The Dark Wives by Ann Cleeves
291 Pages
Publisher: St Martin’s Press, Minotaur Press
Release Date: August 27, 2024
Fiction, British, Police Procedural
Chloe Spence is 14 years old and living in a care home. Her mother is hospitalized with mental health issues and her father moved to Dubai. Other than two school friends, she only has Josh, a care home worker, to confide in. When Josh is murdered and Chloe is missing, no one knows if she is a victim or the perpetrator. Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope and her team are investigating the death and Chloe’s disappearance. They begin interviewing people associated with the care home along with Josh and Chloe’s friends and relatives. The Dark Wives are the stone features in the rugged landscape of North Umberland. They stand like silent sentinels as the actions unfold.
The story is fast paced. The author has a descriptive writing style so the reader can feel the weather and the stark surroundings. The characters are developed, and it is written in the third person point of view. As always, the author does not disappoint with the characters or the storyline. This is the eleventh book in the DCI Vera Stanhope series. If you enjoy watching the series on the television, the books are even better.
