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Two Rivers #1
The Long Call
In North Devon, where two rivers converge and run into the sea, Detective Matthew Venn stands outside the church as his father’s funeral takes place. Once loved and cherished, the day Matthew left the strict evangelical community he grew up in, he lost his family too.
Now, as he turns and walks away again, he receives a call from one of his team. A body has been found on the beach nearby: a man with a tattoo of an albatross on his neck, stabbed to death.
The case calls Matthew back into the community he thought he had left behind, as deadly secrets hidden at its heart are revealed, and his past and present collide.
Now, as he turns and walks away again, he receives a call from one of his team. A body has been found on the beach nearby: a man with a tattoo of an albatross on his neck, stabbed to death.
The case calls Matthew back into the community he thought he had left behind, as deadly secrets hidden at its heart are revealed, and his past and present collide.
376 pages, Hardcover
First published September 3, 2019
About the author
Ann Cleeves
115 books7,321 followersAnn is the author of the books behind ITV's VERA, now in it's third series, and the BBC's SHETLAND, which will be aired in December 2012. Ann's DI Vera Stanhope series of books is set in Northumberland and features the well loved detective along with her partner Joe Ashworth. Ann's Shetland series bring us DI Jimmy Perez, investigating in the mysterious, dark, and beautiful Shetland Islands...
Ann grew up in the country, first in Herefordshire, then in North Devon. Her father was a village school teacher. After dropping out of university she took a number of temporary jobs - child care officer, women's refuge leader, bird observatory cook, auxiliary coastguard - before going back to college and training to be a probation officer.
While she was cooking in the Bird Observatory on Fair Isle, she met her husband Tim, a visiting ornithologist. She was attracted less by the ornithology than the bottle of malt whisky she saw in his rucksack when she showed him his room. Soon after they married, Tim was appointed as warden of Hilbre, a tiny tidal island nature reserve in the Dee Estuary. They were the only residents, there was no mains electricity or water and access to the mainland was at low tide across the shore. If a person's not heavily into birds - and Ann isn't - there's not much to do on Hilbre and that was when she started writing. Her first series of crime novels features the elderly naturalist, George Palmer-Jones. A couple of these books are seriously dreadful.
In 1987 Tim, Ann and their two daughters moved to Northumberland and the north east provides the inspiration for many of her subsequent titles. The girls have both taken up with Geordie lads. In the autumn of 2006, Ann and Tim finally achieved their ambition of moving back to the North East.
For the National Year of Reading, Ann was made reader-in-residence for three library authorities. It came as a revelation that it was possible to get paid for talking to readers about books! She went on to set up reading groups in prisons as part of the Inside Books project, became Cheltenham Literature Festival's first reader-in-residence and still enjoys working with libraries.
Ann Cleeves on stage at the Duncan Lawrie Dagger awards ceremony
Ann's short film for Border TV, Catching Birds, won a Royal Television Society Award. She has twice been short listed for a CWA Dagger Award - once for her short story The Plater, and the following year for the Dagger in the Library award.
In 2006 Ann Cleeves was the first winner of the prestigious Duncan Lawrie Dagger Award of the Crime Writers' Association for Raven Black, the first volume of her Shetland Quartet. The Duncan Lawrie Dagger replaces the CWA's Gold Dagger award, and the winner receives £20,000, making it the world's largest award for crime fiction.
Ann's success was announced at the 2006 Dagger Awards ceremony at the Waldorf Hilton, in London's Aldwych, on Thursday 29 June 2006. She said: "I have never won anything before in my life, so it was a complete shock - but lovely of course.. The evening was relatively relaxing because I'd lost my voice and knew that even if the unexpected happened there was physically no way I could utter a word. So I wouldn't have to give a speech. My editor was deputed to do it!"
The judging panel consisted of Geoff Bradley (non-voting Chair), Lyn Brown MP (a committee member on the London Libraries service), Frances Gray (an academic who writes about and teaches courses on modern crime fiction), Heather O'Donoghue (academic, linguist, crime fiction reviewer for The Times Literary Supplement, and keen reader of all crime fiction) and Barry Forshaw (reviewer and editor of Crime Time magazine).
Ann's books have been translated into sixteen languages. She's a bestseller in Scandinavia and Germany. Her novels sell widely and to critical acclaim in the United States. Raven Black was shortlisted for the Martin Beck award for best translated crime novel in Sweden in 200
Ann grew up in the country, first in Herefordshire, then in North Devon. Her father was a village school teacher. After dropping out of university she took a number of temporary jobs - child care officer, women's refuge leader, bird observatory cook, auxiliary coastguard - before going back to college and training to be a probation officer.
While she was cooking in the Bird Observatory on Fair Isle, she met her husband Tim, a visiting ornithologist. She was attracted less by the ornithology than the bottle of malt whisky she saw in his rucksack when she showed him his room. Soon after they married, Tim was appointed as warden of Hilbre, a tiny tidal island nature reserve in the Dee Estuary. They were the only residents, there was no mains electricity or water and access to the mainland was at low tide across the shore. If a person's not heavily into birds - and Ann isn't - there's not much to do on Hilbre and that was when she started writing. Her first series of crime novels features the elderly naturalist, George Palmer-Jones. A couple of these books are seriously dreadful.
In 1987 Tim, Ann and their two daughters moved to Northumberland and the north east provides the inspiration for many of her subsequent titles. The girls have both taken up with Geordie lads. In the autumn of 2006, Ann and Tim finally achieved their ambition of moving back to the North East.
For the National Year of Reading, Ann was made reader-in-residence for three library authorities. It came as a revelation that it was possible to get paid for talking to readers about books! She went on to set up reading groups in prisons as part of the Inside Books project, became Cheltenham Literature Festival's first reader-in-residence and still enjoys working with libraries.
Ann Cleeves on stage at the Duncan Lawrie Dagger awards ceremony
Ann's short film for Border TV, Catching Birds, won a Royal Television Society Award. She has twice been short listed for a CWA Dagger Award - once for her short story The Plater, and the following year for the Dagger in the Library award.
In 2006 Ann Cleeves was the first winner of the prestigious Duncan Lawrie Dagger Award of the Crime Writers' Association for Raven Black, the first volume of her Shetland Quartet. The Duncan Lawrie Dagger replaces the CWA's Gold Dagger award, and the winner receives £20,000, making it the world's largest award for crime fiction.
Ann's success was announced at the 2006 Dagger Awards ceremony at the Waldorf Hilton, in London's Aldwych, on Thursday 29 June 2006. She said: "I have never won anything before in my life, so it was a complete shock - but lovely of course.. The evening was relatively relaxing because I'd lost my voice and knew that even if the unexpected happened there was physically no way I could utter a word. So I wouldn't have to give a speech. My editor was deputed to do it!"
The judging panel consisted of Geoff Bradley (non-voting Chair), Lyn Brown MP (a committee member on the London Libraries service), Frances Gray (an academic who writes about and teaches courses on modern crime fiction), Heather O'Donoghue (academic, linguist, crime fiction reviewer for The Times Literary Supplement, and keen reader of all crime fiction) and Barry Forshaw (reviewer and editor of Crime Time magazine).
Ann's books have been translated into sixteen languages. She's a bestseller in Scandinavia and Germany. Her novels sell widely and to critical acclaim in the United States. Raven Black was shortlisted for the Martin Beck award for best translated crime novel in Sweden in 200
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,154 reviews
April 19, 2022
Five blazing, fantastic stars to the one of the best crime thrillers of this year! Clap! Clap! Clap!
You know the long call is the most complex vocalization of GULL’s repertoire can be heard year-round in mostly served as aggressive signals! So the GULLS SCREAMING, metaphoric WAKE UP CALL because this heart-wrenching, dark, twisty, nerve-bending story taken place at North Devon, people liked to act like THREE WISDOM MONKEYS!
They see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil because their reputation, their fake lives, their place at the society are more important than everything. They cover sexual abuses, domestic violence, bribery to resume their perfect, shiny, impeccable lives. But one day THEY COULDN’T COVER THE MURDER. And the officers came out to dig into more about secrets, their dirty lies by rocking their world upside down!
They seemed like they are so noble people doing charities, extending their helping hands for the ones needed most. But they’re mostly the hypocritical people do this to hide their real faces from the outer world and blaming, judging, shunning the people as if they’re the high authorities, decision makers about people’s lives and fates. (ITCHY FINGERS ALERT! I WANT TO SLAP THEM ALL!)
I chanted a huge BRAVA to the author! Leading detective Matthew Venn who brings out the truth hid for a long time is also shunned by his own traditional parents because of his life choices and sexual inclination. At the beginning of the story he found himself standing outside the church but he didn’t attend his own father’s funeral! Even though he has a respectable job, a good marriage, people still stick to their prejudices.
Then a body was found with a tattoo of an Albatross on the neck. When they found out Simon Walden who was former forces man and ex- criminal, was the victim who stabbed and left to death.
After he had drunk driven and killed an innocent child who had found himself into the spiral of self-loathing and depression, suicidal tendencies. He found himself, homeless and drunk at the church of North Devon and Caroline Peece wanted to help him by accepting him into her house as a second lodger, (first one is Gaby Henry, a talented artist who wanted to make ends meet to create her art passionately.) And he provided a job as seasonal chef at the hotel.
Spiritual meaning of Albatross is grace, loyalty, open-minded. He wanted to set free the bird by doing the right thing and paying for his sins but he is killed before accomplishing his mission!
His death was connected to the Woodyard, a community hub for helping mostly children who have learning disabilities and supporting art and cultural activities. Jonathan, husband of Matthew is also the head of the Woodyard. So what could be wrong about this honorable organization providing too many opportunities to change people’s lives!
The book is HARD SLAP to the judgmental POVs because nobody shows their true self to the others and faking their identities.
Victim atones to a mission he has to achieve to bring justice to a hidden crime of this close society but he pays his rightful attempts with his life. After Simon Walden’s death, two children suffering from Down Syndrome were kidnapped. So as the secrets revealed, more people started to hurt and more craziness broke out.
Matthew is a complex, withdrawn, tormented, smart character. His team members Jen Refferty is also a victim of abusive marriage, changed his life to leave Liverpool with her kids, missing the glamorous, crowded city life, is vivid, brave, smart, fiery, straightforward character ( she is also my favorite one).
And Ross May is less likable (not slap worthy, a little pinch on his arm works for me) character, a little pretentious, competitive, show-off, living a dreamful marriage and social life. He has been scolded by Matthew in front of his colleagues that damaged his self-esteem a little bit but at the final parts he reluctantly learned to be a team player.
So many hard issues from abuses, violence at home, mental health disorder, religious convictions, sexual choices, alcoholism, suicidal tendencies are blended perfectly into the story.
This is memorable, well-balanced pacing (not too slow or fast, good enough to absorb the back stories and relationship dynamics, history of the town.), questioning, clap deserving, one of the best crime stories I’ve read this year. And ending was well-rounded, strong.
I have to put some cream on my face after I got so many literature and intellectual slaps from the author but I’m looking forward to read more stories of her!
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You know the long call is the most complex vocalization of GULL’s repertoire can be heard year-round in mostly served as aggressive signals! So the GULLS SCREAMING, metaphoric WAKE UP CALL because this heart-wrenching, dark, twisty, nerve-bending story taken place at North Devon, people liked to act like THREE WISDOM MONKEYS!
They see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil because their reputation, their fake lives, their place at the society are more important than everything. They cover sexual abuses, domestic violence, bribery to resume their perfect, shiny, impeccable lives. But one day THEY COULDN’T COVER THE MURDER. And the officers came out to dig into more about secrets, their dirty lies by rocking their world upside down!
They seemed like they are so noble people doing charities, extending their helping hands for the ones needed most. But they’re mostly the hypocritical people do this to hide their real faces from the outer world and blaming, judging, shunning the people as if they’re the high authorities, decision makers about people’s lives and fates. (ITCHY FINGERS ALERT! I WANT TO SLAP THEM ALL!)
