Status
Available
Series
Genres
Description
Fiction. Mystery. HTML: "Janine Birkett's marvelous narration enhances this riveting mystery, part of the Vera Stanhope series, set on the majestic northeast coast of England...Listeners will appreciate Birkett's handling of the dry humor, particularly Stanhope's" �?? AudioFile Magazine From Ann Cleeves, winner of the CWA Diamond Dagger Award, comes The Seagull. A visit to her local prison brings DI Vera Stanhope face to face with an old enemy: former detective superintendent, and now inmate, John Brace. Brace was convicted of corruption and involvement in the death of a gamekeeper �?? and Vera played a key part in his downfall. Now, Brace promises Vera information about the disappearance of Robbie Marshall, a notorious wheeler-dealer who disappeared in the mid-nineties, if she will look out for his daughter and grandchildren. He tells her that Marshall is dead, and that his body is buried close to St Mary's Island in Whitley Bay. However, when a search team investigates, officers find not one skeleton, but two. This cold case case takes Vera back in time, and very close to home, as Brace and Marshall, along with a mysterious stranger known only as 'the Prof', were close friends of Hector, her father. Together, they were the 'Gang of Four', regulars at a glamorous nightclub called The Seagull. Hector had been one of the last people to see Marshall alive. As the past begins to collide dangerously with the present, Vera confronts her prejudices and unwanted memories to dig out the truth . . . The Seagull is a searing new audiobook by Sunday Times bestselling author Ann Cleeves, about corruption deep in the heart of a community, and fragile, and fracturing, family relationships… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member diana.hauser
I have one word to describe Ann Cleeves' latest book, THE SEAGULL, and that is perfection.
THE SEAGULL features DCI Vera Stanhope and her intelligent team. (They really shine in this title.) The complex characters; the sense of place/location; the intelligence and personal growth of the team; the
I didn’t want the book to end as I was savoring every word. Thank you for this wonderful addition to the ‘Vera’ series.
THE SEAGULL features DCI Vera Stanhope and her intelligent team. (They really shine in this title.) The complex characters; the sense of place/location; the intelligence and personal growth of the team; the
Show More
well-paced plot; the insights into Vera’s personality; and the haunting presence of Hector as if he was stalking Vera from the grave add up to a perfect mystery title. I liked the cover art, also - very striking with the seagull cutout and the lighthouse. I didn’t want the book to end as I was savoring every word. Thank you for this wonderful addition to the ‘Vera’ series.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Beamis12
I have read and loved this author's Shetland series for years. Only recently, with her book before this one, have I read her Vera series. Only took one book to hook me with this series, and these characters.
This mystery, has Vera investigating and old crime, but it soon has new implications. Ties
I know this is a series on TV, but I think my imagination does s better job, and I am always hesitant to watch something that may change the way I view either the characters or the series. If you enjoy police procedurals you should definitely try this series.
ARC from Netgalley.
This mystery, has Vera investigating and old crime, but it soon has new implications. Ties
Show More
to someone very close to Vera, this outing hits close to home. Just love Vera herself, described as large, a little ungainly and very determined. She thinks herself irreplaceable, and it convinced her team can't handle things without her. She is unassuming, just a regular kind of person, and people just want to talk to her, and she takes full advantage of this natural talent. The other three members of her team are also interesting, varied in age and talents. This is a well written procedural, with another enticing location, Whiteby Bay. I know this is a series on TV, but I think my imagination does s better job, and I am always hesitant to watch something that may change the way I view either the characters or the series. If you enjoy police procedurals you should definitely try this series.
ARC from Netgalley.
Show Less
LibraryThing member smik
Vera's boss sends her off to the local prison to give a talk to some geriatric inmates. There she comes face to face with John Brace, a bent copper whom she helped put away. Brace says he has some information about a cold case, in return for Vera visiting his daughter. Vera finds she has a lot of
Brace is true to his word and tells Vera where to find the body of a man who disappeared some years before. But there they find two bodies, not one, and then Patty's ex-husband is killed.
In this story I particularly liked the fact that Vera was prepared to go the extra mile, and that she expected her team to do so as well. When it all comes together at the end, it has been a very satisfying journey.
When you read this novel, be sure to read the author's note in the final pages about the setting.
