It's fifty years since a group of teenagers went on a weekend retreat to Holy Island. Some of them found the Only Connect course transformative and they've been coming back for a reunion every five years since then. There was a tragedy at the first reunion when Isobel Hall drove off the island too close to high tide and her car was swept away, but her younger sister, Louisa, has returned with the group each year as her husband, Ken, was one of the original teenagers. Ken now has Alzheimer's and he's a shadow of the man he used to be. Philip Robson now a priest, always gets there early as he likes to have some quiet time alone in the chapel. Annie Laidler lives locally and she provides much of the food: her deli is famous in the area.

She used to be married to Daniel Rede but their marriage didn't last after the death of their baby daughter. Daniel is now a wealthy businessman with a vast property portfolio in the area and he's living with the woman who has political influence over Vera Stanhope's team - she's Katherine Willmore, the Police and Crime Commissioner. Dan's not been to the reunions since the first one - it was never really his thing and he only went the first time to support Annie. There's just one more in the group: Rick Kelsall is a London-based television personality, or he was until an allegation of inappropriate behaviour to young women forced him out of his job.

When Annie found Rick hanging from the rafters in his bedroom on the first morning it was generally thought in the group that he couldn't live with the shame of what happened. DI Vera Stanhope has other ideas: too much about the scene doesn't add up and the presence of yellow fibres from a cushion in his nostril shows that he was murdered and the body then displayed to give the impression of suicide.

We have the usual lean CID team working for Vera - who could never be called lean, but she is an exceptional detective. DS Joe Ashworth is steady as a rock and completely loyal to Vera. Joe's her conscience and the son she never had. He might just be beginning to worry that DC Holly Clarke could be nipping at his heels. She's certainly gaining confidence but feeling lonely.

It's a cracker of a story: the plotting is superb. All the clues were there but I didn't work it out until it was explained by Vera. It revolves around the sort of secrets which don't stay buried forever and when you've got someone as indiscreet as Rick Kelsall, nothing stays private for very long. Does the death of Isabel, forty-five years ago, have anything to do with Rick's death? Or is that too long for his death to be a revenge killing?

I read the book in just two sittings, desperate to know what happened and it's one I'll read again just for the pleasure of seeing how Ann Cleeves wove it all together. I'd like to thank the publishers for letting Bookbag have a review copy.

This is the first Vera novel I have read and I have to say I am hooked, all the characters were portrayed well and the story line was excellent, the story dives straight in with a group of old school friends visiting Holy island Lindisfarne, something they have been doing every five years since the first school retreat over 50 years before but when one of them, Rick, a recently disgraced former television journalist apparently commits suicide, so Joe and Vera are called in to investigate but as soon as Vera arrives she is sure it is a murder disguised as a suicide and just like an Agatha Christie book each and every person on the island could of committed the crime. The story doesn’t deviate and stays tightly woven until Vera gets her person. I shall definitely be reading Ann Cleeves previous Vera novels and I look forward to the next one.

Ann Cleeves has written another excellent book featuring DI Vera Stanhope and her team. I thoroughly enjoyed this outing with most of the story set in and around Holy Island. I was totally invested in the 5 yearly reunion of a group of people whose friendship spans 50 odd years. The characters, their back stories, the atmospheric scene setting, the plot and dialogue were as always first class. Highly recommend this well written who-dunnit. I hope we don't have too long to wait for Vera's next case. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an arc of The Rising Tide.

I love the TV programme Vera but had never read one of Ann Cleeves' books until now. This was so easy to read and even though some may say it was a bit formulaic, I absolutely loved it. A group of old s hool friends meet every five years on Holy Island (Lindisfarne) but this time, one of them becomes a murder victim. Enter Vera and her team including Joe, Holly and Billy. So follows lots of twists, turns and red herrings! It is such an easy book to read but still holds your attention and keeps you turning the pages. I really couldn't put it down and just had to get to the end! Thank you Netgalley for letting me read and review this great book.

Set on Holy Island, a group of teenagers who did an outward bounds course continue to meet there every 5 years for 50 years. Only this time 2 of them are killed. Vera investigates and her dry wit and humour lift you out of the horror of the crimes. Vivid descriptions of the landscape and true warmth and affection between the members of her team immerse you totally in the story. Wonderful! I'm a Vera convert!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and Ann Cleeves for the chance to read this ARC in return for an honest opinion

I had not read a 'Vera' novel for a while - when they were first released they televised them and in my opinion Brenda Blethyn was not quite as described in the first book.
So its been a while - but it was great to re-establish an acquaintance with her and her ways - which are very much her own. However my imagined view of Vera was better this time
It was possible to follow the storyline even if one hasn't read all the books in order.

