The Dark Wives Audiobook By Ann Cleeves cover art

The Dark Wives

Vera Stanhope, Book 11

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The Dark Wives

By: Ann Cleeves
Narrated by: Janine Birkett
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About this listen

"Janine Birkett's marvelous narration enhances this riveting mystery, part of the Vera Stanhope series, set on the majestic northeast coast of England"—AudioFile on The Seagull, an Earphones Award winner

As New York Times bestseller Ann Cleeves's beloved Vera series explodes in popularity in print and on TV, this stunning eleventh book explores the web of secrets surrounding a young man's death.

The man’s body is found in the early morning light by a local dog walker in the park outside Rosebank, a home for troubled teens in the coastal village of Longwater. The victim is Josh, a staff member, who was due to work the previous night but never showed up.

DI Vera Stanhope is called out to investigate the death, with her only clue being the disappearance of one of the home’s residents, fourteen-year-old Chloe Spence. Vera can’t bring herself to believe that a teenager is responsible for the murder, but even she can’t dismiss the possibility.

Vera, Joe and new team member Rosie Bell, are soon embroiled in the case, and when a second connected body is found near the Three Dark Wives monument in the wilds of the Northumberland countryside, superstition and folklore begin to collide with fact. Vera knows she has to find Chloe to get to the truth, and the dark secrets in their community that may be far more dangerous than she could have ever believed possible.

A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books.

©2024 Ann Cleeves (P)2024 Macmillan Audio
Police Procedurals Small Town & Rural Women Sleuths Young Adult
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Critic reviews

“Forceful . . . Multiple narrators and a core cast of keenly rendered characters lend the tale dimension while furthering the series arc. Cleeves’s fans will be well satisfied.”—Publishers Weekly

“A taut police procedural enhanced by relevant social consciousness.”—Booklist

“Like Rendell and James before her, like McDermid and Rankin today, Ann Cleeves is one of our secret chroniclers, charting—under cover of a series of expertly plotted and mesmerizing crime novels—how we live now.”—Mick Herron, author of the Slough House series

What listeners say about The Dark Wives

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  • Overall
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    4 out of 5 stars

Keeps you guessing

I’ve watched the television series, but this was my time reading one of the books. I started off reading, and finished with the audio. It was very well done. I found the story quite entertaining. There were several twists that kept me guessing. I thought I had figured it out, but I was wrong. If you like whodunnit books, then you should definitely give this one a try. There’s a reason the series is so popular. Vera is claiming she wants to try being more in touch with her crew. She has trouble actually making the changes. She’s a fantastic character.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Vera—a singular treat

I’ve been reading Ann cleaves’ Vera Stanhope police procedurals for years. I look forward to new installments. This one did not disappoint. Multilayered story with Vera trying to be more transparent, not particularly successfully. I liked the new female character and her interaction with Vera. A satisfying experience.

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Good story line

Hated the narrator - almost couldn’t listen! Everyone is getting softer even the new addition to the group.

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Best Vera Stanhope book yet!

I have all the Ann Cleeves Vera Stanhope books and all are great but this is one of the best.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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Not the best narrator.

A good Vera story, but the narrator let it down. It was distracting , especially Joe’s voice.

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Truly Marvelous

There are not enough superlatives to describe Ann Cleeves . I have not enjoyed a book this much in a very long time. If you love Vera, you will love the Dark Wives. Janine Birkett is outstanding.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Vera

Interesting story and plot twists. Vera is becoming less of a sad loner and more open, compassionate, and aware of the feelings, motives, etc. of her team. She seems to care how her own behavior affects others. She seems to enjoy some social interactions with her team and maybe even open to friendships.

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Good plot

I enjoyed the story line but could do without the different voices on and off. I much prefer a single reader telling the story.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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the mystery

I love every minute of it wish it was longer can't wait for the next one

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Too easy to guess

I still love Vera and all the team, but the storyline hinted way too early about the real motives. And yet we had to endure the team missing it for pretty much the entire book. and what is up with Rosie and her love of alcohol? That must play into a future book.

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2 people found this helpful