Hidden Depths [Hardcover]

'Another classic...skillfully crafted mystery.'

'Hidden Depths is another classic, traditional crime novel in a
contemporary setting by Ann Cleeves...skilfully crafted'

'Hidden Depths is a subtle, nuanced book and Cleeves draws her
characters with care and compassion.'

'a dark, interesting novel with considerable emotional force
behind it.'

The captivating new mystery from the author of Raven Black - winner of the 2006 Duncan Lawrie Dagger for 'Best Crime Novel'

'Nobody does unsettling undercurrents better than Ann Cleeves' Val McDermid A hot summer on the Northumberland coast, and Julie Armstrong arrives home from a night out to find her son murdered. Luke has been strangled, laid out in a bath of water and covered with wild flowers. This stylized murder scene has Inspector Vera Stanhope and her team intrigued. But then a second body - that of beautiful young teacher Lily Marsh - is discovered laid out in a rock pool, the water strewn with flowers. Now Vera must work quickly to find this dramatist, this killer who is making art out of death. Clues are slow to emerge from those who had known Luke and Lily, but Vera soon finds herself drawn towards the curious group of friends who discovered Lily's body. What unites these four men and one woman? Are they really the close-knit, trustworthy unit they claim to be? As local residents are forced to share their private lives and those of their loved ones, sinister secrets are slowly unearthed. And all the while the killer remains in their midst, waiting for an opportunity to prepare another beautiful, watery grave . . .

Ann Cleeves worked as a probation officer, bird observatory cook and auxiliary coastguard before she started writing. She now promotes reading for Kirklees Libraries and as Harrogate Crime-Writing Festival's reader in residence, and is also a member of 'Murder Squad', working with other northern writers to promote crime fiction. In 2006 Ann was awarded the Duncan Lawrie Dagger for Best Crime Novel, for Raven Black . Ann lives in North Tyneside.