I had guessed who the perpetrator might have been towards the end but hadn't foreseen the final couple of pages - I wont provide spoilers though.

As I live on the North East Coast I can imagine Holy Island and the Causeway and even some of the buildings on the Island - which were well described in the book - even the inclement weather.

I really enjoyed this book and read and read till I got to the end

Thank you

This is the tenth installment in the D.I. Vera Stanhope series and although it is number ten it can be read as a standalone without the need for background knowledge.

Set on Lindisfarne or Holy Island in the North East of England, it is the story of a group of school friends who are now in their sixties who have a reunion there every five years. When one of them is discovered murdered in his bedroom Vera and her team are brought in to investigate.

This a well written whodunnit, with enough red herrings to keep you guessing through out. It will appeal to viewers who watch the television adaptation and police procedural books in general.

Highly recommended!

I read this in two sittings as I was hooked from the first page. So nice to have Vera back, unchanged and as awkward as ever. I won’t view the Holy Island in the same light again that is for sure. Great graphic characters , so easy to pick out who you think did the unspeakable only to find out your wrong.
Joe and Holly are formidable sidekicks and Charlie hovering around in the background just when he is needed.
Great story telling.

This is a great addition to the Vera series and has all you have come to expect from the author. The location is Holy Island, full of character and atmosphere, with some beautiful descriptive passages. I felt totally immersed in the setting, with the cast of older friends at a reunion. The book sets off at a slow pace until one of the friends is found dead in his room, then sets off at a fast pace until the unexpected ending. The cast of characters is believable, with Vera's description of blunt and untidy being spot on. It's another winner for the author and I highly recommend the read. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

This is the first book by Ann Cleeves that I've read. I received it from @panmacmillan via @netgalley and it will be out on 1 September.

You follow a group of friends who come together for a reunion every 5 years. It started all 50 years ago. The first person died at the very first reunion and now, 45 years later, another one dies. Vera Stanhope is called in to investigate this death on Holy Island but the tide sometimes works against them.

I really liked the writing style and the pace with which it is written. Most characters are decently worked out and are quite likeable but I did not like the main character Vera at all. Arrogant, know-it-all, condescending. It just couldn't get into that. Luckily the story and the other characters were absolutely fine.
3,75/5

This is the first of the Vera books by Ann Cleeve that I have read - I really enjoy the TV series, so was keen to try one of the novels. I definitely wasn't disappointed, the books are clearly well translated to the small screen, and I imagined this one vividly throughout!

A small group of friends visit the Holy Island every five years, in homage to their first trip there when they were sixth formers on a retreat called Only Connect. This time, it's the 50th anniversary of their first visit, but when one of the group is found dead, will their secrets be revealed?

A well thought out, good paced novel. There were characters I felt sorry for, characters I simply didn't like, and others that definitely held a lot of secrets. A highly emotional ending, to an engrossing read.

Love the Vera novels. Great writing and premise. Amazing characters. Page turner. Plenty of suspense to keep me guessing..Definitely looking forward to the next offering. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it

Eh pet, what a fantastic book to bring Vera back after a little hiatus. I had very high hopes for this book, and oh my goodness Ann Cleeves has out done herself.
This is the first Vera book I have read. I have listened to them all on audiobook as I tend to listen a different genre from that which I read. However, I couldn’t wait until the release of the audiobook so I pounced on the opportunity to catch up with Vera in this ebook.
Ann Cleeve’s writing is absolutely wonderful and draws the reader into the story so we live it with the characters as they become real, carved out of the pages through the author’s skill with words. The descriptions throughout the book were enthralling and the storyline created with such mastery that I was captivated by it and continued to read as I couldn’t put it down.
A book focussed around a murder on Holy Island risks parallels drawn with LJ Ross’s first book. However, as much as I enjoy the exploits of DCI Ryan, the fluidity of the writing of DI Vera Stanhope’s investigation absolutely wipes the floor with the aforementioned detective. I wasn’t particularly wanting to pit one book / author against the other, but at times I did find myself drawing comparisons while reading, and my goodness, Ann Cleeves’ writing shows how it should be done as this book is far, far superior.
I absolutely loved this book, from start right up until the penultimate chapter. Not wanting to put any spoilers in my review, but I’m unsure how I feel about the outcome and the final chapter, or indeed the final sentence, of the book. I felt a bit like I was left hanging wanting a little more but not getting it. I just hope that there’s another Vera book coming where the team, and we readers, can regroup.

