Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

In the intricate tapestry of crime fiction, Ann Cleeves' "The Heron's Cry" emerges as a masterful piece, weaving together the somber threads of human frailty and the stark realities of justice. This second installment in the Detective Matthew Venn series plunges readers into the heart of North Devon, where the deceptive tranquility of rural life is shattered by a murder most foul.

Detective Venn, a man of quiet intensity and deep introspection, faces not just the challenge of solving a crime but also the turmoil of navigating personal demons. The victim, Dr. Nigel Yeo, is found dead, impaled by a shard of glass from his own daughter's artwork—a symbolic penetration that mirrors the piercing of the community's facade to reveal its hidden scars.

Cleeves' narrative is a slow burn, meticulously crafted to draw the reader into a world where the line between friend and foe blurs. Each character is etched with precision, their flaws and motives laid bare, creating a mosaic of suspects that keeps one guessing until the very end.

"The Heron's Cry" is not merely a detective novel; it is a study of contrasts—the warmth of human connections against the chill of betrayal, the light of truth struggling against the shadows of deceit. It is a novel that resonates with the understanding that sometimes, the most significant battles we fight are against the reflections we see in the mirror.

Ann Cleeves once again proves her mettle as a storyteller, delivering a tale that is as much about the pursuit of justice as it is about the search for self. For those who seek not just a mystery but a mirror into the soul, "The Heron's Cry" is a call that cannot go unanswered.

This is the second installment to the DI Matthew Venn series by Ann Cleeves. This time it begins with an unexplained death of a doctor at his daughter's studio. Venn must sort the connections the doctor had with many in his medical profession and personal contacts. As he gets closer more deaths follow leading Venn on a several trails and into a bizarre online world of suicide chat rooms. The author definitely kept me guessing with several leads and dead ends.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. I really enjoy this author's multiple series'. I've watched the TV shows that her books have lead to and enjoy her stories and her writing style. I'm fairly new to this particular series of books with Detective Mathew Venn, who is a gay man leading a team of detectives who investigate murders in a beautiful coastal area in England called Devon. His team includes Jen Rafferty, a single mother that had left an abusive marriage and is now trying her best to balance life and her job and Ross May, a local from the area who's need for "glory" and recognition sometimes gets in his way. The story here is surrounding the mysterious murder of a local man and the details he was investigating surrounding a suicide that seemed to have occurred due to the failures of the local health agencies. Then there is another murder with connections to the first victim and it's up to Matthew and his team to figure out how everything is linked and how all the characters and victims are connected. Although at times the story lagged/dragged a bit, there was a satisfying conclusion. This was not one of my favourites of this author, and maybe I would have liked it even more as an audiobook (my first Matthew Venn book was audio), but overall it was a good read nonetheless. 3.5 for me.

Solid Writing and Smartly Structured


SUMMARY
Nigel Yeo and Jen Rafferty met briefly at a neighborhood party, and the next morning, Nigel was found dead at his daughter’s artist’s studio. Jen, a police officer, was called in to assist in the investigation by her boss, Detective Matthew Venn. Nigel had been fatally stabbed by a broken piece of glass from a vase in his daughter Eve’s glassblowing studio.

Nigel is a health care investigator and had been investigating the suicide of a young man to determine if there was any misconduct on the part of a mental care facility. Matthew’s team is in the middle of the investigation when another murder occurs, which seems to be related to this case.

REVIEW
THE HERONS CRY is a delightfully intriguing murder mystery with a large cast of characters who are all interesting and well-developed. One of my favorite characters is Jen Rafferty, the female police detective and single mother trying heroically to juggle a demanding job and home life with two kids. Another of my favorites is Jonathan, Matthew’s sensitive and thoughtful husband, who is trying to comfort his good friend Eve, Nigel's daughter, and is also preparing a birthday celebration for Matthew’s estranged mother.

The writing is solid and smartly structured, with numerous shifts in the story told from multiple points of view.

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Publisher St Martin’s Press
Published September 7, 2021
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

If you pick this one up, be ready to tuck in. The story will suck you in and keep you until the end! Although this is book 2, you don't have to have read book 1 in order to enjoy this story. It's tied to the main character, Matthew Venn, as he investigates murders.

This was a perplexing case. There is a huge cast, but they are all tied together in small ways and make it easier to keep names/jobs/relationships connected as the narrators are always bumping in to someone in town.

