Ann Cleeves

Ann Cleeves OBE is a British mystery crime writer best known for her series featuring detectives Vera Stanhope, Jimmy Perez, and Matthew Venn, all adapted into popular TV shows. Born in Herefordshire in 1954, she worked in various roles including probation officer, bird observatory cook, and auxiliary coastguard before starting her writing career during a period as a lighthouse keeper. She has received prestigious awards such as the CWA Diamond Dagger in 2017 and an OBE in 2022 for services to reading and libraries.[1][2][3][4]