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Content snapshot
Flag an inaccuracy →What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.
Violence
Some
A murder among young people in a university setting; not graphically violent
Language
Barely any
Mild language; realistic student dialogue
Sexual Content
Barely any
References to student relationships and sexuality; not explicit
Substance Use
Barely any
Student drinking and social contexts
Emotional Intensity
Some
Vera's psychological acuity and the victim's hidden life give the novel its depth
What this book is about
The body of a young actress is found in university student accommodation, and Inspector Vera Stanhope — overweight, abrasive, brilliant — takes charge of the investigation. The first novel to feature Vera Stanhope introduces one of British crime fiction's most original and beloved detectives, as Cleeves weaves together the worlds of student theatre, ambition, and jealousy in a thoroughly satisfying mystery.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Murder of a young woman
Introduction of Vera Stanhope
Reader Verification
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