Starting a new ‘Vera’ book is like catching up with an old friend who you haven’t seen for a while. This is exactly what Ann Cleeves is brilliant at. There is no need to take ourselves out of any comfort zone as our author actually takes us into a familiarity that has echoes for every reader.
The Rising Tide is a complex case involving the murder of one of a group of friends. Alarm bells ring because a death occurred many years previously involving the same group of friends, at the same place. Forty years ago, a school trip led by a bold, young teacher sees this group of 16-year-old fertile young minds being encouraged to show just who they are, and where they intend to go in life. The strength of the experience and bonds formed led to the group meeting every five years for a reunion. The author takes each person and deftly ages them.
We meet them at 16 and we see what life had in store for each of them. We learn how a death, long ago, during the first reunion has affected them. There are secrets and connections. But we need Vera’s help to see why things turned out the way they did. No-one believes a decades-old death can be linked to a current murder, but Vera’s instincts are strong. Workplace harassment by an older television celebrity adds a neat subplot as well as a current theme to the story. The ending gives Vera cause for self-reflection.
An excellent read for first timers and avid fans alike.
Reviewed by Alison Logie
0 Comments