Three very different women come together to complete an environmental survey on the Northumberland countryside. Three women who, in some way or another, know the meaning of betrayal... For team leader Rachael Lambert the project is the project opportunity to rebuild her confidence after a double-betrayal by her lover and boss, Peter Kemp. Botanist Ann Preece, on the other hand, sees it as a chance to indulge in a little deception of her own. And there is Grace Fulwell, a strange, uncommunicative young women with plenty of her own secrets to hide...
When Rachael arrives at the cottage, however, she is horrified to discover the body of her friend Bella Furness. Bella, it appears has committed suicide - a verdict Rachael finds impossible to accept.
Only when the next death occurs does a fourth women enter the picture - the unconventional Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope, who must piece together the truth from these women's tangled lives in The Crow Trap.
Written in a completely different style to that of the Shetland series Ann Cleeves introduces to one of her other well known characters Vera Stanhope. The Crow Trap is the first in the series of books and is written in 3 parts over 537 pages.
Part one introduces you to the three main characters Rachael Lambert, Ann Preece and Grace Fulwell. You get to know each of these women and the trials and tribulations of their lives and their perception of their other house mates. For some they may find that becoming so involved in the lives of these women is not necessarily relevant to the crux of the story but I actually preferred getting to know each of the characters as individuals before the introducing DI Stanhope. At the end of Part one a crime has been committed and a body found.
Part two brings in DI Vera Stanhope to investigate the crime, who comes across as a female version of Columbo. Now he came across as the bumbling detective but we all know behind that persona was a very intuitive man. In part two Ann Cleeves introduces the wider characters, each has something to gain from the demise and be responsible for the murder of not one but two.
Part three we start and get to know more about Vera and her background from her turbulent relationship with her father to Vera herself. She continues to investigate the murders that have taken place and gradually puts together pieces of the jigsaw. By this stage in the book I think you will probably have your own suspects and its more about finding out whether you are right or whether a curve ball has been thrown right at the end....
I have watched some of the tv series Vera but don't remember seeing this one which was better in away as it meant I didn't have preconceived ideas on how the book would go. I really enjoyed reading The Crow Trap and will definitely be reading further books in this and the Shetland series of novels, for now though I will move onto one or two other authors for a while.
Part one introduces you to the three main characters Rachael Lambert, Ann Preece and Grace Fulwell. You get to know each of these women and the trials and tribulations of their lives and their perception of their other house mates. For some they may find that becoming so involved in the lives of these women is not necessarily relevant to the crux of the story but I actually preferred getting to know each of the characters as individuals before the introducing DI Stanhope. At the end of Part one a crime has been committed and a body found.
Part two brings in DI Vera Stanhope to investigate the crime, who comes across as a female version of Columbo. Now he came across as the bumbling detective but we all know behind that persona was a very intuitive man. In part two Ann Cleeves introduces the wider characters, each has something to gain from the demise and be responsible for the murder of not one but two.
Part three we start and get to know more about Vera and her background from her turbulent relationship with her father to Vera herself. She continues to investigate the murders that have taken place and gradually puts together pieces of the jigsaw. By this stage in the book I think you will probably have your own suspects and its more about finding out whether you are right or whether a curve ball has been thrown right at the end....
I have watched some of the tv series Vera but don't remember seeing this one which was better in away as it meant I didn't have preconceived ideas on how the book would go. I really enjoyed reading The Crow Trap and will definitely be reading further books in this and the Shetland series of novels, for now though I will move onto one or two other authors for a while.
Mx
I haven't read anything by Ann Cleeves, nor have I watched any of the TV series. It's interesting how different authors choose to introduce their characters, I think this way, getting to know them well before launching into the actual story, works well for me.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't read any of her books either Jo until I spotted both the Shetland and Vera Stanhope books on one of the kindle daily deals. I've always enjoyed the Shetland series but came to it rather late and I've only caught some the Vera series as they are not quite D's cup of tea and there are only so many detective drama's I can make him watch. I will be downloading more of her books in the future though as I certainly enjoyed these two and they were completely different styles of writing which I liked.
DeleteMitzi
Although a popular TV series, I haven't seen any of the Vera series.
ReplyDeleteInteresting to read your review here though - thank you.
All the best Jan
Thanks Jan.
DeleteMitzi
Always appreciate book referrals. We really like the TV series Vera, unfortunately here in Canada (or this part of Canada) we get it hit & miss. If it wasn't so darn expensive I'd purchase the DVD collection - series 8 was just released. I'll check the library later for this book.
ReplyDeleteThat's a shame. I do like the series but don't often get to watch them so I thought I would try the books.
DeleteMitzi
I've never seen any of the TV episodes but I do like Brenda Blethyn.
ReplyDeleteI like it when the author gives a good well rounded description of the characters, makes them all the more real.
Lisa x