Ann Cleeves OBE, born in 1954, is a celebrated British author specializing in mystery and crime fiction. She is the creative mind behind the Vera Stanhope, Jimmy Perez, and Matthew Venn book series, each of which has been turned into a television series. Cleeves received the Duncan Lawrie Dagger Award in 2006 for Raven Black, the inaugural book in the Jimmy Perez series.
Early Years and Professional Journey
Originating from Herefordshire, Cleeves spent her formative years in northern Devon and attended Barnstaple Grammar School. Although she initially enrolled in English studies at the University of Sussex, she later left school to explore a range of professions. Her diverse work history includes roles as a cook at the Fair Isle bird observatory, an auxiliary coastguard, a probation officer, a library outreach worker, and a child care officer.
Personal Details
Her father is a teacher in a village in Devon. After dropping out of college, she takes on various odd jobs: babysitter, manager of a women’s shelter, cook in an ornithological center. It is at this last job that she meets her future husband, an amateur ornithologist. She then goes back to school to become a probation officer.
She begins her literary career with a detective series focused on the investigations of George Palmer-Jones, an elderly naturalist, and his wife Molly.
She is known for the Inspector Ramsay investigations set in Northumberland, and especially for her detective series set in the Shetland Islands, Scotland. Translated into French, the Shetland Island novels have been adapted into a TV series by British television since 2013 under the title Shetland. Ann Cleeves received the Gold Dagger Award in 2006 for Raven Black (Noire Solitude), which is part of the series.
Currently residing in Whitley Bay, Cleeves is a widow and the mother of two daughters.
In 2006, Cleeves earned the Duncan Lawrie Dagger Award for her book Raven Black. Four years later, in 2014, the University of Sunderland honored her with an Honorary Doctorate of Letters. In 2015, she served as the Programming Chair for the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival and was also shortlisted for the Dagger in the Library award by the UK Crime Writers’ Association for her comprehensive body of work available in British libraries.
In recognition of her sustained excellence in the field of crime fiction, Cleeves was honored with the Cartier Diamond Dagger by the Crime Writers’ Association in 2017. She was a guest on the radio program Desert Island Discs in February 2019. For her contributions to reading and libraries, Cleeves was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the New Year Honours of 2022.
In July 2022, Newcastle University conferred upon her an honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) in recognition of her services to reading and libraries.
The Molly Palmer-Jones Series
Before the North Devon landscapes and the Shetland Island series, there was Molly Palmer-Jones, whose amateur sleuthing often tangled her in intricate cases. In one instance, she investigates the murder of an elderly birdwatcher connected to the Gillibry Bird Observatory Trust. These books gave the first glimpse of Cleeves’ penchant for setting her stories in unique environments.
The Order of Palmer-Jones Books
A Bird in the Hand -1986 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Cleeves, Ann (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 10 Pages - 11/12/1987 (Publication Date) - Fawcett (Publisher)
Come Death And High Water -1988 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Cleeves, Ann (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 213 Pages - 03/16/1988 (Publication Date) - Ballantine/Fawcett Gold Medal (Publisher)
Murder In Paradise -1988 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Hardcover Book
- Ann Cleeves (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 09/08/1988 (Publication Date) - Mysterious Press (Publisher)
A Prey To Murder -1989 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Cleeves, Ann (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 192 Pages - 04/30/1989 (Publication Date) - Fawcett (Publisher)
Another Man’s Poison -1992 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Ann Cleeves (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 01/01/2000 (Publication Date) - Allison & Busby (Publisher)
Sea Fever -1993 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Cleeves, Ann (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 08/31/1991 (Publication Date) - Fawcett (Publisher)
The Mill On The Shore -1994 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Cleeves, Ann (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 248 Pages - 07/31/1994 (Publication Date) - Fawcett (Publisher)
High Island Blues -1996 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Hardcover Book
- Ann Cleeves (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 432 Pages - 08/01/1997 (Publication Date) - Ulverscroft Large Print Books Ltd (Publisher)
The Vera Stanhope Series
Perhaps one of her most popular series is the Vera Stanhope novels. Centered around Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope, a quirky yet brilliant investigator, these novels are set against the backdrop of the Northumberland coast. Vera Stanhope’s only thought is to solve the case, often with her trusted Sergeant Joe Ashworth. Brenda Blethyn plays the role of DI Vera Stanhope in the television adaptation, adding a layer of popularity to the series.
In the second body of work, Telling Tales, Vera investigates the murder of fifteen-year-old Abigail Mantel, sifting through missing persons files and uncovering new evidence. The series often delves into the private lives of its characters, giving depth to what might otherwise be a straightforward crime narrative.
