Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope is trying to get home through a blizzard when she comes upon a disabled car with a door wide open and a toddler inside. The driver is nowhere in sight. That's the intriguing beginning of Ann Cleeves' newest crime novel. Vera's attempt to find shelter for the child while she hunts for the driver leads her to nearby Brockburn, the estate of the Stanhope family from whom her father, Hector, had long been estranged.

The case opens up longings that Vera didn't know she had for family, after all these years on her own. Ms. Cleeves explores the many ways that men and women reconcile their dreams of family life with the reality of it. The bitter cold of a Northumberland winter makes the warmth of a family hearth that much more enticing. This is my favorite book in the series, so far.

I received this ARC via Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press, in return for an honest review. While a continuation of a long-running series, this book is easily read as a standalone. Ms. Cleeves has done it again with another strong and engrossing book about DCI Vera Stanhope, a Northumbria, England, police officer. This time, Vera finds a small child in an abandoned car during a wicked winter snowstorm. Realizing that she’d made a wrong turn in attempting to get home herself, Vera discovers she’s in-route to her deceased father’s ancestral home. Now inhabited by his niece-in-law, her daughter and son-in-law, Vera confronts old familial ghosts while searching for the child’s family. The discovery of the first dead body brings Vera’s team to the home and surrounding communities as they seek to discover the murderer and why the death took place. Ms. Cleeves continues her exceptional writing of this challenging character, the distinct personalities of both the police team members and the variety of people who are under suspicion for the crimes committed. Each person is a clear and distinct presence on the page. If you like the long-running television adaptation of Vera, you’ll enjoy this latest story. If this is your first time reading about Vera, you have something to look forward to discovering.

Fabulous! Ann Cleeves - Vera Stanhope - at her very best. There is the tiniest bit of ‘faffing about’ at the beginning of the second chapter, but the the story plunged ahead from there and is a non-stop, twisty, turny ride all the way to the very end.

Reveals some new, interesting tidbits about each of the recurring characters and quite a lot about Vera’s own background, and roots, in the process. I couldn’t put it down and stayed up too late and left too much else undone to read - I think I finished the book in a day and a half - and now am let down that it’s over and that I probably have to wait who knows how long to read the next one...

There were moments of real heart-pounding jeopardy; I - three times - was pretty sure I knew who the killer was; and an ending that was terrifying, tragic, and hopeful in turns. Wonderful writing, wonderful characters, a better sense of place than I’ve found in most of her other books, and a mystery that continued to develop, change, and confuse. One of the author’s very best. I’m sorry I’ve finished it and happy for any fan who still has this to look forward to.

I had never read Ann Cleeves' books before and was delighted to discover she is the author that the Vera PBS series is based on. The characters were developed so that I felt I knew them personally.

Another winner from NetGalley and, again, I have to say where have I been when it comes to this mystery series. I enjoyed this book, the Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope from Northumberland, and all the well developed characters in this book. Starting home after work in a blinding snowstorm that soon becomes a blizzard, DI Stanhope takes a wrong turn and comes upon a car stranded in the snow. The driver’s side door is left open and there is a baby alone in the backseat. As she looks around for the driver, she stumbles upon a dead body and the mystery begins. In this small northeastern community on the Scottish/English border everyone knows everyone else and soon the secrets come spilling out as DI Stanhope digs for answers. This will not be the last DI Stanhope adventure I read.

A Lonely Snowy Road, An Abandoned Car, A Baby Left Inside

That’s what Detective Vera Stanhope finds when she misses her regular turn on the way home on a windy, snowy night. The nearest house is the one where her father grew up, now occupied by relatives she barely knows. A lively Christmas party is underway when she arrives with the baby. No one is aware the baby’s mother lies dead outside the back door. Vera finds herself deep in her family’s roots as she interacts with each of the people, finding no real answers but lots of trails to follow. There are dozens of people to be interviewed, so a good deal of the story is Vera and her two assistants questioning each of the people at the party, the parents of the woman killed, and people living in the surrounding area.

This is my first venture into the Vera Stanhope series and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Some of the English wording was new to me, most were easily interpreted but some required a quick peek at my reference source to get the true meaning. By the time I finished the story I felt that I was acquainted with many of the characters as they came to life on the pages. A wonderfully written murder mystery with an added twist. Who is the baby’s father?

Thank you Ann Cleeves, St. Martin’s Press, and Net Galley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Although this is certainly not the first book in the Vera Stanhope series, it should be! Along with a mystery you get to learn so much about Vera and her background and after all these years I really enjoyed that. I loved everything about this book and even if you aren't familiar with the character you will enjoy this as a standalone. Well plotted with all the word pictures only Ann Cleeves can paint. I cannot recommend this book enough along with the rest in the series. Eagerly awaiting more! Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

Ann Cleeves is one of my favorite authors and her new book in the Vera series is a must read for me. I just love her” don’t stand in my way and no need to explain attitude way of life”. This approach to solving police cases makes it difficult for her subordinate officers to react to her orders with some questioning her methods.

The Darkest Evening delves deeper into the main characters of Vera and family sometimes making the novel seem like a romantic Gothic tale. The wintry scenes, the unknown lost baby, and the references to “the darkest Evening” adds to this genre even though it is a police procedure book.