In this, you get a few POV, but each one opens the story up a bit more so you can see what was happening somewhere at a particular time. Even with these little bits of added information, I spent the whole story grasping at straws wondering who on earth was doing it! I did like the bits that felt very relevant and now (the suicide chat room, the addictions and depression) and I thought each added to the story and weren't used just for shock value. However, the ending was surprising and well-crafted.

Now I'm really excited to read the next one!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

I thought this was a good mystery that kept me guessing, and I never did guess who did what. I love it when I can't get it easily or at all.

The story begins with a young man (19) named Mack who was determined to have committed suicide. I was wondering what on earth would cause a boy/young man in his youth to do such a thing, so I began to wonder if it was staged and really a murder. But then there are other victims found so I didn't know what to think.

There were multiple characters under suspicion who I thought could've been at the center of what was going on and I guessed some of it...kind of...but definitely wasn't expecting it to unfold the way it did.

I like how all of the characters were flawed, nobody was "perfect" and the story was realistic. That being said, that makes it all the more sad!

Every time I turned the page I wanted to know what was going to happen next I don’t but the book down

When I saw Cleeves’s third “Two Rivers” mystery would soon be out, I realized I hadn’t read the second. Hence, an “ARC” review from 2021…oopsy. As with the first, I greatly enjoyed this, with minor quibbles. As for number two standing alone, it does so quite fine as far as the mystery is concerned. But what makes Cleeves’s series great is the characterization of a wonderful ensemble cast. Read number one, get to know them, enjoy them, and continue doing so with The Heron’s Cry …while I eagerly get into number three, The Raging Storm (stay tuned!). For now, let’s have the publisher’s blurb set us up with The Heron Cry‘s details:

North Devon is enjoying a rare hot summer with tourists flocking to its coastline. Detective Matthew Venn is called out to a rural crime scene at the home of a group of artists. What he finds is an elaborately staged murder–Dr Nigel Yeo has been fatally stabbed with a shard of one of his glassblower daughter’s broken vases.

Dr. Yeo seems an unlikely murder victim. He’s a good man, a public servant, beloved by his daughter. Matthew is unnerved, though, to find that she is a close friend of Jonathan, his husband.

Then another body is found–killed in a similar way. Matthew soon finds himself treading carefully through the lies that fester at the heart of his community and a case that is dangerously close to home.

I read Cleeves for the characterization; others may read her for the mystery, but it’s the one element I always forget about any murder mystery. Cleeves’s Two Rivers detectives are wonderful. I adore Matthew Venn, with his secular monastic demeanor, polished shoes and strait-laced suits and ties, his lonely childhood memories of growing up in a repressive religious community, and his new-found love Jonathan with his warmth and openness. What makes Matthew Venn so likeable is his insistence on bringing justice, on fulfilling his obligation to the community, his calm and meticulous ways. It makes for a great contrast to the more temperamental displaced Liverpudlian detective, Jen Rafferty. I even warmed to eager-beaver, ambitious local Devon boy, detective Ross May.

While Cleeves’s mystery is told in third person, she does let us know what Jen, Matthew, and Ross are thinking and feeling. She writes an excellent balance between their thoughts about the case and personal lives. For example, Matthew feels he needs to keep his home life with Jonathan in a compartment separate from his police work. Jonathan blurs those lines, concerned primarily in this case with the glass-blower daughter, who’s a friend. Matthew has to reevaluate and reconsider his boundaries: sometimes he lets Jonathan muddy the waters and sometimes he insists on the straight and narrow. Either way, I like how Matthew is changing and staying the same and how Jonathan challenges and supports him. As for the rest of the characters, the ones implicated in this particular case, we get to know them through police interviews and dialogue too is one of Cleeves’s strengths.

What worked less well was plot, but I certainly don’t care. I thought the plot dragged and was too easily brought “right” with another body added to the count. The resolution, which I didn’t see coming, was not quite believable. The villain somewhat one-dimensional and uninteresting. I’m indifferent and this is certainly not going to stop me from thoroughly seeking and enjoying the next book: I like spending reading-head-space with these characters more than anything else.