The Order of Vera Stanhope Books
The Crow Trap -1999 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Ann Cleeves (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 352 Pages - 03/17/2025 (Publication Date) - Pan Books (Publisher)
Telling Tales -2005 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Ann Cleeves (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 400 Pages - 03/17/2025 (Publication Date) - Pan (Publisher)
Hidden Depths -2007 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Cleeves, Ann (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 371 Pages - 03/17/2025 (Publication Date) - Pan Macmillan (Publisher)
Silent Voices -2010 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Hardcover Book
- Cleeves, Ann (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 320 Pages - 05/07/2013 (Publication Date) - Minotaur Books (Publisher)
The Glass Room -2012 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Hardcover Book
- Cleeves, Ann (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 373 Pages - 03/17/2025 (Publication Date) - MacMillan (Publisher)
Harbour Street -2014 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Cleeves, Ann (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 400 Pages - 03/17/2025 (Publication Date) - Macmillan (Publisher)
The Moth Catcher -2015 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Cleeves, Ann (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 388 Pages - 03/17/2025 (Publication Date) - Macmillan (Publisher)
The Seagull -2017 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Hardcover Book
- Cleeves, Ann (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 416 Pages - 09/05/2017 (Publication Date) - Minotaur Books (Publisher)
Frozen -2020 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Cleeves, Ann (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 36 Pages - 08/04/2020 (Publication Date) - Minotaur Books (Publisher)
The Darkest Evening -2020 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Hardcover Book
- Cleeves, Ann (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 384 Pages - 09/08/2020 (Publication Date) - Minotaur Books (Publisher)
The Woman on the Island -2022 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Cleeves, Ann (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages - 07/05/2022 (Publication Date) - Minotaur Books (Publisher)
The Rising Tide -2022 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Hardcover Book
- Cleeves, Ann (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 384 Pages - 09/06/2022 (Publication Date) - Minotaur Books (Publisher)
The Order of Inspector Ramsay Books
A Lesson In Dying -1990 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Cleeves, Ann (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 166 Pages - 03/28/1990 (Publication Date) - Fawcett Gold Medal Books (Publisher)
Murder In My Backyard -1991 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Cleeves, Ann (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 251 Pages - 03/02/1991 (Publication Date) - Fawcett (Publisher)
A Day in the Death of Dorothea Cassidy -1992 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Cleeves, Ann (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 215 Pages - 01/22/1992 (Publication Date) - Fawcett (Publisher)
Killjoy -1993 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Hardcover Book
- Ann Cleeves (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 188 Pages - 01/01/1993 (Publication Date) - Macmillan (Publisher)
The Healers -1995 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Ann Cleeves (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 240 Pages - 11/20/2014 (Publication Date) - Macmillan Bello (Publisher)
The Baby Snatcher -1997 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Ann Cleeves (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 192 Pages - 03/17/2025 (Publication Date) - Allison & Busby (Publisher)
The Shetland Series
Set in the remote archipelago north of Scotland, the Shetland series features Detective Jimmy Perez. In the first novel, Raven Black, the body of a teenager is discovered, and the prime suspect is Magnus Tait, an uncommunicative young man. In the same series, in White Nights, a young archaeologist finds himself in trouble, and DI Jimmy Perez has to navigate the delicate emotions and clues to solve the case. The atmospheric backdrop of the Shetland islands provides a hauntingly beautiful context for the intricate crimes.
The Order of Shetland Island Books
Raven Black -2006 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Hardcover Book
- Cleeves, Ann (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 384 Pages - 05/29/2007 (Publication Date) - Minotaur Books (Publisher)
White Nights -2008 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Hardcover Book
- Cleeves, Ann (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 400 Pages - 09/16/2008 (Publication Date) - Minotaur Books (Publisher)
Red Bones -2009 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Hardcover Book
- Cleeves, Ann (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 340 Pages - 03/17/2025 (Publication Date) - Pan Macmillan (Publisher)
Blue Lightning -2010 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Ann Cleeves (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 368 Pages - 03/17/2025 (Publication Date) - Macmillan (Publisher)
Dead Water -2013 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Cleeves, Ann (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 387 Pages - 03/17/2025 (Publication Date) - Macmillan (Publisher)
Thin Air -2014 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Hardcover Book
- Cleeves, Ann (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 400 Pages - 05/05/2015 (Publication Date) - Minotaur Books (Publisher)
Too Good To Be True -2016 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Cleeves, Ann (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 112 Pages - 02/04/2016 (Publication Date) - Pan Books (Publisher)
Cold Earth -2016 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Hardcover Book
- Cleeves, Ann (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 400 Pages - 04/18/2017 (Publication Date) - Minotaur Books (Publisher)
Wild Fire -2018 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Hardcover Book
- Cleeves, Ann (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 416 Pages - 09/04/2018 (Publication Date) - Minotaur Books (Publisher)
Shetland -2015 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Hardcover Book
- Cleeves, Ann (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 224 Pages - 02/01/2016 (Publication Date) - Macmillan UK (Publisher)
The Two Rivers Series
In a fresh start, Cleeves introduced Detective Matthew Venn in the Two Rivers series, set in North Devon. The first novel, The Long Call, opens with the discovery of a young man near Cranwell Lake. The victim’s throat is slashed, and Venn must connect the dots between foster homes, foster parents like Margaret Krukowski, and clues from a news report to crack the case.
