The Crow Trap: The First Vera Stanhope Mystery

Name: The Crow Trap: The First Vera Stanhope Mystery
Price: 12.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.2 (18775 reviews)
Author: Ann Cleeves

by Ann Cleeves

Mystery Thriller Literary Fiction

4.2 (18,775)

4.2 stars from 18,775 reviews. One of the highest rated Mystery Thriller books we track.

532 pages~8.9 hr readPublished by MaevaPublished 1999-01-01

$12.99At peak price

Last checked: Jun 2, 2026

Price history: $2.99 – $12.99

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Price range: $2.99 – $12.99

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Fans of these books will like this...

The Cormoran Strike Series
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Perfect for you if...

You enjoy crime mysteries with complex female characters and genuine emotional stakes alongside the puzzle.
You've watched the Vera TV series and want to meet her earlier self, sharp and relentless from the start.
You appreciate methodical plotting where motive builds slowly through character revelation, not just plot twists.

Maybe not for you if...

You want fast-paced, high-action crime thrillers with constant momentum and surprises.
You prefer detectives who are warm and likeable rather than prickly and morally grey.
You're looking for standalone mysteries; this is the first of a long series and benefits from investing in Vera's character arc.

About this book

The first novel in the Vera Stanhope series, The Crow Trap follows three women brought together to conduct an environmental survey in the Northumberland countryside. Each carries her own history of betrayal: Rachael Lambert, the team leader, seeks to rebuild confidence after being betrayed by her lover and boss, Peter Kemp. Botanist Anne Preece views the project as an opportunity for deception. Grace Fulwell, a reserved young woman, harbors significant secrets. When Rachael arrives at the cottage, she discovers the body of her friend Bella Furness, apparently a suicide—a conclusion Rachael cannot accept. After a second death, Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope enters the investigation, tasked with uncovering the truth hidden within these women's complicated lives.

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Price History

Kindle price over time. Green zones = periods when the book was free.

$2.99 – $12.99

Price has dropped 6 times over the last 6 years. Goes on sale roughly every 364 days. Typically stays discounted for 6 days.

Sales Rank

Amazon sales rank: lower number = better selling book. #1 is the bestseller.

Currently #3,867 in the Kindle store — a top-10K bestseller.

Rating & Reviews

Purple line = star rating over time. Blue area = total review count growth.

Currently 4.2★ from 18,775 reviews

Gaining approximately 109 new reviews per month. Reader interest is accelerating. Rating has remained stable at 4.2 over the tracking period.

Sale Prediction

Actual Predicted

This book goes on sale roughly every 364 days. Next drop estimated in about 51 weeks. Typical discount: 77% off.

Prices shown in USD from Amazon US. We continuously pull new data to improve tracking. If dates look old, it usually means there has been no significant change since the last data point.