Classic Vera. Very difficult to read and not see the tv characters in your mind. Interesting storyline set on Holy Island featuring a range of different characters. A good read.

There is really nothing you can say about any book by Ann Cleeves other than excellent.
I haven’t watched Vera on tv, so cannot compare the characters to the actors, which I think is a good thing, but then again, it would take nothing away from the storyline.
Like the Shetland series, the plot is always a good one and you simply don’t want the story to end. Then, when it does, you cannot wait for the next book to come out.
I suppose I am preaching to the already converted, as everyone who enjoys thrillers/crime books will have read Ann’s previous titles. If not, you are missing out.
Needless to say, recommend.

Vera never fails to entrance me. Her idiosyncratic style of investigation, her skills - and failings - as boss and leader of her team, her unreserved fondness for faithful Joe alongside her unique role (in my reading experience) as an older woman in this usually crowded male preserve, make me love her more with each new episode. Characterisation and location are effortlessly and flawlessly drawn and the storyline deliciously twisty. I loved it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan for the opportunity to read this 10th in the Vera Stanhope series. Vera and her team are called to Pilgrim's House on the island of Lindisfarne when a man is found hanged. Rick was part of a small group who bonded at a school retreat 50 years ago. They meet up on the island every five years despite the fact that one of the group had died at the first reunion.
The pathologist sees a straightforward suicide by a man who had recently lost a prestigious job after being accused of sexual harassment. Vera isn't so sure and the postmortem proves that Rick had been murdered. The pool of suspects is small , consisting of the four other members of the reunion group.
As Vera and her team interview each one past events come to light and secrets are revealed. Then another death occurs and the stakes are raised .As the investigative team closes in on the killer tragedy strikes.
Cleeves, as usual does a magnificent job with the setting and with keeping the reader in suspense.
An aside: this is the first time I have been confused when reading a series that is also a tv series and it took a few minutes to remember that while the tv series uses characters from the books, the plots differ.

Thank you for allowing me to review this book. It was another excellent book in the series of Vera Stanhope crime mysteries. I was hooked on the story from the beginning. A group of old school friends met up every 5 years on the remote Holy Island, accessible by car only at low tide. This time one of their members is found dead. Was it suicide or murder? Who else had been on the island overnight?
Then a second body is found....... links to the past were looked into.
Definitely a worthwhile read, that I couldn't put down. Ann Cleeves knows how to keep producing new stories about Vera and her team.

An engrossing read which I really didn’t want to put down. I loved the concept of the school friends meeting up for a reunion on Holy Island every five years, It gave so much scope for backstories to explore tensions and past relationships between the group.

I really didn’t know who the murderer was, until Vera worked it out. That’s the mark of a well plotted and executed murder mystery.

I’ll be interested to see if it gets made into an episode on the Vera TV series.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC, I felt really lucky to be one of the first readers.

Ann Cleeves never disappoints and this is no exception. Another clever and intriguing story set in a wonderful location. Would recommend to all.

A 50 year reunion on Holy Island ends in the death of one of the attendees. When she sees the scene DI Vera Stanhope is convinced it's murder and soon the pathologist report backs her up. The victim, Rick Kelsall, is a former TV journalist who was recently accused of inappropriate behaviour towards his female colleagues and had been boasting that he was starting a new career as a novelist with his first book in progress and based on his past. When another murder occurs it becomes clear that someone is trying to ensure that things that happened half a century ago remain hidden and ultimately end in tragedy for Vera and her team.

Another great instalment in the Vera Stanhope series - always enjoy reading them and watching the TV series.

Thanks to Netgalley, Pan Macmilland and Ann Cleeves for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

I was so happy to be given the opportunity to read this title. I am a huge fan of Ann Cleeves and the Vera series and this book did not disappoint. Another great story, well written, with interesting characters and a gripping plot. Could not recommend it enough!

I have watched Vera but never read the books the character was based on. That I will be rectifying! Accomplished, well observed and well written. A delight.

I've read a couple of Ann Cleeves' Vera series, although I've yet to watch it on TV - I'll really need to remedy that some time. The Rising Tide, set largely on Holy Island - Lindisfarne - concerns a group of old school friends who spent time on the island in the early 1970s and reconvene in the same place every five years. Well, most of them do - one, Isobel, died at the time of their first five-year reunion. And now, one of the group, TV presenter Rick, forced out of his job by a sexual harassment scandal, is found dead in what appears at first to be a suicide. I don't think it's too spoilerific to say it's not, in fact, a suicide...

Vera and her team - Joe and Holly - are soon on the scene to investigate, and it's not long before secrets begin coming to light. Vera is of course always a delight, and I really had no idea where the plot was going.

A great read - as always - with a truly shocking ending.

First book in the series I’ve read and it worked well as a stand alone story. An absorbing plot, I felt as though I was there with them, an easy read with the expected twists and turns and some very real characters, easy to relate to. It has made me realise how good the tv series is as Vera in the book is exactly as she is on tv. I’m off to read all the other stories, only 9 to go but I know I’ll love them all!

Thank you to the author, publishers and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

As a lady of a certain age, I found the beginning of this novel a little unsettling, dealing as it does with one character obsessed with death and another spending time in a chapel ruminating on it. But this is Ann Cleeves, so on I went and was soon immersed in the usual fare of untimely death, multiple suspects and beautiful descriptions of the local area, in this case Holy Island or Lindisfarne. We were given a very introspective Vera this time, which I really enjoyed. I'm equally fond of the TV series and the books, but feel that the ability to tease out Vera's thoughts and motivations places the books far ahead.
I wasn't 100% convinced by the revelation of who the killer was, his/her motivations and how Vera arrived at her conclusions but was willing to suspend belief as it is such an excellent book, overall.
I received a free advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review. All opinions and comments are my own.

