Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
The fatal stabbing of mercurial book critic Tony Ferdinand at the Writers' House on the Northumbrian coast, where a group of crime writers has gathered, propels Cleeves's fascinating fifth mystery featuring Det. Insp. Vera Stanhope (after Silent Voices). One suspect is Vera's neighbor Joanna Tobin, who's found at the Writers' House with a knife in her hand, but it's not the murder weapon. The crime writers didn't much like the victim, and a few seem to harbor secrets, such as Nina Backworth, who proves to be a distraction to Vera's married sergeant, and retreat owner Miranda Barton, who had a history with Ferdinand. Frequently underestimated because of her offhand manner and slovenly appearance, Vera slyly delves deep into the gossip running rampant among the writers, hoping to flush out a killer. Cleeves crafts a subtle, complex mystery, and the curmudgeonly Vera and her distinctive view of the world make this series stand out in a crowded genre. Agent: Sarah Menguc, Sarah Menguc Literary Agent (U.K.). (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
Cleeves's latest is reminiscent of an Agatha Christie mystery: a murder takes place at a country house where the guests are all suspects and no one seems to have a motive, but a little investigation finds more connections than first appear. Vera Stanhope is asked by her neighbor to find his missing wife, and she tracks the young woman to a writer's workshop at a country house owned by a semifamous author. When a workshop leader is murdered, the attendees fall under suspicion. Vera and her team are called in, but with her neighbor as one of the prime suspects, she is forced to keep herself at arm's length. Cleeves's characters are richly drawn, their motives are believable, and the plot is engaging and with enough surprises that readers will be guessing until the very end. VERDICT Published for the first time in the United States, this fifth Vera Stanhope mystery (after Silent Hope) makes a satisfying addition to the series.-Lisa O'Hara, Univ. of Manitoba Libs., Winnipeg © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A series of fictional plots are pressed into service as blueprints for real-life crimes at a writers' retreat.Vera Stanhope may be an unattractive middle-aged woman living alone in the country, but her razor-sharp mind serves her well in her job as a police inspector. Vera's developed a friendship with her ecologically correct next-door neighbors Jack Devanney and Joanna Tobin. After Joanna takes off, leaving a note bidding Jack not to worry, Vera tracks her to the Writers' House, a country home run by author Miranda Barton and her son, Alex, as a workshop for aspiring writers. Curiosity takes Vera to the house, whose inhabitants have already called the police after discovering a grisly murder. The dead man is Tony Ferdinand, an unpopular professor whose clout in the literary world has launched the careers of many authors. The other residents have locked Joanna in her room because she was found holding a knife near the crime scene. Joanna denies being involved but admits that she went off the meds for her bipolar disorder but went back on them just before coming to Writers' House to explore her talents and use writing as a cathartic experience to overcome the pain of a horrible first marriage. Exploring the backgrounds of the suspects is never an easy job when people lie to protect secrets often unrelated to the crime. Aside from Joanna and the Bartons, these suspects include two tutors, academic Nina Backworth and author Giles Rickard, and two students, mild-mannered ex-con Lenny Thomas and retired police officer Mark Winterton. A second murder using a piece of fiction as a template forces Vera to dig even deeper to find the past secrets behind the present-day crimes.Cleeves (Hidden Depths, 2018, etc.) has created a masterful though not always likable detective who uses her uncanny knack for crime-solving to identify an unexpected killer. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
