is based the long-running television series which I've been watching on BritBox. And based on this familiarity it threw me for a bit of loop that Vera's 'second' was DS Joe Ashworth. In the series, Ashworth only lasted four seasons and it's been DS Aiden Healy for the last ten years. But it's almost like only the name has changed.

For those who aren't familiar with either the books or the series, Vera is a detective inspector with a smaller community in England. She's very good at what she does, she's no nonsense and expects her team to be as thorough and dedicated as she is. But she can also be nurturing - in a work sense. She's not at all happy with errors but she'll also tell them to move on and try not to let it happen again. She's good with all her team, but she definitely treats Joe differently. A favorite, perhaps, but she also expects more of him.

This comes into play in the book as there's a new member of the team - DC Rosie Bell - who, like many of the newcomers, is ambitious and out to prove she belongs with this squad. But when Vera shows appreciation for what Rosie does, jealousy comes over Joe. He recognizes it and tries to understand why he feels the way he does.

As you might be able to see here, the murder mystery is only part of what makes the Vera series so interesting. Solving murders is Vera's (and her team's) business, but who they are, as individuals, as a team, and how they work together is what makes it most interesting. (I think about a number of detective mysteries I like - Walt Longmire, Cork O'Connor, Rushmore McKenzie - and it's the people that make the series interesting while the mystery is only good for one book.)

The book moves along quite quickly and, like the television series, ends with Vera having figured it all out before anyone else on her team does. Usually because she puts one small, thought-to-be-innocuous clue to the killer.

I definitely want to read more of these Vera books, but I do think I need to wait until I'm done watching the series (one more season is coming out, I understand, and I'll have caught up to it be the time it arrives on U.S. television) because I did make some assumptions based on current television characters.

Looking for a good book? The Dark Wives by Ann Cleeves is the eleventh book in the Vera Stanhope book series. It's a popular series (both in book form and on television) for good reason. Fans of detective procedurals and solid mysteries should be sure to read it.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

A dead body and a runaway teen stump DCI Vera Stanhope in Ann Cleeves’ latest, “The Dark Wives”




In Ann Cleeves’ latest mystery, “The Dark Wives” (Minotaur), DCI Vera Stanhope is never far from her past in the North Umberland patch she serves and calls home. When the precinct notifies Vera about a dead body found outside the Rosebank care home for troubled teens, it brings back disturbing memories of her father Hector and her guilt over the recent loss of her team member, Holly. The murder victim is a young man who is a part-time staffer at the care home and a film student. And initially, there is no motive for the killing, stumping Vera and her team. Was this a random act of violence or is there a connection to Rosebank?
Even more disturbing is that the sole potential witness and suspect is a fourteen-year-old girl named Chloe Spence, a resident of Rosebank who has disappeared. Abandoned by her mentally ill mother and her irresponsible father, Chloe has no close relatives and nowhere to run. The only clue to her whereabouts is the diary found in her room. Empathizing with Chloe, Vera refuses to believe the intelligent, insightful and troubled girl committed the heinous crime.
Personal relationships between the members of Vera’s team take center stage when Cleeves introduces a new detective, Rosie Bell, into this crime drama. She joins Vera, Joe Ashworth, and the regulars as they hunt for Chloe’s whereabouts along the northern coastline. Rosie is the complete opposite of Holly—outgoing, flashy and sympathetic—and she’s eager to impress her demanding boss. Joe likes Rosie, but he’s skeptical about whether she will fit in. Yet, he’s open to giving her a shot. And plagued by guilt over Holly’s death, Vera vows to become more transparent in her dealing with her underlings. But can an old dog learn new tricks? And can Vera escape the ghosts of the pasts? Or because she relates to Chloe’s sad dilemma, has Vera lost her objectivity in the case?
When the second body of a teen from Rosebank is uncovered in an isolated shack belonging to Chloe’s family, Vera is convinced the murders are connected, and that they lead back to the care home. But how? In her diary, Chloe mentioned she observed a black car parked outside Rosebank, but it is, too, linked to the crimes? Who is committing these gruesome murders? More than ever, Vera believes Chloe is the key to solving the mystery. But where is she?
Receiving pressure from her superiors to solve this highly publicized case, Vera and her detectives must locate Chloe as soon as possible. They believe the teen is hiding in her family’s familiar farmland. They must find her before the annual Gillstead Witch Hunt, a popular hide-and-seek game that attracts thousands of visitors to the area in the dark.
Cleeves takes the reader on a picturesque journey along the rocky cliffs, the wild moors, and through the rich farmlands of North Umberland. Ironically, every beautiful detail of the untamed wilderness adds to the tense atmosphere and plotting of this fast-past mystery. But nature stands in sharp contrast to the horrors of the for-profit child home care system in the U.K. at the heart of this crime. Cleeve condemns a system that denies children the counseling support they need during times of crisis and the lack of supervision in decrepit, understaffed facilities. In this novel, she also censures the broken public school system that values the student’s compliance with its dress code more than caring about the personal problems of its charges.
Cleeves notes she was inspired to write “The Dark Wives” after watching a BBC investigative report on the private children’s home in her country. This is by far her most political novel. Cleeves challenges the reader to consider the harsh treatment of these abandoned youth and the failed social services system, which mirrors our issues here in the United States.
Once again, Cleeves provides her readers with another twisty page-turner full of interesting characters, shocking themes, and unique locations. Like myself, readers will stay up into the wee hours of the morning glued to “The Dark Wives,” the latest mystery to challenge Vera and her team.

