Reading Ann Cleeves’ latest novel, The Long Call, the first in the series Two Rivers, brought me back to Shetland Islands. I watched the series on Netflix and absolutely loved it though it did take me a bit to get used to the dialect and language.

It is the same with The Long Call. Set in mostly North Devon District (England) The Long Call revolves around Detective Inspector Matthew Venn and his team’s investigation into the stabbing murder of Simon Walden who is found on the beach by passerbys. The story like those set in the Shetland Islands weaves through the populace of North Devon and other nearby parts, as pieces of Simon Walden’s life and his reason for moving to North Devon, a village of sorts in the outskirts of Barnstaple, a larger town, is uncovered by Venn and his team.

Along the way, Venn’s life from childhood as a son to parents who belong to a religious sect (The Brethren) to the present in a world removed from that as the spouse of Jonathan Church becomes entangled in this murder. Jonathan is the founder/manager of the Woodyard Centre, a haven for those with learning disabilities and for those who take master’s level classes in art. Simon Walden had been employed in the kitchen, as a chef of sorts, and apparently a great one. While there Simon learns that all is not as it appears at the Woodyard Centre, that some in its early history are guilty of covering up a heinous sexual assault on one its former Downs Syndrome attendees. Because of his own sins in the past, Simon seeks to unmask the perpetrator, who none would believe had done it as well as those on the board of the Woodyard who paid off the attendee’s mother. Their rationale? Keep the story out of the media for fear of negative public reaction that would endanger Woodyard’s viability back in the early days. However, their real purpose is revealed – to protect themselves and their own reputations at the cost of others. As the investigation progresses, these same people seek to cover their trail back to Simon Walden, committing other crimes including kidnapping other attendees, one of which Simon had befriended in the attempt to uncover what had happened. It is a story of cat and mouse though sometimes it is hard to tell who’s the mouse and who’s the cat.

Besides the intersection of religious fundamentalism, day-to-day life of a family and the raising of children, the care and development of those with learning disabilities (from mild to severe), and gay marriage, Cleeves also adroitly explores single motherhood through DS Jenn Rafferty and the day-to-day politics in a police force where one member (DS Ross) is viewed by others as having a leg up or advantages that are the not the result of merit, but favoritism and how this favoritism affects and acts on Venn’s leadership.

First time trying out a book by Ann Cleeves. I must say I really enjoyed it. Easy to read and fast paced. I recommend this book.

Wow. that was the first word that came to mind when I finished The Long Call. Wow. This was my very first Ann Cleeves book. I'm a fan of British mysteries, so I'm not sure how I overlooked Ms. Cleeves. This was a well-written book with a great attention to detail. I was drawn in immediately and wanted to know more of the story of the murder and abductions. I wanted to sit and talk with Matthew and Jonathan - they are both such interesting characters with so much life and backstory. I will be looking into Ms. Cleeves backlist ASAP! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read the ARC of The Long Call in exchange for an honest review.

Always love a good mystery! Ann Cleeve did a wonderful job laying the groundwork for this story - characters and setting. As the story unfolds, I was drawn in and kept trying to guess the “who done it!” Great story! A true page turner!

What starts out as seemingly just a murder turns into an investigation that unearths more questions than answers. The characters didn't draw me into the story as much as I wished they would have, however, the strength and complexity of the plot is fascinating. The reveal in the end was impressive and exceeded my expectations.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the egalley of The Long Call in exchange for an honest review.

This first in a new mystery series by Cleeves opens dramatically with the discovery of a man's body on the beach in Two Rivers in North Devon. Matthew Venn is in charge of the investigation, and he soon discovers a connection with the community center managed by his husband where the dead man volunteered. At first, the murder victim appeared to be homeless, but Venn and his team uncover secrets about his past. Are the dead man's two female roommates connected with the crime? Is the disappearance of two young women with Downs syndrome who spent their days at the community center connected to the murder? Worst of all, Matthew's husband may be implicated in the crime.

As Venn and his team progress with their investigation, more is revealed about Matthew and his connection to Two Rivers. His family belongs to an evangelical religious sect, The Brethren, from which Matthew fled after quitting university to join the police. His parents disowned him for leaving their church, leaving him cut off from his roots. Now his knowledge of the community where he grew up may help his investigation.

