Hidden Depths (Vera Stanhope Series #3)

by Ann Cleeves

Overview

From Ann Cleeves—New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of the Vera and Shetland series, both of which are hit TV shows—comes Hidden Depths.

“Ann Cleeves is one of my favorite mystery writers.”—Louise Penny

On a hot summer on the Northumberland coast, Julie Armstrong arrives home from a night out to find her son murdered. Luke has been strangled, laid out in a bath of water and covered with wild flowers.

This stylized murder scene has Inspector Vera Stanhope and her team intrigued. But now, Vera must work quickly to find this killer who is making art out of death. As local residents are forced to share their private lives, sinister secrets are slowly unearthed.

And all the while the killer remains in their midst, waiting for an opportunity to prepare another beautiful, watery grave…

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250135179
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	01/23/2018
Series:	Vera Stanhope Series , #3
Pages:	384
Sales rank:	57,873
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

ANN CLEEVES is the multi-million copy bestselling author behind three hit television series—Shetland, starring Douglas Henshall, Vera, starring Academy Award Nominee Brenda Blethyn, and The Long Call, starring Ben Aldridge—all of which are watched and loved in the United States. All three are available on BritBox.

The first Shetland novel, Raven Black, won the Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger for best crime novel, and Ann was awarded the CWA Diamond Dagger in 2017. She was awarded the OBE in 2022 for services to reading and libraries. Ann lives in the United Kingdom.

Editorial Reviews

01/22/2018
In Cleeves’s captivating third mystery featuring Det. Chief Insp. Vera Stanhope of the Northumberland police (after Telling Tales), Vera and the members of her team look into the murder of teenager Luke Armstrong, who was found strangled in his bathtub. The way Luke’s body was laid out, anointed with perfumed oils and surrounded by wild flowers, suggests a certain respect for the victim. A college student is later discovered on a beach, once again with flowers scattered around the corpse. The two murders appear to be related, but Vera and crew will have to do a lot of digging to determine the exact connection between them. All the players—the suspects, police officers, and surviving relatives of the victims—are fully realized individuals. Vera, a reflective middle-aged woman who doesn’t suffer fools gladly, is particularly vivid. She drinks her beer straight from the bottle and seldom says no to a drop of whisky. Readers will want to devour the entire series just for the pleasure of spending time in Vera’s complex and inviting world. Agent: Sarah Menguc, Sarah Menguc Literary (U.K.). (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

Praise for Ann Cleeves:

"Captivating...Readers will want to devour the entire series just for the pleasure of spending time in Vera's complex and inviting world."—Publishers Weekly

"Hidden Depths is a subtle, nuanced book, and Cleeves draws her characters with care and compassion. The landscape of rural Northumberland is vividly evoked and Inspector Stanhope—overweight, fallible, and driven by personal demons—is a terrific central character." —Tribune

"Hidden Depths is another classic, traditional crime novel in a contemporary setting by Ann Cleeves, winner of last year's Duncan Lawrie Dagger... The story follows each of the main characters in turn, but it is fat, lonely Vera, awkward with her staff and unaware that they are frightened of her, who makes the biggest impression in this skilfully crafted mystery"—Sunday Telegraph

"Cleeves sets a good scene, this time in Northumberland during a heatwave, and she brings a large cast to life, shifting points of view between bereaved relatives, victims, and suspects in a straightforward, satisfyingly traditional detective novel." —Jessica Mann, The Literary Review

"It's a dark, interesting novel with considerable emotional force behind it." —Andrew Taylor, The Spectator

"Cleeves's softly, softly approach delivers a powerful punch." —Peter Guttridge, The Observer

“I do love Vera!” —Val McDermid

“Nothing short of riveting." —Louise Penny

From the Publisher

Narrator Anne Dover does a sublime job portraying Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope in the third installment of this eight-part series. When Julie Armstrong returns home from a night out, she’s horrified to find her son, Luke, drowned in the bathtub and covered with flowers. Convincing descriptions of the majestic Northumberland seaside; the overweight, poorly dressed, alcoholic Stanhope; and her fit, dapper assistant, Joe Ashworth, paint vivid pictures for listeners. Dover is at her most moving as the grieving mother who blames herself and as the tough but compassionate policewoman. The two partners, Stanhope’s and Ashworth, have immense respect for each other, and Dover captures it in their dialogue. Listeners will be further engaged by hearing Stanhope’s thoughts and the resolute questioning of secretive suspects as the story zeroes in on an unexpected but logical perpetrator. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

APRIL 2018 - AudioFile