The Crow Trap

In The Crow Trap, the first book in the Vera Stanhope series by Ann Cleeves, three women—Rachael, Anne, and Grace—come together to conduct an environmental survey in the Northumberland countryside, each carrying the weight of personal betrayals and secrets. Their project takes a dark turn when Rachael finds the body of her friend Bella, initially ruled a suicide, which she cannot accept. As more mysteries unfold, Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope arrives to unravel the complexities of their intertwined lives and uncover the truth.