Telling Tales (Vera Stanhope, 2)

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Vera is a British crime drama series based on the Vera Stanhope series of novels by Ann Cleeves. First broadcast on ITV on 1 May 2011, it stars Brenda Blethyn as the principal character, Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope. In the first book, "The Crow Trap," I just wanted her to stop calling everyone "pet" and get on with finding the killer.

Telling Tales is the second book in Ann Cleeves’ Vera Stanhope series – which is now a major ITV detective drama starring Brenda Blethyn as Vera . The series is filmed in Newcastle upon Tyne and throughout Northumberland in North East England. Locations include Gateshead, North Shields, Whitley Bay, Amble, Warkworth, Alnmouth, Bamburgh, and the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. [3] The farmhouse used for the exterior shots of Vera's home is located on the Snook, part of the Holy Island of Lindisfarne at 55°41′10″N 001°50′29″W / 55.68611°N 1.84139°W / 55.68611; -1.84139 or grid reference NU1006543635. [4]We also follow Jeanie's father who is a broken man after realizing that his daughter was innocent and he didn't see her or defend her. He and Vera end up making an unlikely friendship I thought with him doing what he could to help her out on the case, and Vera trying to not get too irritated with him. Vera’s presence is felt throughout the book, her no nonsense direct approach really fits with the Northern setting. I listened to the audio version, read by Julia Franklin. I wasn't that thrilled with her. She seems to have three voices, crotchety old man/woman - they sound closely alike, implausibly naive young woman and young hooligan.

We get to see a bit more Vera-Joe bonding, though it’s cut short when Joe makes a funny comment about Vera’s father. Still, they’ve settled into a comfortable routine - they are more at ease with each other than they were in the first episode. By now, the characters of Vera and her team have been established quite well. Some change to the status quo can now be allowed. Grumpy Vera is less harsh in this episode. Calm Joe is stressed about his wife and kids.It has been ten years since Jeanie Long was charged with the murder of fifteen-year-old Abigail Mantel. Now residents of the East Yorkshire village of Elvet are disturbed to hear of new evidence proving Jeanie’s innocence. Abigail’s killer is still at large.