Vera, Season 14, News!

Vera, Season 14, the final season, with Episode 1 today in the US on BritBox. Sadly there are ONLY TWO episodes. Episode 2 airs next week (1/9/25). I will miss this sensational show. Brenda Blethyn is a treasure! See what she has to say about leaving the show (scroll down). In the meantime, you can catch up on all past seasons on BritBox. Or, you can read all the Ann Cleeves Vera Stanhope mysteries. They are terrific! 

The long-running British crime-drama series inspired by Ann Cleeves’s Vera Stanhope novels has finally come to an end, and BritBox presents this final season. Vera: Season 14 follows DCI Vera Stanhope (Brenda Blethyn) as she takes on her last investigations for the Northumberland & City Police. From a man’s body found on the bank of the River Tyne to a young student left dead at the foot of legendary local stones The Dark Wives, these two cases are sure to culminate in a compelling and emotional finale for this beloved onscreen sleuth. 

Vera, Season 14 Episodes

Inside

Episode 1: DCI Vera Stanhope investigates the murder of a young man found near a river. As she unravels the case, a complex web of relationships, secrets, and deceit emerges, leading her to question any deeper motives behind the death.

The Dark Wives

Episode 2: A body is found near local stones called The Dark Wives. Vera investigates the murder of a bright young student, uncovering connections to her childhood memories. Past and present intertwine as she solves the case in an emotional farewell.

From Brenda Blethyn: 

“Working on Vera has been a joy from beginning to end and I’m sad to be saying Cheerio. But I am so proud of our achievements over the last fourteen years. I’ll be forever grateful to the wonderful Ann Cleeves who created Vera, and to Elaine Collins who saw fit to cast me in the role. The Producers, dream cast and crew have been fabulous and I’m going to miss them, but I won’t forget their huge talent, the camaraderie, laughter or kindness we shared nor the friendship of the people of the north east and our fans worldwide. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Brenda Blethyn on why she's leaving:

Speaking at a Q&A event held at London's BFI in November, the 78-year-old actress revealed that while she was sad to step away from the role, she hadn't spent a summer at home for 14 years. 

When asked how difficult it was to make the decision, Brenda said: "It was a big decision because I love the job, I love the people I was working with and I know they loved it too so it was a little bit of an emotional responsibility as well because if I stop, it's going to stop. "I saw on the catering list one day, just on a typical day there were 76 people, so that's all those people. I console myself with the fact that there's a big studio opening in Sunderland next year so there will be lots of jobs available," she continued. "I was aware that people who would like to continue on it wouldn't be able to and that made me feel sad but as much as I like my Newcastle family, I have a family at home and I hadn't had a summer for 14 years and I thought, 'Bren, go and have a summer. Go home,'" explained the actress, who has homes in south London and Ramsgate, Kent with her husband, Michael Mayhew. 

She added: "So it was a difficult decision."

SHETLAND, SEASON 9: BritBox

I miss Jimmy Perez on Shetland. Nevertheless, I'm still watching the series. And, here's the latest news! Shetland, Season 9, will premiere on Britbox on December 11. There will be one episode a week through January 15, 2025. Ashley Jensen and Alison O'Donnell return as Detectives Ruth Calder and Alison ‘Tosh’ McIntosh. 

Season 9 features a double missing person’s case that “blurs the lines between the personal and the professional, as Calder and Tosh are drawn into a labyrinthine investigation,” the official synopsis tells us. “When Tosh’s friend, Annie Bett (Sarah MacGillivray), goes missing, Ruth Calder — now living in Shetland — has no time to recover from a life-threatening ordeal of her own, and instead teams with Tosh to search for Annie and her young son, Noah (Jacob Ferguson).

Previous seasons of Shetland are available to stream on BritBox. Of course, you can read the Shetland mystery series by Ann Cleeves. It's a great series. 

ANN CLEEVES: THE DARK WIVES - Book Launch and TV news!

I'm a huge fan of all of Ann Cleeves' mysteries, but my favorite is the Vera Stanhope series. Today marks the launch of Ann Cleeves' latest Vera Stanhope crime novel, The Dark Wives. I was lucky enough to read it last month, and it's another standout novel. It kept me reading late into the night. As always, the police procedure is spot on, and we learn more about Vera and the cadre of characters we've grown to love. The Dark Wives deals with the problems in Britain's child welfare system.

FYI: This is not the final Vera Stanhope mystery. The next one will be published in 2026. 

But here's some Vera TV news: Brenda Blethyn will be retiring from the TV show "Vera,"  and her final episode, airing in 2025, will be based on The Dark Wives. 