The Dark Wives
This story takes place in rural Northumberland, England. Josh, a young counselor at a home for troubled teens was found murdered outside the facility. Then Cloe, one of the four teens living there, disappeared. DI Vera Stanhope and her team were assigned the high profile murder case. They were pressured to solve the mystery quickly.They set out to find Cloe and while doing so they discover that another resident of the home, Brad, had died of an apparent overdose.
Vera, a seasoned Detective Inspector
close to retirement, leads her team to find who killed both young men as well as locate Cloe.
This is the 11th book in the Vera Stanhope series. Vera is the subject of a popular television series in England. I had not read any books in this series before but look forward to reading others.
I received this ARC from Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve watched the television series, but this was my time reading one of the books. I started off reading, and finished with the audio. It was very well done. I found the story quite entertaining. There were several twists that kept me guessing. I thought I had figured it out, but I was wrong. If you like whodunnit books, then you should definitely give this one a try. There’s a reason the series is so popular. Vera is claiming she wants to try being more in touch with her crew. She has trouble actually making the changes. She’s a fantastic character.

I was overjoyed to jump into this latest Vera Stanhope book (#11 and I've read them all.) It seemed like it had been a while so it was like catching up with an old acquaintance I hadn't seen in forever. As usual, the mystery was intriguing and old Vera her usual self. A new person came onto the scene, Rosie, a young cop who is feeling her way among the team.

The subject matter of children's homes for wayward youth was a bit sad but I nevertheless enjoyed the story of how Vera figured it all out. I don't have free access to the series based on the Vera Stanhope books but someday I would love to see how she is portrayed. Meanwhile, she lives on in my imagination and I get a kick out of her, her history, and her one-of-a-kind personality.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and the author for an opportunity to read an advance copy that I thoroughly enjoyed. The book was published on August 27. 2024 and is now available everywhere.

Oh Vera, Vera, Vera! You never let me down! I love your no nonsense, crusty, intelligent way of dealing with awful cases., while also having a heart of gold! The police investigations are on point. The glimpse into the personal lives of the team is fantastic!

Once again, Ann Cleeves effortlessly weaves the setting into the story, developing that heavy foreboding that fans have come to love. The stress the team is feeling to find the missing team is felt on every page. And the unweaving of the motive, and the discovery of secrets deliver a powerful story. I really like the introduction of the character Rosie Bell, and feel that she will be pivotal in helping Vera through the grieving process. This could be read as a stand alone- but treat yourself and try the others as well, then you will really get to know the cast of characters and hopefully love them as much as I do!
This is a short review because so many others have said what I thought so well! I absolutely love her Shetland series as well. She never lets me down!! Highly, highly recommend to all!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC. This is my honest, voluntary review!

Ann Cleves is the new Queen of mystery. I am obsessed with her newest Vera books, and The Dark Wives was no exception. Brilliantly written, and thoughtful character development. I cannot wait for her next one.

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
Vera is investigating the death of a man found outside a home for troubled teens, also a fourteen year old child- Chloe is missing from the home. There is no way Vera can believe Chloe is responsible for his death. She loved Josh. She would never kill him. Is she running because she knows something or is she guilty,? Vera must find the answers and why two men have been murdered. If Chloe knows something she must find her before someone else does.

Vera Stanhope begins her latest case with a major staffing change. Holly is gone, replaced by Rosie Bell, who is nothing like her predecessor. Vera wrestles with remorse over Holly, while Joe Ashworth feels a tad jealous of the newcomer.

The team is dispatched to Rosebank, a care home for troubled teens where Josh, one of the workers, was found dead on the lawn and Chloe, a 14-year-old girl is missing. As the investigation proceeds, Vera learns unsettling aspects of the care homes. For-profit businesses are privatizing social services previously run by local governments putting the at-risk teens in greater jeopardy.

