Fabulous reads: Beloved British detective returns in dark, murder-mystery

The Darkest Evening, Ann Cleeves, Pan Macmillan, ISBN: 9781509889525

The Darkest Evening was my introduction to the world of Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope. I had never read any of the other books in the series prior to this (there is also a British crime-drama series based on the novels, called Vera), and I was impressed with how the book was able to stand on its own.

If, like me, you have never stumbled upon Ann Cleeves’s popular series, the ninth installment is not a bad book to get acquainted with the beloved Vera Stanhope. I must warn you though; she is not your typical hero. The middle-aged woman is described as ‘overweight’ and ‘a bit rough around the edges’. And, while she might seem like a quaint, naïve and demure aunt living next door, she is anything but.

In addition to being quick-witted and incredibly astute, Vera also has a no-nonsense attitude, and she will stop at nothing to unravel the truth.

At the beginning of the 384-page book we find Vera driving home in a terrible blizzard, during which she comes across an abandoned vehicle in the Northumberland countryside. The driver-side door was left wide open. When she steps out to inspect the car, she is shocked to find a baby inside and not a single trace of the driver.

With the blizzard raging on Vera decides to seek refuge at a nearby mansion that belongs to some of her relatives. Unintentionally, Vera (and the baby) crashes an important fundraising party. Begrudgingly her family welcomes her and the infant into their home.

Not long after Vera arrives the body of the baby’s young mother is found in the mansion’s grounds. With the Blizzard limiting the suspect list, Vera and her team, DS Joe Ashworth and DC Holly Jackman faces a classic ‘who-dunnit’ murder-mystery.

Their investigation not only uncovers the world of secrecy and mental anguish suffered by the young victim, but also dark secrets that Vera’s family would rather have wanted to remain hidden.

While the book is thrilling, fast paced, yet easy to read, with some wonderfully rich and endearing characters, there were some inconsistencies and coincidences that cost the book a full five star review.

As this story was centered around a police-lead murder investigation inconsistencies with regards to police procedures was just a major disappointment and ultimately made the ending slightly unbelievable. However, I felt compelled to know how it ended and found myself reading the ending at the edge of my seat. – Mariclair Smit 3/5 stars