Vera Stanhope Series in Order by Ann Cleeves

The Vera Stanhope book series, written by Ann Cleeves, is a bestselling and critically-acclaimed series of crime novels set in Northumberland. The series follows the investigative adventures of DI Vera Stanhope, a somewhat prickly and disheveled police detective with a keen sense of right and wrong. The first book in the series is "The Crow Trap," followed by "Telling Tales," "Hidden Depths," "Silent Voices," and more. The series has been adapted into a hit detective drama on ITV1, starring Brenda Blethyn as Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope. Want to know more? Click IMDb to watch all the Vera Stanhope movies and television works.

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The latest 3 books in this series

Order Book Date
1
The Rising Tide
2022-09-01
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2
The Darkest Evening
2020-09-03
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3
The Seagull
2017-08-29
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The Rising Tide

The Rising Tide

"The Rising Tide" is the tenth book in the Vera Stanhope series by Ann Cleeves. The series is set in Northumberland and features Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope and her partner Joe Ashworth. In this book, Vera investigates the death of a woman whose body is found on a beach in a small coastal town. As she delves deeper into the case, she discovers that the victim had a complicated past and was involved in a number of different relationships. The investigation leads Vera to uncover secrets and lies that have been hidden for years, and she must navigate the complex web of relationships to find the truth. The book explores themes of guilt, trust, and secrets, and the ending is described as shocking and unforgettable. Overall, "The Rising Tide" is a gripping murder mystery that keeps readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.
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Put Away
Publication Date: 2022-09-01
ISBN-10: 1250204534 | ISBN-13: 9781250204530
The Darkest Evening

The Darkest Evening

"The Darkest Evening" is the ninth book in Ann Cleeves's DI Vera Stanhope series, which is set in Northumberland and features the detective and her partner Joe Ashworth. The book is a fair-play mystery with fully developed suspects and motives that are hidden in plain sight, and the killer's identity is masked by skillful misdirection. The story takes place just before Christmas, when Vera finds a young boy, strapped in his car seat, in an abandoned car close to Brockburn, her family's ancestral estate. The book explores human foibles and flawed relationships that lead to emotional traps, but also passages out and exits from those traps. The Darkest Evening is an instant New York Times bestseller and combines old-fashioned detective work with a modern atmosphere.
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Put Away
Publication Date: 2020-09-03
ISBN-10: 125020450X | ISBN-13: 9781250204509
The Seagull

The Seagull

"The Seagull" is the eighth book in Ann Cleeves's DI Vera Stanhope series, which is set in Northumberland and features the well-loved detective along with her partner Joe Ashworth. The book is a searing novel about corruption deep in the heart of a community and fragile, fracturing family relationships. The story begins with a murder investigation in a seaside town in Northumberland. The victim is a private detective who had been working on a local case involving corruption and organized crime. As Vera and her team investigate, they uncover a web of deceit and betrayal that threatens to tear apart the community. The book has been praised for its strong sense of place, which is grounded in authenticity due to Cleeves's own experience living in the location in which the novel is set.
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Put Away
Publication Date: 2017-08-29
ISBN-10: 1250124867 | ISBN-13: 9781250124869
The Moth Catcher

The Moth Catcher

"The Moth Catcher" is a book written by Ann Cleeves, the seventh book in the Vera Stanhope series. The book is set in Valley Farm, a quiet community in Northumberland, where the owners of a big country house have employed a house-sitter, a young ecologist named Patrick, to look after the place while they're away. But Patrick is found dead by the side of the lane into the valley, and Vera Stanhope and her team are called in to investigate. The investigation leads Vera to a nearby moth-catching site and a group of environmental activists who are protesting against a new housing development. As Vera digs deeper into Patrick's life, she discovers a tangled web of secrets and hidden identities. The book is a classic whodunit mystery with a complex plot and well-developed characters.
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Put Away
Publication Date: 2015-09-01
ISBN-10: 1447278291 | ISBN-13: 9781447278290
Harbour Street

