Jungle Red Writers: VERA Returns with a New Season

Jungle Red Writers: VERA Returns with a New Season: DEBORAH CROMBIE : British mystery aficionados will be thrilled to know that Ann Cleeves' beloved detective, VERA, returned for the 11th ...

Vera’s Brenda Blethyn explains how interrogation scenes were filmed during COVID and the change fans might notice (RadioTimes)

Vera’s Brenda Blethyn explains how interrogation scenes were filmed during COVID and the change fans might notice (RadioTimes)

KRL Update: Kings River Life Magazine for 5/23/2020

Up in KRL this morning a review and giveaway of "Tents, Trials & Turmoil" by Tonya Kappes

https://kingsriverlife.com/05/23/tents-trials-turmoil-by-tonya-kappes/

And a review of season 10 of "Vera" on BritBoxTV

https://kingsriverlife.com/05/23/vera-season-10-on-britbox-streaming/

Also a review and giveaway of "Trowel and Error" by H.Y. Hanna - Author

https://kingsriverlife.com/05/23/trowel-and-error-by-h-y-hanna/

And a review and giveaway of "Pulp Friction" by Julie Anne Lindsey along with an interesting interview with Julie

https://kingsriverlife.com/05/23/pulp-friction-by-julie-anne-lindsey/

And a review and giveaway of "Blood Family" by Jacqueline Seewald along with a guest post by Jacqueline about keeping a series fresh and interesting

https://kingsriverlife.com/05/23/blood-family-by-jacqueline-seewald/

We also have a mystery short story by John Floyd

https://kingsriverlife.com/05/23/mystery-short-story-saving-mrs-hapwell/

During the week we also had another special guest post this one from Victoria Thompson talking about writing her latest book "Murder on Pleasant Avenue." You can also enter to win a copy of the book

https://kingsriverlife.com/05/20/drawing-on-my-own-history-for-murder-on-pleasant-avenue/

And another fun special guest post, this one by mystery author Dp Lyle. He talks about PI characters in mysteries, and about his new mystery "Rigged"

https://kingsriverlife.com/05/20/why-p-i-s-are-cool/

Up on KRL News and Reviews this week we have a review and giveaway of "Fields' Guide to Pharaohs" by Julie Mulhern

https://www.krlnews.com/2020/05/fields-guide-to-pharaohs-by-julie-mulhern.html

Happy reading,

Lorie

Lesa's Book Critiques: Ann Cleeves, An Author Interview

Lesa's Book Critiques: Ann Cleeves, An Author Interview

Television Review: "VERA"

While Glenn Walker is a skilled television and movie reviewer, I am not.  I have done a few here and there, but movies and TV shows are not something I review easily like books.  So, you won’t see anything in tremendous depth from me on this sort of thing. That being said, I do plan on mentioning some things here from time to time.


Recently, on one of the many lists I am on, the subject of VERA came up with a number of folks recommending it. There are five seasons though only four are currently available.  As NETFLIX puts it: 

Based on Ann Cleeves's Vera Stanhope novels, this detective series focuses on the tireless Detective Chief Inspector Stanhope -- played by Brenda Blethyn -- as she solves a series of baffling homicides in scenic Northumberland County.

Northumberland County is located in northeastern England along the North Sea coast as well as considerable distance inland. Rural and isolated the area has huge historical significance and not just because Scotland is located just to the North.  Wikipedia has a lot of interesting information on the area if you want to know more. It appears to be a beautiful area assuming the series is really filmed there as what is often done here with filming of shows.

Each disc in a set runs a little bit over and hour and half. Some of the mysteries I have been able to figure out most of the why of what happened roughly about half way through, others I did not do so well. They are not fast moving tales as Vera is sort of Columbo like in style with one more question always asked before moving on to the next point of the investigation. She is a bit abrupt with people at times and yet is going through quite a lot in life. Her backstory is gradually and skillfully revealed in little pieces here and there. 

Solidly good I recommend the series….at least the first two seasons. I am working on season three now having gotten all of them from my local library. The aforementioned Netflix has them as does Amazon.