DVD Review: Vera

Vera
based on the novels of Ann Cleeves [DVD Vera]

Vera is a British crime drama series featuring Brenda Blethyn as Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope and David Leon as her trusted sidekick Sgt. Joe Ashworth. The series is set in the fictional Northumberland and City Police department along the coast of England. In actuality the series is filmed in beautiful Newcastle upon Tyne in Northeast England, a perfect setting for these marvelous stories based on the crime series by author Ann Cleeves. There are currently nine seasons that have been filmed with season ten forthcoming. I just finished viewing Set 2 and especially enjoyed “Silent Voices” which was based on the novel of the same name. Vera is not your typical Chief Inspector. She is cranky yet kind-hearted, with a soft spot for the people in her department. In one scene, an employee turns in her request to be transferred from the department after Vera gives her a hard time about not working hard enough. Vera nearly bursts into tears at the sight of the request, something you don’t see other chief inspectors do. Once again we learn that underneath that get-to-work exterior is someone who is really human after all. The stories are well-written and keep you guessing who the killers are right up until the end.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Inspector Morse, Inspector Lewis, or Prime Suspect on DVD.]

[Also available in traditional print format.]

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this television series ] | [ official Vera page on British television network ITV’s website ]

Recommended by Kim J.
Bennett Martin Public Library

Mystery Fans: Don't miss the first new meeting of the Just Desserts mystery fiction group for 2020, tomorrow night (Thursday 1/30/2020) from 6:30  to 8:00 at the downtown library. The theme is "Anthologies & Short Story Collections" -- participants can talk about any mystery anthology or short story collection they've read since our last meeting in October, plus there'll be a "round robin" in which you can share any other mysteries you've recently read! Bring a dessert to share with fellow attendees!

 

Have you watched this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewer’s recommendations!

Book Review: Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (as an audiobook)

Red, White and Royal Blue
by Casey McQuiston (downloadable audio)

I’m not usually a romance reader but this title came up in a newsletter I subscribe to for work. In some ways it was the classic romance trope, with the two disliking each other initially but growing to like each other as they get to know one another.Romance is difficult for everyone but especially Alex and Henry since not only are they young men but young men who are in the public eye. I loved how the characters were developed and the secondary characters also had lives.

[ official Red, White & Royal Blue page on the official Casey McQuiston web site ]

Recommended by Susan S.
Eiseley Branch Library

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewer’s recommendations!

Book Review: The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

The Dutch House
by Ann Patchett

Because his mother left the family to do charitable work in India when Danny Conroty was young, he was raised by his older sister, Maeve Conroy, and the household help. Their father was too busy with his realty investments to be involved in their lives. Their stepmother loved their iconic mansion, nicknamed The Dutch House after the previous owners who were Dutch, but she did not have the kids’ best interests in mind. This story taught so much about forgiveness and living the life we’re given instead of the one we planned.

[ official The Dutch House page on the official Ann Patchett web site ]

Recommended by Jodi R.
Anderson and Bethany Branch Libraries

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewer’s recommendations!