Telling Tales (Vera Stanhope, 2)

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She pulls you into the story and doesn't let you go; you will want to stay up late to finish this book. This second novel is another opportunity to devour Ann Cleeves unique brand of atmospheric crime fiction, marked out by her portrayals of village life against the rugged backdrop of the windswept and rugged Northumbria coastline. I had read The Crow Trap a couple of years ago and enjoyed very much, then got sidetracked by her Shetland series. Ann's DI Vera Stanhope series of books is set in Northumberland and features the well loved detective along with her partner Joe Ashworth. But it was too late now for Jeanie, as she committed suicide in her cell before the witness could verify her story that she had been in London the day the murder took place.

On hearing the news, Emma Bennett is haunted once more by memories of her vibrant best friend, Abigail, and by the thought that her killer is still at large. The Humberside location is vividly brought to life, the coldness of the North Sea was felt throughout.This was my 1st Vera book and the 2nd in the series although I've been watching the Vera series on TV. As Vera mobilises Jeanie’s father, a man who thought his own daughter guilty, and treats him with humanity and respect, she scours and scrutinises the Elvet grapevine for both scurrilous rumour and truth. Cleeves’ novels never fail to engage, marked out by subtle characterisation and a cunning that sees her extruding hidden passions, historic resentments and simmering frustrations.

Excellently written and thought out in each detail with the characters playing their parts on the surface and uncovering their darker sides beneath. Vera’s presence is felt throughout the book, her no nonsense direct approach really fits with the Northern setting.The locals of this small East Yorkshire village will not escape the thorough questioning of Vera as she scrutinizes them closely for anything that may be amiss. Emma Bennett and Abigail Mantel have developed a sort of close friendship or at least Emma would like to think it was close. Demonstrating singular adeptness with mood and pacing, narrator Julia Franklin shines in this character-rich mystery set in northern England.

Despite looking on DS Joe Ashworth as an honorary son, she is not blind to his sentimentality and how easily he is fed a sob story. I found very few of the characters likeable, and even appreciated how one unreliable narrator was modeled after Emma Bovary (of Madame Bovary notoriety). I note that the publisher tries a couple of other narrators, and eventually settles on a possible winner around book four. Both misfits in their own way, Emma longed for escape to the Old Chalet and Abigail’s glamorous lifestyle with her widowed and charismatic father, Keith.

Ann's Shetland series bring us DI Jimmy Perez, investigating in the mysterious, dark, and beautiful Shetland Islands. Telling Tales revisits a 10-year old murder after the woman convicted of the crime kills herself in prison and after a new witness comes up clearing her of the murder.