New for 2024
Ann Cleeves's six murder mysteries featuring Inspector Stephen Ramsay were published in the 1990s, and have become collectors items. Like Ann's Vera Stanhope, Inspector Ramsay is based in Northumberland, and the books show all aspects of that multi-faceted county.
June 2024 launches the reissue of all six books in a striking new edition, starting at the beginning with A Lesson in Dying. If you can't wait, the entire series is already available for Kindle, or as print on demand paperbacks from Bello, Pan MacMillan's digital-only imprint.
Or you might be lucky, and find one of the - very collectable - previous editions shown below!
A Lesson in Dying
Inspector Ramsay made his much-praised debut in 1990, in A Lesson in Dying.
Heppleburn, once a Northumberland pit village, has always been close-knit, friendly and safe - until the murder of headmaster Harold Medburn. Suddenly, the village seems unfamiliar, uncomfortable.
The school caretaker and his daughter pursue their own route of investigation, which should have made Inspector Ramsay's job a little easier. But hampered by false leads, powerless to pre-empt the killer's next move, and overshadowed by the evil atmosphere of All Hallow's Eve, Ramsay finds his own reputation is on the line...
"A fine debut"
Susan Hill, Good Housekeeping
"A good debut for Inspector Ramsay; quiet, puzzled, very human"
The Times
"A quietly entertaining mystery"
Sunday Telegraph
"Perceptive picture of changing social pattern, cast strong"
Guardian
The new Ann Cleeves Classic Crime edition (ISBN: 978-1-5290-7053-8) was published on 20th June 2024.
It was reissued by Bello in August 2013 for Kindle or as a print on demand paperback (ISBN: 978-1-4472-5316-7).
The Audio edition, read by Simon Mattacks, is available from the Reading House, or as an Audible Audio download from Amazon.com or from Amazon.UK.
Murder in My Backyard
No one in Heppleburn has a bad word to say about Alice Parry... but here she is, murdered in her own backyard on a bitter St. David's Eve.
When detective Stephen Ramsay starts asking questions in the village, a more ambiguous picture begins to emerge. Yes, old Mrs. Parry was loved by everyone, but sometimes her kindness had caused trouble. Yes, her two nephews were devoted to her, but they didn't really want her interfering in their rather complicated personal lives. Even among her neighbours, Alice Parry's helpfulness had sometimes misfired; and after her death, tension tight as a clenched fist grips the uneasy village.
Meanwhile, the suspects keep rolling in, and Heppleburn's friendly neighbourhood killer continues his nasty piece of work...
"Taut slice-of-small-town-life police procedural underpinned by the wry premise that unrelenting goodness can be as lethal as evil"
The Guardian
The new Classic Crime edition was published on 3rd October 2024 (ISBN: 978-1-5290-7054-5); or download the Kindle edition.
Originally published in 1991, and reissued by Bello in August 2013 for Kindle and as a print on demand paperback (ISBN: 978-1-4472-5316-7).
The Audio edition, read by Simon Mattacks, is available from the Reading House and also as an Audible audio download.
A Day in the Death of Dorothea Cassidy
Dorothea Cassidy, the vicar's wife, lies dead in the park's flower bed.
The parishioners were daunted by her goodness. But one of them wanted her dead.
Who? 0ld Mrs Bowman, dying of cancer; Clive Stringer, a disturbed adolescent; Theresa Stringer, a single mother with a child in care and a violent boyfriend - or was it someone in her own family?
"...this is a damn fine book. A very high quality police procedural..."
"Perceptive, convincing, quietly compelling"
Marcel Berlins, The Times
"The best detective novel I have read this year"
Harriet Waugh, The Spectator
"She is already exceptional"
B.A.Pike, Twentieth-Century Crime & Mystery Writers
A Day in the Death of Dorothea Cassidy, first published in 1992, has been reissued for Kindle and as a Pan Heritage Classic paperback (ISBN: 978-1-5098-5624-4).
The audiobook, read by Simon Mattacks, is available as an Audible audio download or from the Reading House.
Killjoy
Gabriella Preston is found in the boot of a car, lying curled on her side like a child asleep. She is dead. The car belongs to Gus Lynch. Gus Lynch is the director of Hallowgate's Youth Theatre, Gabriella his female lead.
Inspector Ramsay and Sergeant Hunter are called in to assist the local police who have their hands full with an outbreak of joy-riding. Another death and an escalation of violence among the joy-riders threaten mayhem. Against a background of spiralling disorder Ramsay realises what could have provoked someone to kill - and to kill again.
"Ann Cleeves is a gifted recruit to the traditional detective novel and on her current form will continue to command attention"
B.A.Pike, Twentieth-Century Crime and Mystery Writers
Killjoy was first published in 1993, and has been reissued by Bellos for for Kindle and as a print on demand paperback (ISBN: 978-1-4472-5321-1).
The audio edition, read by Simon Mattacks, is available as an Audible audio download, or in a choice of MP3 or audio CD from the Reading House.
The Healers
Farmer Ernie Bowles is found lying on his kitchen floor - strangled. Not a pretty sight.
Inspector Ramsay fears the case will not be simple. It isn't.
Certainly not when there is a second strangulation. Two killings are more than a chilling coincidence. A third suspicious death provides a tenuous link between all three and leads Inspector Ramsay to the Alternative Therapy Clinic. Could one of the healers be a killer?
"The characters come live off the page and she delivers a convincing solution"
The Spectator
"Confirms her place in the premier league of British crime writers"
Hampstead and Highgate Express
"Highly enjoyable"
Harriet Waugh, The Spectator
"Watertight and exciting"
Susan Hill, Good Housekeeping
The Healers, first published in 1995, has been reissued by Bello for Kindle and as a print on demand paperback (ISBN: 978-1-4472-5025-8).
The audio edition, read by Simon Mattacks, is available as an Audible audio download or from the Reading House, in a choice of formats.
The Baby Snatcher
When 15-year old Marilyn Howe turns up on Inspector Ramsay's doorstep he has little choice but to invite her in, for Marilyn is convinced that her mother has disappeared. But when Ramsay returns the young girl to her home, on the isolated coastal community known as the Headland, they find Mrs Howe safe and well.
Six months later, Ramsay has more or less forgotten the strange incident, busy as he is on the trail of a local child abductor. Until he receives news that Mrs Howe has disappeared once more. Then a body is washed up on the beach, and he soon gets drawn into the strange relationships of the families living on the lonely Headland...
"Ann Cleeves's Northumberland-based Inspector Ramsay novels have a distinctive flavour of their own. ... This is a strong, dark crime novel, distinguished by its intelligent, spiky characterisation. These are people whose actions are rooted deeply and plausibly in their own psychology. Cleeves is particularly good at showing the claustrophobia of enclosed lives."
Tangled Web
The Baby Snatcher was first published in 1997. It has been reissued by Bello for Kindle and as a print on demand paperback (ISBN: 978-1-4472-5023-4).
The audio edition, read by Simon Mattacks, is available from Amazon as an Audible audio download or on CD (audio or MP3) from the Reading House.