This is the first Vera book I have read. The TV series was very much like the books though I did prefer the slightly softer TV version of Vera. I really enjoyed the book though the plot did keep going round and round in circles. I would have given 5 * but I thought the reason to murder was very flimsy. The murderer had far more to lose being caught than being exposed for minor mis-judgements. Still a good read and I look forward to the next in the series.
This is an honest review of a complementary ARC.

Simply brilliant storytelling. Ann Cleeves rarely disappoints and I find the Stanhope character the one who has developed most over the series. It’s difficult for any author to keep churning out stories about the same characters and maintain reader interest, tension and originality. But with Vera, there’s character development in every book; She’s increasingly cynical and the play off between her sidekicks, Holly and Joe, continues. These are people in whom I’ve invested emotional energy. I want to know more about them and where they’re going and I really enjoyed The Rising Tide.

The book also works very well as a standalone. A group of school friends meet for a 50 year reunion on Holy Island. They last went there as a school trip with a teacher and tragedy struck. They’ve all gone different ways in life and the characters are strongly drawn and plausible. One of them is found dead and a suicide becomes a murder investigation. It’s a licked room type story as only a limited number of suspects had opportunity to murder. But who and why? Of course they all have secrets and it’s Vera nd team who investigate and unravel.

The sense of location is strong, the plot is twisted and there are numerous threads to follow. Absolutely loved it; possibly the best Vera…so far.

My thanks to the publisher for a review copy via Netgalley.

Ann Cleeves is one of my favourite murder-mystery writers, and Vera Stanhope is my all-time favourite detective. This story takes her to Lindisfarne, where a group of old friends, brought together there through a retreat/outward bound type weekend in their schooldays, meet for a reunion every five years – despite the fact that their first reunion resulted in the death of one of their members.
The remaining group, Philip, Annie, Rick, Ken and Louise are all in their 60s now, but it seems old passions die hard when Rick is found swinging from a rafter. Has the disgraced TV presenter hanged himself rather than face charges of sexual harassment?
Vera doesn’t believe so, and of course, she is right. Soon a murder investigation is under way, in which her team must look at events far back in the past for answers to the present.
This was an intriguing and atmospheric story right from the start. Holy Island is a great place to set a murder mystery. Its air of pilgrimage and calm hides danger at the best of time in its rising tides and storm-cast seas, and it’s easy to believe that unholy things can go on there.
The characters are all intriguing, from Anglican priest Philip to lonely Annie to snooty Charlotte. It’s hard to like the victim Rick – he was almost asking to be murdered – but still we want to see justice for him.
And so does Vera. For she is a champion of the dead, and as always, she stretches the rules as she probes and pokes into the affairs of her suspects, always listening more than speaking, and inspiring her own team of Joe Ashworth and Holly Clarke to learn from her.
As usual, too, in Ann Cleeves books, Vera develops more as a character – just when you think you know her, she betrays fresh aspects of a woman shaped by a lonely and neglected childhood.
It’s this pathos in Ann Cleeves writing that makes her murder-mysteries stand out in a crowded market.

Fifty years ago, a group of schoolfriends spent a weekend on Holy Island with their teacher. Every five years the teenagers have returned although one of them was killed when she left crossing the causeway to late.

This time, one of them is found hanged and Vera is called in She must unravel all the secrets that this group have
between them and decide if it is suicide or is a killer on the loose?

But who is in most danger Vera or the schoolfriends?

Another fabulous story about Vera from this amazing author. She creates such wonderfully nuanced and believable characters and an impeccably executed detective story. It was just perfect!

I had an ARC from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

The Rising Tide marks a welcome return for Vera Stanhope, as she and her team investigate the death by hanging of a man on the island of Lindisfarne. As twisty as always, with complex, nuanced and believable characters. Those familiar with Cleeves' writing will know she doesn't shy away from tragedy, and there's a twist at the end of The Rising Tide that is likely to reverberate through coming books in the series (of which I hope there are many to come).

4.5 stars rounded up to 5

I can’t believe that this is the first Vera book that I have read by Ann Cleeves. I have been missing out big time. The plot and the characters were very strong- I enjoyed the group dynamics of a school reunion every 5 years by a select group of pupils, now getting elderly and even peripheral characters were well drawn and interesting. And Vera, what can I say, a real gem. I shall be reading more.