Bello:

hidden talent rediscovered

Bello is a digital only imprint of Pan Macmillan, established to breathe life into previously published classic books.

At Bello we believe in the timeless power of the imagination, of good story, narrative and entertainment and we want to use digital technology to ensure that many more readers can enjoy these books into the future.

We publish in ebook and Print on Demand formats to bring these wonderful books to new audiences.

Contents

• Ann Cleeves
• Chapter One
• Chapter Two
• Chapter Three
• Chapter Four
• Chapter Five
• Chapter Six
• Chapter Seven
• Chapter Eight
• Chapter Nine
• Chapter Ten
• Chapter Eleven
• Chapter Twelve
• Chapter Thirteen
• Chapter Fourteen
• Chapter Fifteen
• Chapter Sixteen
• Chapter Seventeen
• Chapter Eighteen

Ann Cleeves

Another Man's Poison

Ann Cleeves

Ann Cleeves is the author behind ITV’s VERA and BBC One’s SHETLAND. She has written over twenty-five novels, and is the creator of detectives Vera Stanhope and Jimmy Perez – characters loved both on screen and in print. Her books have now sold over one million copies worldwide.

Ann worked as a probation officer, bird observatory cook and auxiliary coastguard before she started writing. She is a member of ‘Murder Squad’, working with other British northern writers to promote crime fiction. In 2006 Ann was awarded the Duncan Lawrie Dagger (CWA Gold Dagger) for Best Crime Novel, for Raven Black, the first book in her Shetland series. In 2012 she was inducted into the CWA Crime Thriller Awards Hall of Fame. Ann lives in North Tyneside.

Chapter One

Ursula Ottway drove the Land Rover over the cattle grid, then got out to shut the gate carefully behind her. Back in the vehicle she paused for a moment before carrying on. It was late afternoon and the hills threw long shadows over Crow Water. Now she was almost home there was no hurry. She savoured the relief of her return to the valley.

She hardly left the farm now apart from these monthly shopping trips to Appleworth and each time the excursion became more of an ordeal. The drive along the dual carriageway to the Superstore was a nightmare. Everyone seemed to go so fast. Traffic passed her, horns blaring, lights flashing, the drivers apparently irritated beyond reason by the slowness of the Land Rover. Once, she had been so shaken by the journey that she had driven into the back of one of the sleek, new cars queuing at the entrance to the supermarket carpark. The woman had been as polished as her car, quite beautiful Ursula saw, long legged and golden haired, but when she opened her mouth she spoke incoherent filth.

‘I’m sorry,’ Ursula had stammered. ‘It’s my fault. I’ll pay.’

But that, it seemed, would not do, The woman was determined to draw attention to them both.

‘I only passed my test last week!’ she screamed. ‘Do you know what my husband will say?’