The Crow Trap

A Vera Stanhope Mystery

By: Ann Cleeves

Narrated by: Anne Dover

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 The Crow Trap, the first in the Vera Stanhope series.

“Ann Cleeves is one of my favorite mystery writers.”—Louise Penny

Three very different women come together to complete an environmental survey on the Northumberland countryside. Three women who, in some way or another, know the meaning of betrayal....For team leader Rachael Lambert the project is the perfect opportunity to rebuild her confidence after a double-betrayal by her lover and boss, Peter Kemp. Botanist Anne Preece, on the other hand, sees it as a chance to indulge in a little deception of her own. And then there is Grace Fulwell, a strange, uncommunicative young woman with plenty of her own secrets to hide...

When Rachael arrives at the cottage, however, she is horrified to discover the body of her friend Bella Furness. Bella, it appears, has committed suicide--a verdict Rachael finds impossible to accept.

Only when the next death occurs does a fourth woman enter the picture--the unconventional Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope, who must piece together the truth from these women's tangled lives in The Crow Trap.

©1999 Ann Cleeves (P)2017 Isis Publishing Ltd

Critic reviews

"Trauma, obsession, and murder entwine in a suspense-packed crime story that puts Ms. Cleeves in the Rendell class." --Peterborough Evening Telegraph

"It's a dark, interesting novel with considerable emotional force behind it." --The Spectator

“Intricate and engrossing . . . offers readers the pleasures of the traditional locked room/isolated island mystery.” --Washington Post Book World

Love it

Kept my interest all throughout the book. Would recommend the book looking forward. To the next

Candy

Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!! One of the best audible books I’ve listened to!!! I like to start with the first book and go through the series!!

Good escape!

Good plot and character development! Took me away for a while! I hope that there are many more in the series!

Love it as much as Shetland

I am very excited to have another Ann Cleeves series to delve into, feeling some bereft when I gobbled up the final instalment of Shetland. I was not disappointed, and I can’t wait to continue using the adventures of Vera. The story was engrossing, and the characters were well rounded and interesting. I feel like every time I listen to one of Cleeves’s books, I learn something new. Also, I have nothing but good to say about the wonderful narration, which really gave each character, a distinct personality.

Masterful storytelling

The pace and the extended narrative about the 4 women left me wondering early on if I could carry on listening to this book. But I persevered and at a certain point about halfway through the book I found that I was hooked. Cleeve’s writing is so intricate with detail I am not sure I will read more of her work as it was a wee bit crazy making, but I love the Vera character and am curious to see what happens next. The jury is out on that.