Vera schedule update
We have been told that Vera will definitely be broadcast on Sunday 20th May. In A Certain Samaritan, scripted by Paul Rutman, Vera probes those close to an ostensibly admirable young murder victim in an attempt to establish the events leading to his death and that of a drug dealer.
Sanddancers, the third episode of the series, which was due to be broadcast on Sunday May 13th (at 8.00 pm), has been postponed. The story, scripted by Colin Teevan, shows Vera investigating the apparent suicide of an officer at an army barracks. ITV took the decision that because of the recent deaths of two soldiers in Afghanistan, this was too sensitive an issue to show. David Leon, who plays Vera's sidekick Joe Ashworth, spoke for all concerned when he tweeted that: "[Our] thoughts are with the families."
Shetland comes to the BBC
Ann Cleeves in Shetland
Photo © Malcom Younger, Millgaet Media
While Vera takes a breather, there is exciting news for Ann Cleeves's other popular detective:
Acclaimed Scots actor Douglas Henshall has been cast as the lead role in Shetland, a new two-part drama set in Scotland for BBC One, produced by ITV Studios through BBC Scotland, and written by David Kane, adapted from Ann Cleeves's books featuring Detective Jimmy Perez.
Like the books, the powerful murder-mystery is set against the stunning Scottish backdrop of the Shetland Isles and centres on Detective Jimmy Perez (played by Henshall - The Kidnap Diaries, The Silence), but there are differences, too. Perez is recently widowed, a native Shetlander who has returned home after a long spell away. His bone-dry sense of humour and an idealistic desire to protect his beloved Shetland Isles from inevitable change make him a fascinating detective to watch at work.
When a young archaeologist discovers a set of human remains, the island community is intrigued to know if it's an ancient find or a contemporary mystery. And when an elderly woman is shot on her land in a tragic accident, Perez and his team find themselves at the centre of two feuding families whose envy, greed and bitterness has divided the surrounding community.
The Executive Producer is Elaine Collins, of ITV Studios, the team who brought Ann's Vera Stanhope to television. She says: "We are delighted to be working with the BBC on this commission. Shetland combines eccentric yet warm characters and a classic murder mystery story with the beautiful landscape and rich history of the Shetland Islands and we believe it will be hugely popular with viewers."
The news has been welcomed by Shetland Arts, whose Director, Gwilym Gibbons, told The Shetland Times: "We have always believed that Ann Cleeves' characters, born out of her deep understanding of our seascapes and landscapes, have the potential for the creation a high quality TV drama set in Shetland."
Ann Cleeves says: " I'm delighted that my old friends from ITV Studios have teamed up with the BBC to create a television adaptation of the Jimmy Perez book Red Bones. I couldn't be in safer hands. And it's brilliant that the UK now has its own Nordic TV drama!"
Fans of Ann's Shetland Quartet will know that Red Bones is the third book in the quartet; new readers are recommended to start at the beginning, with Raven Black, the award-winning first book.
VERA's back for a second series of detective dramas, starring Brenda Blethyn as DI Vera Stanhope, the brilliant but erratic detective created by award-winning crime writer Ann Cleeves - and at the same time, Vera is making her US debut.
The two remaining episodes are Sanddancers, deferred from Sunday May 13th and A Certain Samaritan, scripted by Paul Rutman, and sheduled for broadcast on May 20th: Vera probes those close to an ostensibly admirable young murder victim in an attempt to establish the events leading to his death and that of a drug dealer.
The series launched on Sunday April 22nd, with The Ghost Position, written by Paul Rutman: Vera has to face long-buried memories when her former colleague, Sergeant Stuart Macken, is left badly burned when his house is petrol-bombed, while his teenage daughter fights for her life in intensive care. As Vera tries to discover why anyone would attempt to kill Stuart, her investigation leads to unpleasant revelations about his personal life. If you missed this episode, watch it on the ITV Player.
It was followed by Silent Voices, brilliantly adapted from Ann Cleeves's book by Gaby Chiappe, broadcast on April 29th. The detective investigates the murder of social worker Jenny Lister, but figuring out the motive behind the killing of an apparently popular woman proves difficult. However, an infamous past case involving the death of a child appears to hold the key. In her pursuit of the truth, Vera uncovers the failings of an understaffed care system and discovers the secret at the heart of Jenny's death - which the killer will stop at nothing to protect. Ann said: "If you're a wild swimmer, watch Vera tonight and be very afraid..." - and you can still catch Silent Voices on the ITV Player.
Like the first series, the second series of VERA is produced by Elaine Collins who discovered Ann Cleeves's Vera Stanhope books in an Oxfam bookshop; Paul Rutman rejoins the production team and has written two episodes. And like the first series, VERA has again been filmed at locations from across Northumberland and Tyneside: if the scenery gives you an urge to visit Northumberland, read what Ann has to say about the county. Or read an interview in the Sunday Sun for more background about Vera.
Vera in the States
Vera moved Stateside on Thursday, April 26, when KPBS TV started transmission of the first series of crime dramas, bringing a blast of Northumberland freshness to the hot California spring. Where San Diego leads, the rest of the US will surely follow.
Vera in The Glass Room
Meanwhile, in the bookshops - and now also available in an audio edition - a new case for Vera Stanhope. Vera likes to keep her distance from the neighbours, but when one of the hippies next door goes missing, she can't resist investigating. It isn't much of a challenge to follow Joanna to the Writers'House, a classic isolated country house which is now the setting for writing courses. It just so happens that the current course is studying crime - crime writing, that is - but inevitably fictional murders lead on to real deaths, and Joanna is the first suspect.
"In The Glass Room Cleeves has pulled off the rare trick of writing about writers and writing without it being horribly self-referential and indulgent. And I do love Vera!"
Val McDermid
"Stepping into The Glass Room is a little like being transported back to the golden age of mystery stories: a windswept landscape, isolated country house, disparate people thrown together, crime scenes mimicking their fictional counterparts and a plot liberally strewn with blind alleys, red herrings and mis-directions. This book has all the elements of Agatha Christie at her best."
S.J. Bolton
"If you like the TV series, you're in for a treat - because the atmospheric but realistic books are even better."
Ann talks to 'You're Booked' about Vera, The Glass Room and crime fiction in general.
Read more about Vera, the television drama and all the Vera Stanhope books.
In true Agatha Christie style, Cleeves once again pulls the wool over our eyes with cunning and conviction
Colin Dexter
A most satisfying mystery set in an isolated and intriguing location
Peter Robinson
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Last update: 17th May 2012.