The Glass Room (Vera Stanhope)

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Don't let my musings put you off! Ann Cleeves is an excellent writer; she does not aim for a 'literary' approach, but if - as I would argue - the real measure of writing skill lies in the ability to communicate, she is at the top of her profession. Devouring her novels is an effortless pleasure - not that she doesn't make you think, but she has the skill to lead and direct the reader without appearing to do so. Calling in the team, Vera knows that she should hand the case over. She's too close to the main suspect. But the investigation is too tempting and she's never been one to follow the rules. As always, Vera is an engaging character. This is how she invites Joe over for dinner at her house: In Cleeves’s captivating third mystery featuring Det. Chief Insp. Vera Stanhope of the Northumberland police (after Telling Tales), Vera and the members of her team look into the murder of Continue reading »

THE GLASS ROOM | Kirkus Reviews

From the 'puzzle' standpoint this makes for a very satisfying read, but there can be an element of friction between puzzles and procedurals. Puzzles thrive on all things mystic and symbolic, while procedurals demand a higher level of credibility. Taking account of this distinction I have some misgivings about the closing scenes of the investigation, and I had similar misgivings about 'Hidden Depths', the third Vera Stanhope novel. These misgivings are the reason for the phrase 'not quite a classic' in the heading of the review - and also the reason for awarding four stars rather than five. DI Vera Stanhope is not one to make friends easily, but her hippy neighbours keep her well-supplied in homebrew and conversation. But when one of them goes missing, her path leads her to more than a missing friend . . .The Glass Room is the fifth book in Ann Cleeves’ Vera Stanhope series – which is now a major ITV detective drama starring Brenda Blethyn as Vera. Forget about solving all these crimes; the signal triumph here is (spoiler) the heroine’s survival.

The Glass Room: Ann Cleeves (Vera Stanhope Book 5) The Glass Room: Ann Cleeves (Vera Stanhope Book 5)

TGR is set mainly at a retreat called, The Writer's House, which was once a grand old farming property. Now, it's a business set up for budding writers who pay a hefty fee for residential courses provided by experts in the field, " … a civilized writers’ salon." Clarts? Free Dictionary says, “ dialect Scot and Northern English lumps of mud, esp on shoes.” The setting of the Vera Stanhope stories—Northumberland, England’s northernmost county—lends itself to regional dialect. Note also Vera’s unsparing description of herself: “great fat Cupid in wellies” is one of her milder self-portraits.A suspenseful, professional-grade north country procedural whose heroine, a deft mix of compassion and attitude, would be welcome to return and tie up the gaping loose end Box leaves. The unrelenting cold makes this the perfect beach read. Faint feelings of guilt notwithstanding, Vera takes some personal time for her solo investigation. “She felt the wonderful liberation of a truant,” as she takes in views of the bay and steep valleys. The setting of the Vera Stanhope novels in the “windswept coastal villages and rolling moors of Northumberland” is another hook for dedicated readers. Vera does take transparent delight in her work. She’s in her element with a dead body and a crime to be solved. Another sweltering month in Charlotte, another boatload of mysteries past and present for overworked, overstressed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan.