DCI Vera Stanhope has captured the hearts and minds of the region with her no-nonsense police work. Fans watch in earnest as Brenda Blethyn’s character solves mystery after mystery, catching thieves, fraudsters and murderers.
But for those who reach the end of the show’s feature-length episodes and wish that they would just continue for a little longer, the original source material may go some way to filling that void. Author Ann Cleeves has put pen to paper for 10 books starring our favourite North East detective.
Whether you’re after more tiny details to point to the culprit or more backstory for your favourite characters, each book spans one case or episode. Here’s the list in order.
Read more: ITV's Vera returns with 'best ever' episode as millions gripped by drama's twists and turns
The Crow Trap
A woman is found murdered in a remote cottage in the Northumberland countryside. This book was adapted for screen in series one, episode three.
Telling Tales
After a woman commits suicide, evidence comes to light exonerating her for the murder of a teenager 11 years previously. This story comes to life in series one, episode two.
Hidden Depths
In the third novel, Vera is called to investigate the deaths of two young people, who were murdered in the same way - placed in water and surrounded by flowers - before a third murder is committed. Watch this one in Vera’s TV debut in series one, episode one.
Silent Voices
Vera investigates the case of a murdered social worker found in a spa. Find this one in series two, episode two.
The Glass Room
To date, The Glass Room, where one of Vera’s neighbours vanishes mysteriously, is only one of two novels that have not yet been adapted for the TV series.
Harbour Street
Joe Ashworth, Vera’s sidekick, is on the busy Metro on the way home when his daughter is the only witness to the murder of a pensioner. Watch this one go from page to screen in series four, episode one.
The Moth Catcher
Vera investigates the death of a 22-year-old man who was involved in a hit-and-run in the remote Northumberland Valley. This novel lends its plot to series six, episode three.
The Seagull
Vera opens up a cold case to find the connection between a skeleton discovered underneath the site of a notorious burnt-out nightclub and a present-day murder. The story here is one of fans’ highest-ranked episodes in series nine, episode four.
The Darkest Evening
Potential spoilers below
On the night of a huge storm, Vera finds an abandoned car with a baby inside. Forced to seek refuge, she heads to the Stanhope ancestral home where she is reunited with her estranged family.
An early awaited episode that promises to reveal some about the past of our favourite detective. Set your clocks for this one when series 12, episode four broadcasts on February 19.
The Rising Tide
The newest instalment in the book series, released in September 2022, The Rising Tide follows a group of friends who journey to Holy Island to celebrate their friendship. After one of them is found hanged, Vera is called in to help get to the bottom of things.
For those fans who reach the end of the series and are still itching for more, Ann Cleves has signed on the dotted line to produce two further Vera books, taking the series to at least 12. And in the meantime, there’s always her Shetland series and standalone crime novels, too.
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