In a world where so many writers are trying to find twist upon twist to pile into a book to the point of making it about shock rather than any sort of believable plot, Ann Cleeves is a sure hand in delivering a character driven, well studied and (relatively) straight story - there's a reason she was awarded the CWA Diamond Dagger.. In The Rising Tide, a group of friends take part in their latest reunion on Holy Island - a reunion that has been happening every five years for fifty years. When one of them is found dead, the police - and of course, Vera, are called in to investigate whether it was suicide or something more.
Living in the North East of England it's always interesting to read books set in the region, and no-one do it with the class, wit and skill of Ann Cleeves.
And without any spoilers, there's a bit of a punch to this one...

As usual in my reviews, I will not rehash the plot (plenty of reviews like that out there already).

I've read quite a few of Ann Cleeves' "Vera Stanhope" novels, and always look forward to a new one. This was an enjoyable read, with plenty of suspects as "red herrings" to throw you off the trail of the real murderer!

The descriptions of the settings (largely on the beautiful Holy Island), and the characterisation of the various cast members were excellent, and meant it was easy to picture the scene. Having seen the TV series, I could also imagine the cast in action here too!

We get further insights into Vera's character in this novel - clues that help understand why she behaves as she does.

Highly recommended for fans of Ann Cleeves, and Vera Stanhope. Looking forward to the next novel already!

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

This is Ann Cleeves at her very best! I have read all the books in the Vera series and this would work well as a stand alone book but it’s great when you feel you know the characters, having seen them develop over many books. Not only does this book have a tight plot, a great atmospheric setting and interesting characters, it also involved me emotionally. I don’t think I’ve ever cried reading an Ann Cleeves book before. I highly recommend this book and I hope Ann is writing the next one now!

The Rising Tide is book no. 10 is the ever enjoyable detective Vera Stanhope (aka the Vera TV series, starring the fabulous Brenda Blethyn). Previously, there was a trend to write detectives as being having issues - relationship problems, alcohol dependency etc. Thankfully, in recent years, writers have been inclined to protray detectives with a greater sense of realism and no one so than Vera Stanhope. An older woman, who is less likely to move with the times, struggles with relationships but truly cares about her job and cases. Not perfect, but infinitely relatable.
This time around, Vera and her team of Joe, Holly (Hols) and Charlie are investigating the murder of a former celebrity on 'Holy Island' aka Lindisfarne. The victim was attending a regular reunion with a group of old school friends when he apparently committed suicide and our heroes are called to investigate due to the victim's celebrity. Of course, nothing is straightforward in Vera's world and it is soon discovered that he was murdered. Pretty quickly the body count rises and with mounting pressure, elements of 'Me Too' and potential religious potents, Vera and the team are are in serious rush to uncover the truth, leading to a terrible tragedy.
To say any more, would require giving any the plotline but suffice to say, that much of the investigation involves the observation of relationships and interactions between the suspects and undercovering the truth about past events. Definitely a strong addition to the series.

This is almost a ‘locked room’ mystery. Set on Lindisfarne or Holy Island which is cut off from the mainland at high tide and a limited group of suspects. The brooding but glorious Northumberland scenery adds so much to the story, and the scene is set for a mystery which encompasses Forty years going back to a mysterious death deemed accidental at the time. It is great to be back with Vera’s team, solving a complex puzzle with very few clues. It is a gripping, well crafted plot building to a totally unexpected finale. All the characters are beautifully developed whether police or suspects and Joe and Vera’s relationship a delight to read. Having finished it, I now want to read it again. It is that good!

Every 5 years a small group of old school friends return to Holy Island to celebrate that friendship, as well as the loss of one of those friends. It’s 50 years now since this friendship formed, They’ve all changed but still feel the need to return. When one of the group is found hanging, the police, in the shape of Vera Stanhope, take charge.

Vera is such a well known character now, having been transformed by the long running TV series, that I almost expected this to be cliched, but it really isn’t. Veras character has been so well established over the years, we feel that we know her, but this still seems fresh. Initially this also seems an easy case to solve, with any suspects being unable to leave the island when the tides are in, limiting lines of enquiries. But as the book, and the case progresses, we get more possible murderers, for more and different reasons. A really gripping, and tragic, read. Despite Veras old school methods, she still manages to get her man (or woman), as well as teach the younger generation of police officers along the way. Having been to Holy Island recently, it’s lovely to read about it in this way. Excellent read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

An idyllic setting, historical death, current murders, three dimensional characters, and if that wasn’t enough, the indomitable Inspector Vera with her steadfast team combine to present yet another gripping mystery based in the beautiful area of Northumberland and Holy Island. Always true to herself yet in the addictive rush of yet another case to solve, this character is superbly outlined to give readers a perfect if multi flawed. heroine. Slowly as the body count rises, suspicious facts come to light and the back stories of characters revealed the reader cannot fail to be drawn into this multi faceted mystery. Difficult to express fully the delight this author delivers in not only a complex mystery but the research in the truly beautiful and historical history of the setting. Many thanks to author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to enjoy this 5 Star read.