I also love and look forward to more of Cleeves’s descriptions of the North Devon coast, its flora and fauna, moody skies and beach expanses. While at first reading The Long Call, I thought Cleeves’s style flat, the more I read her, the more I liked it. It’s understated, not “flat”; it’s straight-forward and lyrical without being flowery. Her descriptions of nature are where this is most evident. In The Heron’s Cry‘s case, I especially loved the heron motif; while Matthew and his detectives, Jen and Ross, struggle to contain the chaos of murder and betrayal, the heron’s call, the coastal beauty, are ever-present, a wonderful, eternal counterpoint to human tumult.

I also loved how the characters, especially Jonathan and Matthew, who are attuned to their environment, interact with the natural surroundings. Matthew notes and enters them, but is always preoccupied with the case, with setting things right, not out of pride or ambition, but thanks to his highly developped morality. Jonathan, on the other, is kind and open, revels in his cold morning swims, his bare feet and shorts. In all ways, Jonathan and Matthew are an “opposites-attract” romance and as often we see in romance with this trope, they’re perfect together. A terrific second series book. With Miss Austen’s assent, Cleeves’s The Heron’s Cry is evidence of “a mind lively and at ease,” Emma.

Ann Cleeves’s The Heron’s Cry is published by Minotaur Books. It came out in September 2021 and I’m glad I finally read it. (Onwards to The Raging Storm.) I received an e-galley, from Minotaur Books, via Netgalley. This does not impede the free expression of my opinion.

The Heron’s Cry is a character driven tale that explores the subjects of murder, suicide, medical treatment availability and obsession (in its many incarnations). Also addressed are the individual personal problems faced by the investigating group lead by Detective Inspector Matthew Venn as their probe into a series of homicides reveals the secrets haunting many of victims and suspects involved.

Offering a narrative that is intelligently written and sure to entertain as well as challenge the reader’s grey matter - - - this book, like a deliciously layered dessert, offers a bit of something for everyone.

The second in the Matthew Venn series by Ann Cleeves.

Matthew and his team investigate the death of a man who was part of a group who hold doctors and hospitals accountable. Nigel Yeo was looking into the suicide of a local man which is similar to a case that happened before. There are many characters who are interconnected to it takes a bit to untangle the story. Good characters and pacing and wonderful detail of the North Devon landscape. Ann Cleeve,s fans will certainly enjoy it.

DI Matthew Venn and his team, DS Jen Rafferty and DC Ross May are back as well as Matthew’s husband, Jonathan, who manages the Woodyard, a local community center for artists and the local residents.

The book summary introduces the primary premise of murders at a somewhat of an artist’s colony, called Westacombe, where the owner, Frank, an older, wealthy, entrepreneur, who rents rooms and studios to local artists as well as a family of farmers. The first victim, Nigel, is the father of one of the artists, Eve, a glass blower. The second victim is one of the artists, Wes, who is a bit of a player as well as a friend of Jens.

There are secondary storylines too. There is one regarding the suicides of former patients of local mental health facilities who were discharged because they were not deemed as requiring any further care only to have those same patients commit suicide shortly after they were released. Nigel, who worked for a patients advocate agency, was investigating these cases before he was killed. There is another secondary storyline that is about Matthew reestablishing his relationship with his mother, starting with introducing her to Jonathan. Lastly, there is another secondary story revolving around the marriage of Ross and his wife Mel.

Most of the story revolves around the investigation of the murders. Into the second half, the leads of the case lead the team to a suicide website that lures and encourages people to commit suicide. However, a resident has their own suspicions and comes to their own conclusion who might be the killer and they do their own investigating. The ending comes pretty quick after that with the team and the other resident in danger. OMG!!! The shocking reveal was absolutely bizarre and creepy! Didn’t see that one coming.

I guess I should mention a trigger warning that this story centers around the mental health of suicidal people as well as their families who were let down by the mental health services and agencies that were assigned to help. This story depicted the issues that the patients and their families struggled with daily and just how exhausting it was. I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #StMartinsPress #TheHeronsCry

I recommend reading this series in order as there is a large cast of characters, and also for the introduction to the area. The book is set mostly on the coast of North Devon in England, which is dotted with small towns. I was fascinated that there was even a circle of very short standing stones, which is now buried with silt.

The murder mystery has a complex, twisty plot with several deaths. Two of the deaths are obvious murders and the other two deaths were for people who fell from the cliffs. Every death was investigated, since the four people were connected in some way.

