Ann Cleeves says 'goodbye pet' to Vera Stanhope as she reveals next book 'will be the last'

Ann Cleeves has revealed that her next book following Vera Stanhope "will be the last", as she prepares to say "goodbye pet".

The author behind the crime thrillers and successful TV series broke the news to her Bath Literature Festival audience, held at Bath Guildhall, which is running from Saturday, 17th May to Sunday, 25th May 2025. The next Vera title will be the last in the series, and while the beloved detective is unlikely to return, Cleeves did confirm that she "probably won’t kill her off".

She told the audience: "There will only be one more Vera novel," which was followed by a collective gasp, before adding: "Well that was a bombshell, wasn’t it!" 

Cleeves’ first Vera Stanhope book was published in 1999, while her latest, The Dark Wives, is out now.

The character was brought to life in 2011 by actress Brenda Blethyn, who became famous for her battered hat, shapeless coat and ancient Land Rover. Blethyn played the lead until the final series on ITV this January.

The actor and the author became friends, with Cleeves sending proofs to Blethyn as soon as a new book came out. Cleeves told her Bath audience that the actor used to send scripts back if she thought they did not reflect what Vera would do or say.

Fans of Cleeves, who has written 37 books, can still watch her Shetland and Two Rivers television series.