Ann Cleeves Knihy

Discovering the body of a woman in the sauna room of her local gym, Inspector Vera Stanhope, hoping that she has uncovered a simple natural-causes death, subsequently finds strangle bruises that reveal that the victim was murdered.

The murder of teenager Catherine Ross sends shockwaves through a small Shetland community, and most of the fingers of blame point to loner and simpleton Magnus Tait. But Catherine's vicious and sudden demise has thrown a veil of suspicion over everyone who knew her, and one local detective is keeping all options open.

On a scorching summer in Northumberland, Julie Armstrong returns home to find her son Luke murdered, his body strangled and arranged in a bath of water adorned with wildflowers. This artistic murder scene captivates Inspector Vera Stanhope and her team. The situation escalates when a second victim, young teacher Lily Marsh, is discovered in a rock pool, similarly decorated with flowers. Vera must act swiftly to catch the killer, who is turning death into a macabre form of art. As she investigates, Vera encounters a group of friends who found Lily's body, raising questions about their true nature and trustworthiness. While local residents reveal their private lives, dark secrets begin to surface, and the killer lurks nearby, poised to create another haunting scene. The narrative intricately weaves the perspectives of various characters, but it is the overweight, socially awkward Vera, unaware of her team's fear of her, who stands out in this expertly crafted mystery. Ann Cleeves, acclaimed for her previous work, delivers a nuanced tale filled with compassion for her characters and a vivid portrayal of the Northumberland landscape, making Vera a compelling central figure in this gripping crime novel.

It has been ten years since Jeanie Long was charged with the murder of fifteen-year-old Abigail Mantel. Now residents of the East Yorkshire village of Elvet are disturbed to hear of new evidence proving Jeanie's innocence. Abigail's killer is still at large.For one young woman, Emma Bennett, the revelation brings back haunting memories of her vibrant best friend--and of that fearful winter's day when she had discovered her body lying cold in a ditch.As Inspector Vera Stanhope makes fresh enquiries on the peninsula and villagers are hauled back to a time they hoped to forget, tensions begin to mount. But are people afraid of the killer or of their own guilty pasts?With each person's story revisited, the Inspector begins to suspect that some deadly secrets are threatening to unfurl.

At the isolated Baikie's Cottage, three very different women come together to complete an environmental survey. The three women each know the meaning of betrayal. So when people begin to mysteriously die, DI Vera Stanhope is sent to investigate.

'One of Britain's best crime writers' - Daily Express Shallow waters hide the deepest secrets. Vera Stanhope, star of ITV's Vera, returns in The Rising Tide, the tenth entry in number one bestseller Ann Cleeves' acclaimed series. Fifty years ago, a group of teenagers spent a weekend on Holy Island, forging a bond that has lasted a lifetime. Now, they still return every five years to celebrate their friendship, and remember the friend they lost to the rising waters of the causeway at the first reunion. Now, when one of them is found hanged, Vera is called in. Learning that the dead man had recently been fired after misconduct allegations, Vera knows she must discover what the friends are hiding, and whether the events of many years before could have led to murder then, and now . . . But with the tide rising, secrets long-hidden are finding their way to the surface, and Vera and the team may find themselves in more danger than they could have believed possible . . . 'A brilliant read' - Sunday Express 'A thrilling tale' - The Independent 'A thoroughly engrossing thriller' - The Mail on Sunday

The Sleeping and The Dead is a tense psychological thriller from Ann Cleeves, author and creator of the three astounding TV series: Shetland, Vera and Long Call. Detective Peter Porteous is called to Cranwell Lake, where the body of a teenager has been discovered. After trawling through the missing persons files, he comes to the conclusion that the corpse is Michael Grey, an enigmatic and secretive young man who was reported missing by his foster parents in 1972. The news that a body has been found leaves prison officer Hannah Morton in shock. Michael had been her boyfriend, and she had been with him the night he disappeared. And now the discovery is bringing back dreaded and long-buried memories from her past . . .