The Rising Tide by Ann Cleeves (Pan MacMillan)

What a treat is to read a novel about Vera Stanhope again! Let's start, pets! ;)

Every five years, since they were teenagers, the group of school friends reunites on a Holy Island. They first met fifty years ago and on such weekends they try to recreate those early relationships. It is nostalgic and maybe a way to escape a messy present. It’s quite nice to pretend that they’re young again. Later in the evening, they find one of them, media personality Rick, dead in his bedroom and it seems like a suicide. However, Vera is convinced that he was murdered and starts to investigate. 

Secrets are lurking from past memories and it is obvious that they have an impact on the present. People lie and try to protect themselves, beyond reason and logic, even with murder. Who and why wants to maintain the illusion of perfection?

Vera Stanhope is a star of the whole novel, with her remarks and almost manipulative behavior toward her co-workers and suspects.

Ann Cleeves writes so effortlessly, the characters are brilliantly developed, everything is connected perfectly and the novel has a flawless and believable plot. And the island atmosphere is dreamy.

Joy to read.

5/5