English Mysteries Club discussion

Here is the thread to discuss The Crow Trap by Ann Cleeves, which has won the poll to decide our more contemporary English mystery group read in June. It is the first in Ann Cleeves's detective series about Vera Stanhope.

Who plans to join in with this one?

Read this years ago & loved it. And now I’ve read every book in the Vera series. Ann Cleeves can’t write fast enough for me 🤗

I read a GR giveaway edition of this book in 2017. Here is my non spoiler review. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Hello, Jean! Having nominated the book, I can't absolutely miss it! I found a cheap kindle edition and so in June I will be ready to start it.
I've never watched the series Vera, but I'm so curious about the books.

I started listening to this on my morning walk. So far, so good.

I already have this book (purchased a box set of 8 of the Vera books when they for sale at a very good price) so will try and join in the group read.

I'm also working my way through the Inspector Ramsay series (still a few to read), which she wrote before Vera , and have also read all the books (that have so far been published) in the new series of the Detective Matthew Venn books that she's writing. I haven't read any of the George & Molly series of books yet.

We're off to a good start ... the official start date is only a few hours away (depending on where you live!)

Thank for nominating this one Miriam, and your recommendation of it, Ann and Thomas.

Brenda and Annie - and everyone who is about to start - I hope you enjoy this month's read 😊

So who else is starting this one?

I'm in.

I'm excited! I'm going to see if my library has it!

I've now finished reading this. Gave a 4* rating, but as yet I have not written a review.
A good read. Even though I'd previously watched the tv adaptation years ago, I couldn't remember exactly who the killer was. However, once I'd got into the book, I did remember who it was, but not their reasons.

Who else is reading this one?

Oh good, Piuh!

I’m about halfway through and I’m enjoying it. Lots of characters but we’ve finally met Vera!

Thanks to the person who nominated this one. New to me author (and a series!).

I’m about one third of the way through. I like it and enjoy the characterization, but I’m finding it somewhat “dark”. Detective Vera has now come on board and she adds humor, so I’m enjoying it more.

My library copy arrived, and I am starting it this morning!

That's good!

I just finished it. I liked it and didn’t anticipate the ending. So many characters to keep track of but I certainly got to ‘know’ most of them. I don’t want to say too much for those who haven’t finished. Enjoy!

I read this book in December 2021-January 2022 and really enjoyed the book. I think I was most surprised in how Insp. Vera Stanhope is described — overweight, slovenly in dress and very much ugly. I'm used to overweight characters in mysteries (just look to Reginald Hill's Dalziel) but her physical looks were so stressed that it took me back.

Fortunately, Cleeves did stressed just how smart she is and how dogged! But I wonder if Cleeves described her as such because it makes us overlook her looks — which frankly is hard to do when you have a curvy and beautiful model character in a mystery.

Admittedly, I've since been watching the BBC series with Brenda Blethyn and I think her portrayal is so smart and clever, its amazing; she's frumpy and short tempered but it all works.

Meanwhile, I found the mystery and detailed characters really good and while I thought the beginning dragged a bit, it gradually built to a very good multilayered and complex story. The writing is strong and Vera has become one of my favorite characters.

The Crow Trap is my first novel by Ann Cleeves. I am just short of halfway through, and have gotten very interested in it. Partway though the second section about Anne, I found myself putting the book aside. I persisted, and the section about Grace has had me pushing forward steadily. I am still waiting to meet Vera, though, so I expected a great deal of actin is still to come.

I have just started today. I am on holiday in Northumberland at the moment so it seemed appropriate!

I finished The Crow Trap this evening. Vera's a great character, and overall I enjoyed the slow burn on the plot. I'd read another in the series! I will check to see if my library has the screen version on DVD.

I started it this very morning as an ebook. I really hope to enjoy it.

Just finished - a solid 4* and an excellent beginning to the series. I shall definitely continue to read these books.

I received my paperback edition today, because I couldn't stand the ebook. I'm at page 104 and I'm quite liking it, though it is a bit slow. My favourite character so far is Rachael.

Still reading, I'm at 70%.
The pace is slow, but it's not boring. I like the book more than the tv show.

Miriam wrote: "Still reading, I'm at 70%.
The pace is slow, but it's not boring. I like the book more than the tv show."

so good ! Maybe I will try it in the future :-)

Finished!
I agree with those who rated it 4 stars. I arrived clueless to the end and I didn't guess who the culprit was, though I had some suspicion. I don't like very much procedurals, but this one was really good.

We move on to another group read officially today, but I'll leave this current for a few days to allow everyone to catch up 😊

This is my first Ann Cleeves book that includes the character of Vera. I was surprised at how late in the book she is introduced into the story. My favorite thing about the book was that I could not guess who the killer was!
Thanks for this suggestion as a group read!

That was Miriam! Thanks Miriam 😊

You're very welcome, Jean!

Archiving but leaving open for further comments.