I chanted a huge BRAVA to the author! Leading detective Matthew Venn who brings out the truth hid for a long time is also shunned by his own traditional parents because of his life choices and sexual inclination. At the beginning of the story he found himself standing outside the church but he didn’t attend his own father’s funeral! Even though he has a respectable job, a good marriage, people still stick to their prejudices.
Then a body was found with a tattoo of an Albatross on the neck. When they found out Simon Walden who was former forces man and ex- criminal, was the victim who stabbed and left to death.
After he had drunk driven and killed an innocent child who had found himself into the spiral of self-loathing and depression, suicidal tendencies. He found himself, homeless and drunk at the church of North Devon and Caroline Peece wanted to help him by accepting him into her house as a second lodger, (first one is Gaby Henry, a talented artist who wanted to make ends meet to create her art passionately.) And he provided a job as seasonal chef at the hotel.
Spiritual meaning of Albatross is grace, loyalty, open-minded. He wanted to set free the bird by doing the right thing and paying for his sins but he is killed before accomplishing his mission!
His death was connected to the Woodyard, a community hub for helping mostly children who have learning disabilities and supporting art and cultural activities. Jonathan, husband of Matthew is also the head of the Woodyard. So what could be wrong about this honorable organization providing too many opportunities to change people’s lives!
The book is HARD SLAP to the judgmental POVs because nobody shows their true self to the others and faking their identities.
Victim atones to a mission he has to achieve to bring justice to a hidden crime of this close society but he pays his rightful attempts with his life. After Simon Walden’s death, two children suffering from Down Syndrome were kidnapped. So as the secrets revealed, more people started to hurt and more craziness broke out.
Matthew is a complex, withdrawn, tormented, smart character. His team members Jen Refferty is also a victim of abusive marriage, changed his life to leave Liverpool with her kids, missing the glamorous, crowded city life, is vivid, brave, smart, fiery, straightforward character ( she is also my favorite one).
And Ross May is less likable (not slap worthy, a little pinch on his arm works for me) character, a little pretentious, competitive, show-off, living a dreamful marriage and social life. He has been scolded by Matthew in front of his colleagues that damaged his self-esteem a little bit but at the final parts he reluctantly learned to be a team player.
So many hard issues from abuses, violence at home, mental health disorder, religious convictions, sexual choices, alcoholism, suicidal tendencies are blended perfectly into the story.
This is memorable, well-balanced pacing (not too slow or fast, good enough to absorb the back stories and relationship dynamics, history of the town.), questioning, clap deserving, one of the best crime stories I’ve read this year. And ending was well-rounded, strong.
I have to put some cream on my face after I got so many literature and intellectual slaps from the author but I’m looking forward to read more stories of her!
blog
August 18, 2023
After I watched the British version of Broadchurch, and read the book, I have been interested in watching the series, Shetland, written by Ann Cleeves. I haven't gotten around to it yet but I did just read her book The Long Call, the first of two books that deal with the career and homelife of Detective Matthew Venn. Venn is an angry, troubled, sad man, having been brought up in a very strict religious community. In his late teens, when he stood up in church and stated he didn't believe what he had been taught, he was kicked out of the church and disowned by his parents. Venn has never gotten over his parents rejection and had to recently watch his father's funeral from afar.
Another black mark for Venn, with the church and his parents, is that he is gay and married to Jonathan. Matthew and Jonathan couldn't be more different but they complete each other and his marriage is a bright spot in his life. Now his job and home life are mixing, with the murder of a man who volunteered at the Woodyard, a community where Jonathan is the administrator. This story unfolds slowly, with the tediousness of a crime with many potential suspects but no hard evidence. Matthew and his colleagues must dig deep, canvas the streets and the area for witnesses. Not only is there a tie to Matthew's husband to this crime, there is also a tie to a prominent member of Matthew's former church. Too many memories, too close to home, are stirring up Matthew's anger and sadness concerning his past and he considers recusing himself from the case.
Involved in the case are two adult Down Syndrome women and they were favorites of mine, in this book. Sweet, trusting, women, with love for their routine, TV shows, clothes, food, and friends. One of the woman has an 80 year old father who despairs of how he can be sure his daughter is able to live after he is gone. What I liked about Matthew is his deep compassion for the good people he meets. He cares about this aged father, for both girls, for their families and friends and wants to do right by them and that is one of the reasons he stays on the case.
I enjoyed this story very much and look forward to the next one. Things move slowly, which worked well for me. I could feel the climate, the atmosphere, the claustrophobia of the community and look forward to returning to Matthew's story.
Pub September 3, 2019
Thank you to St Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
Another black mark for Venn, with the church and his parents, is that he is gay and married to Jonathan. Matthew and Jonathan couldn't be more different but they complete each other and his marriage is a bright spot in his life. Now his job and home life are mixing, with the murder of a man who volunteered at the Woodyard, a community where Jonathan is the administrator. This story unfolds slowly, with the tediousness of a crime with many potential suspects but no hard evidence. Matthew and his colleagues must dig deep, canvas the streets and the area for witnesses. Not only is there a tie to Matthew's husband to this crime, there is also a tie to a prominent member of Matthew's former church. Too many memories, too close to home, are stirring up Matthew's anger and sadness concerning his past and he considers recusing himself from the case.
Involved in the case are two adult Down Syndrome women and they were favorites of mine, in this book. Sweet, trusting, women, with love for their routine, TV shows, clothes, food, and friends. One of the woman has an 80 year old father who despairs of how he can be sure his daughter is able to live after he is gone. What I liked about Matthew is his deep compassion for the good people he meets. He cares about this aged father, for both girls, for their families and friends and wants to do right by them and that is one of the reasons he stays on the case.
I enjoyed this story very much and look forward to the next one. Things move slowly, which worked well for me. I could feel the climate, the atmosphere, the claustrophobia of the community and look forward to returning to Matthew's story.
Pub September 3, 2019
Thank you to St Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
November 10, 2019
What a pleasure it is to read such a well written character-driven mystery!
British author, Ann Cleeves, has brought to life a very fine new character in Senior Detective Matthew Venn. He is not your typical drunken, wise ass detective. Instead, Cleeves has given us a compassionate and introspective mind. Matthew is a senior investigator who is unsure of himself when leading his evening briefings with his team, unbeknownst to them, which is very endearing. Also to my liking is the way Matthew’s mind works when deducting clues from all his sources of information. Smartly done.
Matthew’s background is very nicely brought to light in the first of Cleeves’ new series. A body is found on a beach in North Devon, England, which brings him back to his former life as a member of a strict religious group called The Brethren and his estranged family. The book explores the power of the church and the blind faith of it’s followers. Also, there are ties to the place of his husband’s employment called The Woodyard a sanctuary for the disabled and mentally impaired. A big highlight for me is Matthew and Jonathan’s relationship. Matthew likes to be dressed in suits, whereas, Jonathan can always be found in shorts and sandals no matter what season of the year (very much like my household).
THE LONG CALL is a slow burn mystery peaking at the back end of the book. It is a very compelling read with multiple plots and characters. The plots are interwoven well and more complicated than expected. Down’s Syndrome is touched upon with characters Lucy and Christine in an insightful manner.
This is a refreshing novel and a series which I intend to continue. Highly recommend.
4.5 out of 5 stars
Review posted on Goodreads - June 28, 2019
Publication date - September 3, 2019
I received a free ARC of THE LONG CALL by Ann Cleeves from Macmillan in an exchange for an honest review.
#readinginsidersclub
British author, Ann Cleeves, has brought to life a very fine new character in Senior Detective Matthew Venn. He is not your typical drunken, wise ass detective. Instead, Cleeves has given us a compassionate and introspective mind. Matthew is a senior investigator who is unsure of himself when leading his evening briefings with his team, unbeknownst to them, which is very endearing. Also to my liking is the way Matthew’s mind works when deducting clues from all his sources of information. Smartly done.
Matthew’s background is very nicely brought to light in the first of Cleeves’ new series. A body is found on a beach in North Devon, England, which brings him back to his former life as a member of a strict religious group called The Brethren and his estranged family. The book explores the power of the church and the blind faith of it’s followers. Also, there are ties to the place of his husband’s employment called The Woodyard a sanctuary for the disabled and mentally impaired. A big highlight for me is Matthew and Jonathan’s relationship. Matthew likes to be dressed in suits, whereas, Jonathan can always be found in shorts and sandals no matter what season of the year (very much like my household).
THE LONG CALL is a slow burn mystery peaking at the back end of the book. It is a very compelling read with multiple plots and characters. The plots are interwoven well and more complicated than expected. Down’s Syndrome is touched upon with characters Lucy and Christine in an insightful manner.
This is a refreshing novel and a series which I intend to continue. Highly recommend.
4.5 out of 5 stars
Review posted on Goodreads - June 28, 2019
Publication date - September 3, 2019
I received a free ARC of THE LONG CALL by Ann Cleeves from Macmillan in an exchange for an honest review.
#readinginsidersclub
May 8, 2020
4 stars for a well done police procedural.
I have read 1 other book by Ann Cleeves, "The Crow Trap" which is book 1 in the Vera Stanhope series. I gave that book 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 because it moved very slowly at times. This book moved along well and held my interest. The characters were believable and I was not sure who did what until towards the end, The DI(Detective Inspector) in charge of a murder investigation is Matthew Venn. He is a gay man married to Jonathan, head of The Woodyard, a day centre for learning disabled adults and. a craft/art centre.
The murdered man volunteered at The Woodyard..
One quote: "He'd left the window down and now he could hear the surf on the beach and the cry of a herring gull, the sound the naturalists named the long call, the cry which always sounded to him like an inarticulate howl of pain.
Thank You Minotaur Books/St Martin's Press for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
Update May 8,2020: This book won an Agatha award.
I have read 1 other book by Ann Cleeves, "The Crow Trap" which is book 1 in the Vera Stanhope series. I gave that book 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 because it moved very slowly at times. This book moved along well and held my interest. The characters were believable and I was not sure who did what until towards the end, The DI(Detective Inspector) in charge of a murder investigation is Matthew Venn. He is a gay man married to Jonathan, head of The Woodyard, a day centre for learning disabled adults and. a craft/art centre.
The murdered man volunteered at The Woodyard..
One quote: "He'd left the window down and now he could hear the surf on the beach and the cry of a herring gull, the sound the naturalists named the long call, the cry which always sounded to him like an inarticulate howl of pain.
Thank You Minotaur Books/St Martin's Press for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
Update May 8,2020: This book won an Agatha award.
September 2, 2023
The Long Call is darkly evocative and smartly written.
My first Ann Cleeves did not disappoint. I am already anticipating the next installment to this all new, Two Rivers, series and it hasn't even been announced yet.
You know that's a good sign and seriously, though, when is the next book coming?
I was so pleasantly surprised with this. By far the best traditional Mystery I read in 2019.
It is obvious from the first pages that Cleeves is a veteran Mystery writer.
Following Detective Matthew Venn and two of his junior colleagues, Jen and Ross, was an absolute delight. I felt like I was there with them, learning the evidence as they were.
Matthew was just a lovely protagonist. Thoughtful and introverted, extremely smart and dedicated to the idea of truth and justice for all.
In the beginning of our tale, Matthew is attending his estranged Father's funeral. Standing in the back he observes neighbors, and other locals, he might once have considered friends.
But he has left that part of his life far behind after the strict evangelical community his parents were a part of could not accept his sexuality. Essentially excommunicated, he hasn't spoken with either of his parents in many years.
Upon quietly making his exit from the church, he receives a phone call from one of his colleagues. The body of a murdered man has just been found on a beach not far from his current location.
Matthew rushes there and thus begins an investigation into the community of which he was once a part.
I loved the overall tone of this novel. From start to finish the writing was so intelligent and gripping.
It gave me strong Broadchurch vibes, which I think we can all agree is a good thing.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Minotaur Books, for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review. I am in love with it and cannot wait to continue on with the series!!!
Well done, Ms. Cleeves!!
My first Ann Cleeves did not disappoint. I am already anticipating the next installment to this all new, Two Rivers, series and it hasn't even been announced yet.
You know that's a good sign and seriously, though, when is the next book coming?
