This was my first read of a novel featuring Vera; Ann Cleeves’ DCI Vera Stanhope, as seen on TV, as it says on the cover of this edition of the book. Vera is presented to us, warts and all. Brenda Blethyn is a supremely confident actress to be able to portray this woman so accurately.
The plot is dense, convoluted and engaging, drawing me in from the first moment. After her morning swim, Vera finds the body of a young woman in her local health club’s steam room.
The characters are well-drawn, the descriptions of places and people believable. However, what I found was most interesting, that despite being presented on television with a very believable version of Vera, I found a different Vera in the book. A woman who entered my imagination on her own terms. This for me was extraordinary, although the television Vera is good, I preferred the Vera of my imagination.
It was for me a quick read I wanted to know how the story ended and who the murderer was, I hadn’t worked it out.
A thoroughly good read. I am becoming a fan of Ann Cleeves.
Fenlandphil's Blog 
Posted by Marsha on April 29, 2022 at 9:59 pm
Great review, Phil. It’s nice to have some mind candy. I get bogged down to a crawl when I read instruction manuals.
Posted by fenlandphil on April 30, 2022 at 6:16 am
Thanks, Marsha. I’m pleased you liked it.
Posted by Cathy Cade on April 30, 2022 at 1:19 pm
I’ve been reading some of her Shetland series, but I’ll have to get onto Vera. Perhaps I’ll start with this one.