Ann Cleeves Books in Order (Vera, Shetland, Palmer-Jones, Inspector Ramsay…)

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Ann Cleeves, a renowned English author, has left an indelible mark in the world of crime fiction, with her most notable works encompassing The Vera Stanhope novels, which have been adapted into the beloved TV detective series Vera, and the enthralling Jimmy Perez novels forming the basis for the captivating Shetland series.

In 1986, Ann Cleeves published her debut novel, “A Bird in the Hand,” marking the inception of the George and Molly Palmer-Jones series. Her prolific storytelling skills also found expression through the Inspector Ramsay series, solidifying her status as a versatile and highly regarded crime fiction author.

How to read Ann Cleeves’ Books in Order?

Reading the George and Molly Palmer-Jones Books in Order

Join George Palmer-Jones, the seasoned retired birdwatcher, and his partner in crime-solving, his wife Molly, as they unravel a series of captivating mysteries. Amidst the tranquil backdrop of their passion for birds, this dynamic duo turns their keen observational skills towards solving perplexing cases that test not only their wits but also the strength of their partnership. With each new adventure, they delve into the intricate world of amateur detective work, showcasing their determination, resourcefulness, and unwavering commitment to justice. These are the stories of George and Molly Palmer-Jones, where the love of nature converges with the pursuit of truth, creating tales of suspense, intrigue, and unexpected twists that will keep you enthralled from start to finish.

1. A Bird in the Hand (1986) – On the Norfolk coast, young Tom French was discovered dead in a marsh with his head battered in and his binoculars still around his neck. Tom, one of the top birders in England, has made Rushy a destination for birders. He was liked by everybody. Or did they not? Elderly birdwatcher George Palmer-Jones learned there were many conflicting emotions as he discreetly chose to investigate the horrible crime. He was still perplexed by the act, which may have been inspired by unrequited love, unadulterated jealousy, or something else entirely.
2. Come Death and High Water (1987) – The Gillibry Bird Observatory Trust’s normal weekend visit is made memorable by the owner’s declaration that he plans to sell the island. The Observatory would be sold, along with everything else that for some of them made life worthwhile. Their angst was increased when Charlie Todd’s cabin caught fire. Their enjoyable September weekend took on a perilous new appearance when they discovered Charlie dead in a bird covert the next morning after a violent storm. Any Trust member might be considered responsible for the murder of Charlie Todd. And it is up to one of their own, George Palmer-Jones, to discover who the murderer is who is hiding among them.
3. Murder in Paradise (1988) – The Scottish island of Kinness welcomed newlyweds Jim and Sarah back after their honeymoon with a magnificent party, and the entire island was present to see the emotional conclusion. Mary, Jim’s younger sister, fell, nevertheless. Or did she push back? The latter was what retired birdwatcher and amateur investigator George Palmer-Jones thought, but it would be impossible to prove because no one wanted to disrupt the delicate balance of the island’s long-standing connections.

4. A Prey to Murder (1989) – The large, intimidating hawk took center stage. Its beak was pointing in the direction of the woman’s eyes as its talons tore into her skin. George Palmer-Jones, an ornithologist and amateur investigator, is particularly horrified by the sight since Eleanor Masefield, the victim, was a longtime friend of his. when George thought Eleanor was a lovely and attractive widow, his wife Molly had other thoughts when they are staying at Eleanor’s family-run hotel.
5. Sea fever (1991) – When George Palmer-Jones and the other enthusiastic crew members spot a sea bird that has never been seen before while on a bird-watching excursion aboard the Jessie Ellen, they fulfill every bird-watcher’s fantasy. However, nobody notices the abrupt departure of the most ardent birder of them all during the following frenzy. Later, the lifeless body of Greg Franks is discovered floating in the water.
6. Another Man’s Poison (1992) – Ursula Ottway has been living alone in Back Rigg Cottage, located high up on the fells, ever since her husband passed away. Marcus Grenville, an aspirational politician, is her landlord and wants his property taken back. After being harassed for months, Ursula learns that her two cherished cats were also murdered by the unlawful use of poisoned bait on Grenville’s property, along with a rare bird of prey. Molly Palmer-Jones, her niece, discovers Ursula’s body slumped unconscious on a sofa when she gets to Ursula’s residence. It doesn’t take long to see that her death was quite fortuitous. The Palmer-Joneses start an inquiry into a murder…

