A Visit with Ann Cleeves in “Vera Land”

    Bestselling crime author Ann Cleeves joins us from her English home in the Northumberland to talk about her love of making up stories. Her latest story, “The Darkest Evening,” once again stars Vera Stanhope (her 9th book in the series), the no-nonsense, bag lady-like detective who is now known worldwide thanks to the hit TV series “Vera.” We talk about the real life places and people who inspired this book as well as her new Two Rivers series featuring Matthew Venn. Plus, how fate made Vera’s and Ann Cleeves’ popularity take off, why traditional crime drama is particularly good for unsettling times like these and how reading is vital to your health. And, “Vera” actress Brenda Blethyn reads to us from “The Darkest Evening.”