Show More
sympathy for the daughter Patty who in reality is not doing all that well. There are some aspects of Patty's story that pricks Vera's curiosity, particularly about what happened to Patty's mother who was a prostitute.Brace is true to his word and tells Vera where to find the body of a man who disappeared some years before. But there they find two bodies, not one, and then Patty's ex-husband is killed.
In this story I particularly liked the fact that Vera was prepared to go the extra mile, and that she expected her team to do so as well. When it all comes together at the end, it has been a very satisfying journey.
When you read this novel, be sure to read the author's note in the final pages about the setting.
Show Less
LibraryThing member tottman
The Seagull finds Inspector DI Vera Stanhope headed to a local prison to give a talk to a bunch of old prisoners on the impact their crimes have on society in this eighth installment in the Vera Stanhope series by Ann Cleeves. While there the former detective superintendent whom Vera helped put in
Vera does so and Brace comes through with the location of a grave site. When Vera and her team investigate, not only do they find Robbie Marshall, but another body as well. Now Vera must discover what happened to both Robbie as well as the body of a woman who may be Patty’s mother, Mary-Frances Escuola. The case digs up uncomfortable memories about Vera’s own father with whom she had a complicated relationship. It also involves a former ritzy nightclub called The Seagull. The investigation stirs up a lot of old sentiments and when a fresh body turns up, Vera is certain that someone wants to make sure the crime remains unsolved, even after 20 years.
This is an outstanding mystery and it’s easy to see why Vera Stanhope is in her eighth installment. Vera is a wonderful character full of quirks, intelligence, and dogged determination with an almost folksy way about her. The team she leads is made up of a nice mix of experience and youthfulness with each team member bringing a unique skill set to the investigation. Each of their individual talents plays a role in solving the case, with Vera sending them to track down various leads while she herself works on unraveling the whole thing. Vera pulls at the strings until the answers come tumbling out and she is able to wrap things up in a thrilling showdown.
Cleeves has created a clever and compelling mystery that will pique your curiosity. Even better, her characters are uniformly well-developed and entertaining. I absolutely loved spending time with Vera and her team as well as all the others encountered in the course of the investigation. Patty is a particularly good character who is portrayed sympathetically and makes you root for her.
The audiobook is narrated by Janine Birkett who does award-worthy work here. She perfectly captures the character of Vera and brings her to life. Her voice and inflection fill out the description on the page into a fully realized character. The voices of the other characters are likewise distinct and convey a sense of their own confidence or lack thereof, as well as whatever inner turmoil they are experiencing at the time. There are subtle changes that indicate how the same person interacts differently when talking to different characters. Her pacing is perfect for the story. I highly recommend this book and further recommend the audio version. Long-time fans will enjoy and new fans will be able to jump right in without having to have read the earlier books.
I was fortunate to receive a copy of this audiobook from the publisher.
Show More
prison, John Brace, asks to speak to her. Brace was a member of the “gang of four” which included Vera’s father. Brace is concerned about his daughter Patty and grandchildren, and if Vera will look in on them, he will provide Vera with information on another member of the gang of four who disappeared 20 years earlier, Robbie Marshall.Vera does so and Brace comes through with the location of a grave site. When Vera and her team investigate, not only do they find Robbie Marshall, but another body as well. Now Vera must discover what happened to both Robbie as well as the body of a woman who may be Patty’s mother, Mary-Frances Escuola. The case digs up uncomfortable memories about Vera’s own father with whom she had a complicated relationship. It also involves a former ritzy nightclub called The Seagull. The investigation stirs up a lot of old sentiments and when a fresh body turns up, Vera is certain that someone wants to make sure the crime remains unsolved, even after 20 years.
This is an outstanding mystery and it’s easy to see why Vera Stanhope is in her eighth installment. Vera is a wonderful character full of quirks, intelligence, and dogged determination with an almost folksy way about her. The team she leads is made up of a nice mix of experience and youthfulness with each team member bringing a unique skill set to the investigation. Each of their individual talents plays a role in solving the case, with Vera sending them to track down various leads while she herself works on unraveling the whole thing. Vera pulls at the strings until the answers come tumbling out and she is able to wrap things up in a thrilling showdown.
Cleeves has created a clever and compelling mystery that will pique your curiosity. Even better, her characters are uniformly well-developed and entertaining. I absolutely loved spending time with Vera and her team as well as all the others encountered in the course of the investigation. Patty is a particularly good character who is portrayed sympathetically and makes you root for her.
