Review of "The Rising Tide: A Vera Stanhope Novel" by Ann Cleeves

Ann Cleeves is well known for her popular Shetland Island mystery series, featuring Detective Jimmy Perez and her Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope mystery series, set in northern England. In this 10th novel in the Vera Stanhope series, the intrepid sleuth investigates a suspicious death on Holy Island, a tourist destination off the west coast of Scotland. Holy Island has the distinction of being approachable only during certain hours, at low tide, when the causeway is accessible.


Holy Island


Causeway to Holy Island

Fifty years ago a group of teenage school friends participated in a retreat called 'Only Connect' on Holy Island. The event, led by a young teacher named Judith Marshall, resulted in all night drinking, deep discussions, and exploration of the students' feelings. The pupils - Philip Robson, Annie Laidler, Daniel Rede, Rick Kelsall, Isobel Hall, Kenneth Hampton and Charlotte Thomas - bonded with one another and agreed to have a reunion on Holy Island every five years.



By the time of the first reunion - when the participants were in their early twenties - Rick and Charlotte were married, and Annie and Daniel were married and mourning the recent loss of an infant. Sadly, tragedy struck the reunion event when Isobel's car was caught by a high tide and she drowned. From then on, Isobel's death has haunted many of the friends.



It's now fifty years since 'Only Connect' and the reunion participants are well into their sixties. Annie and Daniel are long since divorced, as are Charlotte and Rick....who has the reputation of being a playboy Don Juan. Philip is an Anglican priest; Annie is co-owner of a local deli; and Kenneth - now married to a woman named Louise - is succumbing to dementia.

The first night of the reunion consists of the usual eating, drinking and talking.....



......but things take a drastic turn the next morning when Annie finds Rick hanging in his room.



Rick's death is initially called a suicide, amid speculation that Rick was depressed about losing his broadcaster job because of sexual harassment charges. Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope suspects a wrongful death, however.....



.....and the medical examiner confirms the fact that Rick was murdered.



The obvious suspects are the reunion participants followed by Rick's supervisors, co-workers, acquaintances, and so on. Vera and her team interview and re-interview people who knew Rick and some surprising secrets are unearthed. Another murder occurs soon afterward, and Vera suspects the deaths - possibly including Isobel's demise 45 years ago - are connected. Thus Vera pokes and probes and eventually exposes the truth.

It's fun to see Vera interact with her team, especially Detective Sergeant Joe Ashworth......



.....and Detective Constable Holly Clarke, who vie for Vera's attention like contentious siblings.



Vera herself - a chunky woman with a hearty appetite who's totally unconcerned about fashion - is my favorite character. Ann Cleeve's Vera Stanhope books are the basis for the TV series 'Vera', in which the Detective Inspector is wonderfully played by Brenda Blethyn.


Brenda Blethyn plays Vera

This is an entertaining mystery that leads to a satisfying denouement.

Thanks to Netgalley, Ann Cleeves, and Macmillan Audio for a copy of the book.

Rating: 3.5 stars