Characters The Dark Wives Ann Cleeves

Chloe Spence in The Dark Wives: A Character Analysis

Overview

Chloe Spence, the fourteen-year-old protagonist at the heart of Ann Cleeves’ The Dark Wives, is both a victim and a survivor. Placed in the Rosebank children’s home after her mother’s hospitalization and her father’s abandonment, Chloe becomes the key figure in a murder investigation when the only adult who listened to her, agency worker Josh Woodburn, is killed. Her disappearance propels the plot, forcing Detective Vera Stanhope to confront systemic neglect and the hidden lives of children in care. Through Chloe’s diary entries and the testimony of those who knew her, we see a bright, resilient young woman whose conspicuous silence speaks volumes about the failures of the institutions meant to protect her.

Plot Role

Chloe’s absence after Josh’s murder is the central mystery of the novel. Vera’s first discovery at Rosebank is Chloe’s diary, which reveals the girl’s fear of a man in a car, her complicated feelings for Josh, and her desperation. Every investigative thread—the secret den on the common, the letters exchanged via library books, the connection to her grandfather’s bothy at Gillstead, and her friendship with Alice—originates in Chloe’s attempts to survive. She is simultaneously the prime suspect and a potential victim, forcing Vera to question her own assumptions. By the climax, Chloe’s hidden testimony and her eventual rescue expose the corruption of the Seaview care company and the greed driving institutional failure.

Motivations and Traits Shown Through Actions

Chloe’s motivations are rooted in a deep need for safety, connection, and truth. She writes in her diary at Josh’s suggestion, documenting her fears and her love for him—a creative outlet that later becomes vital evidence. She hides in the den on the common the night Josh is killed, leaving a note in her handwriting that Joe Ashworth finds, suggesting she wants to be found but on her own terms. When she leaves a letter for her friend Esther in the library, she explains she “can’t stay in Rosebank” and that she “knows too much.” These actions show a resourceful, cautious teenager who trusts only a handful of people.

Physically, Chloe is described as short for her age, with a round face, heavily made-up eyes, and gothic clothing (black skirt, Doc Martens). This outward defiance masks her vulnerability. She is intelligent—her tutor Rachel Wiseman recalls she “had a real way with words”—and she reads voraciously, occasionally losing herself in conspiracy theories. Yet she also has a short temper and can be confrontational, which alienated her at the Salvation Academy. Her resilience is evident when she clears the kitchen before leaving home, and in her survival during days alone in the cold.

Chronological Arc

Chloe’s arc spans her past family life, her stay at Rosebank, her disappearance during the investigation, and her eventual rescue.

  • Before the novel: Chloe’s father John leaves for Dubai; her mother Becky suffers a psychotic episode and is hospitalized. Chloe is placed at Rosebank, where she feels unheard by teachers and welfare officers. She forms a bond with Josh, the agency worker.
  • Night of the murder: Chloe’s diary records her hating November and her fear of a man in a car and of Brad Russell. She stays up waiting for Josh, but he fails to meet her. After hearing from kids that the police are searching, she slips out and hides on the common, spending the night in the den.
  • Days missing: She moves between the den, the library, and eventually the bothy at Gillstead. She meets her friend Alice, who gives her supplies. Chloe writes a letter to Esther, confessing she knows too much. She evades capture while the police close in.
  • Climax: During the Witch Hunt festival, Chloe is hiding on the hill. Vera and the team protect her, and Chris Woodburn (Josh’s father) is arrested for Brad’s murder. Chloe is found safe.
  • Aftermath: A week later, Chloe sends Vera a letter thanking her. She is living with her mother again, away from Rosebank, and expresses a desire to become a police officer to help others like herself.

Relationships

Chloe’s relationships define her isolation and her few lifelines.

  • Josh Woodburn: The only adult who listens. Chloe admits in her diary she might be in love with him, but Joe Ashworth later notes she saw him as a big brother. Josh’s murder shatters her trust in the adult world.
  • Brad Russell: A fellow resident and petty drug dealer. Brad calls Chloe a “witch” and she fears him. He is later found dead in the bothy loft, killed by Chris Woodburn as revenge for Josh’s death.
  • Esther Sullivan: Chloe’s childhood friend from primary school. Esther distances herself under pressure from parents and teachers, but they exchange secret letters via a library book. Esther gives Chloe £50 and hides her location.
  • Alice: Chloe’s friend from Gillstead who visits the Hall for a spa day. Alice supplies Chloe with camping gear and keeps her secret, though she eventually confesses to Rosie Bell.
  • John Spence (father): Abandoned Chloe and ignored her texts. When he returns to the UK, he refuses to see her. Chloe blames him for her mother’s illness.
  • Gordon and Pam Spence (grandparents): They offer Chloe a home, but she refuses because she doesn’t get on with Pam. Gordon secretly takes Chloe for a day out to Gillstead, arranging it through Josh.
  • Vera Stanhope: Vera becomes Chloe’s champion. Though they meet only at the end, Vera reads her diary, follows her trail, and ensures her safety. Chloe’s final letter shows deep gratitude.

