Ann Cleeves deserves a lot more attention than she gets. Her plots are beautifully crafted; her characters are intense and deeply drawn. She's alsoa real mistress of setting, taking us right into the scene of the action.All of those qualities shine in Hidden Depths, one of her best... Cleeves never lets up on the suspense in this very complex puzzle.., masterful storytelling'.

A hot summer on the Northumberl.and coast and Jul.ie Armstrong arrives home from a night out to find her son strangted, waid out in a bath of water and covered with witd ftowers.

This stytized murder has Inspector Vera Stanhope intrigued. But then another body - that of beautiful, young teacher Lity Marsh - is discovered in a rock pool., her body strewn with fl.owers. Vera must work quick!,y to find this kitter who is making art out of death.

As the I.ocal. residents are forced to share their deepest darkest secrets,the kil.ter watches, waits and pl.ans to prepare another beautifut,watery grave...