Ann Cleeves is one of Britain’s most successful and prolific crime writers, reaching millions of readers around the world.

She’s reached millions of television viewers too, with series including Vera and Shetland, adapted from her books.

She has written on average a book a year for almost four decades, but success was anything but instant. She was 32 when her first title was published, and she only became a full-time writer in her early fifties. In 2017 she was awarded the Diamond Dagger from the Crime Writers’ Association, the highest honour in British crime writing, and in 2022 received an OBE for services to reading and libraries.

Her choices include music by Britten and Elgar, a film score by Patrick Doyle and fiddle music from the Shetland Islands.

Presenter Michael Berkeley
Producer Clare Walker