DI Matthew Venn and his sergeant Jen are called early one morning. They arrive at an artist's commune to find a murdered victim. Dr. Nigel Yeo had approached Jen the night before at a party, asking if he could talk to her later about something that was bothering him. But that talk will never happen now as he is lying in his daughter's glassblowing studio, a shard of broken glass in his neck.

As Matt and Jen investigate, they find tension at the commune. There is one family with two children and another on the way who farm the land the commune is on. There is at least one more full-time artist who lives there besides Dr. Yeo's daughter, Eve, as well as other who come and go. Why would any of them want to harm Nigel?

The police learn that Nigel had been looking into the case of a local teen who had committed suicide. There was talk that the hospital had mishandled the teen's case and perhaps someone wanted to stop Dr. Yeo from his investigation. But there is also a website for depressed teens that has a subset of users who call themselves The Suicide Club. The teen had been part of that and maybe the fault lies there but who is behind it?

This is the second book in the Two Rivers series set in North Devon. Matthew grew up in the area in a very strict religious church and had left when he renounced the church and its members after he came out as gay and was called a sinner. Now he is back with his husband and has to fight his memories as he fights to solve crimes. This book is recommended for mystery readers.

Matthew Venn is not your typical modern policeman, as portrayed by so many contemporary writers. He is thoughtful and quiet, sort of reminds me of Adam Dalgleish. At the end of the previous book in the series, there were hints of depths to be explored in the coming sequel (this book). I didn't feel that this was the case, or perhaps my expectations were too high, but the story here is strong, complex and well plotted, with more than one red herring along the way. Ann Cleeves' writing is as good as ever, and I look forward to the next book in this series.

Having read a previous book in the series, I knew to expect strong characters and a solid police procedural from this excellent author. Detective Matthew Venn is understated and competent without being boring; he severely damaged his family relationships by renouncing his super-strict religion and leaving its closed community. The junior detectives—appealing and annoying ones alike—are complex and interesting. The current case gets slightly bogged down in all the routine interviewing of its numerous suspects. Obviously a police procedural is going to be full of police procedure, not all of it glamorous, but I found myself wishing things would move along just a tad faster. The last few chapters are more suspenseful and compelling, and the resolution is satisfying and complicated. This story, with its setting in and near various art studios, is likely to translate well to the screen.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for a digital advance review copy.

Ann Cleeves’ 30+ books have been translated into twenty languages. She is wildly popular in the UK and throughout Europe, and two of her book series have been made into multi-season television series, another into a movie. Somehow, I’d never heard of her.

I enjoyed The Heron’s Cry immensely, which I received as a review copy from NetGalley and the publisher. I wish I would have read the first book in the new Two Rivers series, The Long Call (now on my TBR list), but The Heron’s Cry was fine as a standalone. The characters were richly drawn, and the plot was twisty and suspenseful. 4 stars.

The Heron’s Cry earns 5/5 Glass Vases…Compelling Drama!

Nigel Yeo invited himself to a party with the purpose of talking to DS Jen Rafferty about something important. However, she was too inebriated, so he chose to wait and meet with her tomorrow. Unfortunately, tomorrow was too late…he’s found murdered. The victim’s medical background and recent work with a patient advocacy group reveals his interest in a local man’s suicide and possible negligence by the health community, but is the possibility of malpractice a motive for murder? Even when a second victim, then a third, is discovered, connections are difficult to narrow down for the detectives. Compelling. Complex. Ann Cleeves is a master of the detective drama with headline-worthy crimes, intricately developed investigations, well-defined characters, and often a surprise arrest. This new Two Rivers series is a favorite, and this second book has a complicated story, but it’s the strengths and weaknesses of the characters that make it an absorbing read. Cleeves continues to reveal more about the lead detective DI Matthew Venn and his relationship with his husband and his mother with whom he’s recently reconnected along with his team DS Jen Rafferty and DC Ross May and their professional dynamic. Excellent. Big favorite. Don’t miss this one!

3.5 stars

A well-written murder mystery with solid characters & setting. The murder case got a bit convoluted for my taste, but it wraps up well & the characters made this well worth reading.

[What I liked:]

•Most of the main & secondary characters are well developed, complex, flawed, & sympathetic. The character work is definitely the best part of this novel, imo. Matthew & Jonathan were my favorites, getting to see their relational conflicts, their individual perceptions of themselves & each other, & Jonathan’s support of Matthew reconnecting with his mother.

•The plot touches on several intertwining community conflicts: gentrification, class, privatized social services, divorce, mental illness, etc. This added nice complexity to the murder mystery, especially in trying to untangle potential motives.

•I like the writing style. I don’t usually like books that frequently switch between POVs, but this book does it smoothly & getting to see from different characters’ perspective helps shape the narrative & give nuance to the web of relationships in the small town.


[What I didn’t like as much:]

•Ooh, Ross is horrible! I mean, I think that portrayal was intentional, was he was just such a jerk to everyone, so self-centered, it grated on my nerves.