I was so pleasantly surprised with this. By far the best traditional Mystery I read in 2019.
It is obvious from the first pages that Cleeves is a veteran Mystery writer.
Following Detective Matthew Venn and two of his junior colleagues, Jen and Ross, was an absolute delight. I felt like I was there with them, learning the evidence as they were.
Matthew was just a lovely protagonist. Thoughtful and introverted, extremely smart and dedicated to the idea of truth and justice for all.
In the beginning of our tale, Matthew is attending his estranged Father's funeral. Standing in the back he observes neighbors, and other locals, he might once have considered friends.
But he has left that part of his life far behind after the strict evangelical community his parents were a part of could not accept his sexuality. Essentially excommunicated, he hasn't spoken with either of his parents in many years.
Upon quietly making his exit from the church, he receives a phone call from one of his colleagues. The body of a murdered man has just been found on a beach not far from his current location.
Matthew rushes there and thus begins an investigation into the community of which he was once a part.
I loved the overall tone of this novel. From start to finish the writing was so intelligent and gripping.
It gave me strong Broadchurch vibes, which I think we can all agree is a good thing.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Minotaur Books, for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review. I am in love with it and cannot wait to continue on with the series!!!
Well done, Ms. Cleeves!!
August 24, 2019
The veteran crime writer Anne Cleeves begins a new series set in North Devon, between the 2 rivers, Taw and Torridge, where DI Matthew Venn, a gay man is his 40s married to his husband, Jonathan, is about to lead his first big murder inquiry when the dead body of a man is discovered on the sands, the victim has a tattoo of a albatross on his neck and has been stabbed. Venn is a local boy who grew up with his parents, part of a strict evangelical church, known as the Barum Brethren. His family and the church ostracised him when he renounced their faith, their God a creation in their own image, as hard, cold and inflexible as they are. He is feeling a sense of regret, his father has just died, and he never got to see him as his health deteriorated. Venn's partner, Jonathan is the head of The Woodyard, a community hub combining the arts, a cafe, and a day centre for learning disabled adults.
Within Barnstaple Police, Matt is primarily helped by DS Jen Rafferty, a woman who left her abusive husband in Liverpool, settling locally with her children, although she still misses city life. The other main cop, Ross May, is deemed to be the eyes and ears of DCI Joe Oldham, a fact that makes others more wary of him. The victim turns out to be Simon Walden, a former forces man, whose marriage had broken down after he killed a child whilst driving under the influence of drink. He had been working as a seasonal chef at a hotel, been homeless, with alcohol and depression issues. He had been provided with a home by Caroline Preece and artist, Gaby Henry. Attending the Day Centre at The Woodyard are Down's Syndrome women, Lucy Braddock and Chrissie Shapland. As connections between the murder and The Woodyard begin to emerge, Venn is plagued by his personal connections to the case which should mean he should not be part of the investigating team, whilst his past history with The Brethren proves to be invaluable to the case.
Anne Cleeves provides her trademark vibrant sense of location, I felt as if I was right there in North Devon. I have high hopes for this series, a lot of effort went into establishing and embedding the sense of place and the characters. This is not a fast paced read, it's a more character driven novel, I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of the learning disabled women, Lucy, Chrissie and Rosa Holsworthy and their central role in the mystery. For the most part, this book was a 4 star read, but somehow in the last quarter it became a 5 star read as the multiple threads begin to come together so skilfully. I found this an absorbing and engaging crime read, although it might possibly be a little too slow moving for some readers. I am eagerly looking forward to the next in the series! Many thanks to Pan Macmillan for an ARC.
Within Barnstaple Police, Matt is primarily helped by DS Jen Rafferty, a woman who left her abusive husband in Liverpool, settling locally with her children, although she still misses city life. The other main cop, Ross May, is deemed to be the eyes and ears of DCI Joe Oldham, a fact that makes others more wary of him. The victim turns out to be Simon Walden, a former forces man, whose marriage had broken down after he killed a child whilst driving under the influence of drink. He had been working as a seasonal chef at a hotel, been homeless, with alcohol and depression issues. He had been provided with a home by Caroline Preece and artist, Gaby Henry. Attending the Day Centre at The Woodyard are Down's Syndrome women, Lucy Braddock and Chrissie Shapland. As connections between the murder and The Woodyard begin to emerge, Venn is plagued by his personal connections to the case which should mean he should not be part of the investigating team, whilst his past history with The Brethren proves to be invaluable to the case.
Anne Cleeves provides her trademark vibrant sense of location, I felt as if I was right there in North Devon. I have high hopes for this series, a lot of effort went into establishing and embedding the sense of place and the characters. This is not a fast paced read, it's a more character driven novel, I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of the learning disabled women, Lucy, Chrissie and Rosa Holsworthy and their central role in the mystery. For the most part, this book was a 4 star read, but somehow in the last quarter it became a 5 star read as the multiple threads begin to come together so skilfully. I found this an absorbing and engaging crime read, although it might possibly be a little too slow moving for some readers. I am eagerly looking forward to the next in the series! Many thanks to Pan Macmillan for an ARC.
August 7, 2019
Ann Cleeves has started a new series with The Long Call. The book, named for the cry of a herring gull, “The cry which always sounded to him like an inarticulate howl of pain.”
Cleeves has developed a great set of characters here. Our main character, Matthew is a DI in Barnstaple. He’s smart, a complex thinker, a loving and loved man in a healthy relationship. The story starts with Matthew watching from afar the funeral of his father. He’s left the evangelical church he grew up in. It soon becomes apparent it’s because he’s gay. But Jen is probably my favorite character. She’s one of Matthew’s DS’s and she’s transferred to Barnstaple to escape her abusive husband. She’s got great instincts and I love her insights, not only into motherhood, but into the people she’s interviewing. Even Ross, the brown noser, is eventually shown as a complex person.
Cleeves also gives us a true sense of the area. It’s easily apparent why her books are turned into TV series as they’re accessible, smart and engaging. The same is true for this new series. It’s suspenseful and I had no idea how things were going to shake out until almost the end.
I can only hope that Cleeves writes enough of these books so that some wise tv producer can pick up this series as well.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
Cleeves has developed a great set of characters here. Our main character, Matthew is a DI in Barnstaple. He’s smart, a complex thinker, a loving and loved man in a healthy relationship. The story starts with Matthew watching from afar the funeral of his father. He’s left the evangelical church he grew up in. It soon becomes apparent it’s because he’s gay. But Jen is probably my favorite character. She’s one of Matthew’s DS’s and she’s transferred to Barnstaple to escape her abusive husband. She’s got great instincts and I love her insights, not only into motherhood, but into the people she’s interviewing. Even Ross, the brown noser, is eventually shown as a complex person.
Cleeves also gives us a true sense of the area. It’s easily apparent why her books are turned into TV series as they’re accessible, smart and engaging. The same is true for this new series. It’s suspenseful and I had no idea how things were going to shake out until almost the end.
I can only hope that Cleeves writes enough of these books so that some wise tv producer can pick up this series as well.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
September 4, 2019
Culpability
The new series opener from the prolific crime writer Ann Cleeves establishes the foundation for another enthralling series, that I'm sure will receive many justified accolades. The Long Call builds wonderful depth to a location, a community, multiple complex characters and a plot with enterprising threads that continuously surprise.
DI Matthew Venn is the main character and will lead the investigation of a man found murdered on the beach at Crow Point. The area is situated where the rivers Taw and Torridge join at the North Devon coast, a location that Ann Cleeves brings vividly to life. The region between the two rivers is set to be the focal point for the series, giving it its name.
Matthew’s father has recently died and because Matthew left the Barum Brethren church, he has been disowned by his family and has to watch his father’s funeral from a distance. He is now married to Jonathan, a man opposite to Matthew in many ways, including dress and outgoing persona, but a trusted partner where they can provide strength and support to each other.
Ann Cleeves works with great detail and depth to create main and supporting characters that individually generate interest and empathy. The characters from the police force and the community are so richly portrayed, it is a pleasure to enjoy and contemplate each personality. I hope DS Jen Rafferty, herself a very appealing character, remains with Matthew in this series. Her background has had its troubles, including an abusive ex-husband, but she is astute and her instinctive insights provide an intriguing dimension in the investigative team.
At another level, Ann unmasks some societal prejudices and exposes trite behaviour towards gays and disabled and mentally impaired people. It is wonderful to experience the diversity of our people as an integral part of society, and an integral part of a crime story.
The main plot is slowly developed and the investigation into the victim connects him with the Day Centre at The Woodyard. The Woodyard is a haven for disabled, impaired, recovering and disenfranchised people and is managed by Jonathan, which causes Matthew to consider how appropriate his connections affect the investigation. While the pace of the story is more sedate than other thrillers, the momentum does shift into a higher gear towards the end with surprises and story plots that weave together to bring the story to a fascinating conclusion.
Nothing that Ann Cleeves does is stereotypical, uniqueness captivates every page and her writing style is clever and accomplished. This is a series that I’m going to invest time reading each book she publishes. I would highly recommend this book and I'd like to thank Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC version in return for an honest review.
The new series opener from the prolific crime writer Ann Cleeves establishes the foundation for another enthralling series, that I'm sure will receive many justified accolades. The Long Call builds wonderful depth to a location, a community, multiple complex characters and a plot with enterprising threads that continuously surprise.
DI Matthew Venn is the main character and will lead the investigation of a man found murdered on the beach at Crow Point. The area is situated where the rivers Taw and Torridge join at the North Devon coast, a location that Ann Cleeves brings vividly to life. The region between the two rivers is set to be the focal point for the series, giving it its name.
Matthew’s father has recently died and because Matthew left the Barum Brethren church, he has been disowned by his family and has to watch his father’s funeral from a distance. He is now married to Jonathan, a man opposite to Matthew in many ways, including dress and outgoing persona, but a trusted partner where they can provide strength and support to each other.
Ann Cleeves works with great detail and depth to create main and supporting characters that individually generate interest and empathy. The characters from the police force and the community are so richly portrayed, it is a pleasure to enjoy and contemplate each personality. I hope DS Jen Rafferty, herself a very appealing character, remains with Matthew in this series. Her background has had its troubles, including an abusive ex-husband, but she is astute and her instinctive insights provide an intriguing dimension in the investigative team.
At another level, Ann unmasks some societal prejudices and exposes trite behaviour towards gays and disabled and mentally impaired people. It is wonderful to experience the diversity of our people as an integral part of society, and an integral part of a crime story.
The main plot is slowly developed and the investigation into the victim connects him with the Day Centre at The Woodyard. The Woodyard is a haven for disabled, impaired, recovering and disenfranchised people and is managed by Jonathan, which causes Matthew to consider how appropriate his connections affect the investigation. While the pace of the story is more sedate than other thrillers, the momentum does shift into a higher gear towards the end with surprises and story plots that weave together to bring the story to a fascinating conclusion.
Nothing that Ann Cleeves does is stereotypical, uniqueness captivates every page and her writing style is clever and accomplished. This is a series that I’m going to invest time reading each book she publishes. I would highly recommend this book and I'd like to thank Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC version in return for an honest review.
August 19, 2019
I have been wanting to try Ann Cleeves for several years now. When I saw she was starting a new series and I had a chance to get an advanced review copy, I decided it was time to pull the trigger (AKA click the green button) and finally dive into her works. After reading The Long Call, I now have my eyes on the first books of her Vera Stanhope and Shetland series.
The Long Call is a one of those murder mysteries that clicks all the boxes for me. The characters have depth and are likeable (though it took a while for DC Ross’s admirable side to come forth). There are a number of intriguing townspeople that I wasn’t sure if I could trust or not—always fun. The plot is intricate and twisty with a storyline that I had no idea whatsoever how to put together—I want all my crime fiction and thriller books to be this way. The author is an outstanding writer with a flair for creating atmosphere (including the title that is explained early on) and the type of suspense that sneaks up on you out of the blue. She also deals with interesting concepts such as adults with Down’s syndrome and their vulnerability and the challenges facing gay people as they struggle to overcome the disapproval of small (two meanings of small here) town folks.
