This is the first book I have read by Ann Cleeves, and although the main character (Vera Stanhope) was the subject of a TV series relatively recently, I did not know this until part way through reading the book and therefore, did not watch it. As such I had no preconceptions about the book at all. I do quite like a pacey crime novel, especially ones which are part of a series, so when it came up as a Deal of the Day on Audible, I was keen to give it a go. 
 It was not at all what I was expecting! 
 I was imagining something akin to a female Simon Serrailer, really dark and gritty, but this is quite different. It's like one of those ITV crime dramas (tick!) that have an edge of surreal comedy to them.... nods and winks and deep, dark secrets at every turn. Dead bodies popping up left, right and centre around a community of self styled "retired hedonists" who get plastered together every Friday night. REALLY?? Odd, but strangely quite good. 
 Bit heavy on the North East stereotyping, lots of "Why Aye Pet" and "Howay Man" (and before anyone strikes me down, my origins are Gateshead!) and if we were told that Vera was "fat and ugly" once, we were told it too many times. Yes, ok, get the fact that she's not a bombshell. 
 I did enjoy it though, and it didn't run out of puff, came to a satisfactory conclusion though I wonder if the series is intended to be slightly tongue in cheek and was always written with TV in mind, as it has the whiff of it right from the outset. 
 Perfectly adequate, but not setting the world alight.