7. The Mill on the Shore (1995) – James Morrissey’s wife Meg Morrissey does not accept the suicide theory. James was happy that his long-awaited autobiography had finally been finished. He did not leave a suicide note. Even more curiously, his major opus-the documentation of his life’s environmental accomplishment-has vanished. Meg seeks the help of George and Molly Palmer-Jones, two amateur detectives, after becoming concerned.
8. High Island Blues (1996) – Rob, Oliver, and Mick reconnect with each other on a bird-watching trip to the United States. Since their tragic vacation to America, when they first met the mysterious Laurie, the three haven’t been together for twenty years. At High Island on the Upper Texas coast, the tour group is anticipating breathtaking views, but as the rain pours down and the birds fly in, Mick is found dead. George and Molly Palmer-Jones, two private investigators from Britain, are focusing on a small-scale fraud investigation involving Brownscombe Associates. Therefore, George is on the first flight to Texas when his friend Rob makes a frantic call across the Atlantic.

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Reading the Inspector Ramsay Books in Order

Inspector Stephen Ramsay, a distinguished detective, hails from the picturesque and intriguing region of Northumberland. The series delves into various murder investigations that Inspector Ramsay and his team undertake, exploring the complexities of human nature and the secrets hidden within seemingly ordinary communities.

1. A Lesson in Dying (1990) – Who hanged the headmaster in the playground on the night of the school Hallowe’en Party? Almost everyone in Heppleburn either hated or feared the viper-tongued Harold Medburn. Inspector Ramsay is convinced it was the headmaster’s enigmatic wife but Jack Robson, school governor and caretaker, is determined to prove her innocence. With the help of his restless enthusiastic daughter, Patty, Jack digs into the secrets of Heppleburn, and uncovers a cesspit – of lies, adultery, blackmail and madness.
2. Murder in My Backyard (1991) – No one in Heppleburn has a bad word to say about Alice Parry . . . but here she is, murdered in her own backyard on a bitter St. David’s Eve. And when detective Stephen Ramsay starts asking questions in the village, a more ambiguous picture begins to emerge. Yes, old Mrs. Parry was loved by everyone, but sometimes her kindness had caused trouble. Yes, her two nephews were devoted to her, but they didn’t really want her interfering in their rather complicated personal lives. Even among her neighbors, Alice Parry’s helpfulness had sometimes misfired; and after her death, tension tight as a clenched fist grips the uneasy village.
3. A Day in the Death of Dorothea Cassidy (1992) – For the vicar’s wife, Dorothea Cassidy, Thursdays were special. Every week she would look forward to the one day she could call her own. But one Thursday in June was to be more special than any other… As the small town of Otterbridge prepares for its summer carnival, Inspector Stephen Ramsay begins a painstaking reconstruction of Dorothea’s last hours. Not until a second body is discovered, Ramsay starts to understand how Dorothea lived – and why she died.

4. Killjoy (1993) – The youth theatre cast are in their places but Gus Lynch’s female lead is missing, that is, until she’s found in the boot of his car . . . Detective Inspector Stephen Ramsay and Sergeant Gordon Hunter are assigned to head the murder inquiry, meanwhile violence is escalating on the Starling Farm Estate as police battle to contain the latest outbreak of joyriding. Is the death of Gabriella connected to the events at Starling Farm?
5. The Healers (1995) – News of the murder came to Inspector Stephen Ramsay early on Monday morning and he fears this case will not be simple. In his experience, most murders are straightforward: an explosion of family pressure, the loss of control in a fight. But Bowles seems to have kept himself to himself and had lived alone since his mother’s death. A seemingly unconnected woman is then found strangled too, surely two such killings in the same locality are more than just a chilling coincidence?
6. The Baby Snatcher (1997) – Fifteen-year-old Marilyn turns up alone and frightened on Inspector Ramsay’s doorstep so he takes the young girl home to the isolated coastal community known as the Headland. And in the Howes’ dark and cluttered kitchen they find Kathleen safe and apparently well, though acting rather mysteriously. Six months later, Ramsay has more or less forgotten the strange incident, busy as he is on the trail of a local child abductor. Until he receives news that Mrs. Howe has disappeared once more. And for the second time, he is drawn into the strange relationships of the families living on the lonely Headland.

Reading the Vera Stanhope Books in Order

Vera Stanhope, a prominent character in the world of British crime fiction, serves as a Detective Chief Inspector within the Northumberland & City Police force. Her reputation precedes her, marked by an unrelenting dedication to her work and a brilliant, calculating mind that serves as her greatest asset when it comes to unraveling the intricate webs spun by killers. Behind her formidable investigative prowess, Vera harbors her own demons and personal struggles, which fuel her relentless pursuit of justice. For more details, you can visit our guide to the Vera series.