The Order of Two Rivers Books
The Long Call -2019 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Cleeves, Ann (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 03/17/2025 (Publication Date) - Macmillan (Publisher)
The Heron’s Cry -2021 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Hardcover Book
- Cleeves, Ann (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 400 Pages - 09/07/2021 (Publication Date) - Minotaur Books (Publisher)
The Girls on the Shore -2022 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Cleeves, Ann (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 36 Pages - 01/11/2022 (Publication Date) - Minotaur Books (Publisher)
The Raging Storm -2023 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Hardcover Book
- Cleeves, Ann (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 400 Pages - 09/05/2023 (Publication Date) - Minotaur Books (Publisher)
Other Works
Cleeves has also written standalone novels and short stories. For instance, in The Sleeping and the Dead, a young nanny’s body is discovered the next morning in a stately home, catching the attention of team leader Rachael Lambert and Inspector Stephen Ramsay. Moreover, her works often include nods to her contemporaries like Val McDermid, enriching the world of English crime fiction.
The Order of Standalone Novels
The Sleeping and the Dead -2001 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Cleeves, Ann (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 336 Pages - 01/01/2008 (Publication Date) - Bloody Brits Press (Publisher)
Burial of Ghosts -2003 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Cleeves, Ann (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 352 Pages - 03/17/2025 (Publication Date) - Pan Macmillan (Publisher)
The Order of Short Stories/Novellas
Dreaming of Rain and Peter Lovesey -2016 —– Buy Now From Amazon
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The Order of Other Books
Best Eaten Cold and Other Stories: A Murder Squad Anthology-2011 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Murder Squad (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 192 Pages - 09/01/2011 (Publication Date) - The History Press (Publisher)
The Library Book-2012 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- The Reading Agency (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 144 Pages - 02/02/2012 (Publication Date) - Profile Books (Publisher)
The Mammoth Book of Best British Crime Volume 10.-2013 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- English (Publication Language)
- 512 Pages - 05/07/2013 (Publication Date) - Running Press Adult (Publisher)
Deadly Pleasures-2013 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- English (Publication Language)
- 256 Pages - 06/01/2014 (Publication Date) - Severn House (Publisher)
The Starlings & Other Stories-2015 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Orders are despatched from our UK warehouse next working day.
- Murder Squad (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 224 Pages - 04/01/2016 (Publication Date) - Graffeg (Publisher)
Crime Writers: A Decade of Crime-2016 —– Buy Now From Amazon
No products found.
CWA Anthology of Short Stories: Mystery Tour-2017 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Hardcover Book
- English (Publication Language)
- 276 Pages - 02/01/2018 (Publication Date) - Orenda Books (Publisher)
Ten Year Stretch-2018 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Beverly, Bill (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 368 Pages - 04/26/2018 (Publication Date) - Poisoned Pen Press (Publisher)
Bloody Scotland-2019 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- English (Publication Language)
- 336 Pages - 08/13/2019 (Publication Date) - Pegasus Books (Publisher)
Many Deadly Returns-2021 —– Buy Now From Amazon
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- English (Publication Language)
- 194 Pages - 10/01/2021 (Publication Date) - Severn House (Publisher)
When it comes to crime fiction, award-winning author Ann Cleeves holds a special place with her meticulously crafted narratives and compelling characters. Her foray into the world of crime novels began with her first book, A Bird in the Hand, part of the Molly Palmer-Jones series, where she introduces us to the world of birdwatching blended with murder. Since then, Cleeves has given us several popular series that have gripped readers and critics alike.
For those intrigued by the English countryside, intricate mysteries, and rich characters, diving into the complete list of Ann Cleeves books in order should be a delightful experience. From the hot summer mysteries involving young Tom French to the swirling blizzard confounding Vera Stanhope and her team, there is a tale for every taste and season.