Read The Dark Wives now and get a sneak peak into what will be the final showing from Brenda Blethyn, BAFTA winner and Oscar nominated actress, as Vera.

Be sure to scroll down to view Ann Cleeves discussing Female Detectives. 

***

Ann Cleeves is the award-winning New York Times and multi-million copy bestselling author behind three hit television series—the BBC’s Shetland, starring Douglas Henshall, and ITV’s Vera, starring Academy Award Nominee Brenda Blethyn, and The Long Call, starring Ben Aldridge. All three are available on Britbox. 

The first Shetland novel, Raven Black, won the CWA Gold Dagger for best crime novel, and Cleeves was the recipient of the Crime Writers’ Association Diamond Dagger award in 2017. In 2022 she was awarded the OBE for services to reading and libraries. 

VERA, SEASON 13: February 28

Vera, Season 13, debuts on BritBox on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, and streams weekly. Seasons 1-12 are streaming on BritBox. Sadly, Vera season 13 only consists of three episodes and not the four as in several of the past series. 

Vera, Season 13, has Brenda Blethyn once again playing super sleuth DCI Vera Stanhope, but now we see the return of actor and director David Leon as Joe Ashworth. 

Brenda Blethyn says: 

"Stepping back into Vera's shoes for the thirteenth series feels like coming home again. The support from the locals in the North East is truly heart-warming and reuniting with the talented David Leon and the rest of our exceptional team is an absolute delight. Together, we embark on this new chapter with a terrific script crafted by the brilliant Paul Matthew Thompson."

David Leon says: 

"I’m thrilled to be returning to Vera. It's fantastic to be back in the North East and reunited with Brenda and the crew for the new series. I’m looking forward to exploring the relationship between Joe and Vera as they make up for lost time.”

Series 13 follows events after the Vera Christmas special, Vera: The Rising Tide, which aired on Boxing Day. The Vera cases in series 13 again draw inspiration from the best-selling novels and characters created by acclaimed crime writer Ann Cleeves. There are plenty of guests stars in all episodes.

Meanwhile, Vera season 14 has now been officially confirmed!

VERA CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: Update

UPDATE: For those of you frantically searching for the Vera Christmas Special: This special can be found on BritBox as Season 12, Episode 5. It took some searching. Although I enjoyed the show (I love the Vera series), Christmas is only a tangential part of the story. There are Christmas trees and decorations, and an office party. Totally 'stuck' in. Other than that, Christmas is definitely not part of the plot. Who would go to an island reunion just before Christmas? Certainly not a cold windy one with a causeway that floods with the tide. Oh well. But I do recommend watching..for the acting and another episode with all our 'friends.'  Looking forward to Vera, Series 13. Rumor has it that there will be only 3 episodes. 

***

Just want to remind you that the Vera Christmas Special was released in the U.S. on December 20 on Britbox. (UK: 12/26) 

This feature-length Christmas Special is based on Ann Cleeves's The Rising Tide. We discussed The Rising Tide in my mystery book group. It was very well received. The Rising Tide is perfect for TV, although, of course, everyone should read the book first! 

In The Rising Tide, a group of teenagers spent a weekend on Holy Island fifty years ago, but it forged a bond that has lasted a lifetime. They still return every five years to celebrate their friendship, and remember the friend they lost to the rising waters of the causeway at the first reunion. When one of them is found hanged, Vera is called in. Learning that the dead man had recently been fired after misconduct allegations, Vera knows she must discover what the friends are hiding, and whether the events of many years before could have led to murder then, and now . . 

But with the tide rising, secrets long-hidden are finding their way to the surface, and Vera and the team may find themselves in more danger than they could have believed possible . . The story takes place on Holy Island (aka Lindisfarne --remember the Gospels!), a tidal island. We all know tides can be tricky.. If you go IRL, be sure and check your tide tables to avoid problems!

Can't wait to watch The Vera Christmas Special! What a nice holiday present!

VERA CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: REMINDER

I'm really enjoying the many Christmas specials of my favorite British TV series. 

Just want to remind you that the Vera Christmas Special will air in the U.S. on December 20 on Britbox. (UK: 12/26) 

This feature-length Christmas Special is based on Ann Cleeves's The Rising Tide. We discussed The Rising Tide in my mystery book group. It was very well received. The Rising Tide is perfect for TV, although, of course, everyone should read the book first! 

