The Raging Storm: A brilliant and tense mystery featuring Matthew Venn of ITV’s The Long Call from the Sunday Times bestselling author (Two Rivers)

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It was great to follow Venn, Sergeant Jen, Rafferty and Ross May. Well, not really Ross, he still gets on my nerves. But everyone else was great. I thought it was interesting about Jen's bad marriage being brought up again and some fly in the ointment on that. Also, Venn seems to be very careful of how he treats and talks to Jonathan after the mess he got into in the last book. Ross is trying to be better as an investigator, but seems to be sitting around fuming about thinking Jen is a favorite of Jen's. The setting in this is so integral to the plot that it could almost be a character in its own right' Book Break guides you through the books of Ann Cleeves: you may know Vera Stanhope, but did you know about Ann's first series set in Vera's county of Northumberland, featuring Inspector Stephen Ramsay? Or maybe you've read all of the Shetland books, but didn't know about Ann's standalone titles. Or maybe you'd like to read some short stories next...? Local legend Jem Silver delights the residents of Greystone, Devon, by arriving in the middle of an autumn gale. Everyone in town is thrilled to have a local celebrity in their midst and nobody thinks much of it when the sailor and adventurer disappears again. Jem is not a man to be tied down so the fact that he’s left town is not a huge cause for concern – until his body is found in a dinghy anchored off Scully Cove during a raging storm.

The Raging Storm, the third book in the Two Rivers series, was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by Ann Cleeves. Even though I did not read the first two books in this series, I had no trouble following this character driven murder mystery. It can most definitely be read as a stand-alone book. I always enjoy a good police procedural book and The Raging Storm possessed all the elements required to make it a compelling one. Cleeves crafts a devilishly intricate mystery that will surprise even seasoned genre fans, and Venn remains an appealing lead every bit as memorable as the author’s Vera Stanhope or Jimmy Perez. Cleeves’s fans and newcomers alike will be hungry for the next entry.” ―Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) He was in the Maiden’s every night after that. There was never a specific time. He’d appear suddenly, all smiles. Sometimes he’d stay at the bar, chinwagging with Harry. Other nights he’d drift around the room, landing at a table – the playgroup mums on their regular night out, or an elderly couple playing dominoes by the fire – like a piece of flotsam washed up by the tide. He was always friendly, always chatty, but he never really gave anything away. When anyone asked if the move to Greystone was permanent, or if he was there on a holiday, planning another journey perhaps, he’d only touch the side of his nose and grin.

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Cleeves combines a flair for evoking sense of place with a thoughtful, complex plot -- Mail on Sunday on The Long Call I love the atmosphere, the author creates here and I think she’s almost excelled herself! The small, remote, rather bleak community creates an atmosphere all of its own, there’s an intriguing awkwardness and reticence that’s very interesting. There is some distrust too as some locals are members of the Barum Brethren and as an ex member, Matthew Venn is a source of some suspicion from those quarters. There seems to be either misdirection or a wall of silence to contend with in this difficult case. The troubled Venn is a great protagonist, and Cleeves may well have created her next top TV cop -- Heat Magazine on The Long Call

He never stayed for more than two pints and then he was off again, sometimes with a little wave to the other customers, sometimes just disappearing, so that suddenly they realized he was no longer there. As the stormy winds howl and the village is cut off, Venn and his team start their investigation, little realizing their own lives might be in danger. . .

The Raging Storm

The setting for this story is the small village of Greystone, Devon, a place Venn is very familiar with. He spent time there as a child, and due to personal reasons, has since parted ways with the community. This might sound ominous, and it sort of is. If you've read the previous books, you'll know, but basically, Matthew was raised in a very religious household; part of the Barum Brethren, who have many members living in Greystone. Until the lifeboat is launched to a hoax call-out during a raging storm and his body is found in a dinghy, anchored off Scully Cove, a place with legends of its own.

Brilliant, thoughtful and deeply engaging -- Sara Paretsky, New York Times bestselling author of the V.I. Warshawski series on The Long Call In addition, there’s stormy weather especially at the start, which creates unease and adds to the building tension. There is an excellent sense of place too, there are some terrific descriptions of the area, which provides scope for some exciting scenes. The book starts out at a slow but steady pace, building up the characters and the scene so that I felt immersed in the story. I could “ see” it all happening. I liked Detective Mathew Venn right away. He is serious and stays calm under pressure but also has a gentle way about him while remaining in control. When he is called to investigate the death of a seasoned sailor, who happens to be a celebrity, he gets thrown into a tight- knit community where everyone knows everyone else’s business and news spreads like a wild fire. He’s not alone though, he has Jenn Rafferty and Sargeant Ross May to assist him.Cleeves creates a strong sense of tension which pushes you on. The plot is a true mystery, littered with clues and red herrings, and the end is a brilliant revelation' And then watch out for new additions to the cataligue of Ann Cleeves Classic Crime, as they appear. More details of Ann Cleeves's stand-alone mysteries, and other books here. Either way I don't care, I'm just delighted that Venn has wormed his way into my affection and I'm also delighted that Ann Cleeves continues to produce such excellent detective stories. Always a joy to read. Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.