Ann Cleeves

The character of DI Vera Stanhope, is not only one of Anne Cleeves most remarkable and moving characters, but thanks to the television series Vera, she is also one the most successful. The character of Vera appears in six novels and this sassy detective has proven entertaining for even those who have not read the novels. Vera is now on its fourth television series and airs on the British television channel known as ITV.

The best place to start is the Palmer-Jones series, the earliest of Ann Cleeves's multi-book series: it opens with A Bird in the Hand (1986) and runs to 8 books across 1986–1996, ending with High Island Blues (1996). Ann Cleeves's other series stand alone, so they can be read in any order.

Ann Cleeves has 64 books catalogued in this guide, published between 1986 and 2027. 46 of them belong to 7 named series — the largest being the Vera Stanhope series with 14 books — and 18 are standalone titles, collections or anthologies.

Read each series in publication order — the numbered entries in each series follow the year each book first appeared. Ann Cleeves's series do not depend on one another, so they can be started in any order; by start date they are Palmer-Jones (1986–1996, 8 books), Inspector Ramsay (1990–1997, 6 books) and Vera Stanhope (1999–2027, 14 books), plus 4 more.

This guide splits Ann Cleeves's 64 books into 7 named series and 18 titles that stand alone or appear only in collections: Vera Stanhope (14 books, 1999–2027); Shetland Island (10 books, 2006–2023); Palmer-Jones (8 books, 1986–1996); Inspector Ramsay (6 books, 1990–1997); Matthew Venn / Two Rivers (5 books, 2019–2026), plus 2 further series.