The Dark Wives refers to three boulders near Gillstead Village--sometimes referred to as Northumberland’s version of Stonehenge. The victims and suspects all seem to have connections to this rural town known for its annual “Witch Hunt.” Vera and her colleagues race to find Chloe before those who seek to do her harm. A satisfying addition to the series. I especially enjoyed learning more about the internal thoughts of each team member as they carried out their investigation.

What can I say about The Dark Wives by Ann Cleeves? Well I could go on and on, however I'm simply going to say it is an absolutely terrific book- a 5 stars for me. I have watched and enjoyed the Vera television series, however The Dark Wives is my first Ann Cleeves Vera Stanhope book; it will definitely not be my last. It's hard not to like Vera although she can be a bit ferocious and cantankerous- did I say a bit?
She is also a fiercely dedicated police detective committed to her team and solving the case before her.
While the book is fiction, the author shared that the idea for it was triggered by an investigation on the privation of children's homes where it often appears that the bottom financial line takes priority over the critical needs of the residents. The Dark Wives is a multi-layered novel with twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and the author for the opportunity to read an ARC of The Dark Wives; my review reflects my honest opinion. 5 stars.

DI Vera Stanhope and her team are called out to the murder of a young man in the park outside of a home for troubled teens where he had worked as a councillor. At the same time, Chloe, a 14-year-old resident of the home, has gone missing and Vera believes that she may be the perpetrator but more likely either a witness or another victim. Either way, they have to find her. When another resident of the home is found dead, their search for Chloe becomes even more imperative.

When you start an Ann Cleeves mystery, you know you’re in for one hell of a page turner and The Dark Wives is no exception. It is the eleveth in her Vera mystery series and it is well written with a tight plot and three dimensional characters who are flawed with interesting backstories. As always, Vera is a bit of curmudgeon but underneath, a heart of gold and new character, Rosie Bell looks to be a fine addition to the team. The story takes place in Northumberland, adding a darker layer to the tale and there's an interesting explanation of the story behind the title. There is also some social critique to the story as it examines the impact privatization has had on social programs like group homes not only to the residents but to the carers. Overall, an exceptional read that kept my interest throughout. I read the ebook while listening to the audiobook narrated by Janine Birkett who does as amazing job especially given the number of different accents.

Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the eARC and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review

THE DARK WIVES by Ann Cleeves is the latest (#11) in the Vera Stanhope mystery series. These are generally best read in order, but the individual stories do stand on their own. The series takes place in the Northeast of England and this time DI Stanhope and her team (loyal Joe, persistent Charlie, and newcomer Rosie) are attempting to solve the murder of a young man, Josh Woodburn, who worked as a caregiver at Rosebank, a children's home. Cleeves not only crafts a puzzling murder mystery; she includes the disappearance of a fourteen-year-old, Chloe Spence, on the same night Josh died. Those events and the death of another Rosebank resident offer ample opportunity to weave in social commentary on child services in the UK. In fact, Cleeves dedicates THE DARK WIVES to "teens everywhere, and especially to the Dark Wives - uppity young women with minds of their own, struggling to find a place in a difficult world." There are undercurrents about power and money in this well-written and suspenseful tale. Like many of Vera's fans, I am already looking forward to the next in the series. 4.5 stars

Interested readers may also want to investigate the website Reading for Wellbeing which Ann Cleeves founded a few years ago in order to promote solace through stories:
https://readingforwellbeing.org.uk/about-the-project/

In “The Dark Wives,” DI Vera Stanhope is guilt-ridden over the recent loss of one of her officers. The newest member of the force, DC Rosie Bell, is no shrinking violent, and DS Joe Ashworth is worried that this insightful and ambitious recruit might soon outshine him. Vera and her colleagues are trying to locate Chloe Spence, a troubled fourteen-year-old who has disappeared from Rosebank, her care home. Around the time that Chloe vanished, one of the home’s employees is found dead, after someone bashed him over the head with a hammer. Was Chloe— a girl known for her quick temper—involved in the crime, or is she just a frightened witness who ran away to protect herself?

Fans of Vera Stanhope love her, even though she is bossy and self-centered. Underneath her bluster, she has a soft spot for children and other vulnerable individuals. Furthermore, she is quick-witted, observant, and relentless in her pursuit of justice. Vera, Rosie, and Joe interview relatives, friends, and acquaintances of Chloe and the murder victim. Alas, much of the book moves along sluggishly. For quite a while, the detectives methodically look for leads and gather information, with little progress to show for their efforts.