In The Rising Tide, a group of teenagers spent a weekend on Holy Island fifty years ago, but it forged a bond that has lasted a lifetime. They still return every five years to celebrate their friendship, and remember the friend they lost to the rising waters of the causeway at the first reunion. When one of them is found hanged, Vera is called in. Learning that the dead man had recently been fired after misconduct allegations, Vera knows she must discover what the friends are hiding, and whether the events of many years before could have led to murder then, and now . . 

But with the tide rising, secrets long-hidden are finding their way to the surface, and Vera and the team may find themselves in more danger than they could have believed possible . . The story takes place on Holy Island (aka Lindisfarne --remember the Gospels!), a tidal island. We all know tides can be tricky.. If you go IRL, be sure and check your tide tables to avoid problems!

Can't wait to watch The Vera Christmas Special! What a nice holiday present!

SHETLAND, SEASON 8 NEWS!

 

SHETLAND, SEASON 8, NEWS! The season starts in the U.S. tomorrow night, Wednesday, November 29 on Britbox. Yay! 

Shetland, Season 8, stars Ashley Jensen as the lead following the departure of Douglas Henshall. 

There will be six episodes, starting on November 29, and drops an episode once-a-week for a total of six weeks. Six Episodes is not enough for me, but I'll take it. Can't wait!!

From WhatToWatch

Ashley Jensen taking over as the island's top cop following the departure of Douglas Hensall as DI Jimmy Perez.

Shetland will have a new feel as Ashely's DI Ruth Calder will be teaming up with long-standing series regular DS Alison "Tosh" McIntosh (Alison O’Donnell). 

The plot will see Calder heading back to her native Shetland to protect a vulnerable witness to a gangland murder. But can Calder and Tosh find the witness in time? And how will the pair work together, especially given Calder's hostility towards Shetland?

Talking about joining the team, Ashley said when she was cast: "I am absolutely thrilled to be joining Shetland as DI Ruth Calder. It's such a hugely successful show and I am aware I have very big boots to fill since the departure of DI Perez, who was very much loved by fans of the show.

"There will be a different dynamic with Ruth amongst the regular characters and a few more new interesting characters to enjoy. However, the integrity of the show and the world that has been created will remain very much in the same tone as the last seven seasons. It's a real privilege to be asked to lead this show into a new chapter. I can’t wait to be working in Scotland again. I have missed it!”

Also joining the cast are Phyllis Logan (Guilt, Downtown Abbey), Jamie Sives (Guilt, Annika), Dawn Steele (Holby City, Granite Harbour), Don Gilet (EastEnders, Sherwood), Ann Louise Ross (River City, Katie Morag) and Lorraine McIntosh (Outlander, My Name is Joe). The guest cast will star alongside series regulars including Steven Robertson (playing DC Sandy Wilson), Lewis Howden (Sgt Billy McCabe), Anne Kidd (Cora McLean), Angus Miller (Donnie), Conor McCarry (PC Alex Grant) and Eubha Akilade (PC Lorna Burns).

VERA CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: BritBox

The Vera Christmas Special will air in the U.S. on December 20 on Britbox. (UK: 12/26) This feature-length Christmas special is based on Ann Cleeves's The Rising Tide. We discussed The Rising Tide in my book group. It was very well received. The Rising Tide is perfect for TV, although, of course, everyone should read the book first! 

In The Rising Tide, a group of teenagers spent a weekend on Holy Island fifty years ago, but it forged a bond that has lasted a lifetime. They still return every five years to celebrate their friendship, and remember the friend they lost to the rising waters of the causeway at the first reunion. When one of them is found hanged, Vera is called in. Learning that the dead man had recently been fired after misconduct allegations, Vera knows she must discover what the friends are hiding, and whether the events of many years before could have led to murder then, and now . . 

But with the tide rising, secrets long-hidden are finding their way to the surface, and Vera and the team may find themselves in more danger than they could have believed possible . . The story takes place on Holy Island (aka Lindisfarne --remember the Gospels!), a tidal island. We all know tides can be tricky.. If you go IRL, be sure and check your tide tables to avoid problems!

Can't wait to watch The Vera Christmas Special! What a nice holiday present!

THEAKSTON OLD PECULIER CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR

Theakston Old Peculiar Crime Novel of the Year: M.W. Craven for The Botanist

Elly Griffiths was Highly Commended for The Locked Room

Ann Cleeves was awarded the Theakson Old Peculiar Oustanding Contribution.

Congratulations, All! Wish I could have been there! 

VERA, SEASON 12, RELEASE DATE!

VERA, Season 12, will premiere on BritBox January 29! YAY! We have a date at last!