I found this book to be unique to her other books since it shows some of Vera’s hidden feelings. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing the ARC of The Darkest Evening.

The Darkest Evening had a bit too much filler story and unneeded descriptions and backstory to hold my full attention. Sometimes the excessive descriptions pulled me out of the story, and I wanted the narrative to move faster. The mystery was good, and the ending was reasonably satisfying. I did like the main character, Vera, and I didn't feel I missed anything by not reading other books in the series. I may read other books by this author.

#TheDarkestEvening #NetGalley

I enjoyed this mystery. I loved the setting; the isolation and the odd characters. I did have to get used to some different expressions - calling everyone pet for instance. I would try more in this series and recommend to others.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

This was my first book by Ann Cleeves, but I look forward to reading many more.

The story is set in modern day England, just south of the Scottish border. It is winter and the area is beyond desolate and covered in snow. The author paints a very realistic picture of the region and its isolated inhabitants. The people all know each other, but every family has its set of secrets.

Add to this picture a murder, an abandoned baby, and a middle-aged female detective. The reader is in for a great ride.

I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery! Although this is the ninth book in the Vera Stanhope series, I had no problem reading it as a stand-alone, and I look forward to reading more in this series.

I enjoyed the British wintertime setting, and the fact that it involved a small rural town with a large manor house. I also liked that even though this was a true mystery that kept me guessing, the characters were center stage. I can see where this would make an excellent television series. I recommend this to anyone who fancies a British crime drama.

I love this series and this book was no exception a real page turner. The winter setting was so well written you could feel the cold echoing off the page. I enjoyed the exploration of Vera's feelings towards her father's estranged family who are central to the story and also her interaction with a toddler she finds in an abandoned car. A great story that will keep you guessing until the very end.

I have never read any of the author’s other novels but I would definitely give them a try after reading this one. A good old fashioned mystery that kept me guessing right to the end...I love when I can’t see what’s coming! The characters weren’t totally believable for me but that could have to do with the British setting more than anything. Overall a fun palate cleansing read.

The Darkest Evening by Ann Cleeves is another great Vera Stanhope book. I love watching the series Vera based on these books, but they can never do justice to the books. In this book you get a glimpse into the past family history of Vera and learn more about who she is. Of course the mystery has many twists and turns and you really don't know who done it until the very end.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and fair review.

I'm a longtime fan of Ann Cleeve's Shetland Island series, but this is my first Vera Stanhope novel and I really enjoyed it.

What I liked about the book is the main character is relatable - middle-aged, a little out of shape and set in her ways perhaps. She's smart and demanding of her team, but she respects what they bring to the table.

This mystery involves her estranged family and and the family's country estate. It adds a little tension to the story while also providing some insight into Vera's back story (which may or may not be covered in previous books).

Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

I've read several Ann Cleeves books and find them easy to read and very fast paced. This one is no exception. I really enjoyed it and didn't want it to end. This book is part of a series, so I"m going to have to go back and read some of the others. I highly recommend this book.

I received a free copy from NetGalley. Ninth in the series, I had no problems reading it without having read the first eight. A few British phrases that I'm sure I missed out on by not being familiar with British slang. A gripping mystery that kept me turning pages as I tried to figure out who was guilty of the murdered body found in the snow. The main characters were interesting enough that I would be willing to read about them again.

Vera Stanhope! My new best friend! How have I missed this series? I've read Ann Cleeves, but not the Vera series. Now I've got to go back and start at the beginning.
That being said, The Darkest Evening can be enjoyed as a stand alone novel. I liked meeting Vera and her team. Their relationship history is alluded to but does not complicate or confuse the narrative. I'm drawn to character driven novels and this did not disappoint. The story line was well drawn, free of gore and full of twists. The pacing is consistent and it is a fairly quick read.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this ARC of The Darkest Evening. I will recommend this to friends. In fact, I already have!

Review of uncorrected galley

A snowy night. A car off the road. A toddler strapped in the back seat.

Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope, who has stopped to offer assistance to the driver, takes the abandoned child and heads for the nearest home where she hopes to use the phone. Vera’s short drive with the child brings her face to face with her past . . . Brockburn, the grand Northumberland house, is where her father, Hector, grew up. Inside, a party fills the house with music, laughter, and Christmas lights. Unbeknownst to the party-goers, a young woman lies outside in the snow, murdered.

As Vera investigates, will she learn the secrets of Brockburn? And what will she learn of her own family’s past?

Ninth in the Vera Stanhope series, this police procedural is filled with darkness and foreboding. The strong sense of place may leave readers feeling a bit chilly [along with Vera], but it’s the well-defined woods that are particularly creepy.

Nuanced and relatable, the various characters seem as if they could step right off the page; they are central to the telling of the tale. As Vera doggedly investigates Lorna Falstone’s murder, the intriguing narrative plays out. The twisting plot offers more than a few surprises and a second murder ramps up the suspense. The unfolding mystery is first-rate and the identity of the murderer is likely to surprise most readers. Weaving a tale of family, love, and betrayal and filled with relentless perseverance and commitment, this is a strong addition to the series.

Robert Frost fans will enjoy seeing how one of his most famous poems plays into the telling of this story.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books and NetGalley
#TheDarkestEvening #NetGalley