I am pleased to see this will be a series. I think there is much to explore in this town and with these characters, and I am very curious as to where Ms. Cleeves goes with book 2. I do know I will be reading it. Until then, I will be lining up in the library queue for a look at The Black Raven and The Crow Trap, the first books of her two most popular long running series. Pleased to meet you, Ms. Cleeves!
Many thanks to Net Galley, Minotaur Books, and Ms. Ann Cleeves for an ARC of this novel. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
The Long Call is a one of those murder mysteries that clicks all the boxes for me. The characters have depth and are likeable (though it took a while for DC Ross’s admirable side to come forth). There are a number of intriguing townspeople that I wasn’t sure if I could trust or not—always fun. The plot is intricate and twisty with a storyline that I had no idea whatsoever how to put together—I want all my crime fiction and thriller books to be this way. The author is an outstanding writer with a flair for creating atmosphere (including the title that is explained early on) and the type of suspense that sneaks up on you out of the blue. She also deals with interesting concepts such as adults with Down’s syndrome and their vulnerability and the challenges facing gay people as they struggle to overcome the disapproval of small (two meanings of small here) town folks.
I am pleased to see this will be a series. I think there is much to explore in this town and with these characters, and I am very curious as to where Ms. Cleeves goes with book 2. I do know I will be reading it. Until then, I will be lining up in the library queue for a look at The Black Raven and The Crow Trap, the first books of her two most popular long running series. Pleased to meet you, Ms. Cleeves!
Many thanks to Net Galley, Minotaur Books, and Ms. Ann Cleeves for an ARC of this novel. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
July 6, 2021
A new series from Sleeves takes us to North Devon, and introduces us to police detective Matthew Venn. Venn, an ex member of the religious sect the Brethren has been booted out for non belief. He and his husband Jonathan live on the shore, where a body of a young man will be discovered.
An interesting case that unravels many different threads, uncovering multiple layers that will drag others into its net. Really, Cleve has the enviable knack of conjuring atmospheric reads and characters with fascinating back stories. In fact, I read today that this new series has already been optioned for a TV series. I have a feeling Matthew will grow on me in subsequent reads as the series progresses. That said, I will still miss Shetland and Jimmy Perez.
ARC from Netgalley.
An interesting case that unravels many different threads, uncovering multiple layers that will drag others into its net. Really, Cleve has the enviable knack of conjuring atmospheric reads and characters with fascinating back stories. In fact, I read today that this new series has already been optioned for a TV series. I have a feeling Matthew will grow on me in subsequent reads as the series progresses. That said, I will still miss Shetland and Jimmy Perez.
ARC from Netgalley.
September 6, 2019
The Long Call is the first in a new series by Ann Cleeves and it is also the first book I have read by her.
On the day of his father's funeral, Detective Matthew Venn receives a phone call informing him of a dead body on the beach. A man has been stabbed to death. Who is this man? Why was he killed? Who is responsible?
Running alongside this investigation is the story of an elderly man who is living with his daughter with downs syndrome. He is being urged to give her more independence and make other arrangements for her in the event of his death.
Obviously, there is a connection between both stories, and you will have to read the book to find out just what or who brings these two plots together.
There are many people in this book, and all are diverse, and some are quite interesting. Trying to figure out the mystery and just who can be trusted is also a highlight for me when I read a mystery. But I found this book to be a little slow for my taste. For most of the book, I wanted the pace to pick up and it does at the end. I just wish it had the oomph for the entire book. The book is well written, and she does a wonderful job depicting characters with down syndrome. This was just a little too slow for me. Many are enjoying this book more than I did, so I encourage everyone to read those reviews as well.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press Minotaur Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
On the day of his father's funeral, Detective Matthew Venn receives a phone call informing him of a dead body on the beach. A man has been stabbed to death. Who is this man? Why was he killed? Who is responsible?
Running alongside this investigation is the story of an elderly man who is living with his daughter with downs syndrome. He is being urged to give her more independence and make other arrangements for her in the event of his death.
Obviously, there is a connection between both stories, and you will have to read the book to find out just what or who brings these two plots together.
There are many people in this book, and all are diverse, and some are quite interesting. Trying to figure out the mystery and just who can be trusted is also a highlight for me when I read a mystery. But I found this book to be a little slow for my taste. For most of the book, I wanted the pace to pick up and it does at the end. I just wish it had the oomph for the entire book. The book is well written, and she does a wonderful job depicting characters with down syndrome. This was just a little too slow for me. Many are enjoying this book more than I did, so I encourage everyone to read those reviews as well.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press Minotaur Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 22, 2019
The body lay lifeless and unattended on the shore except for the distant, mournful cry of the herring gull. The irony of the albatross tattoo on the dead man's neck gave the message of an unknown burden.....too much to bear.
DI Matthew Venn had been secreted behind the tall bushes near the church. It was to be his father's funeral for the invited. Matthew had been disowned by his family for his lifestyle and his marriage to Jonathan. But there was to be no closure for Matthew on that day or for any day to come thereafter.
The call that came from the police station in North Devon alerted him to that abandoned body found by a dog walker on the beach near Crow Point. Duty called and duty had to be acted upon.
Matthew was already familiar with the area where the body lay. He and Jonathan had purchased a fixer-upper beachhouse near there that served them well with no frills and plenty of use for a hammer and nails. Jonathan worked nearby at The Woodyard, a renovated warehouse that served special needs individuals and community members with counseling, art lessons, and finely cooked foods. It was a labor of love for Jonathan.
Ann Cleeves has opened the door at the ground level for the first offering in her new Two Rivers Series. If you've ever read an Ann Cleeves novel, you know that the writing is top notch. Her books are definitely character-driven and she keeps their exact involvement at bay until the very end. Her main character of Matthew is going to be a highly complicated one. His analytical skills are finely tuned, but his personal skills are tightly buttoned around his past. He, too, may be concealing burdens that he's tapped down out of the light.
Cleeves includes Matthew's partners as quite an unexpected pair. DS Jen Rafferty has been transferred to North Devon with two teenagers in tow in order to avoid an abusive husband. Constable Ross May is a complainer and has a tendency to test the waters too many times out. But they will prove themselves in this distinct police procedural that gives nothing away. The Long Call is one to keep an eye out for.
I received a copy of The Long Call through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Minotaur Books and to Ann Cleeves for the opportunity.
DI Matthew Venn had been secreted behind the tall bushes near the church. It was to be his father's funeral for the invited. Matthew had been disowned by his family for his lifestyle and his marriage to Jonathan. But there was to be no closure for Matthew on that day or for any day to come thereafter.
The call that came from the police station in North Devon alerted him to that abandoned body found by a dog walker on the beach near Crow Point. Duty called and duty had to be acted upon.
Matthew was already familiar with the area where the body lay. He and Jonathan had purchased a fixer-upper beachhouse near there that served them well with no frills and plenty of use for a hammer and nails. Jonathan worked nearby at The Woodyard, a renovated warehouse that served special needs individuals and community members with counseling, art lessons, and finely cooked foods. It was a labor of love for Jonathan.
Ann Cleeves has opened the door at the ground level for the first offering in her new Two Rivers Series. If you've ever read an Ann Cleeves novel, you know that the writing is top notch. Her books are definitely character-driven and she keeps their exact involvement at bay until the very end. Her main character of Matthew is going to be a highly complicated one. His analytical skills are finely tuned, but his personal skills are tightly buttoned around his past. He, too, may be concealing burdens that he's tapped down out of the light.
Cleeves includes Matthew's partners as quite an unexpected pair. DS Jen Rafferty has been transferred to North Devon with two teenagers in tow in order to avoid an abusive husband. Constable Ross May is a complainer and has a tendency to test the waters too many times out. But they will prove themselves in this distinct police procedural that gives nothing away. The Long Call is one to keep an eye out for.
I received a copy of The Long Call through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Minotaur Books and to Ann Cleeves for the opportunity.
May 6, 2023
EXCERPT: It had been a weird day at the Woodyard. Jonathan had come to find her in her studio with a tale of one of the day centre clients having gone missing. Although he was the boss, he called in sometimes, not to talk about work, but to drink coffee and look at her art.
'Christine Shapland. Gentle soul. Down's. Very quiet. A bit shy. She just seemed to disappear.'
'Sorry. I haven't seen her since last week.' Gaby thought Jonathan had come to the studio to escape the panic in the rest of the building, to have a few moments of calm. He wouldn't really expect her to have seen the woman recently. Gaby had nothing to do with the day centre, except for running an art class there once a week.
'There seems to have been some kind of breakdown in communication. Her uncle thought her mother had picked her up and Susan, her mother, thought the uncle was doing it. Nobody's seen her since yesterday.' Jonathan had been standing by the window, the light catching one side of his face, turning the blond hair to silver thread. 'It's a bloody nightmare. Her uncle is Dennis Salter. He's on the Board of Trustees and should have known better. He should have gone in for her, or at least looked out properly. It'll be the Woodyard that gets the blame, though. The press will have a field day.'
He turned towards Gaby then and she thought she'd never seen him so tense, so fraught.
'Why don't you talk to Christopher Preece? He must be good at handling the media.'
'Yeah, maybe.' But Jonathan hadn't seemed too sure. 'I just want her found safe and well. This, on top of the murder of one of our volunteers, seems like a nightmare. I always thought of the Woodyard as a kind of a sanctuary. Not a place where terrible things happen to the people who belong here.'
ABOUT 'THE LONG CALL': In North Devon, where the rivers Taw and Torridge converge and run into the sea, Detective Matthew Venn stands outside the church as his father's funeral takes place. The day Matthew turned his back on the strict evangelical community in which he grew up, he lost his family too.
Now he's back, not just to mourn his father at a distance, but to take charge of his first major case in the Two Rivers region; a complex place not quite as idyllic as tourists suppose.
A body has been found on the beach near to Matthew's new home: a man with the tattoo of an albatross on his neck, stabbed to death.
Finding the killer is Venn’s only focus, and his team’s investigation will take him straight back into the community he left behind, and the deadly secrets that lurk there.
MY THOUGHTS: I picked this book up for two reasons: I love Ann Cleeves writing; and as I have recently received a digital ARC for the second in this series, The Heron's Cry, I wanted to read The Long Call first.
Matthew Venn is going to be a worthy addition to Ann Cleeves existing stable of detectives, Vera Stanhope and Jimmy Perez. Gay, a bit of a loner/misfit who lacks confidence in himself and feels awkward in company, a bit anal, he has an analytical mind, and is only too aware that his past experiences with some of the people involved in this investigation may colour his perceptions. Jonathan, Venn's husband, is manager at the Woodyard, so should Venn even be investigating this case?
Jen Rafferty, who has demons of her own is dedicated and smart, and Ross, DCI Joe Oldham's protege, and a bit of a fashionista with an inflated opinion of himself, make up Venn's team.
The story, definitely not as dark as many of Cleeves works, moves at a steady pace, and is told from the points of view of Matthew, Jen, and the elderly Maurice Braddick who, along with Luce his daughter, are probably my two favourite characters.
The Long Call is very much a character driven murder mystery. The murder investigation is complicated by the abductions of two of the Woodyard's other clients, one after the other. Are these abductions connected to the murder, or is something else going on in this tight knit community? It was a definite challenge to figure out whodunit and how, and I failed, miserably.
Thank you Ann Cleeves for a new series and another wonderful whodunit. I am looking forward to reading The Heron's Cry.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
# TheLongCall
I: #anncleeves @panmacmillan
T: @AnnCleeves @PanMacmillan
#contemporaryfiction #crime #detectivefiction #murdermystery
THE AUTHOR: Ann grew up in the country, first in Herefordshire, then in North Devon. Her father was a village school teacher. After dropping out of university she took a number of temporary jobs - child care officer, women's refuge leader, bird observatory cook, auxiliary coastguard - before going back to college and training to be a probation officer.