•The pacing isn’t slow in terms of action, but there were so many distractions & false leads in solving the case that the plot felt a bit aimless at times. Like nothing was cohesive, even at 75% into the book. Now this isn’t necessarily a flaw, & probably it’s how investigations feel to investigators a lot of the time, but since there was no sense of building to a climax/resolution for most of the book it felt off to me. However, it did start to come together in the last 20% of the book, & it all tied together by the end without being rushed.

•Okay, small complaint, but the whole being murdered by artisan glass thing was a bit hokey.

CW: murder, suicide, domestic violence, sexism, mental illness

[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]

I just love Ann Cleeve's. Her three series bring me so much joy, whether from the written word or from the comfort of my couch while watching the adaptations of her novels on my tv screen. This second in the new series is just as well written, with wonderful characters, a great setting and a difficult to solve mystery. If you haven't read any of her books I suggest starting ASAP, it's a great distraction from the current state of the world!

The Heron’s Cry by Ann Cleeves

Av mystery full off surprises.
Excellent;ent book about serial killers and the men that caught them. Loved the vision of Alaska. Well-written. Visits from ghosts. Relationships formed. I recommend this book.

Thanks to Net Galley for sending me an advanced reader’s copy for my review.

I haven't read this author or the first book in this series but enjoyed it enough. This is a well-written, character-driven, difficult-to-solve mystery, which is what I was up for, but I got a little bored in the middle. I hate to admit that but nothing about the setting or the characters grabbed me. There are a lot of characters, which at times got to be the issue when I would pick it back up. I also found there were a lot of backstory elements that I'm assuming came from another series Cleeves writes that I got tangled in. The mystery itself was often secondary to these character details. I also found the secondary characters in the investigation more interesting than Matthew Venn or Jonathan and they were the main characters.

I can tell this author is skilled and I'm sure she has many fans in the genre but this one didn't hook me.

During a party, physician Nigel Yeo approaches Jen Rafferty with a professional question but decides to ask her at a more appropriate time. The next morning, her boss, DI Matthew Venn, calls her to a crime scene. Yeo had been murdered, stabbed by a shard of glass from a vase made by his daughter, Eve, a glass artist, in her studio.

Dr. Yeo, the head of North Devon Patients Together, a watchdog group monitoring national health care, had been investigating a case of a severely depressed young man who had been seen and released by doctors only to die by suicide.

The overlapping relationships in North Devon are difficult to untangle, making it difficult not only to determine a motive but even to clearly identify what Yeo was doing in the days leading up to his death. And Matthew, fairly stiff and notoriously private, chafes when his husband, Jonathan, director of the Woodyard Art Centre and friend of Eve, pushes him to relax his boundaries.

Dogged investigation leads to surprising conclusions as Matthew and his team find themselves professionally and personally taxed by the case. This is my favorite kind of procedural, distinguished by:

• A complex, well-plotted case
• Superlative writing
• A rich, character-driven story
• Interesting personality conflicts among the investigative team
• A vibrant setting

Book Two in the Two Rivers series, The Heron’s Cry by Ann Cleeves, is a worthy follow-up to the series opener, and I am excited to see what’s next for DI Venn, Jonathan, and his team!

I adore the world of Two Rivers and was happy to be back with DI Matthew Venn, DS Jenn Rafferty, DC Ross May, and of course Matthew's husband Jonathan. The mystery opens with a Dr. Yeo approaching Jenn at a party of a mutual friend to talk to her about something, only she's had too much to drink. Of course Yeo ends up dead, presumably over the thing he tried to talk to the detective about. While I enjoyed the mystery quite a bit - even more so than the first in the series - what I absolutely loved about the book was the characters. Cleeves does a great job balancing a good mystery with interesting, complex characters in a cozy setting that is giving me Three Pines vibes. Very much looking forward to the next in the series.

Another suspenseful masterpuexe of a thriller from Cleeves. Ece's father is found murdered by a piece of her own Glassworks. More village life and more murders follow. A delightful suspenseful read!

You know, when I read The Long Call last year, I thought it was good and I liked DI Venn. It surprised me how often I'd think back to the story and in particular, DI Venn. I was drawn to his calmness, his ability to be still in the midst of chaos as he quietly turned things over in his mind while also managing detectives under him whose personalities differed from him. It's a quality I so wish I could master. The Heron's Cry was obviously going to land on my TBR pile.

I think the greatest thrill about any Ann Cleeves novel is that she's able to pack in so much story. She seamlessly moves from character to character, inviting the reader into their private thoughts and drops all sorts of insightful, curious notes. I like her way of storytelling because whether or not those details are pertinent to the main mystery at hand, they're excellent for understanding the various personalities that populate the village or community the story is set in. With regards to DI Venn, she strikes a perfect balance between his professional and personal sides which he himself tries to keep as separate as possible. While he's often deliberate in his intentions and carries himself in a disciplined manner, Cleeves shows us his tender qualities, which are drawn out whenever he's around his husband, Jonathan. They're not showy displays of affection but simply more honest, more vulnerable interactions where Venn feels safest and allows for a more emotional connection. The first book in the series examined his strict religious upbringing and his continued struggle to make peace with it. The Heron's Call continues that line and also brings Venn closer to possibly reconciling with his religious mother. If not that, at least understanding her better.