The audiobook is narrated by Janine Birkett who does award-worthy work here. She perfectly captures the character of Vera and brings her to life. Her voice and inflection fill out the description on the page into a fully realized character. The voices of the other characters are likewise distinct and convey a sense of their own confidence or lack thereof, as well as whatever inner turmoil they are experiencing at the time. There are subtle changes that indicate how the same person interacts differently when talking to different characters. Her pacing is perfect for the story. I highly recommend this book and further recommend the audio version. Long-time fans will enjoy and new fans will be able to jump right in without having to have read the earlier books.
I was fortunate to receive a copy of this audiobook from the publisher.
Show Less
LibraryThing member PhilipJHunt
My primary interest in Cleves' crime novels is her characters. This latest in the Vera series brings a familiar bunch in familiar surroundings. Without the lives of the characters, this would be an overlong read (416 pages) as Cleves' plotting meanders down many dead ends and throws up a few red
Show More
herrings until finally in a late chapter flourish ALL IS MADE CLEAR. In this book there's a rather convenient deux machina in her resolution that I found unsatisfying. Otherwise, the usual easy read with interesting characters and well-evoked Northumbria. Show Less
LibraryThing member lamour
First introduced to Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope via the TV series Vera, I decided to read one of the novels written by her creator, Ann Cleeves. I was not disappointed as the novel was immensely readable and plot very complicated.
While at Warkworth prison to give a talk to some prisoners, she
Brace is trying to help his daughter and asks Vera's assistance but it also seems that one of the bodies might be Brace's missing girlfriend and mother of his daughter. Then there is the connection to Hector, Vera's father, that brings back many bad memories of her childhood.
As the investigation progresses, the members of Vera;s team struggle with their personal problems while using their strengths to solve a very complicated case.
While at Warkworth prison to give a talk to some prisoners, she
Show More
is asked by prisoner John Brace to speak to her. As he was an old friend of her father, Vera is reluctant but goes to see him. He tells her he can solve a murder case for in exchange for a reduction in his sentence. When her team goes to the site, they find two bodies, not one.Brace is trying to help his daughter and asks Vera's assistance but it also seems that one of the bodies might be Brace's missing girlfriend and mother of his daughter. Then there is the connection to Hector, Vera's father, that brings back many bad memories of her childhood.
As the investigation progresses, the members of Vera;s team struggle with their personal problems while using their strengths to solve a very complicated case.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Carol420
I love the TV series. If you have started the Vera Stanhope journey with Vera portrayed by Brenda Blethyn it may take you a few books to come to terms with the way Vera is portrayed in this venue...but don't give up...she will grow on you. [The Seagull] is, in my opinion the best of all of the
Show More
books. If you really want to enter Vera's world and find out what makes her so unique then read this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member bugs5
I have enjoyed all of the Vera Stanhope mysteries. This one begins with Vera meeting a former colleague who is now in jail. This former cop has information about a dead body so of course Vera has to investigate.
The character of Vera is what keeps me coming back to these books and the strength of
The character of Vera is what keeps me coming back to these books and the strength of
Show More
the writing. Show Less
LibraryThing member mbc2
Just love all the Vera books.
LibraryThing member edwardsgt
One of the few Vera stories I'd seen on tv but I still remembered very little about it. The title refers to a (fictional) club in Whitley Bay around which the plot revolves. A corrupt former colleague of Vera in prison reveals the existence of a buried body in a culvert and sets her off on a
Show More
byzantine plot to discover who when and why. Show Less
LibraryThing member rmarcin
Although this is book 8 of the Vera Stanhope series, it is the first book I read. I did feel like I didn't have all the background of the characters since I hadn't started at the beginning, but I felt that I could still follow it.
Vera visits the prison to deliver a talk and an inmate John Brace, a
I enjoyed this novel and will definitely read more.
Vera visits the prison to deliver a talk and an inmate John Brace, a
Show More
former cop, asks her for a favor. If Vera will look after his daughter and grandchildren, he will tell her the location of the body of Robbie Marshall, a former friend of her dad, and one who was mixed up in crime. When they dig up the body, they find a surprise. As Vera delves into the back story of Robbie and The Seagull hotel, there is more than expected. I enjoyed this novel and will definitely read more.
Show Less
Awards
Theakstons Old Peculier Prize (Longlist — 2018)