While she was cooking in the Bird Observatory on Fair Isle, she met her husband Tim, a visiting ornithologist. She was attracted less by the ornithology than the bottle of malt whisky she saw in his rucksack when she showed him his room. Soon after they married, Tim was appointed as warden of Hilbre, a tiny tidal island nature reserve in the Dee Estuary. They were the only residents, there was no mains electricity or water and access to the mainland was at low tide across the shore. If a person's not heavily into birds - and Ann isn't - there's not much to do on Hilbre and that was when she started writing. Her first series of crime novels features the elderly naturalist, George Palmer-Jones. A couple of these books are seriously dreadful.
In 1987 Tim, Ann and their two daughters moved to Northumberland and the north east provides the inspiration for many of her subsequent titles. The girls have both taken up with Geordie lads. In the autumn of 2006, Ann and Tim finally achieved their ambition of moving back to the North East.
DISCLOSURE: I borrowed a copy of The Long Call written by Ann Cleeves and published by Macmillan, from Waitomo District Library. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
'Christine Shapland. Gentle soul. Down's. Very quiet. A bit shy. She just seemed to disappear.'
'Sorry. I haven't seen her since last week.' Gaby thought Jonathan had come to the studio to escape the panic in the rest of the building, to have a few moments of calm. He wouldn't really expect her to have seen the woman recently. Gaby had nothing to do with the day centre, except for running an art class there once a week.
'There seems to have been some kind of breakdown in communication. Her uncle thought her mother had picked her up and Susan, her mother, thought the uncle was doing it. Nobody's seen her since yesterday.' Jonathan had been standing by the window, the light catching one side of his face, turning the blond hair to silver thread. 'It's a bloody nightmare. Her uncle is Dennis Salter. He's on the Board of Trustees and should have known better. He should have gone in for her, or at least looked out properly. It'll be the Woodyard that gets the blame, though. The press will have a field day.'
He turned towards Gaby then and she thought she'd never seen him so tense, so fraught.
'Why don't you talk to Christopher Preece? He must be good at handling the media.'
'Yeah, maybe.' But Jonathan hadn't seemed too sure. 'I just want her found safe and well. This, on top of the murder of one of our volunteers, seems like a nightmare. I always thought of the Woodyard as a kind of a sanctuary. Not a place where terrible things happen to the people who belong here.'
ABOUT 'THE LONG CALL': In North Devon, where the rivers Taw and Torridge converge and run into the sea, Detective Matthew Venn stands outside the church as his father's funeral takes place. The day Matthew turned his back on the strict evangelical community in which he grew up, he lost his family too.
Now he's back, not just to mourn his father at a distance, but to take charge of his first major case in the Two Rivers region; a complex place not quite as idyllic as tourists suppose.
A body has been found on the beach near to Matthew's new home: a man with the tattoo of an albatross on his neck, stabbed to death.
Finding the killer is Venn’s only focus, and his team’s investigation will take him straight back into the community he left behind, and the deadly secrets that lurk there.
MY THOUGHTS: I picked this book up for two reasons: I love Ann Cleeves writing; and as I have recently received a digital ARC for the second in this series, The Heron's Cry, I wanted to read The Long Call first.
Matthew Venn is going to be a worthy addition to Ann Cleeves existing stable of detectives, Vera Stanhope and Jimmy Perez. Gay, a bit of a loner/misfit who lacks confidence in himself and feels awkward in company, a bit anal, he has an analytical mind, and is only too aware that his past experiences with some of the people involved in this investigation may colour his perceptions. Jonathan, Venn's husband, is manager at the Woodyard, so should Venn even be investigating this case?
Jen Rafferty, who has demons of her own is dedicated and smart, and Ross, DCI Joe Oldham's protege, and a bit of a fashionista with an inflated opinion of himself, make up Venn's team.
The story, definitely not as dark as many of Cleeves works, moves at a steady pace, and is told from the points of view of Matthew, Jen, and the elderly Maurice Braddick who, along with Luce his daughter, are probably my two favourite characters.
The Long Call is very much a character driven murder mystery. The murder investigation is complicated by the abductions of two of the Woodyard's other clients, one after the other. Are these abductions connected to the murder, or is something else going on in this tight knit community? It was a definite challenge to figure out whodunit and how, and I failed, miserably.
Thank you Ann Cleeves for a new series and another wonderful whodunit. I am looking forward to reading The Heron's Cry.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
# TheLongCall
I: #anncleeves @panmacmillan
T: @AnnCleeves @PanMacmillan
#contemporaryfiction #crime #detectivefiction #murdermystery
THE AUTHOR: Ann grew up in the country, first in Herefordshire, then in North Devon. Her father was a village school teacher. After dropping out of university she took a number of temporary jobs - child care officer, women's refuge leader, bird observatory cook, auxiliary coastguard - before going back to college and training to be a probation officer.
While she was cooking in the Bird Observatory on Fair Isle, she met her husband Tim, a visiting ornithologist. She was attracted less by the ornithology than the bottle of malt whisky she saw in his rucksack when she showed him his room. Soon after they married, Tim was appointed as warden of Hilbre, a tiny tidal island nature reserve in the Dee Estuary. They were the only residents, there was no mains electricity or water and access to the mainland was at low tide across the shore. If a person's not heavily into birds - and Ann isn't - there's not much to do on Hilbre and that was when she started writing. Her first series of crime novels features the elderly naturalist, George Palmer-Jones. A couple of these books are seriously dreadful.
In 1987 Tim, Ann and their two daughters moved to Northumberland and the north east provides the inspiration for many of her subsequent titles. The girls have both taken up with Geordie lads. In the autumn of 2006, Ann and Tim finally achieved their ambition of moving back to the North East.
DISCLOSURE: I borrowed a copy of The Long Call written by Ann Cleeves and published by Macmillan, from Waitomo District Library. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
September 13, 2021
At last starting a series by Ann Cleves in the chronological order. Loved the feel of North Devon and characters who are flawed and therefore seem real.
June 15, 2019
My first Ann Cleeves and first in her new Two Rivers detective series.
North Devon - A dead body is found and Inspector Matthew Venn and his two detectives are on the case; one who tries his patience daily and the other the best he's ever worked with.
The murder mystery is a good one, multi-layered with quite the cast of diverse characters, but none of them really stood out to steal the show or retain my interest enough to continue on with the series.
A bit slow-moving (for me) UNTIL the last quarter.
***Many thanks to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley for the arc invite in exchange for an honest review***
June 17, 2019
The long call is a term used to describe the cry of the herring gull although to main character DI Matthew Venn, it always sounds more like someone howling in pain. This observation gives you immediate insight into Venn, a smart & tightly wound copper in North Devon.
There are a few things you need to know about Venn as they inform his character & how he conducts himself. His mother & father belonged to a strict evangelical community & he did too until the day he no longer believed in God. And it turns out when you’re banished from the church, you also lose your family in the deal. Years went by & Venn ended up living in the area so his family were aware he became a cop. Then he married another man….I’m guessing Mom & Dad probably didn’t see that coming.
Needless to say they’ve had zero contact & as the book opens, we find Venn standing outside his father’s funeral service after reading about it in the paper. He doesn’t know it yet but he’s about to begin a murder investigation that will bring his life full circle.
A man’s body has just been found on the beach at Crow Point. Eventually he’s identified as a recovering alcoholic who volunteered at the Woodyard, a multi-use community centre run by Venn’s husband Jon.
It’s a place we become very familiar with as more characters join the story. In alternate chapters we meet a counsellor, an art teacher, a philanthropist, a priest & some of the people who attend programs there. All of them have ties to the Woodyard. And all of them have secrets. Venn & his team have their work cut out as they try to prise the truth from people who would rather it stay hidden.
This is a good old fashioned murder mystery that reserves the chills & thrills for the final chapters. There are plenty of descriptions of the area & residents, lending the story a moody atmosphere. Sprinkled through the investigation we get details on Venn’s background & his relationship with Jon. The supporting cast is large & full of distinct, well developed characters. Standouts for me were DS Jen Rafferty, a smart cop who throws out comments that shock her conservative boss from time to time. And Lucy Braddick, a 30 year old woman with Down’s Syndrome who’s desire for independence ends up putting her in danger.
The plot takes its time as the team gradually accumulates information, clues & red herrings. It’s a book that is just as much about the characters as the investigation. Other crimes pop up & the trick is trying to figure out which ones are related. The pace is consistent until the last quarter when pieces fall into place & it’s a full on sprint to the finish.
My one reservation is Venn himself. We understand where his baggage comes from through vignettes from the past. Behind his buttoned-up demeanor are conflicting emotions he goes to great lengths to keep in check. He’s a man who is never at ease, even with his husband & the result was I found it difficult to connect with him. But this is book #1 in a series. The groundwork is done & no doubt the author has great plans for how his character develops.
Like Cleeves’ other series, this is a character driven procedural with a plot that keeps you guessing. And maybe wondering if you know your neighbours as well as you thought.
3.5 stars
There are a few things you need to know about Venn as they inform his character & how he conducts himself. His mother & father belonged to a strict evangelical community & he did too until the day he no longer believed in God. And it turns out when you’re banished from the church, you also lose your family in the deal. Years went by & Venn ended up living in the area so his family were aware he became a cop. Then he married another man….I’m guessing Mom & Dad probably didn’t see that coming.
Needless to say they’ve had zero contact & as the book opens, we find Venn standing outside his father’s funeral service after reading about it in the paper. He doesn’t know it yet but he’s about to begin a murder investigation that will bring his life full circle.
A man’s body has just been found on the beach at Crow Point. Eventually he’s identified as a recovering alcoholic who volunteered at the Woodyard, a multi-use community centre run by Venn’s husband Jon.
It’s a place we become very familiar with as more characters join the story. In alternate chapters we meet a counsellor, an art teacher, a philanthropist, a priest & some of the people who attend programs there. All of them have ties to the Woodyard. And all of them have secrets. Venn & his team have their work cut out as they try to prise the truth from people who would rather it stay hidden.
This is a good old fashioned murder mystery that reserves the chills & thrills for the final chapters. There are plenty of descriptions of the area & residents, lending the story a moody atmosphere. Sprinkled through the investigation we get details on Venn’s background & his relationship with Jon. The supporting cast is large & full of distinct, well developed characters. Standouts for me were DS Jen Rafferty, a smart cop who throws out comments that shock her conservative boss from time to time. And Lucy Braddick, a 30 year old woman with Down’s Syndrome who’s desire for independence ends up putting her in danger.
The plot takes its time as the team gradually accumulates information, clues & red herrings. It’s a book that is just as much about the characters as the investigation. Other crimes pop up & the trick is trying to figure out which ones are related. The pace is consistent until the last quarter when pieces fall into place & it’s a full on sprint to the finish.
My one reservation is Venn himself. We understand where his baggage comes from through vignettes from the past. Behind his buttoned-up demeanor are conflicting emotions he goes to great lengths to keep in check. He’s a man who is never at ease, even with his husband & the result was I found it difficult to connect with him. But this is book #1 in a series. The groundwork is done & no doubt the author has great plans for how his character develops.
Like Cleeves’ other series, this is a character driven procedural with a plot that keeps you guessing. And maybe wondering if you know your neighbours as well as you thought.
3.5 stars
September 3, 2019
Great start to this new police/detective series! I enjoyed the diverse characters and the tactful treatment of an extremely delicate subject matter.
Our main detective, Matthew showed strong morals and deep compassion for all the victims he encountered, especially those with diminished mental capacities. The plot unfolded at a non-hurried pace but was still fast enough to keep me interested. I felt if the conclusion were more concise, it would have been a five star read for me.
I recommend this book for mystery readers and I look forward to visiting these characters again! *Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Our main detective, Matthew showed strong morals and deep compassion for all the victims he encountered, especially those with diminished mental capacities. The plot unfolded at a non-hurried pace but was still fast enough to keep me interested. I felt if the conclusion were more concise, it would have been a five star read for me.
I recommend this book for mystery readers and I look forward to visiting these characters again! *Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
October 1, 2019
North Devon, England, a place of astounding natural beauty is the setting for Anne Cleeves’s new novel. En route to a call from one of his team members, Detective Inspector Matthew Venn hears the cry of the herring gull, known to naturalists as “the long call;” he thinks it sounds like a pain-filled cry. On the rugged and beautiful coastline, a body is found, marking it as a place of a man’s final pain. So begins a murder investigation and my introduction to a cast of characters that intrigued me more and more as I read.
