The Crow Trap - Ann Cleeves

The first encounter with the formidable Inspector Vera Stanhope

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After raving about Cleeves' Inspector Vera Stanhope series in a blog a few weeks ago I was inspired to re-read the lot, in order this time! (Don't judge me, I know its bad that I've never actually read them in order but I am rectifying the situation now!) I love the way Ann Cleeves introduces her stalwart detective in this, her debut appearance, it is so different from many other crime novels I have read and a contributing factor in why I enjoy this novel so much.

Baikie's Cottage is an isolated countryside haven in the North Pennines, where three women each of whom are familiar with betrayal, have come together to complete an environmental impact survey for a proposed new quarry in the area. Rachael, Anne and Grace all have something to hide, but when Rachael discovers an apparent suicide and not long after this another body is found, questions must be asked and their secrets uncovered. Enter Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope, she might be a little rough around the edges and unconventional in her methods but it is down to her to untangle these women's lives and get to the truth behind the multiple deaths. Is the quarry really worth killing for, or is there something more sinister going on?

Considering this is our first meeting with Vera, it is surprising that we don't actually get introduced until almost halfway through the book, before this she doesn't really feature at all. I can imagine for a lot of readers this could be quite irritating, but I love the way Cleeves has cleverly allowed us the opportunity to delve into the lives and minds of the three female protagonists of the novel; Rachael, Anne and Grace before we start searching for our killer. Each of the women gets their own dedicated collection of pages, telling their perspective of the days leading up to the deaths and providing their individual backstories, giving the reader a strong foundation for the investigation in a unique and engaging way. When Vera is finally introduced she is everything I remembered and loved! She is headstrong and unapologetic, as well as shrewdly calculating and fiercely private. While at first she seems unlikeable, as the investigation unfolds her intelligence, confidence and heart show her to be a great and admirable detective.

Even in this early outing of Inspector Stanhope, Cleeves proved her unquestionable prowess at offering up multiple credible suspects with complex motives all brilliantly and painstakingly interlinked. The reader is inundated with possibilities, which I love because it makes uncovering the truth so much more difficult and gratifying! The actual reveal and close of this first novel is quite abrupt and blunt, which may at first seem unsatisfying but I think it perfectly mirrors Vera's emerging personality and wraps up the first novel flawlessly.

I loved going back and re-meeting Inspector Stanhope for the 'first time', and I can't wait to follow her character development as I work my way through the rest of the books. Prepare yourself for more gushing about Ann Cleeves in the future!

H x