Alas, few of the characters (aside from Vera and Rosie) are colorful enough to engage our attention. Although Cleeves describes her settings with her usual flair, the plot does not generate much suspense, and the case’s contrived resolution comes of out left field. In short, this novel does not afford Vera a juicy enough whodunit to warrant the substantial amount of time and energy that it takes to solve it.

I've followed hard-nosed detective inspector Vera Stanhope for a while now - this is the 11th installment - and she's quite an interesting, complex character. As she continues to mourn the death of colleague Holly - a death for which she feels responsible, she finds it hard to get down to business as usual (her colleague Joe Ashworth is even worried about her). But get down she must, and this time the calling is the murder of a staff member at a home for troubled teenagers. In part because she's gone missing, one of the residents, a 14-year-old girl named Chloe Spence is the primary suspect.

But for many reasons, Vera has a hard time believing that Chloe is the killer. She gathers her team around her - including newbie Rosie Bell, for whom Vera has high hopes - to focus their efforts on finding Chloe. After learning from Chloe's mum that the girl loved Gillstead, a not-far-away hamlet near the coast, the investigation follows. Turns out it's a place familiar to a younger Vera, as well as the site of three standing stones known as the Three Dark Wives. Each year, a big witchcraft-type celebration is held to keep the folklore going, an event that's coming up soon.

The first revelation, though, is far from celebratory; rather, it's the discovery of another body - a young man who lived in the same teen haven as Chloe. Coincidence? Vera thinks not. Proving it, however, is more of a challenge. Near the end, though, Vera has a theory - one she doesn't share with her teammates nor readers. But rest assured, it all comes together, making for another well-told tale in this series (I'm already looking forward to the next). Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to get reacquainted by way of a pre-release copy of this one.

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

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) figured out who the murderer was. The other two members of the team, Joe and Rosie, worked so hard on the case, yet she refused to share the identity of the murderer with them??? How is that a "team"??? It felt childish.

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.

Some things, and people, are worth fighting for

Chloe Spence has had more than her fair share of bad breaks in her fourteen years of life. Her mother has battled mental illness off and on for a long time, and a couple of years earlier Chloe’s father left them both behind to start a new life overseas. Salvation Academy, the elite school in which she is enrolled, seems more concerned with conformist behavior and high test scores than in helping a teenager like her who is suddenly the de facto caregiver of a parent battling severe depression, while her grandparents (particularly her grandmother) took her father’s side after the divorce and are critical of how Chloe dresses and looks. When her mother requires admission to the local psychiatric facility for care, there is no one suitable to take in Chloe and social services place her in Rosebank, a privately run children’s home. Chloe is too smart and too strong-willed to be an easy young person to supervise either at school or at Rosebank. Then Josh Woodburn, a young college student who has recently started working at Rosebank and who is the one person to whom Chloe feels she can talk and actually be heard, is found dead outside the home and Chloe is nowhere to be found, DI Vera Stanhope and her team have to assume that the two events are related. What remains to be seen is whether Chloe is a suspect for the killing or a second victim, and that is a question that won’t be answered until and unless Vera can find her. Along with her longtime Sargent Joe Ashworth, new squad member DC Rosie Bella and the rest of her crew, Vera sets out to find out who wanted Josh dead and what role a traumatized teen like Chloe might have played in the murder. With Police and Crime Commissioner Katherine Willmore looking for a quick and tidy resolution that will not further tarnish her reputation, recent news reporting that does not hold the farming out of children’s homes to the private sector in high regard, and concern for Chloe possibly fending for herself on the streets with no resources and nowhere to stay, the push is on to find the answers to troubling questions that point to some dark secrets….and someone else may want Chloe found and dealt with before the police can locate her.
Whether you’re a reader of previous installments in the Vera Stanhope series (this is number 11), have watched the British series Vera based upon them, or read any of author Ann Cleeves’ other series, you know that a fantastic experience awaits when you crack open this latest novel. Haven’t done any of the above? No worries, you can easily read this as a standalone….but I guarantee that once you do you’ll be seeking out the backlist as well. Vera Stanhope is no saint, a bit rough around the edges and fiercely independent (which makes running a team of cops a bit tricky), but passionate about the job and caring of the people she serves. The case at hand is pursued with her usual dedication while a light is cast upon the problems inherent in the childcare system. Can for-profit companies provide the level of care and comfort that damaged children who rely upon their services require? Judging by what I’ve read here, the answer is far from a resounding yes. The many characters, from the other children in care at Rosebank to Josh’s eco-warrior ex-girlfriend and upwardly mobile parents, the people working within the childcare system trying to make a difference for too many children and with severely limited means, to the quirky members of Vera’s squad, are all presented with nuance and dimension. The plot grabbed me from the start, with pages from Chloe’s journal setting the scene with her cries for help and the details of her bleak existence, and kept me turning pages and trying to suss out motives right up until the end. Readers of Ian Rankin, Val McDermid and Jenny O’Brien should join the legions of Ann Cleeves fans in picking up a copy of The Dark Wives (you’ll have to read the book if you want to discover who those titular ladies might be, no spoilers from me) and putting it on the very top of your TBR pile. Cheers to Ann Cleeves and Vera, and many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for granting me the privilege of access to an early copy of this brilliant and thought provoking crime novel.

