Telling Tales: Amazon.ca: Ann Cleeves: Books

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"'Cleeves again excels in her sense of place... A cleverly plotted psychological thriller', The Times; 'Puts Ms Cleeves in the Rendell class' Peterborough Evening Telegraph"

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It has been ten years since Jeanie Long was charged with the murder of fifteen-year-old Abigail Mantel. Now residents of the East Yorkshire village of Elvet are disturbed to hear of new evidence proving Jeanie's innocence. Abigail's killer is still at large. For one young woman, Emma Bennett, the revelation brings back haunting memories of her vibrant best friend - and of that fearful winter's day when she had discovered her body lying cold in a ditch. As Inspector Vera Stanhope makes fresh enquiries on the peninsula and villagers are hauled back to a time, they hoped to forget, tensions begin to mount. But are people afraid of the killer, or of their own guilty pasts? With each person's story revisited, the Inspector begins to suspect that some deadly secrets are threatening to unfurl ...Praise for Ann Cleeves: 'Cleeves again excels in her sense of place ...A cleverly plotted psychological thriller', - "The Times". 'Puts Ms Cleeves in the Rendell class' - "Peterborough Evening Telegraph".

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Amazon.com: 4.4 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews)

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Vera Stanhope lets nothing stand in the way of solving the crime!, Feb 4 2011

By Cathy G. Cole - Published on Amazon.com

This review is from: Telling Tales (Paperback)

First Line: Sitting at the bedroom window, Emma looks out at the night-time square.

It's been ten long years since Jeanie Long has been locked up for the murder of teenager Abigail Mantel. Ten long years, and now evidence has come forward that proves Jeanie's innocence. The villagers of Elvet on the East Yorkshire coast know this means Abigail's killer is still at large. Yorkshire police believe it best to bring in an investigative team from outside to re-open the case, and Northumbria's Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope finds herself amongst the "Yorkies" sifting through all the witnesses' stories to piece together the truth.

Stanhope finds many questions that need answers. Two of the leads on the original case left the force and are now living in the area. Both of them had seemed content with Jeanie Long's conviction. The murdered girl's father is a businessman and no better than he has to be. Even the victim's best friend seems wreathed in daydreams and unsure of what really went on ten years ago. Stanhope has her work cut out for her.

But if there's anyone with the patience to get to the bottom of this case, it's Vera Stanhope. A middle-aged, homely woman, she's used to being in the background and allowed to listen and observe. When she finds the loose thread of a clue, she worries and worries at it until it's pulled loose, and she follows wherever it leads. She is quite simply a joy to watch as the case unfolds.

Ann Cleeves is one of the most talented crime fiction writers today. Her atmospheric settings bring in the natural world and tease the imagination as her plots twist and turn-- and her characterizations are brilliant, never hitting a false note. If you've never tried a book written by Ann Cleeves, I strongly urge you to do so!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars British author is terrific!, Jan 10 2011

By Denise Gottlieb - Published on Amazon.com

This review is from: Telling Tales (Paperback)

This not to be missed second book in the series. It is a wild ride with a twist that will catch you by surprise.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars First-rate psychological suspense!, Jun 20 2011

By Kai Roberts "mysterymaven" - Published on Amazon.com

This review is from: Telling Tales (Paperback)

I'm a big fan of Ann Cleeves' mysteries. I started out with her Shetland Island series and soon became hooked with her writing style. It's clean, crisp, and descriptive. Her characters are realistically drawn and she possesses a rare psychological insight into their motivations. The reader is treated to a glimpse of the "inner life" of each of her major characters. Vera Stanhope, the detective in Telling Tales (book 2 in her Vera series), is a refreshing change from most literary detectives -- male or female. Vera is as sharp as they come; a physically and psychologically formidable woman who exudes tremendous confidence despite her rather bizarre appearance. Tormented by a severe and obvious case of eczema, she does herself no favors by seeming to cull her clothes from what Oxfam refuses to accept. She's a vision of garish color and yards of polyester -- her "uniform" is unchanging, despite the season. No one quite knows what to make of her initially. But woe to the "perp" who underestimates her. Cleeves accords Vera the respect she deserves and brings the reader along on an in-depth ride through an intricate and suspenseful plot and a wonderful array of characters. Like the Crow Trap (Vera 1), Telling Tales is organized in an interesting way. The chapters are grouped into several Parts, which present the story from very different perspectives. Though at times this organizational device seems to move the story along laterally, I find it a fascinating way of viewing the same event from different participants' points of view. Despite the resulting slowing of pace, there is action and suspense strewn throughout. The real strength of Telling Tales is in its psychological insight. It conjures up a kind of in-depth tension that more "action"-oriented works often lack. I recommend this book wholeheartedly. (It's also important to know that you don't have to have read The Crow Trap before enjoying Telling Tales -- but if you like one of them, I'm sure you'll enjoy reading the other, as well.)

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 5 reviews 4.4 out of 5 stars