Thank you, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley, for the free audiobook for review.

A captivating whodunnit that oozes atmospheric charm. As I delved into the audiobook, narrated flawlessly by Janine Birkett, I found myself effortlessly drawn into the story. Birkett's masterful handling of accents adds an extra layer of authenticity, bringing the characters to life in a way that enhances the overall experience.

At the heart of this gripping tale lies the fascinating dynamic between Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope and her team, Joe and Rosie. Vera, a seasoned detective with an unorthodox approach, stands at the helm of the investigation. Her character is a compelling mix of brilliance and stubbornness, keeping her cards close to her chest in a way that both intrigues and frustrates those around her. Joe, her long-suffering right-hand man, grapples with Vera's methods while maintaining a deep respect for her investigative prowess. Rosie, the newcomer, brings fresh energy to the team but finds herself questioning her place within this complex dynamic.

As the trio works to solve a perplexing murder and locate a missing girl, their individual approaches to the case reveal much about their characters. Vera's intuition and experience clash with Joe's by-the-book methods, while Rosie's eagerness to prove herself adds an interesting dimension to their interactions. Despite their differences, there's an underlying synergy that becomes apparent as the investigation unfolds, showcasing the strength of their collective efforts.

The author masterfully weaves a tapestry of red herrings and unexpected twists that kept me guessing until the very end. The narrative demands attention to detail, rewarding the astute reader with subtle clues scattered throughout. This old-school investigative procedural approach not only propels the plot forward but also allows for a deep exploration of the supporting characters, the town, and its rich folklore. The result is a vividly realized world that feels genuine and lived-in, despite its fictional nature.

Beyond the surface-level murder mystery, the story delves into the complexities of the Children's Care system. This added layer of social commentary provides depth to the narrative, highlighting the vulnerabilities within a system designed to protect but often falling short. It's a poignant reminder of the real-world implications that can lurk behind fictional crimes.

This book offers more than just a thrilling mystery. It's a character-driven journey through a richly detailed world, where the investigation serves as a vehicle for exploring human nature, societal issues, and the intricate relationships between those sworn to protect and serve.

The Dark Wives by Ann Cleeves AUDIO is a Vera Stanhope police procedural. The team is not functioning at 100% after Holly’s death. They have a new inspector, Rosie, who is as different as possible to what they have known. It was fun to watch her become part of the team. A young man was killed outside a home for juvenile delinquents. He was a new staff member and really, an artist. The first mystery to solve is why he was working there. His parents didn’t seem aware of his new job. The second concerning thing was that a fourteen-year-old female resident of the home was missing. There were a lot of moving parts, to this one, although that is probably not unusual, and a lot of relationships to be explored. They started off with theories and eliminated them one by one.

Vera, as always, is her curmudgeonly, independent self. She is a hard character not to like, once the hard shell is broken and one can see inside. That doesn’t happen often. Her mates, Joe, Charlie, and Rosie are all in different stages of their development, which is due to the excellent efforts of the author. Their interactions range from humorous to mind-numbing. This is a sad story of mistakes and misunderstandings and Cleeves handles it well. She writes amazing and interesting characters who work together but don’t quite meld. The mystery was interesting and took some time to unravel. As always, it is Vera Stanhope and that says it all.

The narrator was Janine Birkett and she did a credible job, taking on many personalities, but most importantly that of Vera Stanhope. She allowed the gravitas of the situation to speak for itself.

I was invited to read The Dark Wives by St Martin’s Press and listen by MacMillan Audio. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #MacmillanAudio #StMartinsPress #AnnCleeves #JanineBirkett #TheDarkWives

I know…I know…
I’m in the minority here.

Sorry to say that this was almost a DNF for me.
I had a really hard time finishing this one…even when I was at the end. Guess I should’ve stopped early on…

Starts off strong with a dead body found near the premises of a home for hard to manage kids.
As the death is investigated, he is found to be someone who is known and loved from that home…and, one of the kids is missing!

That was the highlight!