1. The Crow Trap (1999)
2. Telling Tales (2005)
3. Hidden Depths (2007)
4. Silent Voices (2011)
5. The Glass Room (2012)
6. Harbour Street (2014)
7. The Moth Catcher (2015)
8. The Seagull (2017)
9. Frozen (2020, short story)
10. The Darkest Evening (2020)
11. The Woman on the Island (2022, short story)
12. The Rising Tide (2022)

Reading the Shetland Books in Order

Set against the hauntingly beautiful backdrop of the isolated Scottish Shetland Isles, the series featuring Detective Inspector Perez takes readers on a riveting journey through the enigmatic island community. As Perez and his dedicated police colleagues delve into their investigations, they find themselves drawn ever deeper into the intricacies of life on these remote northern isles. The mysteries they confront range from perplexing disappearances that shroud the community in uncertainty to chilling murders that send shockwaves through the close-knit society. With every case, the detectives unearth not only the dark secrets hidden within the island’s history but also the complex relationships and tensions that simmer beneath the surface. For more details, go to our article dedicated to the Shetland series.

1. Raven Black (2006)
2. White Nights (2008)
3. Red Bones (2009)
4. Blue Lightning (2010)
5. Dead Water (2013)
6. Thin Air (2014)
7. Too Good To Be True (2016; novella)
8. Cold Earth (2016)
9. Wild Fire (2018)

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Reading the Two Rivers series in Order

Ann Cleeves’ latest series introduces readers to the intriguing investigations of Detective Matthew Venn in the enchanting locale of North Devon. Against the backdrop of this picturesque region, Detective Venn navigates a series of compelling mysteries, each one unveiling a tapestry of secrets and enigmas that lay hidden within the community.

1. The Long Call (2019) – Detective Matthew Venn watches his estranged father’s burial from outside the church in North Devon, where two rivers merge and flow into the sea. Matthew lost his family the same day he fled the conservative religious enclave where he was raised. He now turns and starts to walk away once again when one of his team members calls. A guy with an albatross tattoo on his neck who had been stabbed to death was discovered dead on a nearby beach.
2. The Heron’s Cry (2021) – Tourists are swarming to the beach of North Devon as it experiences a rare scorching summer. Detective Matthew Venn is sent to a rural crime scene at a group of artists’ residence. What he discovers is a meticulously orchestrated murder: Dr. Nigel Yeo had been stabbed to death with a piece of his daughter’s broken vase.
3. The Girls on the Shore (Short Story, 2022) – When he first notices them, Detective Inspector Matthew Venn is positioned by his kitchen window. Two young females were standing apart from him and appeared to be gazing off in the distance. They are by themselves and holding hands. Matthew is aware that he has to learn why the girls are here alone on a school day. Thus, he meets Olivia and Imogen, two sisters who Matthew must learn the mysteries of in order to return them home.
4. The Raging Storm (2023) – The people of Greystone, Devon, are thrilled to have a star in their midst when Jem Rosco, a sailor, adventurer, and local legend, storms into town in the thick of an October gale. Rosco’s repeated disappearances are not noticed by the locals because of the type of man he is. Up until a phony call-out during a violent storm causes the lifeboat to be deployed, at which point his death is discovered in a dinghy anchored off Scully Cove, a location with its own stories. Matthew Venn, the DI, feels uneasy with this case.

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Other novels by Ann Cleeves

• The Sleeping and the Dead (2001) – A teenager’s body has been found in Cranwell Lake, and detective Peter Porteous is called there. He discovers the corpse to be Michael Grey after poring through the missing persons data. Michael Grey was a mysterious and reclusive young man who was reported missing by his foster parents in 1972. Hannah Morton, a county jail officer, has the shock of her life. She had been with Michael the night he vanished; they had been dating. The news that a body has been discovered triggers dreadful, long-forgotten memories from her past.
• Burial of Ghosts (2003) – Lizzie Bartholomew, 25, has seen more hardships than most people her age. She spent her youth travelling between foster homes after being abandoned as a newborn. She is currently trying to escape her past. The ideal getaway seems to be a trip to Morocco. Particularly when she meets Philip, a fellow traveler who helps her forget about her problems. After a brief liaison, Lizzie receives a letter from a solicitor and leaves for England. Dead is Philip Samson. He gave Lizzie a gift of £15,000 in his will. However, this surprising bequest comes with requirements that will eventually compel Lizzie to face dark mysteries from her past.

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