BOOK TOUR: The Rising Tide (Vera Stanhope #10) by Ann Cleeves

The tenth book in the Vera Stanhope series, The Rising Tide by Ann Cleeves follows a group of friends who meet up on Holy Island every five years to celebrate their friendship, and have done so for fifty years now. During their latest reunion, one of the friends is found hanged one morning, and 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 . . .

Rating:

Today is my stop on the Random Things Tours blog tour for this book. Thank you to the publishers for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

The ITV series of Vera is one of my favourite things to watch, but admittedly I have only read the first book in this series and it didn’t grip me in the same way as the on-screen adaptation did, so I haven’t picked up another book in the series since. But I really wanted to give it another go as I love Ann Cleeve’s character, so what better excuse to get my hands on a copy of her latest instalment!

This tenth book was a massive improvement for me. A gripping whodunnit following a group of lifelong friends with buried secrets and private confrontations, The Rising Tide is a classic armchair thriller. It’s intriguing, unpredictable, the detective team are immensely likeable, and the setting is immersive.

There’s nothing I love more than a thriller centring on a close-knit group of friends and trying to figure out which one of them had motive to kill, but it has to be done right. And it’s obvious how much of a skilled writer Cleeves is with this instalment, as every character and relationship feels genuine, you can easily picture the setting and feel the danger that the causeway creates, and the tense emotions can be felt throughout.

Cleeves’ writing is effortlessly engaging so The Rising Tide is an easy book to get into and enjoy. It can easily be read as a standalone, as well, so I definitely recommend this one if you’re looking for a comfy thriller to get cosy on the sofa with now that the colder months are approaching.

Details:

The Rising Tide by Ann Cleeves
Series: Vera Stanhope #10
Release Date: 1st September 2022
Print Length: 384 pages
Genre: Detective Thriller
Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Synopsis:

Fifty years ago, a group of teenagers spent a weekend on Holy Island, forging a bond that has lasted a lifetime. Now, they still return every five years to celebrate their friendship,
and remember the friend they lost to the rising waters of the causeway at the first reunion.

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…

About The Author:

ANN CLEEVES is the author of more than thirty-five critically acclaimed novels, and in 2017 was awarded the highest accolade in crime writing, the CWA Diamond Dagger. She is the creator of popular detectives Vera Stanhope, Jimmy Perez and Matthew Venn, who can be found on television in ITV’s Vera, BBC One’s Shetland and ITV’s The Long Call respectively. The TV series and the books they are based on have become international sensations, capturing the minds of millions worldwide. 2022 marks 30 years of publishing with Pan Macmillan.

Ann worked as a probation officer, bird observatory cook and auxiliary coastguard before she started writing. She is a member of ‘Murder Squad’, working with other British northern writers to promote crime fiction. Ann also spends her time advocating for reading to improve health and
wellbeing and supporting access to books. In 2021 her Reading for Wellbeing project launched with local authorities across the North East. She lives in Northumberland where the Vera books are set. You can find Ann on Twitter and Facebook @AnnCleeves.