From there I felt like this book went on F O R E V E R.
Way too many characters to follow. Lots of fluff (that I felt did not add to the storyline at all)

Sorry, I’m not usually this critical, but this one just didn’t do anything for me.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review. (Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me.)
The book releases in a few days, for those who love this series! (8/27/24)

The Dark Wives by Ann Cleeves. Narrated by Janine Birkett.

2 ⭐️⭐️ for me.

And, since I didn’t care for it, I’m going to leave my review here only… (Goodreads)

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"The Dark Wives" is a gripping thriller that unfolds within the eerie confines of a children's home, where a murder has occurred, and one of the residents has mysteriously vanished. As time runs out, a dedicated team of detectives must work together to unmask the killer and prevent further disappearances—or worse, more deaths. Ann Cleeves masterfully weaves this suspenseful tale, which can be enjoyed as a standalone novel or as part of the larger Vera Stanhope series. Crime drama and thriller enthusiasts will discover a new must-read within these pages.

This book was a flop for me! To it's defense, I did not realize it was part of a series until I was 60% in. I do not believe this story would have been better for me if I had read the others. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was difficult to follow and want to listen. I found myself back tracking a lot.

Couldn't get into this because of the narrator. Very hard to understand. Please change narrators. Could be a great read. Unsure.

Unpopular opinion, it was so much of a slow burn that I was truly bored throughout it all unfortunately. I had a hard time pushing through and staying fully concentrated. It just was not the book for me.

A very big thank you to Macmillan Audio, Minotaur Books, and Netgalley for the advanced audiobook of The Dark Wives. I've recently started listening to Ann Cleeve's books via the library and jumped at the chance to get an advanced copy of The Dark Wives.

This is the 11th book in the Vera Stanhope series, but this was my first one and everything made sense to me. I'm sure there is some backstory that allows things to flow, but for a first-time reader of the series, the story ran smoothly and I was not confused at all.

Our story starts with an excerpt from Chloe's diary. She's currently living in Rosebank, a group home for troubled teens. She's clearly not like the other kids in the home, as she attends a prestigious school, and has generally stayed out of trouble. She has no one to talk to or trust, except for Josh Woodburn, who is a temporary staff member. When Josh is murdered. Chloe goes missing and no one knows if she's a victim or a suspect.

Janine Birkett is the narrator and does a great job being the voice for the wide array of characters. This story is a slow-burn and mystery (vs thriller), but her narration kept me engaged the entire time, and I kept coming back, wanting just a little bit more. I also think that's a testament to Ann Cleeves, as well. The author does a nice job at balancing the action, without crossing into cheesy twists, one after another.

The ending of this story definitely surprised me. It caught me completely off-guard, as it was not where my mind was going at all. Again, I think this is a great skill of the author because this story almost lulls you into being calm since it's not brimming with constant action and jump-scares. As soon as I got to the end, I was able to reflect back and see how the resolution worked out.

I would recommend this book if you're already a fan of the Vera Stanhope series, but also if you're a reader who enjoys a solid story with well-developed characters. Another aspect I enjoyed about this story is that because it's not as intense, it's easier to recommend to people, as it's easily appropriate for teenagers and adults and you don't have to worry about reading something that may be overly grotesque.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #MacMillanAudio for the book #TheDarkWives by #AnnCleeves. Josh, a staff worker at Rosebank, a home for troubled teens, is found dead and a 14 year old, Chloe is missing. Could Chloe be responsible for Josh’s death? Or is she hiding from someone? And now a second body has been found dead. Who is responsible?

This was my first book by Ann Cleeves and I loved it! I’m eager to dig into her backlist, especially the previous novels in the Vera Stanhope series. Vera is an incredible detective and I look forward to learning more about her. I read this as a stand alone with no problems though and thoroughly enjoyed it. Kids in the care system always tug hard at my heartstrings so that angle made this audiobook especially interesting. The Northumberland setting was perfect for this mystery that kept me guessing until the end and learning the significance of the title was an added bonus. The narrator was wonderful and made the story even more enjoyable.