Vera is, of course, is played by two-time Academy Award nominee Brenda Blethyn. Blethyn brings the Ann Cleeves's Vera Stanhope to life, with her "usual brand of searing insight, caustic wit and fearless detection." Vera's team members, Detective Sergeant Aiden Healy (played by Kenny Doughty) will be back in the new episodes, as well as DC Kenny Lockhart (Jon Morrison), DC Mark Edwards (Riley Jones) and DC Jacqueline Williams (Ibinabo Jack).

The books are based on characters from Ann Cleeves' Vera Stanhope series. Want to catch up on the series? Read all the books. They're wonderful! Well written, great characters, terrific plots, great prose and fabulous setting.

Ann Cleeves's Vera Stanhope mystery novels:

The Crow Trap (1999) 

Telling Tales (2005) 

Hidden Depths (2007) 

Silent Voices (2011) 

The Glass Room (2012) 

Harbour Street (2014) 

The Moth Catcher (2015) 

The Seagull (2017) 

The Darkest Evening (2020) 

The Rising Tide (2022)

Short Stories:

    "The Starlings," by Ann Cleeves in The Starlings and Other Stories, Edited by Ann Cleeves

    "The Habit of Silence," by Ann Cleeves in Best Eaten Cold

    "The Woman on the Island," by Ann Cleeves, originally published as Hector's Other Woman in Guilty Consciences" (Crime Writers' Association). Available as a Kindle single.  Also in Offshore, A Short Story Collection by Ann Cleeves. 

VERA: Season 12 and more!

VERA, Season 12, comes to BritBox this month. Can't wait. No confirmed date in the U.S., but Season 12 will premiere on January 15 in the UK on ITV, so it's possible that it will drop on BritBox in the US later that week. I'll keep you posted on this blog.

We know in the UK that the series will return with 6 self-contained episodes. Two of those episodes are the final episodes of Season 11. Four episodes will be Season 12. In the U.S. we've seen all of Season 11, so we're anxiously awaiting Season 12.  I love this series.

Vera is, of course, is played by two-time Academy Award nominee Brenda Blethyn. Blethyn brings the Ann Cleeves's Vera Stanhope to life, with her "usual brand of searing insight, caustic wit and fearless detection." Vera's team members, Detective Sergeant Aiden Healy (played by Kenny Doughty) will be back in the new episodes, as well as DC Kenny Lockhart (Jon Morrison), DC Mark Edwards (Riley Jones) and DC Jacqueline Williams (Ibinabo Jack).

The books are based on characters from Ann Cleeves' Vera Stanhope series. Want to catch up on the series? Read all the books. They're wonderful! Well written, great characters, terrific plots, great prose and fabulous setting.

Ann Cleeves's Vera Stanhope mystery novels:

The Crow Trap (1999) 

Telling Tales (2005) 

Hidden Depths (2007) 

Silent Voices (2011) 

The Glass Room (2012) 

Harbour Street (2014) 

The Moth Catcher (2015) 

The Seagull (2017) 

The Darkest Evening (2020) 

The Rising Tide (2022)

Short Stories:

    "The Starlings," by Ann Cleeves in The Starlings and Other Stories, Edited by Ann Cleeves

    "The Habit of Silence," by Ann Cleeves in Best Eaten Cold

    "The Woman on the Island," by Ann Cleeves, originally published as Hector's Other Woman in Guilty Consciences" (Crime Writers' Association). Available as a Kindle single.  Also in Offshore, A Short Story Collection by Ann Cleeves. 

Shetland Series 6 Premieres today on BritBox

Shetland, the series, based on the best-selling books by award-winning crime writer Ann Cleeves, follows Detective Jimmy Perez and his team as they investigate crimes within the close-knit community on the titular Scottish archipelago.

The new season on BritBox is not an adaptation but an original story written by David Kane (Stonemouth, The Field of Blood). It finds Perez grieving a death in his family while he, DS Alison “Tosh” MacIntosh (Alison O’Donnell, Holby City), and DC Sandy Wilson (Steven Robertson, The Bay) investigate the murder of a prominent Shetland local. This killing causes shock waves through the community, and because the victim was so well-known and connected to so many people on Shetland — including those who might have had a motive for murdering the person — our detective trio have a lot of potential suspects.

In addition to the lead cast, actors reprising their roles in the new season of Shetland include Erin Armstrong (Rillington Place) as Cassie Perez, Lewis Howden (Taggart) as Sgt. Billy McCabe, Conor McCarry (The Loch) as PC Alex Grant, Neve McIntosh (Traces) as Kate Kilmuir, and Julia Brown (World on Fire) as Molly Kilmuir.

