Mystery
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The Rising Tide: A Vera Stanhope Novel (Vera Stanhope, 10)
From Ann Cleeves―New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of the Vera and Shetland series, both of which are hit TV shows―comes the stunning tenth Vera Stanhope novel, The Rising Tide, a powerful novel about guilt, betrayal, and the longheld secrets people keep.
"Ann Cleeves is one of my favorite mystery writers."―Louise Penny
For fifty years a group of friends have been meeting regularly for reunions on Holy Island, celebrating the school trip where they met, and the friend that they lost to the rising causeway tide five years later. Now, when one of them is found hanged, Vera is called in. Learning that the dead man had recently been fired after misconduct allegations, Vera knows she must discover what the friends are hiding, and whether the events of many years before could have led to murder then, and now . . .
But with the tide rising, secrets long-hidden are finding their way to the surface, and Vera and the team may find themselves in more danger than they could have believed possible . . .
"Ann Cleeves is one of my favorite mystery writers."―Louise Penny
For fifty years a group of friends have been meeting regularly for reunions on Holy Island, celebrating the school trip where they met, and the friend that they lost to the rising causeway tide five years later. Now, when one of them is found hanged, Vera is called in. Learning that the dead man had recently been fired after misconduct allegations, Vera knows she must discover what the friends are hiding, and whether the events of many years before could have led to murder then, and now . . .
But with the tide rising, secrets long-hidden are finding their way to the surface, and Vera and the team may find themselves in more danger than they could have believed possible . . .
Editorial Reviews
PEOPLE Best Fall Books!
AARP.com Best Fall Books
One of Mystery Tribune's "18 Best Crime, Mystery, and Thrillers of September"
"A friend of mine once joked that the work of Ann Cleeves is the closest the crime-fiction genre comes to evoking ASMR ― the euphoric, pleasant, spine-tingling sensation that's all the rage on YouTube. The books never get too dark, never venture too far into dangerous territory, but aren't outright cozy, either…. This is the work of a pro ― a diverting, solidly crafted mystery that's guaranteed to entertain."―New York Times Book Review
"What a pleasure to be back in the hands of Ann Cleeves… it is a joy to watch a writer as skilful as Cleeves lay out her version of a locked room mystery. As ever, Cleeves goes deeper, examining the precarious nature of life and what it is to age and face your own mortality. I'm still absolutely reeling…"―The Guardian
"As she always has, Ann Cleeves really grabbed my attention with her latest book, The Rising Tide. And didn't let go... Vera Stanhope is one of the literary world's most realistic detectives… This just might be my favorite Vera book, at least thus far."―Free-Lance Star
"A thrilling tale with an ending that catches you by surprise, it's a story both newbies to Vera and diehard fans will enjoy. 9/10"―The Independent
"A character-driven puzzle that ends in a painful denouement."―Kirkus (Starred)
"Haunting… Flawed characters take center stage in an intense novel with a shocking conclusion."―Library Journal (Starred)
"Cleeves crafts a clever central puzzle, then confers remarkable emotional complexity using her keenly drawn characters' advancing age, wistful nostalgia, and thorny shared history. A pinwheeling third-person narrative drives the pace, while Vera's candor tempers the plot's darker elements. Fair-play mystery fans will delight."―Publishers Weekly
Praise for The Darkest Evening:
"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
"Superb . . . ...
AARP.com Best Fall Books
One of Mystery Tribune's "18 Best Crime, Mystery, and Thrillers of September"
"A friend of mine once joked that the work of Ann Cleeves is the closest the crime-fiction genre comes to evoking ASMR ― the euphoric, pleasant, spine-tingling sensation that's all the rage on YouTube. The books never get too dark, never venture too far into dangerous territory, but aren't outright cozy, either…. This is the work of a pro ― a diverting, solidly crafted mystery that's guaranteed to entertain."―New York Times Book Review
"What a pleasure to be back in the hands of Ann Cleeves… it is a joy to watch a writer as skilful as Cleeves lay out her version of a locked room mystery. As ever, Cleeves goes deeper, examining the precarious nature of life and what it is to age and face your own mortality. I'm still absolutely reeling…"―The Guardian
"As she always has, Ann Cleeves really grabbed my attention with her latest book, The Rising Tide. And didn't let go... Vera Stanhope is one of the literary world's most realistic detectives… This just might be my favorite Vera book, at least thus far."―Free-Lance Star
"A thrilling tale with an ending that catches you by surprise, it's a story both newbies to Vera and diehard fans will enjoy. 9/10"―The Independent
"A character-driven puzzle that ends in a painful denouement."―Kirkus (Starred)
"Haunting… Flawed characters take center stage in an intense novel with a shocking conclusion."―Library Journal (Starred)
"Cleeves crafts a clever central puzzle, then confers remarkable emotional complexity using her keenly drawn characters' advancing age, wistful nostalgia, and thorny shared history. A pinwheeling third-person narrative drives the pace, while Vera's candor tempers the plot's darker elements. Fair-play mystery fans will delight."―Publishers Weekly
Praise for The Darkest Evening:
"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
"Superb . . . ...
Readers Top Reviews
Mary Beth GarberWend
No one needs to tell you that Ann Cleeves is an exemplary storyteller. That characters come to life in your mind. If you have read any of her books, you know this well. So you know what awaits you—the gamut of emotions, the awe of discovery, enjoying the ride or trying to craft the solution before Vera reveals it. Enjoy every sentence.
Caroltheodora
Often, a writer of a series can become lazy, pressed for time or simply bored with their own characters. Apparently, not so for Ms. Cleeves. She still is deeply fond of her characters working to bring them alive and keep them interesting and interested. While, lacking some of the deeper plumbing of Vera, Joe or Holly’s back story, The Rising Tide still is an enjoyable and satisfying journey.
Dorris G. WintersCar
I read many of the Vera series before I saw any of the television series. I almost didn't watch because I was certain the programs couldn't be any where near as good as the books. Happily I was wrong and I enjoy both mediums for their differences as well as the well written component of each one. The Rising Tide was no exception. It grabbed me at the beginning g and held on to me to the bitter end.
Regina Davis-SowersD
I look at Vera on BritBox but I had never read a book by Ann Cleeves. This is such a great book, with such a surprising ending. If you haven’t read her books, you have missed a treat. It is part psychological thriller and police procedural. The characters are written so that you feel you know people just like them. But it is Vera who stands out, with more nuances than in the series but the same get things done whether she is liked or not. I hope there are both books and episodes. Great job, Ms. Cleeves. I couldn’t put this book down until I knew the ending!
PattoRegina Davis-So
I really like Inspector Vera Stanhope — overweight and overbearing — and so shoddily dressed that she’s sometimes mistaken for a bag lady or a cleaner. Her life is her job. The story is well crafted. A group of friends have a reunion every five years on a remote island called Holy Island where a teacher once brought them for a kind of retreat. They’ve been getting together for fifty years. Vera is called to the scene when one of them is found hanged. Rick Kelsall was a TV celebrity recently fired because of harassment charges. So there’s a little of “Me Too” woven into this story. Vera, who had her own troubles when young, decides that the crime grew out of some happening in the past. So she and her team start digging for secrets among the group of friends. Oddly, all the suspects are elderly. The characters are well done, and the investigation is interesting enough. But I think I enjoyed the earlier Vera Stanhope novels a bit more. This one ends sadly, too, and I prefer endings to be upbeat or neutral — a weakness of character on my part. But Vera’s appeal is so strong that I’ll definitely keep following the series.