My apologies. I moved and was without devices and WiFi for a week.

This is the 11th book in Ann Cleeves's Vera Stanhope series. It is a tightly plotted mystery and police procedural with interesting, well-developed characters to which you'll feel connected. The plot line is fresh.
DI Vera Stanhope is a brilliant detective who is brusque and blunt in her remarks. Nearing retirement age, she is reluctant to leave her work as solving mysteries is her greatest joy. She leads a reclusive life and has been unwilling to share clues and observations with her devoted team. After the death of a prominent team member in the previous book, she intended to be less secretive in sharing clues and insights with her team. This works against her true nature. The solution, motive and clues were scarcely shared with her team or reader and were revealed by an information dump near the end.

The story begins with the discovery of the body of Josh, a university student. He volunteered at nights at Rosebanks, a home for unwanted, orphaned and troubled teens. There were only rooms available for four teenagers and staff.

DI Vera and staff were called in to investigate. They learn that Josh failed to show up for work and then was discovered murdered. On the same night, a fourteen-year-old resident, Chloe Spence, disappeared. She wrote about her crush on Josh in her journal and stated he was the only one with whom she could talk. Did she witness the murder, or did she kill Josh? Is she running from the killer or from the law? Is she already dead?

There is mention and criticism of private residences for troubled teens, the lack of training for the staff, and underfunded resources. An interview at the school Chloe was attending exposed some draconian rules. She was a good student who preferred to wear Gothic clothing and makeup. The focus is on the police investigation through the roles of Vera, DS Joe Ashworth, and newcomer DC Rose Bell, replacing an officer killed in the previous book. The staff is still mourning that death and initially doubts that Rosie, a city girl, will fit in. She is intelligent, dedicated, and has great admiration for Vera.

A Rosebanks student has been found dead at the Three Wives Monument in Northumberland. This was a teenage boy who used and sold drugs and was quick to anger. He had been an initial suspect in Josh's killing. The search for Chloe and the solution to the second murder now shifts from a seaside setting to an eerie and atmospheric inland setting with its folklore. There are three standing rocks resembling those at Stonehenge. Legend tells of three women who were turned to stone by a witch for
taking too much and disrespecting their husbands. An annual Witch Hunt festival is where children go out in the dark to hunt for a witch. This would be an ideal time and place for someone to hide. Tension and suspense prevail with twists and surprises.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced digital version of this book. Fans of the previous books in the series or the TV show Vera will not want to miss this, but it works well as a stand-alone. Publication was on August 27.

Thank you, Minotaur, for providing me with an ARC. I’m definitely going to have to dive into some of the earlier books in the series!

This was the first book I’ve read by Ann Cleeves, and I was excited to read it because I’ve always enjoyed this type of mystery. I used to read murder mysteries like this exclusively. I love the way the plots twist, the settings, and often the style of writing and vocabulary, which is a bit different and includes words I sometimes have to look up.

This book is part of a series, but it’s written so well that I didn’t feel like I was missing out by jumping into a later installment.

The story begins with an employee at a group home being found dead just outside the building. The next day, one of the residents, Cleo, is missing, and later, they discover the body of another resident in a remote area. The police must determine whether Cleo is missing, killed, or the killer.

I enjoyed reading about how the police worked to solve the case, piecing together all the different parts and ultimately resolving the mystery..

The Dark Wives ☾𖤓
by Ann Cleeves
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars!

The Dark Wives, is a real page-turner. Vera and her team are on the hunt after a care worker is murdered and a teenager goes missing. The investigation uncovers some deep, dark secrets in a troubled teens' home and gets tangled up with Northumberland's local folklore. With Vera juggling personal and professional challenges, the story keeps you hooked with its mix of mystery and local legend. If you're a fan of the series, you'll love this one. If you're new, you might want to check out the earlier books for the full picture.