Crime writer Martin Edwards' top three books by Ann Cleeves
'When I read her first two novels, I was captivated at once': the award-winning author and President of the Detection Club on why he loves the work of fellow crime writer, Ann Cleeves.
Close on forty years ago, I was puzzling over how to turn my lifelong dream of becoming a crime writer into reality. While reviewing mysteries for a magazine, I studied what other young writers were doing. When I read Ann Cleeves’ first two novels, I was captivated at once – even though they were set in the world of birdwatching, about which I knew nothing! Loving the way Ann characterised people and evoked place, I became one of her earliest fans.
Later, we met and became friends, and it’s been thrilling to see her develop into one of the world’s leading crime writers. Although it took a long time for her career to take off, the quality was there right from the start. The fact that her early novel A Day in the Death of Dorothea Cassidy recently became a Sunday Times bestseller speaks for itself – yet I was one of the very few people to review the first edition, way back in 1992!
To this day, I remain gripped by her command of what she calls ‘human geography’ – how where you come from impacts on who you are and what you do. Her insights into human nature continue to add light and shade to her stories, wherever they are set. Here are three of my favourite books by her.
Burial of Ghosts
by Ann Cleeves
Burial of Ghosts is an old favourite because here Ann decided to experiment, with a standalone narrated by twenty-five-year-old Lizzie Bartholomew, and the risk-taking pays off brilliantly. Lizzie is a troubled soul (‘My nightmares feature knives and blades and blood’) who has a brief fling in Morocco with unexpected consequences. Her lover subsequently dies of cancer, but in his will he asks her to undertake a strange commission: ‘to trace Thomas Mariner’ and give him money. Soon Lizzie finds herself forced to confront terrifying ghosts from her own past. . .
Telling Tales
by Ann Cleeves
Telling Tales is a story with a dark, Gothic flavour that I loved. I was also delighted because it brought back Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope, a wonderful character who first appeared years earlier in The Crow Trap, but who here takes centre stage in a novel about the stories people tell. Ten years ago, Jeanie Long was charged with murdering young Abigail Mantel, and took her own life. Now fresh evidence shows that Jeanie was victim of a miscarriage of justice. Vera launches a new enquiry, uncovering dark secrets as she searches for the real killer.
Raven Black
by Ann Cleeves
I remember being excited when Ann told me about her plans for a new crime novel set on Shetland featuring a policeman of Spanish descent, Jimmy Perez. Her love of the islands and her understanding of the islanders’ way of life guaranteed that it would be a great read. Raven Black won the Gold Dagger and became her breakthrough novel. The story benefits from a stunning image – Fran Hunter spots a splash of colour on frozen ground, as ravens circle above. Her teenage neighbour Catherine Ross has been strangled, the fringe of her red scarf spreading out like blood on the snow. A compelling murder investigation unfolds. Great stuff. No wonder Jimmy, like Vera, became such an iconic detective.
