Detective Matthew Venn has been called to a murder at North Devon artists colony. Dr. Nigel Yeo has been killed with a shard of glass from a vase made by his daughter, a glass blower. Matthew has a hard time figuring out who would want to kill Yeo, a man seemingly beloved by all who knew him. The detective is further discomfited by Yeo’s daughter’s friendship with his husband . When there’s another killing, Matthew begins to wonder just how safe his community really is…and how well he knows his neighbors

The Heron’s Cry, by Ann Cleeves, is a masterfully woven, intricate murder mystery which requires the skills of DI Matthew Venn, and team to solve. They must wade through multiple interviews and clues to solve the murder of Dr. Nigel Yeo found in a rural crime scene at the home of a group of artists. Nigel Yeo has been fatally stabbed in the neck with a shard of glass in his beloved daughter’s, Eve’s, studio.

The community is confused and in disbelief. What’s even worse is that fellow Detective Jen, knows the victim, having met him just last night. The murder doesn’t make sense. Obviously killed where he was found (by the amount of blood at the scene), Dr. Yeo was well liked, a good man, a public servant, and adored by his daughter. Why, and who, would want to murder him?

Later on, Detective Matthew is bewildered to find that Eve is a close friend of Jonathan, his husband. That unnerves Matthew a little as he wonders about their connection.

Then another body is found--killed in a similar way. Matthew soon finds himself uncovering lies and an imminent danger at the heart of his community, dangerously close to home.

The audiobook narrated by Jack Holden was an enjoyable listening experience, but was not outstanding. Mr. Holden reads very well (and I personally enjoy his accent very much), but there is not a lot of variable to his voice.

3.5 rounded up -

My thanks to NetGalley, and the publisher, for an AAC in exchange for my honest opinion