Matthew had a falling out with his parents years ago, concerning a mysterious sect known as the Brethren. The novel begins with Matthew outside his father’s funeral service, not wanting to upset the people who’d loved his father by attending. Matthew is angry and you might think he had a crisis of faith, but he seems pretty confident in the choice he made to turn his back on the Brethern. Now, he lives with his husband, Jonathan in a house they bought cheaply because it’s in a flooding zone. Jonathan is the Manager of Woodyard, a place that combines a center for adults with learning disabilities with an art center. Jonathan’s idea had been for it to become a community meeting place and so far it’s been very successful. However, Woodyard will prove to have ties to the body on the beach as well as ties to other dark and shady happenings.
Cleeves presents her characters in great depth and with the skill of a seasoned writer. Ross May, a DS under Matthew’s supervision, is the popular, sort of brown noser who’s in good with Venn’s immediate superior. Ross has got the perfect wife; their other teammate, DS Jen Rafferty would love to hate her but she’s actually nice. Jen is a single mother, out of a bad relationship with two teenagers at home. She constantly feels guilty for not being able to deliver one hundred percent to her children because she has to work so much and feels guilty when she’s at home because it takes her away from work. I love Jen! What mother with a career hasn’t felt the same way? The way the detectives operate as a team and how their personalities bump up against each other makes for good reading. Cleeves uses their differences like a can opener.
Cleeves books are behind the TV series ‘Shetland’ and ‘Vera.’ I could easily imagine this book, the first of this series, on screen. Her writing and descriptions are very visual. I never guessed the outcome. The pacing is excellent. Slower at the beginning as I got to know the characters, but with great hooks to reel me in, then as I rushed toward the highly dangerous knowledge of who the murderer is, very dramatic and fast-paced. The ending is extremely satisfying with a nice little pat of closure, but I can tell that there’s a wealth of material in this community of North Devon just waiting to be uncovered by this expert writer. I’ll be looking forward to learning more about Matthew Venn!
Matthew had a falling out with his parents years ago, concerning a mysterious sect known as the Brethren. The novel begins with Matthew outside his father’s funeral service, not wanting to upset the people who’d loved his father by attending. Matthew is angry and you might think he had a crisis of faith, but he seems pretty confident in the choice he made to turn his back on the Brethern. Now, he lives with his husband, Jonathan in a house they bought cheaply because it’s in a flooding zone. Jonathan is the Manager of Woodyard, a place that combines a center for adults with learning disabilities with an art center. Jonathan’s idea had been for it to become a community meeting place and so far it’s been very successful. However, Woodyard will prove to have ties to the body on the beach as well as ties to other dark and shady happenings.
Cleeves presents her characters in great depth and with the skill of a seasoned writer. Ross May, a DS under Matthew’s supervision, is the popular, sort of brown noser who’s in good with Venn’s immediate superior. Ross has got the perfect wife; their other teammate, DS Jen Rafferty would love to hate her but she’s actually nice. Jen is a single mother, out of a bad relationship with two teenagers at home. She constantly feels guilty for not being able to deliver one hundred percent to her children because she has to work so much and feels guilty when she’s at home because it takes her away from work. I love Jen! What mother with a career hasn’t felt the same way? The way the detectives operate as a team and how their personalities bump up against each other makes for good reading. Cleeves uses their differences like a can opener.
Cleeves books are behind the TV series ‘Shetland’ and ‘Vera.’ I could easily imagine this book, the first of this series, on screen. Her writing and descriptions are very visual. I never guessed the outcome. The pacing is excellent. Slower at the beginning as I got to know the characters, but with great hooks to reel me in, then as I rushed toward the highly dangerous knowledge of who the murderer is, very dramatic and fast-paced. The ending is extremely satisfying with a nice little pat of closure, but I can tell that there’s a wealth of material in this community of North Devon just waiting to be uncovered by this expert writer. I’ll be looking forward to learning more about Matthew Venn!
May 11, 2024
3.5 stars
Ann Cleeves is well known for her popular Shetland Island mystery series, featuring Detective Jimmy Perez and her Detective Vera Stanhope mystery series, set in northern England.
This book starts a new series for Cleeves, set in North Devon, and featuring police investigator Matthew Venn.
*****
Detective Inspector Matthew Venn of the North Devon police grew up in a family that belonged to a small, strict religious sect called the Barum Brethren.
Matthew rejected the order's beliefs when he was a teenager, and was shunned by the congregation, including his parents. Now Matthew's father has died and his mother doesn't want him at the funeral, saying Matthew's marriage to a man gave his father a fatal heart attack.
Matthew is lurking near the doorway of the church, listening to his father's funeral service, when he's called to a crime scene.
A body has been found on the North Devon beach, close to where Matthew lives with his husband Jonathan Church.
The stabbing victim is identified as Simon Walder, a troubled man who was renting a room in the home of two friends, Caroline Preece and Gaby Henry. The women took Simon in as an act of charity, and tell the police they were looking forward to Simon leaving when he got on his feet.
The police discover that most people acquainted with Simon have a connection with the Woodyard Centre - a community resource with a restaurant, art classes, nature lectures, cultural activities, charitable operations, etc. The Woodyard Centre also has a day center for adults with learning disabilities.
Simon worked as a chef in the Woodyard Centre's restaurant, but he didn't socialize and kept himself to himself.
Simon's connection with the Woodyard Centre presents a conflict of interest for Matthew, because his husband Jonathan is the Centre's director, and people he knows - including the leader of the Barum Brethren - is on the Board of Directors. Nevertheless Matthew continues making inquiries with the help of his detectives Jen and Ross. Jen - who Matthew considers his best investigator - is the hard-partying single mother of two teenagers;
and Ross is a married 'man's man' who's anxious for recognition from the boss.
As the investigation proceeds, the detectives learn that Simon kept a lot of secrets, and many people in town are reticent about their connection with him. To add to the mystery, a learning disabled woman named Lucy Braddick, who goes to the Woodyard Centre every day, says Simon had been taking the bus with her, chatting and bringing sweets....which was a change in his routine and demeanor.
Additional crimes - including two abductions - add to the mystery in North Devon, and Matthew struggles to solve the case before he's forced to recuse himself.
In addition to creating compelling characters, Cleeves includes the North Devon landscape and ambiance in her story, which is a great pleasure for armchair travelers and adds to the book's atmosphere.
I enjoyed this debut novel in Cleeves' new series, and look forward to reading future books featuring Matthew Venn.
Thanks to Netgalley, Ann Cleaves, and Minotaur Books for a copy of the book.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
August 5, 2022
I do love a prolific writer and Ann Cleeves is definitely one! I have finished her Shetland Isle series, am well into her Vera Stanhope series and now she starts another one.
The Long Call introduces us to Detective Matthew Venn who works in the beautiful town of Barnstaple on the Devon coast. He is a quiet, introspective man but a very caring one and one who is very good at his job. Another character I enjoyed very much was Jen, one of Matthew's detective sergeants. She is a divorced mother of two teenagers and it was good to see her managing her job and her home life despite all the hassles that came her way.
The book itself is reflective of this author's normal style. The setting, the characters and day to day events take most importance and the mystery fits into this. It is not fast paced or brutal although things do get rather rough for Matthew towards the end. I thought the mystery was involved and interesting and the eventual solution not obvious until right to the end.
A great start to another series for one of my favourite authors. I could not be happier.
The Long Call introduces us to Detective Matthew Venn who works in the beautiful town of Barnstaple on the Devon coast. He is a quiet, introspective man but a very caring one and one who is very good at his job. Another character I enjoyed very much was Jen, one of Matthew's detective sergeants. She is a divorced mother of two teenagers and it was good to see her managing her job and her home life despite all the hassles that came her way.
The book itself is reflective of this author's normal style. The setting, the characters and day to day events take most importance and the mystery fits into this. It is not fast paced or brutal although things do get rather rough for Matthew towards the end. I thought the mystery was involved and interesting and the eventual solution not obvious until right to the end.
A great start to another series for one of my favourite authors. I could not be happier.
September 5, 2019
2.5 moved too slow for me stars.
I have once again bucked the tide of wonderful reviews for this book and found that it was just too slow moving for me. I do appreciate the time and effort this author put into the story of a small town and a man who was murdered and her descriptions of the various characters, but for me there was not enough zest to the story to keep me totally involved.
So, sad to say I will not be continuing this new series, but I do encourage everyone to take a look at the other more positive reviews of this book.
I have once again bucked the tide of wonderful reviews for this book and found that it was just too slow moving for me. I do appreciate the time and effort this author put into the story of a small town and a man who was murdered and her descriptions of the various characters, but for me there was not enough zest to the story to keep me totally involved.
So, sad to say I will not be continuing this new series, but I do encourage everyone to take a look at the other more positive reviews of this book.
September 30, 2019
This book is a great read! One thing I love about reading a foreign book is the foreign terms that I don't hear everyday like breakfast TV for morning news and pissed for drunk. The story is slow paced for me with so many people to investigate. The characters' lives aren't that exciting to me, except Maurice and his daughter. I like his love, care, and worry for her and even though she's grown he still views her as his little girl and feels joy when she smiles. I also like Gaby. The terminology she uses is funny, like god-botherer.
This book is told in the third person point of view following Detective Matthew Venn as he attempted to attend his father's funeral when he received a phone call informing him of a dead body found on the beach in the same neighborhood as his home. The second view is Maurice, 80. He outlived his wife and now takes care of his Down Syndrome's daughter Lucy, 30. The third view is Jen, Sergeant, worked with Mathew to investigate the murder scene. The fourth view is Gaby, artist and roommate of the dead body found. The chase is on to figure out who the killer is as readers get to know Mathew Venn and why he's reluctant to attend his father's funeral.
The Long Call is well written for older readers I believe because they might enjoy all that descriptions of the landscapes. I like that there seems to be a puzzle that readers have to connect. The victim seems to be a stranger and unrelated to anyone but somehow he ended up dead is interesting. I like that this book brings attention to adults with Down's Syndrome. The ending was well executed when all players brought to light. I like that I couldn't guess who the killer was. I do recommend everyone to read this book!
Pro: Britain's mystery, Down's Syndrome, puzzle-like connecting victim, parents/kids relationships
Con: slow paced
I rate it 4 stars!
***Disclaimer: Many thanks to Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest. xoxo, Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for more details
This book is told in the third person point of view following Detective Matthew Venn as he attempted to attend his father's funeral when he received a phone call informing him of a dead body found on the beach in the same neighborhood as his home. The second view is Maurice, 80. He outlived his wife and now takes care of his Down Syndrome's daughter Lucy, 30. The third view is Jen, Sergeant, worked with Mathew to investigate the murder scene. The fourth view is Gaby, artist and roommate of the dead body found. The chase is on to figure out who the killer is as readers get to know Mathew Venn and why he's reluctant to attend his father's funeral.
The Long Call is well written for older readers I believe because they might enjoy all that descriptions of the landscapes. I like that there seems to be a puzzle that readers have to connect. The victim seems to be a stranger and unrelated to anyone but somehow he ended up dead is interesting. I like that this book brings attention to adults with Down's Syndrome. The ending was well executed when all players brought to light. I like that I couldn't guess who the killer was. I do recommend everyone to read this book!
Pro: Britain's mystery, Down's Syndrome, puzzle-like connecting victim, parents/kids relationships
Con: slow paced
I rate it 4 stars!
***Disclaimer: Many thanks to Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest. xoxo, Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for more details
September 8, 2021
I CHECKED THIS BOOK OUT FROM MY LIBRARY. BE SURE TO USE YOUR LIBRARIES, FOLKS! THEY NEED US.
My Review: Don't you hate being Right? It's the police's job, though, isn't it; they have to be Right or the consequences are so dire for so many people...innocent people who don't know their trust has been abused.