Shetland: Season 6 premieres in the US on Tuesday, November 9, exclusively on BritBox. New episodes will debut weekly through December 14.

NEWS FROM CRIMEFEST 2022

NEWS FROM CRIMEFEST: the International Crime Fiction Convention

www.crimefest.com      12-15 May, 2022

TICKETS for CRIMEFEST 2022 are now on sale.
Early Bird rate of £145. Tickets go up to £165 on 1 November!

Next year's convention (12-15 May) will be LIVE  – no Zooming or streaming!

AUTHORS, PLEASE NOTE: Many authors either donated their fee (and received priority booking), or transferred their registration to 2022. As a result, many of the panel slots have already been filled. Newly registered authors will be offered a slot on a waiting list and offered panels on a first-come-first-served basis (subject to topic suitability).

CHECK YOUR NAME IS ON THE DELEGATE LIST
Unsure if you transferred your registration, or donated it and need to register for 2022? No problem, just check your registration status on the DELEGATE page on the CRIMEFEST website. 

 

If you donated your 2019 registration fee and would like to register for next year will see that, as a thank you, you are eligible for a discount.

ANN CLEEVES STARS

Ann Cleeves is one of the confirmed 2022 Featured Guests.  She’s the visionary behind Vera and Shetland, both adapted of course into smash-hit TV series, with fans worldwide. (Series six of Shetland returns on 19 October.) What’s more, Ann continues to conquer the airwaves with a new ITV arrival – the dramatization of The Long Call, the first in her Two Rivers series, featuring Detective Inspector Matthew Venn. 

 

Filmed in part on location in Bristol, the first episode airs on 25 October. Ann is also of course an inspiring champion of readers and libraries alike.

OTHER CRIMEFEST 2022 NEWS
In other 2022 news, some panels scheduled for 2020 were too good to miss, so will return. 

 

Zoë Sharp has agreed to resume the Toastrix role next May. You can also expect those missed Diamond Dagger recipient interviews with Martin Edwards and Robert Goddard.

 

In addition to the ever-popular Authors Remembered panel, Dick Francis was going to be CRIMEFEST’s first Ghost of Honour. Celebrating his career, Felix Francis will be back, together with Dick’s editor, and friend Simon Brett.

Another missed celebration was the 75^th birthday of that crime fiction modern Renaissance Man, Maxim Jakubowski. He will curate his own panel. (Subject to confirmation.)

The Crime Writers’ Association will return once more to announce their Dagger Awards shortlists at the Friday night reception.

List of PARTICIPATING AUTHORS might offer a few tantalizing clues of what panel topics to expect. Take a peek.

WHERE TO STAY
CRIMEFEST returns to the four-star Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel. Only registered delegates will receive the convention discount code, which will be sent out later this year/ early next.

The WHERE TO STAY page lists budget hotels delegates may wish to consider.

BLOODY SCOTLAND: Catch up on the panels

I loved attending Bloody Scotland on my computer this year. Yes, I would rather have been there, but I probably wouldn't have been able to attend. I try to limit my conventions and conferences. Thanks so much to everyone involved in Bloody Scotland for making it available to all of us! If you missed it, you can still catch up on the panels. They're posted online here, but only for another week:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaZgeYYd3QV-l5I0sYjGOVVMjnHY5LaF_

All the panels were great. Here are individual links to some I really enjoyed (but I enjoyed them all.

Peter May and Ann Cleeves

Steve Cavanagh, Simon Mayo and Adrian McKinty

Lin Anderson, Oyinkan Braithwaite, Attica Locke, Shamini Flint & J. Pomare

Val McDemid & Lee Child

Ian Rankin & Lawrence Block: Criminal Masterminds

SHETLAND TO RETURN FOR TWO MORE SEASONS!

Well this really is good news. The BBC reports that Shetland starring Douglas Henshall will return for two more seasons.

Based on the novels of Ann Cleeves, series six and seven will be filmed in 2020 and 2021, for six hour-long episodes in each.

Shetland - starring Douglas Henshall as Jimmy Perez - debuted on BBC One back in 2013.
Gaynor Holmes, commissioning editor for BBC Drama in Scotland, said: "We are really proud of Shetland."

She explained: "The crime series led by DI Perez and his team has proved hugely popular with audiences both in Scotland and across the rest of the UK."

Since the series first aired, thousands of tourists - many from cruise ships - have headed to Shetland, inspired by the drama.

VisitScotland in Shetland last year said the Shetland TV series and books had been an "amazing success" for the islands.

Congrats to Ann Cleeves and the BBC! Looking forward to the new shows!