Having read a considerable number of her books, I looked forward to reading The Heron’s Cry and found it yet another excellent read from Ann Cleeves and one with a nice twist in the tale.

Heron’s Cry is the second of the Two Rivers series by Ann Cleeves set in North Devon featuring Detective Matthew Venn. Reading this excellent second instalment ( and there are crossover characters from the first book) A sense of nostalgia took over- this is not to say the book is dated in any manner. Certainly, the committed crimes are by no means easy. But reading this book and the Vera and. Shetland series Ann Cleeves weaves echoes of Ruth Rendell ( the English queen of crimes during the 70s-90s) within her books. It is the attention to the everyday in people’s lives ;their relationships; their frailties ; their routines; their desires…that make this story and others so relatable ( not that we encounter crime and murders).Everyone has secrets and without the they are fully exposed. (Reminiscent of Inspector Wexford) Ann Cleeves has created a new vulnerable and sometimes personally isolated lead Detective but also the strong but equally vulnerable Jen Rafferty as his “ sidekick” and the idealistic and often naive DC Ross Pritchard. This story involves murder at a farm/ art workshops and twisted revenge when lives are knocked off course by past tragedies. Another winner and a tv production is in the making!

I have read and enjoyed many other books by Ann Cleeves in her Vera and Shetland series, but Matthew Venn was new to me.
This is the second book in this series, and while it displays the author’s usual skill in creating a mystery that will keep you guessing until the end, I found these detectives to be somewhat unlikeable, at times almost boring. They are very modern - for example, Venn is married to a man, but in my eyes these factors don’t really add anything to the story and just seem to be a case of diversity for its own sake.
The supporting characters/suspects are mostly interesting; they all live in the same small community which makes for great conflict and tension, and the ending is surprising. It’s a well-written crime novel, as you’d expect, but is just let down by slightly flat and boring protagonists who are not as interesting as Cleeves’ other detectives. I probably won’t be reading other books in this series but I am interested in seeing what the upcoming television version makes of them.

Heron’s Cry is the second book in this new Two Rivers series by Ann Cleeves.. I read it in one sitting and enjoyed every page. I hope it runs for as long as her Shetland and Vera books. Set in the beautiful surroundings of North Devon and with a Matthew Venn as the main character, a policeman with a interesting and complicated background. Sadly having devoured this I now have a long wait for the next book!

Sgt Jen Rafferty is at her friend Cynthia's party, when Cynthia introduces her to Dr Nigel Yeo, who wanted to discuss something important with her. Trouble is, Jen was a bit the worse for wear, so Nigel asks for permission to get her number from Cynthia.

Next morning, Nigel is found by his daughter, murdered.

What did he urgently want to talk to Jen about?

DI Matthew Venn needs to find out - urgently. And this need becomes more pressing with the discovery of another body....

Brilliant

An excellent well-written book, believable storyline, full of twists and turns, good ending. Will be looking at the back catalogue.

The second in the DI Matthew Venn series sees him and his team investigating the murder of a man who himself had been making enquiries into the suicide of a young man. Plenty of suspects abound in the tightly knit community and as usual Ann Cleeves has the reader considering each of them as the potential killer.
The plot is quite interesting but Venn and his colleagues are not very likeable . They all have flawed characters to make them more believable but I find them rather one dimensional and boring. I love the ‘Vera’ and ‘Shetland’ series because of the characters but sadly Venn is not in the same league. This book isn’t a page turner: more of a plodder.

Having read everything Ann has written I felt sure this new book wouldn't disappoint and it doesn't. This is the sequel to The Long Call and is another clever crime revolving around suicide websites and failing health systems where the reader doesn't see the ending coming. Also, some more wonderful character development to the main detective and his cohorts.

The fabulous Ann Cleeves has done it again and delivered yet another masterpiece, proving she really is the UK queen of crime.
Matthew Venn is back with his team solving first one and then a series of murders or are they or some of the suicides. Matthew's sidekick Jen Rafferty is back along with Lucy Braddick. As always with Ann's characters there are sub-plots and personal issues just as there is in everyday life. These draw you in and engage you to the last page.
I'm not going to give you the plot lines as I don't want to spoil the book for you.
Read and enjoy.