This is book number 2 in the Vera Stanhope series.
"Demonstrating singular adeptness with mood and pacing, narrator Julia Franklin shines in this character-rich mystery set in northern England...Franklin's performance is direct and punchy, matching the speed and shrewdness of Vera's first-rate mind." — AudioFile Magazine
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 Telling Tales.
“Ann Cleeves is one of my favorite mystery writers.”—Louise Penny
It has been ten years since Jeanie Long was charged with the murder of fifteen-year-old Abigail Mantel. Now residents of the East Yorkshire village of Elvet are disturbed to hear of new evidence proving Jeanie’s innocence. Abigail’s killer is still at large.
For one young woman, Emma Bennett, the revelation brings back haunting memories of her vibrant best friend--and of that fearful winter’s day when she had discovered her body lying cold in a ditch.
As Inspector Vera Stanhope makes fresh enquiries on the peninsula and villagers are hauled back to a time they hoped to forget, tensions begin to mount. But are people afraid of the killer or of their own guilty pasts?
With each person’s story revisited, the Inspector begins to suspect that some deadly secrets are threatening to unfurl…
ANN CLEEVES is the multi-million copy bestselling author behind three hit television series—Shetland, starring Douglas Henshall, Vera, starring Academy Award Nominee Brenda Blethyn, and The Long Call, starring Ben Aldridge—all of which are watched and loved in the United States. All three are available on BritBox.
The first Shetland novel, Raven Black, won the Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger for best crime novel, and Ann was awarded the CWA Diamond Dagger in 2017. She was awarded the OBE in 2022 for services to reading and libraries. Ann lives in the United Kingdom.
"Demonstrating singular adeptness with mood and pacing, narrator Julia Franklin shines in this character-rich mystery set in northern England. ...While Franklin's careful portrayals of persons of interest are clear and emotionally detailed, it's her portrayal of Vera that steals the show. Though much is made of Vera's appearance--she's squat and disheveled--she is not to be underestimated. Franklin's performance is direct and punchy, matching the speed and shrewdness of Vera's first-rate mind." -AudioFile
Praise for the Vera Stanhope series:
“I do love Vera!” -- Val McDermid, bestselling author
“Nothing short of riveting." -- Louise Penny, New York Times bestselling author
"Creates a dark enough mood to keep you straining to see what will come to light next." --People Magazine
“Cleeves offers up evocative settings and flawed characters with depth, making her mysteries wonderfully addictive. Her latest is no exception.” —Library Journal
"A nice mixture, in the British tradition, of social comedy and detective work. More Vera, please." —Booklist
"It's a dark, interesting novel with considerable emotional force behind it." --The Spectator
