Vera Stanhope Books in Order

This reading order guide provides the complete list of Vera Stanhope books in order, from the very first to the latest, so you won’t miss anything!

About the Vera Stanhope Series

The British author, Ann Cleeves, from Herefordshire wrote the Vera Stanhope series, she was building a legacy in the crime fiction and mystery genre that would go on to be celebrated by readers and critics alike. Coming from Pan MacMillan, these novels follow the work and emotional rollercoaster of Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope who feels like a real person from the get-go, and is far from being perfect. But still, she’s got brains, guts, and sometimes gets impatient and doesn’t let people get close to her. Well-known for being a northern English police woman, Vera is guided by her strong sense of justice and intuitive understanding of human nature, making her a character that people can’t get enough of. The real appeal of the series lies in the exploration of quiet village life, concealed secrets and troubled relationships, and how the past can affect the present. The very first book, The Crow Trap, was released in ’99 and took readers on a dark, emotional ride in the wild landscape of Northumberland, where lies, guilt and fear start to boil to the surface. Telling Tales in ’00 moves to a small East Yorkshire village and digs up old accusations, false justice and buried truths that haunt everyone involved. Each and every one of these cases not only puts Vera’s detective skills to the test, but also forces her to face uncomfortable home truths, never back down. The books rapidly gained popularity in England and further afield and, thanks to the television series, starring Brenda Blethyn as Vera, the character went on to be known to an even bigger audience. The novels, however, are what is at the heart of the story, and their readers love them for their measured tension, intense atmosphere, and genuine human characters, and for anyone who enjoys intelligent mysteries, emotional depth and a powerhouse of a woman, the Vera Stanhope series is definitely a treat.