This is mystery thriller that will keep you guessing till the end. I thought I knew who was responsible for the murders but I was wrong. Which I love when I’m wrong because this means this is a great mystery thriller that will keep you guessing till the end.
This story focuses on Chloe a young teenage girl who dresses like a goth who disappears. Chloe is in a home for troubled youth and she attends a very prestigious charter school in the small community. Chloe may have witnessed the murder of one of the workers at the youth home, and she considered him to be a friend. After the police discover the young college students body they discover that Chloe has disappeared.
Soon Detective Vera and her team of Joe and Rosie come to the town and try to figure out all the a cast of characters in this small community. Each person has there own issues and some have major secrets they wish to keep hidden. I enjoy
Yes following Vera’s team as they followed the clues to try to discover Chloe before the killer does.
I highly recommend this book for fans of a mystery thrillers.
Thank you Net galley and Macmillan audio for the opportunity to review this book.
I give it four stars ⭐️.

Okay, it's Vera, so 4 stars, and the narrator Janine Birkett is top notch, so 5 stars, but to be brutally honest, this 11th Vera Stanhope is not the strongest of the very good series, so 3 stars.

The story standard murder mystery: a body, a missing youngster in a care home, and then a second body connected to a care home. Vera, the shrewd, grumpy, heart-of-gold detective inspector who has been working this beat her whole career is working with a new team member after a recent loss. Set in the UK, Northumberland, where the sacred trust of a social safety net: caseworkers, caseworkers, youth care homes, socialized medicine and socialized mental health help—is assumed. So the failure of the society to care for youngsters is enough to make Vera's blood boil. And with the best of intentions to share the work of solving the case, Vera again, mostly solo, makes the mental jumps to connect the evidence and catch the killer(s).

The narrator Janine Burkett does a great job presenting the story, and while I felt the plot itself unfolded with an uneven jerky-jerky mechanical hitch (<I> would </I> that guy have done that violence for the reason given? and <I>would</I> the runner have been found under those circumstances? Really?), I enjoyed it, and look forward to Vera's next case.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for my unfettered opinion.

The Dark Wives is the 11th Vera Stanhope procedural mystery by Ann Cleeves. Due out 27th Aug 2024 from Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 384 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is a consistently top-shelf mystery series from a prolific, very gifted author. Ann Cleeves is one of a scant handful; she has very few peers. The characters have made the jump to TV as well; Brenda Blethyn has made such an indelible stamp on the character that readers "see" her whilst reading, much like Suchet really *became* Poirot to a generation of viewers. Happily, high expectations aren't unreasonable in this case and this is a very strong book in a wonderfully strong series (long may it continue).

The development and real (sometimes shocking) changes for the characters of Vera and the people on her team feel natural and organic. They feel like real three dimensional believable people. 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 continues to go from strength to strength.

In this installment, Vera and her team turn their investigative powers to solving the bludgeoning death of an idealistic young care home worker, and the disappearance of a young girl who was housed at the care home when the murder took place.

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 11 hours 48 minutes and is excellently read by series narrator Janine Birkett. She has a well modulated classically trained mezzo/light alto voice with a very convincing Geordie accent (native?), and an impressive facility with a number of other regional accents from cut-glass RP to London. She enunciates remarkably clearly and the dialogue is crisp and understandable even at higher listening speeds. The sound and production quality are high throughout the read.

Five stars for both audio and print. Beautifully written and completely compelling. The scenery is bleak and breathtaking and lends so much atmosphere to the book. The denouement and resolution were breathless and dramatic (and satisfying, if melancholy, a hallmark of this series).

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

eBook ARC - 5 Stars

When I decided to dive into Ann Cleeves' books [first Shetland, then Vera, and now Two Rivers], I never truly anticipated liking, much less loving each one [as I was new to English mysteries, first finding the TV shows online and then gravitating to the books when I can], yet here we are, on book eleven, and I am praying they never end [all while grieving the upcoming final season of Vera with the stupendous Brenda Blethyn as our Vera], even though I know that that day will come. Until then, I will read and anything Ms. Cleeves gives us.