Cleeves has fashioned an engrossing police procedural that introduces characters readers will want to get to know better in future books in the series with a satisfying solution to a mystery involving murder, sexual assault, abuse of privelege, and the power of the past. The setting in Devon proves an integral part of the appeal of this novel not only for Cleeves' fans but for lovers of British mysteries. #TheLongCall #NetGalley

This is a new series that has a great beginning story. It started a bit slowly and took awhile to get into it, but once you did, you couldn't put it down until the end! I really enjoyed the story and the characters.

Ann Cleeves has done it again! Her new series has a dynamic main character and a wonderfully wicked twisty mystery with a whodunit that keeps you guessing unit the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

This book kept me engaged all the way through. I didn't not guess the killer and when the killer was revealed i was so surprised! But all of the clues were there. I just did not put them together. I highly recommend this mysyery!

Thank you to NetGalley, Ann Cleeves and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

Wow. This was my first Ann Cleeves book, and just wow. I was instantly hooked before the first chapter ended. Absolutely loved this book, and can't wait for the next in series. Off to read more by Ann Cleeves!

I really do want to find out who did what in this book, and the motivation. However, the minutiae is more than distracting. It is tedious

This is the beginning of a great series. Matthew Venn was an interesting character as was the supporting cast. The setting wasn't quite as captivating as the Shetlands but the Two Rivers series will be something worth waiting for in the future.

This is a British detective novel by the great Ann Cleeves, a new start for a series. I really enjoyed the storytelling in this one, it drew me in from the beginning. The main character Matthew Venn, the town's main detective is investigating the murder case, which turns out to have so many layers to it. This one kept me guessing until the end. Very well written and a cast of characters that weaved together a lovely little town. i would recommend this one to fans of mysteries, especially British ones, they just have a different bit of magic about them.

This is a classic British police procedural novel. It is not badly written but just could not keep my interest through the rather long winded explanations and conversations. Cleeves lets characters go into a soliloquy when a one sentance reply would do just fine. A mystery needs to keep you on the metaphorical edge of the seat and that does not happen here. This was probably not written as an LGBTQ novel but the leading male character has a husband. This situation is not presented as an in your face relationship but I did not enjoy having it part of my reading.

This is the first book that I have read of this author. It was an interesting mystery read although somewhat boring at times.

Someone is stealing mentally handicapped young women. It’s up to our hero to find out why. This was a fast-paced, good read.

An Extremely Well-Written Novel With Heartfelt Compassion

Detective Matthew Vonn is a thoughtful and gentle man, a troubled man, a persistent man who never gives up. Never. When he is called upon to investigate the murder of a man found on the beach near his home, he finds himself deeply involved in a mystery that calls upon him to use all of his instincts and knowledge to follow each tiny clue that he hopes will lead him to the murderer.

During the funeral of his father Detective Vonn stands at the fringes, not welcomed inside by family from whom he is estranged. When a phone call interrupts his thoughts he is at once thrust into a murder investigation in a quiet seaside community. As he puts every little clue together he encounters many worried residents, a troubled father, the residents of a day care center that helps young people with learning disabilities, and the social workers who help them. He keeps being drawn, however, to one young innocent who seems to hold the clue to the mystery, or does she?

This is my first exposure to the writings of Ann Cleeves and the depth of the characters she has written had me captured from the beginning. I highly recommend The Long Call to everyone who enjoys a mystery with lifelike characters and without a lot of shooting and violence.

Thank you, NetGalley and Minotaur Books for offering me a free advance copy of this novel for my honest review.

This is the first Ann Cleves book I have read, but I'm sure it will not be the last. The story of Matthew Venn and his colleagues and their investigation of a murder on the beach was fascinating. There were enough seemingly random connections that if you were to map them with string, they would look like an elaborate dreamcatcher. Not only was the story well crafted, but the descriptions of the locale made me want to see it in person.
Thank you to Netgalley for the copy in exchange for my review. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Perhaps I just don’t “get” Ann Cleese’s, as I know others who adore her.
Good characters and an OK story, but i’ll pass on others in this vein.

This story was like a landslide: it began with a slow, seemingly harmless trickle then rapidly gathered speed, hurtling to the dramatic end. And I enjoyed every minute of the twisty-turny ride.
I wanted to read this book because it was a new mystery from the writer of one of my favorite shows, Shetland, and I was just as enthralled by this story as I am by the show. Brimming with red herrings and complex characters, The Long Call is a brilliant example of the storied tradition of the great British murder mystery. If you are a fan, this is a read not to be missed. Be sure to grab your own copy when it releases in September!
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC of this novel for review purposes. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my very own!