*Winner of the 2017 Crime Writers' Association Diamond Dagger* *Vera Stanhope will return in The Seagull* Silent Voices is the fourth book in Ann Cleeves' Vera Stanhope series - which is now a major ITV detective drama starring Brenda Blethyn, VERA. When DI Vera Stanhope finds the body of a woman in the sauna room of her local gym, she wonders briefly if, for once in her life, she's uncovered a simple death from natural causes. Then Vera spots ligature marks around the victim's throat - death is never that simple . . . Vera revels being back in charge of an investigation again, working with Sergeant Joe Ashworth to find a motive. While Joe struggles to reconcile his home life with the demands of the case, death has never made Vera feel so alive. The duo investigates the victim's past and discovers a shocking case, involving a young child. Probing the secretive community, they try to stop a killer in the present who can't seem to let go of the past . . . Also available in the Vera Stanhope series are The Crow Trap, Telling Tales, Hidden Depths and The Glass Room. Ann Cleeves' Shetland series (BBC television drama SHETLAND) contains five titles, of which Dead Water is the most recent.

The dead cannot speak . . .

About the Author
Ann Cleeves is the author of more than thirty-five critically acclaimed novels, and in 2017 was awarded the highest accolade in crime writing, the CWA Diamond Dagger. She is the creator of popular detectives Vera Stanhope, Jimmy Perez and Matthew Venn, who can be found on television in ITV's Vera, BBC One's Shetland and ITV's The Long Call respectively. The TV series and the books they are based on have become international sensations, capturing the minds of millions worldwide. Ann worked as a probation officer, bird observatory cook and auxiliary coastguard before she started writing. She is a member of 'Murder Squad', working with other British northern writers to promote crime fiction. Ann also spends her time advocating for reading to improve health and wellbeing and supporting access to books. In 2021 her Reading for Wellbeing project launched with local authorities across the North East. She lives in North Tyneside where the Vera books are set.

Reviews
All the elements of Agatha Christie at her best. -- Sharon Bolton
Millions will be familiar with Brenda Blethyn's portrayal of Vera in the television series of the same name but Cleeves' engaging prose provides a much deeper, subtler insight into an intriguing and likeable character. * Daily Express *
Cleeves is quietly carving out a reputation as the new Queen of Crime. * Sunday Mirror *



Book Information
ISBN 9781509815944
Author Ann Cleeves
Format Paperback
Page Count 400
Imprint Pan Books
Publisher Pan Macmillan
Weight(grams) 282g
Dimensions(mm) 196mm * 130mm * 28mm