The two murders were definitely related and occurred close together. Those two people were stabbed with a glass shard that came from vases created by the same artist. The first person stabbed, Dr. Nigel Yeo, was the father of the artist who created the vases.

This is a police procedural, where the investigating officers, led by Detective Inspector Michael Ven, painstakingly interview each of the many people associated with the two murder victims and the two people who fell from the cliffs. This mystery is extremely twisty and there were many characters who could possibly be the killer. It was fascinating how all of the tiny bits and pieces of information gathered from all of the various sources finally revealed the killer. I can usually guess but I couldn't do that in this book.

I highly recommend it for lovers of police procedurals set in Great Britain. I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher St. Martin's Press/Minotaur via NetGalley. It was a pleasure to voluntarily read and review this book.

"He was unprepossessing too, a grey man in his fifties with strange hairy growths on his face, giving him the appearance of a weasel."

I wanted to use that line from #theheronscry by @anncleeves b/c I thought it such a great description, can't you truly see how this person looks? Ewww! Lots of these terrific "pictures" throughout this book. I'd been wanting to read one of hers for a very long time, and was pleased to receive this one from #netgalley. Loved the characters, the beach town setting, the gruesome (truly) murders, and the ending that provides more than one unguessable twist. I enjoyed the multiple POVs and seeing the various characters through others' eyes. And Matthew Venn?? LOVED him ("his work was all about careful, intense listening.")

SO well done, adding all her series of books to my "to read" list.

P.S. thanks to #netgalley for the ARC.

I love Ann Cleeves' books, and this one Was no exception. There's always a strong sense of Place in her books, which always makes me feel like I've traveled somewhere new. For characters are well formed and distinct from each other and there's just great intelligence in her writing

The Heron’s Cry is the second novel in Ann Cleeves’ Two River series.

Detective Matthew Venn investigates the murder of a man who was stabbed to death. Shortly after this death, a second murder takes place, with many of the same attributes. Venn must now solve two crimes that dig deep into the community’s secrets. As with all of Cleeve’s stories, this one relies on detail and characters — and it doesn’t disappoint.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

You can always depend on a great read from Ann Cleeves. This book is no exception. It’s a crime fiction novel so well written you can imagine yourself there. She explores the conflicts between Mathew and his husband, and the relationship Mathew has with his family. A definite must read.

This was absolutely fabulous. The writing, the story the setting, all of it was just great. Ann Cleaves is such a good writer, I hooked in the first page. Excellent. Highly recommend.

The Heron's Cry is book two in Two Rivers Series by Ann Cleeves.
I’ve had the best time reading these Detective Matthew Venn stories.

I found this to be an absorbing and engaging crime read.
This character-driven mystery is a very compelling read with multiple plots and characters that kept me glued to my Kindle.
I hope Cleeves continues to write books for this series. And in the meantime I’m going to be starting the Vera Stanhope series.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Minotaur Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

This book has all the richness of character and detail of Cleeves's other books. She brings readers into the worlds of all of her characters. It took a while to get into it, but then I ultimately enjoyed it.

The Heron’s Cry by Ann Cleeves is the second installment in the Two River series.
Detective Matthew Venn is called to investigate the murder of Dr. Nigel Yeo in North Devon, a rural suburb of Barnstaple. Yeo was found stabbed to death by a a broken piece of glass from a vase blown by his own daughter, Eve, in her own studio.
Dr. Yeo was a good man and an unlikely murder victim. He was the head of the North Devon Patients Organization Together, an organization that monitors NHS Trusts. Shortly after Yeo’s death, another murder with the same MO takes place and causes deep scrutiny of the entire community.
DI Matthew Venn and his entire team have a difficult task ahead trying to solve these murders and unearthing the lies in the community. This is a case that presents problems personally as Matthews husband, Jonathan, is good friends with Dr. Yeo’s daughter.
If your wish is for a fast paced light mystery, then the Heron’s Cry is not for you.
Ann Cleeves mystery is a slow burn with an acute attention to details. She continues to develop the characters with such care, allowing the reader to bond and form lasting relationships that will only continue to grow in upcoming books in this series.
The Heron’s Cry will eventually be part of a television series but I encourage you to read the book first.
Cleeves paints not only vivid pictures of the actual residents of North Devon, she also gives the reader insights into their feelings and fears.
No high definition television can compete with that.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.
#NetGalley #The HeronsCry