The Seagull cover art

The Seagull

Vera Stanhope of ITV 1’s Vera Returns in this Twisting Mystery from the No.1 Bestselling Author

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The Seagull

By: Ann Cleeves
Narrated by: Janine Birkett
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About this listen

A body, a nightclub – and long-buried memories. Set in Northumberland, The Seagull is the eighth book in Ann Cleeves’s Vera Stanhope series – now a major ITV detective drama starring Brenda Blethyn as Vera.

Obsession never dies . . .

When prison inmate and former police officer John Brace says he’s willing to give up information about the location of a dead body in return for protection for his family, Vera knows that she has to look into his claims.

But opening up this cold case strikes much closer to home than Vera anticipates as her investigation takes her back in time to The Seagull, a once-decadent and now-derelict nightclub where her deceased father and his friends used to congregate.

As Vera’s past collides dangerously with the present, she will have to confront her unwanted memories and face the possibility that her father was involved in what happened. The truth is about to come out, but is Vera ready for what it will reveal?

'Another jewel in her crown' – Mick Herron, author of Slow Horses

The Seagull is the eighth crime novel in the Vera Stanhope series. Enjoy more of Vera's investigations with book nine, The Darkest Evening.

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

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Critic reviews

Another jewel in her crown (Mick Herron, author of Slow Horses)
A thoroughly engrossing thriller (The Mail on Sunday, on The Rising Tide)
Cleeves’s Northumberland novels are strong on atmosphere, combining old-fashioned detective work with a modern take on class
Who doesn’t love ‘large and shabby’ Vera Stanhope, the blunt detective in Ann Cleeves’s Northumberland police procedurals? She is already one of the genre immortals (The New York Times, on The Darkest Evening)
If you’re a fan of ITV’s crime drama Vera, you’ll love the books that inspired the series
All stars
Most relevant
Well read and great story. I’m listening to the series in order and am enjoying every moment.

Great storytelling

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I was enthralled by this story from the start. I am already a great fan of Ann Cleave and her Vera . I haven’t read or watched any of her work that I haven’t enjoyed. I had no clues to the ending and have to say this has to be my favourite.

Vera and her team. The plot was amazing.

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I rarely write reviews but just wanted to shout out for Janine Birkett, as there is so much negativity about her narration. I have listened to all the Vera books in order, and I have to say do not be put off by the bad reviews. She actually narrates very well and I like the fact that she makes the men sound different to the women and she does the various different accents very well. You do need to stick with it on first listen, it takes a little acclimatising to, but I have really warmed to her narration and Vera is absolutely spot on. She does a very good job and I for one am extremely glad that I didn't avoid this series because of all the terrible reviews of the narration and thus miss out on 10 absolute gems.

And of course, Anne Cleeves is a completely brilliant authour.

Excellent

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This is a great story and I like the narration. Very professional and interesting and convincing voices.

Great story

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This was certainly the best one yet, really enjoying the series, onto number 9 now. hopefully that's as good

Best yet

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