Ann Cleeves Biography
Ann Cleeves is an English crime-writer who well known for winning the inaugural Duncan Lawrie Dagger for her novel Raven Black in 2006. The award is the richest crime-writing prize in the world. Before she was known as a writer she was at the University of Sussex studying English. She later dropped out taking up various jobs including auxiliary coastguard, probation officer, library outreach worker cook at the Fair Isle bird observatory, and child care officer.
Ann Cleeves Age
Cleeves was born in 1954 October 24th. She is 64 years old.
Ann Cleeves Photo
Ann Cleeves Family
Cleeves was born in Herefordshire and brought up in North Devon. Her father was a village school teacher. Not much is known about her mother and siblings if she had any.
Ann Cleeves Husband
She met her husband Tim Cleeves while working as a cook at the Fair Isle bird observatory. Tim was a visiting Ornithologist who had earlier worked for RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds). Soon after, the two got married and Tim landed a job working as a warden of Hilbre Island. The couple settled there for four and a half years. The two were the only residents and with not much to do Cleeves started writing with her first crime novels featuring the elderly, George Palmer-Jones. The two have two daughters Sarah and Ruth.
Tim died in 2017 December 16 after being admitted in the hospital for a heart condition. The funeral service took place in The Chapel at Whitley Bay Crematorium.
Ann Cleeves Shetland Series | Shetland Books
Shetland series was a book series before it became a TV series written by Ann Cleeves. The series follows Detective Inspector Perez and his police colleagues. Its set in isolated Scottish Shetland Isles. They investigate murders, mysterious disappearances and darkest secrets of Scotland.
- Raven Black- The next morning after New Year’s Eve a teenage girl’s body is discovered nearby and Magnus Tait is a suspect of the murder. Inspector Jimmy Perez goes into an investigation.
- White Nights- A stranger is found dead after claiming he does not know who he is and where he comes from in an exhibition at the Herring House Art gallery.
- Red Bones- Jimmy Perez finds himself in the dark after he goes into an investigation of the death of an elderly woman who’s shot dead. This happens after a young archeologist discovers a set of human remains.
- Blue Lightning- When detective Jimmy Perez brings his fiancee home to Fair Isle, a woman’s at the island’s bird observatory and Jimmy has to find clues using the old-fashioned way.
- Dead Water- When the body of a journalist is found Detective Reeves is drafted from outside and Detective Perez is needed for his local knowledge.
- Thin Air- A group of university friend head down to Shetland to celebrate their friend’s marriage but Eleanor whos one of them disappears and Detective Jimmy goes into investigation. Winner Of The Crime Writer’s Association Diamond Dagger Award 2017
- Offshore – Its a collection of eight short series set on islands off the coast of UK.
- Too Good To Be True – Anna Blackwell a teacher is found dead in her home and the police thinks its suicide. Detective Jimmy Perez comes from Shetland to investigate the death.
- Cold Earth – During winter torrential rain triggers a landslide that crosses the main road and sweeps down to the sea in Shetland. Jimmy Perez watches the flood of mud and water smash through a house in its path while at Magnus Tait burial. In the wreckage of the house, Jimmy finds a dark haired woman wearing a red silk dress and he becomes interested with who she is and where she comes from.
- Wild Fire – Designer Helena and her husband Architect Daniel move into the north of Shetland thinking its a new start for their family but it creates resentment. Helena starts receiving small drawings of a gallows and a hanged man.
Ann Cleeves Vera Stanhope Books In Order
Detective Vera Stanhope is an overweight middle-aged woman born from Ann Cleeves’ frustration with central female characters who were young, fit and beautiful. Vera is authoritative, shambolic and sometimes bad-tempered. Brenda Blethyn stars as Vera and the novels have been adapted by ITV.
- The Crow Trap in 1999.
- Telling Tales in 2005.
- Hidden Depths in 2007.
- Silent Voices in 2011.
- The Glass Room in 2012.
- Harbour Street in 2014.
- The Moth Catcher in 2015.
- The Seagull in 2017.
Ann Cleeves Inspector Ramsay Series In Order
These are six murder mysteries that feature inspector Stephen Ramsay. The Books were published in the 1990s and based in Northumberland.
- A Lesson in Dying in 1990
- Murder in My Backyard in 1991
- A Day in the Death of Dorothea Cassidy in 1992
- Killjoy in 1993
- The Healers in 1995
- The Baby Snatcher in 1997
Ann Cleeves Palmer-Jones Series
- A Bird in the Hand in 1986
- Come Death and High Water in 1987
- Murder in Paradise in 1988
- A Prey to Murder in 1989
- Sea Fever in 1991
- Another Man’s Poison in 1992
- The Mill on the Shore in 1994
- High Island Blues in 1996
Ann Cleeves Latest Book
Cleeves latest book was published in 2018 titled Wildfire. Designer Helena and her husband Architect Daniel move into the north of Shetland thinking its a new start for their family but it creates resentment. Helena starts receiving small drawings of a gallows and a hanged man.
The Crow Trap Ann Cleeves
The Crow Trap was published in 2001. Three women come together for an environmental survey at an isolated cottage. Their team leader Rachael Lambert, betrayed by her lover; botanist Anne Preece, indulging in some deception of her own; and Grace Fulwell with secrets of her own with Inspector Vera Stanhope, investigating a suicide.
Telling Tales Ann Cleeves
10 years after Jeanie Long was charged with the murder of 15-year-old Abigail Mantel new evidence is found that might prove his innocence. The residents of East Yorkshire Village of Elvet feel guilty of hearing about this. Are the residents afraid of the killer or their guilty past?