Book 10 was heartbreaking. I cried in disbelief and struggled with that ending for awhile. But more books called [and were read], and sad endings go to the back of our minds and all is well.
Enter book 11 and the reader is reminded again of book 10 and its end and I'll admit that I sniffled a bit at that forgotten memory, and I am not going to lie, in not loving the new team member [maybe she will grow on me?], made me sad all over again.

This was a crazy, twisty, mystery that had me guessing throughout the whole book [ALL while being annoyed at Joe and the damn whining he was doing - dude, this isn't your first go 'round with Vera, you know the score FFS], and by the reveal, I was completely shocked and deeply sad all over again, as there was just so little happy at the end of this one.

This was just a fantastic read and I am always so glad when I get to go and visit Northumberland and my "friends" there.

Audiobook ARC - 4 Stars

As always, Janine Birkett does a really good job narrating the newest Vera book - SO. MANY. CHARACTERS! I am in awe of how she keeps them [and their voices] all in her head and manages to keep them all straight in the story. Amazing. Well done.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ann Cleeves, Janine Birkett - Narrator, St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and Macmillian Audio for providing the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.

Great murder mystery with a shocking ending!
Another great read by Ann Cleeves! I look forward to her next mystery.

Thanks to netgalley for this eArc for my honest review

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC audiobook of The Dark Wives by Ann Cleeves.

This is the first book I have read by this author. We have quite a few patrons that enjoy her work. I think it was interesting to come into a series at the eleventh book. I did enjoy the banter between the Vera, J0e and new team member Rosie. The reader pops between all of their perspectives throughout the book. It did drive me a little batty that Vera was so hardheaded at times and didn't share information. I would like to go back and start the series from the beginning to see where it all started. It was a good mystery with lots of possible suspects.

I was really into this one in the beginning but found myself losing interest as it went on. I love a good murder mystery and a missing person who is the suspect definitely caught my attention early on but it fizzled out for me.

Ann Cleeves is back with the next installment of the Vera series - one of my favorites. This one did not disappoint.
Vera is called to investigate the death of a young man, a university student, who works at Rosebank - a home for troubled teens. She finds that Chloe, a fourteen year old resident of the home, has gone missing. Are these two facts related?

Since the death of Holly, Vera has been assigned a new team member, Rosie, who is keen to prove herself. Joe is very interested in doing his best work to impress Rosie.

I love Vera's no nonsense character, and the way she rounds up her team members and pushes them to do their best.

This series has not run out of steam, and I'm looking forward to the next.
The narrator does an excellent job with this series, giving Vera a very distinct voice. She does well with the males voices too. I prefer listening to these books rather than reading them ass the audiobooks are so well done.

I just love Ann Cleeves, and Vera Stanhope is one of my favorite characters. Her no nonsense way of getting to the bottom of a case makes me respect her as a detective and overall great human being! She comes off rough and intimidating but she’s a teddy bear underneath.

The Dark Wives had me stumped. A death of a councilor outside a home for troubled youth and a missing teen. At first I thought I knew the outcome but I was surprised when I read the ending!!

Vera and Joe are on the case with their new coworker Rosie. Rosie is Holly’s replacement and comes with her own baggage and is trying to find out if she fits with the team or not. She worships Vera and is eagerly trying to please her but is confused with how Vera works the case. They all have different ideas as to who the murderer is and sometime get on each other’s nerves.

All in all, I really liked the new 11th book. Especially the name, The Dark Wives, that ties into and makes the case harder to solve. So exciting!

Jane Birkett does a wonderful job as narrator!

Many thanks to Ann Cleeves and Macmillan Audio for the ARC via NetGalley!

Another great Vera Stanhope episode. Vera has evolved somewhat given the rather shocking ending to her previous Vera book. Her regular characters are involved and one gets that dose of familiarity. The mystery kept me guessing and was well presented.