Chapter Nine Summary and Analysis – The Dark Wives by Ann Cleeves

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

After watching Rosie walk away, Vera speaks with Joe about the new team member’s performance. Joe reports that Rosie handled Josh’s parents well. Vera drives home in a daze, thinking about Chloe’s diary and photos. She reaches her cottage, lights a fire, and reflects on the case. The next morning, with no news of Chloe, Vera heads straight to St Margaret’s hospital to interview Becky Spence. Becky is frustrated and guilty, admitting she hasn’t been a good mother. Vera asks about places Chloe might go; Becky recalls that Chloe loved the family bothy near Gillstead, the hamlet of the Three Dark Wives. Vera considers the possibility but knows Chloe could not get there alone. Vera takes contact details for John’s parents. Becky reveals she has not heard from John, showing more distress over his absence than Chloe’s. Vera then receives a call from Joe: John Spence flew back to the UK a week ago, business class, and was driven to an address in Whitley Bay—the grandparents’ home. Vera heads there.

Key Events

Vera debriefs with Joe about Rosie’s performance; Joe confirms she did well with the parents.
Vera drives home, preoccupied with Chloe’s image and voice from the diary.
At her cottage, Vera lights a fire and considers installing central heating before dismissing the idea.
The next morning, Vera learns there is no CCTV sighting of Chloe and decides to visit Becky Spence.
Vera meets Becky in the day room of St Margaret’s; Becky’s hair is wet, and she appears sharper than expected.
Becky admits she hasn’t been a good mother and feels guilty about her daughter’s disappearance.
Vera asks about special places; Becky mentions Gillstead, where the family had a bothy used for camping.
Vera recalls the legend of the Three Dark Wives—three crones turned to stone.
Vera realizes Chloe could not reach Gillstead alone but takes the grandparents’ contact details.
Becky says she has heard nothing from John Spence since he left; Vera senses more distress about John than about Chloe.
Joe calls to confirm John Spence returned from Dubai a week ago and was driven to an address in Whitley Bay.
Vera sets off for Whitley Bay to the grandparents’ home.

Character Development

Vera Stanhope – Vera’s exhaustion and empathy for Chloe deepen; she imagines Chloe’s voice and picture, feeling protective. She shows compassion to Becky while also noting suspicious signs. Her instinct leads her to follow the lead to Gillstead despite logic.

Becky Spence – Initially portrayed as medicated and fragile, Becky displays sharper moments and genuine guilt. Her emotional focus on John’s absence over Chloe’s disappearance raises Vera’s suspicions. She recalls fond memories of Chloe at the bothy, showing a softer side.

Rosie – Though not seen directly, Vera’s concern for the new team member is evident. Rosie’s success with the parents is noted, indicating she may become a key figure.

Joe Ashworth – Relays information competently, feeling the cold as a character trait. He accepts Vera’s instructions without question, showing loyalty.

Chloe Spence (absent) – Her image is built through Vera’s imagination: short, round, made-up eyes, black skirt and boots, both childish and trying to appear older. The diary and photos bring her to life for the reader.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Mothers and Guilt – Becky’s repeated self-blame (“I’ve been such a terrible mother”) underscores the theme of maternal failure. Vera’s own reflections on her parents (dead mother, difficult father) mirror this guilt.

Place as Memory – The bothy at Gillstead represents a childhood sanctuary where Chloe was happy. The act of toasting marshmallows symbolises lost domestic warmth. The remote location contrasts with the modern hospital setting.

The Three Dark Wives – The standing stones and their legend (women turned to stone for talking too much) serve as a motif for silenced women. Vera identifies as a “crone” and admires that the crones are remembered while the giant is forgotten.

Light and Darkness – Vera’s cottage is dark and cold; she lights a fire for comfort. St Margaret’s is described as “forbidding.” The contrast emphasises the bleakness of the investigation and the emotional coldness surrounding Chloe’s disappearance.

Disappearance and Invisibility – Chloe “disappeared into thin air” reflects her social marginalisation. Vera’s search for her is an attempt to make her visible again.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter Nine shifts the investigation from local gossip to the missing girl’s family history. Vera’s discovery of the Gillstead bothy provides a symbolic and physical link to Chloe’s past happiness. The introduction of John Spence’s return to the UK and the Whitley Bay address adds a major new suspect—or at least a person of interest. Becky’s contradictory emotions—more grief for her husband than her daughter—raise doubts about her reliability and hint at deeper family secrets. The chapter also develops Vera’s character through her solitude and empathy, grounding the procedural aspects in emotional realism.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Vera decide to visit Becky Spence directly instead of waiting at the station?
Vera has received no news of Chloe overnight, and her instinct tells her to go to the mother. She hopes Becky might provide a lead that CCTV cannot. Vera also feels a personal connection to the case, imagining Chloe’s life and wanting to find her quickly.

2. What is the significance of Gillstead and the bothy in this chapter?
Gillstead represents Chloe’s happy childhood memory. The bothy is a place of warmth, family, and freedom. Vera latches onto it as a possible destination, even though logic suggests Chloe could not get there. The location also ties into the novel’s title through the Three Dark Wives legend, reinforcing themes of female identity and memory.

3. How does Vera’s reaction to Becky’s distress over John’s absence advance the plot?
Vera notices that Becky seems more upset about John Spence leaving than about Chloe missing. This observation plants suspicion that John may be involved in Chloe’s disappearance, or that Becky is hiding something. The subsequent discovery that John is back in the UK and staying with his parents confirms that he is a person of interest.