And that's why we read mysteries! They're ma'at in action, aren't they? Small demonstrations that when our Negative Confessions come before Osiris, Hapi won't need to open those toothy crocodilian jaws and end our existence. And I'm using ancient Egyptian examples for a very specific reason.
Matthew Venn is a new series character for mystery veteran Cleeves, she of Vera and Jimmy Perez (Shetland) fame. She's chosen England's most beautiful county (and her own native ground), North Devon, for her setting. She's decided the twenty-first century's not going to take her down without a fight, so Matthew's gay, and a lapsed member of one of the seemingly innumerable weirdo strict-constructionist christian sects. His involvement in matters churchly having perforce lapsed when he came out, he doesn't have contact with his former friends despite being back among them in his posting as a Detective Inspector. He does have a lot of community ties, though, as he's married to the man responsible for the local arts-and-social-services venue.
And now that sense of place is established....
Murder and maleficent doings are afoot.
People who are possessed of money mistake its power for their own. They imagine that, because they can push money into open palms, they're the ones with Power. But the only ones without money, but who want it, are the only ones whose hands are open enough to close their minds, their eyes, their hearts. Those who don't care, whose worlds don't revolve around the money-god, are a sight more open to concerns that aren't important to the obsessed.
It's this dichotomy that Author Cleeves mines for the plot of this tale. It is about power, and its abuse, and the only person who won't stay quiet about it is the one whose hands aren't outstretched for more, but in finger-pointing accusation. The moneyed, the influential, can't have that and they rally around the problem of their own positions, their absolutely justified and necessary access to More.
It's such a shame that some Others must die to maintain it.
As always, Author Cleeves will lead you a merry chase and make your head spin with information you think could be important but...and then there's...what about...it's her stock in trade. All those Vera Stanhope and Jimmy Perez novels aren't accidental! But here's my beef with this book...like all Author Cleeves' work, there is a startling amount of sexlessness here. Matthew and Jonathan aren't even allowed a cuddle (British sense) on the page...there's no suggestion of sex in any of her books. Of the healthy sort.
And that continues here. I quite strongly wish she'd move past this, what? reticence? distaste? whatever it is because this is new territory for her. These are the first gay people in her books! Use this freshness as a chance to stop pathologizing sex. Matthew needs Jonathan's comforting bodily presence as any husband who's just been through a physical and emotional ordeal would. But he isn't granted it. And it's true none of her other sleuths are, either, which is why I'm bringing it up now.
When Matthew's police work results in a resolution for this case that I must say I dismissed as improbable when it occurred to me, I was surprised. Author Cleeves brought in motives I didn't expect. She made me think, hard, about how she'd placed her tells and her Maguffins. If that isn't a sheer, unadulterated pleasure for an old, experienced bird-dogger, I don't know what is.
Book two of the series comes out tomorrow! You *will* want to get one. It's a new-series Cleeves mystery...how could you possibly resist?
My Review: Don't you hate being Right? It's the police's job, though, isn't it; they have to be Right or the consequences are so dire for so many people...innocent people who don't know their trust has been abused.
And that's why we read mysteries! They're ma'at in action, aren't they? Small demonstrations that when our Negative Confessions come before Osiris, Hapi won't need to open those toothy crocodilian jaws and end our existence. And I'm using ancient Egyptian examples for a very specific reason.
Matthew Venn is a new series character for mystery veteran Cleeves, she of Vera and Jimmy Perez (Shetland) fame. She's chosen England's most beautiful county (and her own native ground), North Devon, for her setting. She's decided the twenty-first century's not going to take her down without a fight, so Matthew's gay, and a lapsed member of one of the seemingly innumerable weirdo strict-constructionist christian sects. His involvement in matters churchly having perforce lapsed when he came out, he doesn't have contact with his former friends despite being back among them in his posting as a Detective Inspector. He does have a lot of community ties, though, as he's married to the man responsible for the local arts-and-social-services venue.
And now that sense of place is established....
Murder and maleficent doings are afoot.
People who are possessed of money mistake its power for their own. They imagine that, because they can push money into open palms, they're the ones with Power. But the only ones without money, but who want it, are the only ones whose hands are open enough to close their minds, their eyes, their hearts. Those who don't care, whose worlds don't revolve around the money-god, are a sight more open to concerns that aren't important to the obsessed.
He was a man who’d turned his personal likes and dislikes into a moral code; because he didn’t enjoy spending money in the Woodyard cafe, there was something morally suspect about the people who did. The Brethren had been much the same. Matthew thought they’d created a God in their own image, hard, cold and inflexible.
It's this dichotomy that Author Cleeves mines for the plot of this tale. It is about power, and its abuse, and the only person who won't stay quiet about it is the one whose hands aren't outstretched for more, but in finger-pointing accusation. The moneyed, the influential, can't have that and they rally around the problem of their own positions, their absolutely justified and necessary access to More.
Looking at the assembled group, the families and the ardent young converts, Matthew had had a sudden understanding, as the early evening sunshine shone through the dusty glass, a vision close to a religious experience: this was all a sham. The earnest elderly women in their mushroom-shaped hats, the bluff good-natured men – they were all deluding themselves. They were here for their own reasons, for the power trip or because they’d grown up with the group and couldn’t let go.
It's such a shame that some Others must die to maintain it.
As always, Author Cleeves will lead you a merry chase and make your head spin with information you think could be important but...and then there's...what about...it's her stock in trade. All those Vera Stanhope and Jimmy Perez novels aren't accidental! But here's my beef with this book...like all Author Cleeves' work, there is a startling amount of sexlessness here. Matthew and Jonathan aren't even allowed a cuddle (British sense) on the page...there's no suggestion of sex in any of her books. Of the healthy sort.
All night, he’d been aware of Jonathan sleeping beside him, motionless, the gentle breaths not moving his body. Jonathan had a gift for sleep that Matthew envied more than anything. More than his husband’s easy confidence, his courage, his ability to laugh off hurt and insults. Now Matthew was alone in bed and that rarely happened. Usually he was the first up.
And that continues here. I quite strongly wish she'd move past this, what? reticence? distaste? whatever it is because this is new territory for her. These are the first gay people in her books! Use this freshness as a chance to stop pathologizing sex. Matthew needs Jonathan's comforting bodily presence as any husband who's just been through a physical and emotional ordeal would. But he isn't granted it. And it's true none of her other sleuths are, either, which is why I'm bringing it up now.
When Matthew's police work results in a resolution for this case that I must say I dismissed as improbable when it occurred to me, I was surprised. Author Cleeves brought in motives I didn't expect. She made me think, hard, about how she'd placed her tells and her Maguffins. If that isn't a sheer, unadulterated pleasure for an old, experienced bird-dogger, I don't know what is.
Book two of the series comes out tomorrow! You *will* want to get one. It's a new-series Cleeves mystery...how could you possibly resist?
August 16, 2022
Jen thought she'd misjudged this woman when they'd first met, had her down as hard and cold because she had a smart home in a classy neighbourhood. People were always more complex than she realized and she was always too quick to jump to conclusions. (PG. 158)
Wonderful new series from Ann Cleeves. I fell in love with Matthew Venn and the whole crew and the slow mystery pull of the story. I enjoyed the second in the series more though. Ann Cleeves, I'm discovering, is a wonderful writer.
Wonderful new series from Ann Cleeves. I fell in love with Matthew Venn and the whole crew and the slow mystery pull of the story. I enjoyed the second in the series more though. Ann Cleeves, I'm discovering, is a wonderful writer.
August 18, 2019
A funeral. A murder. Missing vulnerable adults. Secrets and lies.
The Long Call
, a new novel, which marks the start of a new series by the UK’s Ann Cleeves, features Detective Inspector Matthew Venn and Detective Sergeant Jen Rafferty, two very different personalities.
It is Matthew whom we see in the opening scenes hovering at the fringes at his father’s funeral. He was raised in a conservative fundamentalist religious sect, the Brethren. Now he is an outcast, not only because he has rejected the religious beliefs he was taught, but also because he is married to a man, Jonathan. Maybe because he’s with the police, and maybe also because of his upbringing, Matthew dresses conservatively in suits and ties. He is socially more reserved. Jonathan, on the other hand, wears shorts and sandals no matter what the weather, and he loves to entertain. The two men seem to be a perfect match!
Jen is the divorced mother of two teenagers and has moved from the city to North Devon following her divorce. She quite motivated prove herself and shows herself quite capable when given the chance. She has a way of communicating with witnesses and has good instincts when pursuing leads.
When the body of a lonely, recovering alcoholic man is discovered on the beach, Matthew and his team have their work cut out for them. Things get complicated when it is discovered that the man had ties to Jonathan’s workplace and that some of the board members there have ties to Matthew’s former church. It all begins to feel very secretive and sinister. Someone knows more than he or she is revealing. Perhaps more than one person is involved?
After a woman with Down syndrome disappears, the intensity ratchets up a few more notches. I couldn’t imagine what THAT was all about. In a story that starts out feeling rather sleepy and frankly, had of a bit old-fashioned feel to it, this was turning out to be quite a mystery indeed! Why would someone take this woman? There were more mysteries, too, especially about the murdered man. He definitely had secrets. So did some of the people who knew him.
I love some of the characters in this story, especially the participants at Woodyard, Lucy and her father Maurice, and also Christine. I also liked that Maurice was honest about his first assessment of Woodyard, that he cringed when he saw lower functioning, more physically handicapped clients there, and I loved how he learned to see the humanity in all of them. It reminded me of the day program where I used to work. I liked Jonathan and Matthew, and I wished we had been given a closer look at the two of them. I hope they are featured again in a subsequent novel. I also liked Jen. Her style is a wonderful complement to Matthew’s and she is a brilliant addition to his team. I would like to see her, too, in a future book and see if she can have a social life, because she deserves one. I found myself liking the victim, Simon Walden. Although he had made a serious mistake at one time in his life, he was desperately trying to redeem himself. He seemed to be a decent, gifted human being.
There are also some very unlikable people in this book. The person I was expecting – and hoping – would be the actual murderer was not, although this individual was not completely blameless in the whole sordid affair. I would have liked there to have been someone in the Brethren to have been more compassionate and courageous than those who were portrayed, although perhaps there is hope for one of them...
I wish to thank NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for this ARC in return for my honest review.
4 stars
It is Matthew whom we see in the opening scenes hovering at the fringes at his father’s funeral. He was raised in a conservative fundamentalist religious sect, the Brethren. Now he is an outcast, not only because he has rejected the religious beliefs he was taught, but also because he is married to a man, Jonathan. Maybe because he’s with the police, and maybe also because of his upbringing, Matthew dresses conservatively in suits and ties. He is socially more reserved. Jonathan, on the other hand, wears shorts and sandals no matter what the weather, and he loves to entertain. The two men seem to be a perfect match!
Jen is the divorced mother of two teenagers and has moved from the city to North Devon following her divorce. She quite motivated prove herself and shows herself quite capable when given the chance. She has a way of communicating with witnesses and has good instincts when pursuing leads.
When the body of a lonely, recovering alcoholic man is discovered on the beach, Matthew and his team have their work cut out for them. Things get complicated when it is discovered that the man had ties to Jonathan’s workplace and that some of the board members there have ties to Matthew’s former church. It all begins to feel very secretive and sinister. Someone knows more than he or she is revealing. Perhaps more than one person is involved?
After a woman with Down syndrome disappears, the intensity ratchets up a few more notches. I couldn’t imagine what THAT was all about. In a story that starts out feeling rather sleepy and frankly, had of a bit old-fashioned feel to it, this was turning out to be quite a mystery indeed! Why would someone take this woman? There were more mysteries, too, especially about the murdered man. He definitely had secrets. So did some of the people who knew him.
I love some of the characters in this story, especially the participants at Woodyard, Lucy and her father Maurice, and also Christine. I also liked that Maurice was honest about his first assessment of Woodyard, that he cringed when he saw lower functioning, more physically handicapped clients there, and I loved how he learned to see the humanity in all of them. It reminded me of the day program where I used to work. I liked Jonathan and Matthew, and I wished we had been given a closer look at the two of them. I hope they are featured again in a subsequent novel. I also liked Jen. Her style is a wonderful complement to Matthew’s and she is a brilliant addition to his team. I would like to see her, too, in a future book and see if she can have a social life, because she deserves one. I found myself liking the victim, Simon Walden. Although he had made a serious mistake at one time in his life, he was desperately trying to redeem himself. He seemed to be a decent, gifted human being.
