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The Darkest Evening

Vera Stanhope, Book 9

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About this listen

Christmas is coming – and death is at the door. DCI Vera Stanhope returns in The Darkest Evening, the ninth novel in number one Sunday Times bestseller Ann Cleeves’s phenomenally popular crime series.

The darkest nights can hide the deadliest secrets . . .

Driving home during a swirling blizzard, Vera Stanhope’s only thought is to get there quickly.

But with the snow driving down heavily, she becomes disorientated and loses her way, eventually stumbling on another car abandoned on the road. With the driver’s door open, Vera assumes the driver has sought shelter but is shocked to find a young toddler strapped in the back seat.

Afraid they will freeze, Vera takes the child and drives on, arriving at Brockburn, a run-down stately home she immediately recognizes as the house her father Hector grew up in.

Inside Brockburn a party is in full swing, with music and laughter to herald the coming Christmas. But outside in the snow, a young woman lies dead and Vera has a new case. Could she be the child’s mother and, if she is, what happened to her?

'A thoroughly engrossing thriller' – Mail on Sunday

 Crime Fiction Detective Fiction Mystery Police Procedural Women Sleuths Women's Fiction Crime Exciting Winter

Critic reviews

A thoroughly engrossing thriller
Cleeves’s Northumberland novels are strong on atmosphere, combining old-fashioned detective work with a modern take on class
Brilliantly written, with more twists and turns you can shake one of Vera’s hats at
A gripping read
Fans will enjoy matching wits with Cleeves’s eccentric sleuth right up to the dangerous surprise in her denouement
Cleeves has a fine time constructing a clockwork murder plot
Superb . . . This page-turner is must reading for fans as well as newcomers (Publishers Weekly (starred review))
This ninth instalment will keep you guessing until the end
Well-paced and plotted, with its evocative Northumberland village setting and excellent characterisation, this is a great winter read
A touch of the Agatha Christie house-party murder (Book of the Week, Country Life)
Award-winning crime author Ann Cleeves makes a welcome return with the ninth book in her popular Vera series
All stars
Most relevant
I loved this story and the narrator was perfect.
She can do an amazing Northumbrian accent and men as well as women.
A wonderful atmospheric story.
5 Star

Great Vera Story

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I have really enjoyed both the Vera and Shetland books. This author seems to have really grown since her earlier books. I am not sure this is the strongest plot line I have read but the Author draws her characters well and invites empathy ( or antipathy) very quickly so you are soon invested in the story in my experience. I enjoyed this book very much

i am a fan so admit to bias

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Vera and team keep you riveted till the end. Small villages hide many secrets and Vera learns some family history.

Vera does it again.. Enjoyable and riveting.

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brilliantly read
great story thought I had solved it but was wrong!
atmospheric gripping

highly recommended

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Another great Vera story from Ann Cleeves. Well written and kept you guessing and wanting to listen. Very good companion on my walks. I hope it’s not the last we hear of Vera - the stories are so enjoyable. I was a little disappointed with the narrator whose voice wasn’t totally suited to the story genre.

Excellent Story

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