In The Heron's Call, the victim, Dr. Yeo is an admired member of the community. Not only is he personally known to one of the detectives on Venn's team, a few of the suspects are as well. And some of them are even high profile. The personal and professional sides clash a bit amongst the detectives which for sure make conducting the investigation trickier. Dr. Yeo was working for an organization that advocates for patient rights and his latest casework involved the deaths of patients who had been suffering from depression. (As this is a sensitive subject and the investigation uncovers some troubling details I will leave a few content/trigger warnings at the end of this review.)

I would say my only disappointment with The Heron's Cry was that I figured out the whodunnit a few chapters before the big reveal. It's weird because most often when I read mysteries, I like to try to guess at it and I'm generally wrong which is a good thing for me because I'd rather that twist or surprise, but in this case I wanted that question to carry me through the end. It didn't take away from Cleeve's marvelous writing or the suspense of the story, however, so I still say this reading experience is a win. Cleeve's writes the kind of mystery that I crave - thrilling, compassionate, deeply emotional and thoughtful. Fans of small village British mysteries will take to this one as well!

~ Bel



Content Warning

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- depression; death of one of the previous patients by suicide; mention of online suicide chat forum; a separate group within that suicide forum that encourages taking action towards suicide

Always a delight to speak with author Ann Cleeves about her work, point of view, and reading life. (at link below)

In this second entry in Anne Cleeves’s Two Rivers series, we return to North Devon, to Barnstaple and the police unit headed by Matthew Venn. Once again there is a murder; this time it’s a bloody event that brings Venn with Jen Rafferty and Ross May to begin a complicated investigation on their home turf. As in other of Cleeves’s novels, there is a well defined sense of place provided through descriptions of landscape or seascape here, various types of dwellings of different ages and character, and, particularly in this series, the continued use of local arts and crafts as one aspect of the background.

Additionally, characters and relationships begun in the first book are allowed to develop here, evolving with events of the case growing around them. We learn a bit more of Matthew’s youth and its lingering effects, and his marriage with Jonathan. We also gain insight into both Jen and Ross as they work on the case and assess others and themselves in addition to clues. There is a lot going on here.

I enjoyed The Heron’s Cry very much. Rating 4.5 rounded up to 5*

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This is a well crafted atmospheric mystery. The character development was well done and psychologically believable. It took me quite a while to figure out who did it, nicely done.

Inspector Jen Rafferty is approached at a party by a man, Dr Nigel Yeo, who wished to talk to her about something that was clearly bothering him. Unfortunately, Jen had been clearly imbibing a bit too much and so he left without revealing what it was he’d come there to say. The next morning, he’s found dead at his daughter’s apartment in an artists’ colony. A shard of glass from a vase his daughter made, stuck in his neck.. Detective Inspector Matthew Venn and his team are called in to investigate and, as they dig deeper into Yeo’s recent actions, it leads them to an online suicide group that may be not only helping people deal with suicidal thoughts but actively encouraging them to kill themselves.

The Heron’s Cry is the second book in author Ann Cleeves’ Two Rivers series and it makes for a very compelling and, dare I say, brilliant, read. There are plenty of possible suspects as well as red herrings and twists and turns to keep the reader engaged. But it is the main characters who are well-drawn and complex as well as extremely relatable as well as Cleeves’ empathetic treatment of suicide and its aftermath that makes this one of the best mysteries I have read so far this year. A definite high recommendation from me.

<i>Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review</i>

I really enjoy the Matthew Venn detective stories. For these series, having an interesting main protagonist that is also relatable is key. As a reader, I care for Matthew outside of the case: I want him to be happy with Jonathan, comfortable with his colleagues, thriving in his work, and most of all to let the ghosts of his past die. That's why I'll keep returning to this series. Well that and the fact that the whodunnit is also a lot of fun.

Heron's Cry lets us spend more time with the team than the first book. Jenn and Ross both take steps forward in their individual character development, as does Jonathan on the personal side of things. We get to see people and locales from the first book that we love while also introducing a TON of new faces.

This was a twisty one! I'm always sparse on the details plot-wise when it comes to reviewing novels like these because I am the *worst* about spoilers but let's say that I didn't see the culprit until nearly the end. I love surprises! And yet, all the pieces were there. That's perfect in my book. I absolutely recommend this series to any reader who enjoys detective stories. I can't wait to check in with Matthew and the gang again in book three.

Note: I received a free electronic edition of this book via NetGalley in exchange for the honest review above. I would like to thank them, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to do so.

I LOVE ANN CLEEVES!!!
I’ve read every book she has written.
This one is wonderful!
A murder mystery set on the shores of North Devon … I’m just transported by her writing.
Now, i have to wait (not patiently) for the next book.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for my honest review.

Ann Cleeves creates wonderful mysteries. I love all her series. This is no exception. Great characters, splendid puzzle, lovely sense of place. I couldn't put it down. Really terrific read!