There are also some very unlikable people in this book. The person I was expecting – and hoping – would be the actual murderer was not, although this individual was not completely blameless in the whole sordid affair. I would have liked there to have been someone in the Brethren to have been more compassionate and courageous than those who were portrayed, although perhaps there is hope for one of them...
I wish to thank NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for this ARC in return for my honest review.
4 stars
December 29, 2021
I'm a big fan of Ann Cleeves' Shetland and Vera Stanhope series and have been looking forward to finally starting this new series. I wasn't disappointed. It has her trademark sense of place and depth of character stamped all over it.
The setting in North Devon is very different to the Shetland and the North Shields but is atmospheric in its own way, with it's beaches, tides and sand dunes. The characters are also very different but I already feel we're getting to know them and will enjoy watching their development over the series.
Main character DI Matthew Venn is a man who has had to overcome a lot of issues to be where he is. As a teenager, he was turned out by his family of devout puritan christians when he said he no longer accepted their beliefs. He is also gay which his family could not accept because of their faith. Now in his forties, he is a kind and thoughtful man, contentedly married to Jonathan, the manager of the Woodyard, a combined day centre for people with disabilities and centre for adult education, art studio and cafe, although is still getting used to people meeting them as a couple.
Matthew's Sargent, DS Jen Rafferty has also been doing it tough. Divorced from an abusive husband, she is bringing up two kids on her own and constantly worries about not spending enough time with them, especially when working on a a big case. However, she knows that Matthew really appreciates her ability to talk gently and compassionately with victims and witnesses, often getting important information out of them. DS Ross May on the other hand mostly annoys Matthew with his confidence and pushiness. He's an easy character to dislike but we do get some insight into his character later in the book and feel some sympathy for him.
The case kicks off with the body of a man found on the beach. Murdered by stabbing, with no wallet or ID on his body. He's eventually identified to be a recent newcomer to the area, who has been receiving help from the local church group after he turned up there, drunk and dishevelled and apparently homeless. Now sobered up, he was sharing a house with two local women and volunteering as a cook at the Woodyard cafe before he died. The reason he was killed follows quite a complex trail harking back to the cover up of an earlier crime and to people connected to Jonathan's beloved Woodyard. The plot moves along steadily, eventually pulling all the threads together into a suspenseful climax.
The setting in North Devon is very different to the Shetland and the North Shields but is atmospheric in its own way, with it's beaches, tides and sand dunes. The characters are also very different but I already feel we're getting to know them and will enjoy watching their development over the series.
Main character DI Matthew Venn is a man who has had to overcome a lot of issues to be where he is. As a teenager, he was turned out by his family of devout puritan christians when he said he no longer accepted their beliefs. He is also gay which his family could not accept because of their faith. Now in his forties, he is a kind and thoughtful man, contentedly married to Jonathan, the manager of the Woodyard, a combined day centre for people with disabilities and centre for adult education, art studio and cafe, although is still getting used to people meeting them as a couple.
Matthew's Sargent, DS Jen Rafferty has also been doing it tough. Divorced from an abusive husband, she is bringing up two kids on her own and constantly worries about not spending enough time with them, especially when working on a a big case. However, she knows that Matthew really appreciates her ability to talk gently and compassionately with victims and witnesses, often getting important information out of them. DS Ross May on the other hand mostly annoys Matthew with his confidence and pushiness. He's an easy character to dislike but we do get some insight into his character later in the book and feel some sympathy for him.
The case kicks off with the body of a man found on the beach. Murdered by stabbing, with no wallet or ID on his body. He's eventually identified to be a recent newcomer to the area, who has been receiving help from the local church group after he turned up there, drunk and dishevelled and apparently homeless. Now sobered up, he was sharing a house with two local women and volunteering as a cook at the Woodyard cafe before he died. The reason he was killed follows quite a complex trail harking back to the cover up of an earlier crime and to people connected to Jonathan's beloved Woodyard. The plot moves along steadily, eventually pulling all the threads together into a suspenseful climax.
August 30, 2019
This was an impressive start to the new mystery series by Ann Cleeves. There's a good group of core characters for her to work with so I'm excited to see where the series is going to go in future books.
Years ago Detective Matthew Venn left the church he grew up in, which also meant losing his family as well. He is now in charge of a murder investigation that is hitting close to home. His past and his present seem to be on a collision course which might make solving this crime more difficult than he originally thought.
Even though Matthew is the main character in the book, the story does bounce around between multiple characters connected to the case including Jen Rafferty, a detective sergeant and single mom. She has an interesting backstory like Matthew and I have my fingers crossed she plays as big of a role in future books as she did in this one. I felt invested in the characters themselves as much as I was in the mystery which was nice because that isn't always the case.
The author did a good job coming up with a mystery that in my opinion was complex enough that you really are left guessing until the very end. The small English seaside setting was a great location for the story. If you like police detective novels that have a more small town feel to them rather than the hustle and bustle of the big city ones, this is certainly a good one to check out!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review!
Years ago Detective Matthew Venn left the church he grew up in, which also meant losing his family as well. He is now in charge of a murder investigation that is hitting close to home. His past and his present seem to be on a collision course which might make solving this crime more difficult than he originally thought.
Even though Matthew is the main character in the book, the story does bounce around between multiple characters connected to the case including Jen Rafferty, a detective sergeant and single mom. She has an interesting backstory like Matthew and I have my fingers crossed she plays as big of a role in future books as she did in this one. I felt invested in the characters themselves as much as I was in the mystery which was nice because that isn't always the case.
The author did a good job coming up with a mystery that in my opinion was complex enough that you really are left guessing until the very end. The small English seaside setting was a great location for the story. If you like police detective novels that have a more small town feel to them rather than the hustle and bustle of the big city ones, this is certainly a good one to check out!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review!
September 16, 2019
Set in North Devon, England, a place where two rivers converge to meet the sea,
The Long Call
is a brand new detective series from author Ann Cleeves that introduces us to DI Matthew Venn, a forty-something police detective who is investigating the case of a man named Simon Walden found stabbed to death on the beach, in an area close to where Matthew lives with his husband Jonathan. After breaking away from the strict evangelical community to which his estranged family still belongs, Matthew is no longer welcome among the Brethren, cast out to the point of only being able to observe his father's funeral from afar. As Matthew and his team follow the leads that emerge in investigating Walden's murder, the detective finds himself unexpectedly pulled back into the folds of the Brethren community, where the secrets of his past threaten to collide with the present life he so painstakingly built. To complicate matters, having recently transferred from Bristol, Matthew is the new boss in town heading up a group of detectives whose personalities couldn't be more different from each other, but who must now work together to solve the case, the dynamics of which add a layer of complexity to the investigation.
This was a well-written police procedural that I found to be engaging and a bit different from ones I've read previously. Normally I would expect these types of stories to be action-packed and fast-paced, with a complicated plot as well as twists and turns galore, but surprisingly, that wasn't the case here. Instead, this was an atmospheric read that was actually a bit of a slow-burn, but not to the point of being draggy — rather, the plot moved along in a way that felt natural and un-rushed, though with an ending that still managed to be unpredictable and also a resolution to the case that caught me off guard. I like how Cleeves didn't just focus on developing a complex and believable plot, but also balanced it with meticulous character development as well, lending a level of depth to the story that made it more engaging in my opinion.
Overall, I enjoyed this quiet but steady detective story that kept me interested throughout. This is the first book in a new series for Cleeves, and for me, it is a good introduction to this author's work, since this is my first time reading her books. I'm definitely looking forward to continuing this series when the second book comes out! As for her previous book series, I understand that two of them — the Shetland Island as well as Vera Stanhope series — were both turned into successful television series; no doubt that this new Two Rivers series will likely follow in the same footsteps. When that happens, it will be interesting to see how this story translates on screen.
Received ARC from St. Martin's Press (Minotaur Books) via NetGalley.
This was a well-written police procedural that I found to be engaging and a bit different from ones I've read previously. Normally I would expect these types of stories to be action-packed and fast-paced, with a complicated plot as well as twists and turns galore, but surprisingly, that wasn't the case here. Instead, this was an atmospheric read that was actually a bit of a slow-burn, but not to the point of being draggy — rather, the plot moved along in a way that felt natural and un-rushed, though with an ending that still managed to be unpredictable and also a resolution to the case that caught me off guard. I like how Cleeves didn't just focus on developing a complex and believable plot, but also balanced it with meticulous character development as well, lending a level of depth to the story that made it more engaging in my opinion.
Overall, I enjoyed this quiet but steady detective story that kept me interested throughout. This is the first book in a new series for Cleeves, and for me, it is a good introduction to this author's work, since this is my first time reading her books. I'm definitely looking forward to continuing this series when the second book comes out! As for her previous book series, I understand that two of them — the Shetland Island as well as Vera Stanhope series — were both turned into successful television series; no doubt that this new Two Rivers series will likely follow in the same footsteps. When that happens, it will be interesting to see how this story translates on screen.
Received ARC from St. Martin's Press (Minotaur Books) via NetGalley.
September 2, 2019
Two Rivers #1
Detective Matthew Venn is outside the church where the funeral is taking place for his estranged father. His father was part of a strict religious community that Matthew had left a long time ago. Just as he's about to leave, he receives a phone call about a death in his area. A body has been found on the beach. Then a disabled girl goes missing.
This new series is set in Devon. We are introduced to a new set of characters who each bring different qualities. Matthew Venn is the new leading DI. He has a personal connection to the case, the centre where the Roman received care and the man volunteered is run by his husband. There are pages that focus on Matthews relationship with Jonathan. I liked Matthew, he has faults and insecurities. This is a great story of secrets, murder and deceit. I thought this story started a bit slow but once you get into it a bit more, the pace picks up. It wasn't an edge of your seat read but it did keep my interest and turning the pages. I can't wait to read the next book in this promising series.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Pan Macmillan and the author Ann Cleeves for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Detective Matthew Venn is outside the church where the funeral is taking place for his estranged father. His father was part of a strict religious community that Matthew had left a long time ago. Just as he's about to leave, he receives a phone call about a death in his area. A body has been found on the beach. Then a disabled girl goes missing.
This new series is set in Devon. We are introduced to a new set of characters who each bring different qualities. Matthew Venn is the new leading DI. He has a personal connection to the case, the centre where the Roman received care and the man volunteered is run by his husband. There are pages that focus on Matthews relationship with Jonathan. I liked Matthew, he has faults and insecurities. This is a great story of secrets, murder and deceit. I thought this story started a bit slow but once you get into it a bit more, the pace picks up. It wasn't an edge of your seat read but it did keep my interest and turning the pages. I can't wait to read the next book in this promising series.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Pan Macmillan and the author Ann Cleeves for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 4, 2019
Detective Matthew Venn is the main character here, and The Long Call is a fab intro to his background and setting the stage for this promising series.
Matthew is conflicted in how he feels about his home community, but a case where a man is stabbed to death draws him right back in.
Ann Cleeves has an insightful way of layering her characters. I definitely liked Matthew and his vulnerability and want to follow more of his story. He’s also brilliant and I loved that. The Long Call is a story you can really sink your teeth into, relax, stay a while, visit Devon through these words, and wear your detective hat alongside Matthew. Well-done and I’ll definitely be reading more.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher.
Many of my reviews can also be found on instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Matthew is conflicted in how he feels about his home community, but a case where a man is stabbed to death draws him right back in.
Ann Cleeves has an insightful way of layering her characters. I definitely liked Matthew and his vulnerability and want to follow more of his story. He’s also brilliant and I loved that. The Long Call is a story you can really sink your teeth into, relax, stay a while, visit Devon through these words, and wear your detective hat alongside Matthew. Well-done and I’ll definitely be reading more.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher.
Many of my reviews can also be found on instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
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