Key Decisions and Consequences

Chloe’s choices drive the plot and illustrate her agency within constraints.

  • Keeping a diary at Josh’s suggestion: This provides Vera with crucial insight into Chloe’s fears and proves her innocence. Without it, the investigation might have stalled.
  • Running away on the night of the murder: This makes her look guilty but ultimately saves her life. The alternative—staying at Rosebank—would have exposed her to the killer.
  • Leaving a note in the den: Joe finds it, confirming Chloe is alive and deliberate. The note’s style (“Too poetic,” Vera says) also shows Chloe’s literary bent.
  • Sending a letter to Esther via the library: This re-establishes contact and leads Vera to the crucial clue that Chloe knows who killed Josh. It also puts Esther and her family at risk, though Gaby Sullivan cooperates with the police.
  • Hiding in the shed near Gillstead Hall: This keeps her safe until the Witch Hunt, when the killer attempts to make her death look accidental. Vera’s team intervenes.
  • Writing a thank-you letter to Vera after the case: This closes her arc, showing she has regained hope and a sense of purpose.

Theme/Symbol Connections

Chloe embodies several of the novel’s central themes, which are explored in more depth on the themes page.

  • Institutional failure: Rosebank, the Salvation Academy, and social services all fail Chloe. The home is under-resourced, the school prioritizes uniform over wellbeing, and her social worker is overwhelmed. Chloe’s plight exposes how profit-driven private care (Seaview Holdings) exploits vulnerable children.
  • Guilt and responsibility: Chloe blames herself for her father’s departure and her mother’s illness. She also feels guilt over Josh’s death, believing she knows too much. Vera, too, grapples with guilt over past cases.
  • Secrecy and double lives: Chloe hides her feelings, her friendship with Esther, and her knowledge of the killer. Josh also leads a double life—working at Rosebank without telling his parents. The theme is explored further on the secrecy page.
  • Community vs. outsider: Chloe is an outsider in Rosebank, at school, and even in her own family. She finds a temporary community in her friendship with Alice and Esther, and finally in Vera’s protective regard.
  • Greed and corruption: The Seaview Holdings fraud, orchestrated by Helen Miles, exploits the care system for profit. Chloe’s disappearance is a direct consequence of this greed.

Character Questions

1. Why does Chloe keep a diary, and what does it reveal about her?

Chloe writes at Josh’s suggestion. The diary reveals her loneliness, her fear of Brad and the man in a car, her love for Josh, and her suicidal thoughts—but also her determination to survive. It becomes the key to Vera’s understanding of Chloe’s innocence.

2. How does Chloe’s relationship with Josh differ from her other adult relationships?

Josh is the only adult who listens without judgment. Unlike her teachers, welfare officer, or manager Limbrick, he treats her as an individual. Chloe’s diary states he “was kind and funny” and that she liked him “not in a creepy way. Just like I was a sister.” His murder leaves her entirely alone.

3. Why does Chloe refuse to live with her grandparents?

Chloe feels her grandmother Pam dislikes her, and she blames her father John for abandoning them. She tells Vera’s team she would rather stay at Rosebank than move to Whitley Bay. The offer was genuine, but Chloe’s anger and hurt prevent her from accepting.

4. What does Chloe’s final letter to Vera suggest about her future?

In the letter, Chloe thanks Vera and says she wants to become a police officer “to help others.” This indicates she has turned her trauma into a positive ambition, and that Vera’s intervention has given her hope. The letter is delivered a week after the case concludes.

5. How does Chloe’s appearance reflect her character?

Chloe wears heavy makeup, black clothing, and Doc Martens, which others interpret as gothic or witch-like. Brad calls her a witch, and the school disapproves. But Vera sees the child beneath: “cheeky and shy at the same time.” Her style is a form of defiance and self-protection in a world that constantly judges her.

For further analysis of the novel’s central questions, visit the Questions and Answers page, and for a complete breakdown of the conclusion, see the Ending Explained page.