Harbour Street

"Harbour Street" is the sixth book in the Vera Stanhope series, written by Ann Cleeves. The book is a mystery novel that explores what happens when a community closes ranks to protect their own. The story is set in a small city with a close-knit group of people who know each other fairly well, but no one seems to know anything at all about Margaret. When Margaret is found murdered on a busy street, Vera Stanhope, a detective inspector, is called in to investigate. Vera must navigate the complex relationships and secrets of the community to uncover the truth behind Margaret's death. The book is told with piercing prose and a forensic eye, making it a gripping read for fans of the mystery genre.
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Put Away
Publication Date: 2014-01-16
ISBN-10: 1447254465 | ISBN-13: 9781447254461
The Glass Room

The Glass Room

"The Glass Room" is a standalone novel by Ann Cleeves. The book is not part of the Vera Stanhope series, which is set in Northumberland and features the detective Vera Stanhope along with her partner Joe Ashworth. "The Glass Room" is set on the North Northumberland coast, where Vera's hippy neighbor goes missing and Vera tracks her down to the Writers' House, which is owned by a charismatic author named David Roper. The book is a mystery novel that explores the motives for killing and the drama of death. It was first published in hardcover on January 1, 2012, and has 373 pages.
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Put Away
Publication Date: 2012-01-01
ISBN-10: 0230745822 | ISBN-13: 9780230745827
Silent Voices

Silent Voices

"Silent Voices" is a novel by Ann Cleeves, and it is the fourth book in the Vera Stanhope series. The book begins with the discovery of a body at a leisure center, and Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope is called to investigate the case. The mystery unfolds as Vera uses a combination of contemporary forensic analysis and old-fashioned interviewing to solve the case. The book is known for its deft blending of modern and traditional investigative techniques. "Silent Voices" is a tremendous visual and imaginative treat, and it is one of several novels brought vividly to life in the new television series starring Brenda Blethyn as Vera.
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Put Away
Publication Date: 2010-03-01
ISBN-10: 1250033586 | ISBN-13: 9781250033581
Hidden Depths

Hidden Depths

"Hidden Depths" is the third book in Ann Cleeves' Vera Stanhope series, which is now a major ITV detective drama starring Brenda Blethyn as Vera. The book is about a murder investigation led by Inspector Vera Stanhope and her team after a young man named Luke is found strangled and laid out in a bath of water and covered with wildflowers. The murder scene is stylized, and the killer is making art out of death. As the investigation progresses, Vera and her team must work quickly to find the killer who is still in their midst, waiting for an opportunity to prepare another beautiful, watery grave. The book is set in Northumberland, and as local residents are forced to share their private lives, sinister secrets are slowly unearthed. "Hidden Depths" is a subtle and nuanced book, and Cleeves draws her characters with depth and complexity.
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Put Away
Publication Date: 2007-01-01
ISBN-10: 0330523031 | ISBN-13: 9780330523035
Telling Tales

Telling Tales

"Telling Tales" is a book written by Ann Cleeves, and it is the second book in the Vera Stanhope series. The book is a crime novel that follows the investigation of a murder in a small community in Northumberland, England. The victim is a young woman who had recently returned to the area, and the investigation reveals that she had a complicated past. The detective in charge of the case, Vera Stanhope, is portrayed as a very unlikable, larger-than-life character. The book explores themes of family, secrets, and betrayal, and it has been praised for its well-drawn characters and intricate plot.
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Put Away
Publication Date: 2005-01-01
ISBN-10: 0330432516 | ISBN-13: 9780330432511
The Crow Trap

The Crow Trap

"The Crow Trap" is the first book in the Vera Stanhope series by Ann Cleeves. It introduces readers to Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope, a complex and unconventional detective. The book is set in Northumberland and follows Vera as she investigates a murder at a remote country house. The story begins when three women, each with their own secrets and motives, come together to survey the land for a proposed quarry. As tensions rise and conflicts emerge, a body is discovered, leading Vera to delve into the lives of the women and uncover the truth behind the murder. "The Crow Trap" is a gripping and atmospheric mystery that showcases Ann Cleeves' skill in crafting intricate plots and compelling characters. It explores themes of deception, hidden pasts, and the complexities of human relationships. With its rich setting and well-developed characters, the book immerses readers in a suspenseful and intriguing investigation. Overall, "The Crow Trap" is a captivating start to the Vera Stanhope series, offering a thrilling and thought-provoking read for fans of crime fiction and mystery novels.
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Put Away
Publication Date: 1999-01-01
ISBN-10: 0330535366 | ISBN-13: 9780330535366
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