Another excellent entry in the Two Rivers series. As always, the location and atmosphere are the true predominant characters in the book. Cleeves does an outstanding job of putting the reader in the small, claustrophobic seaside town of Greystone as the case unravels during an autumn storm. The third book in the series is less about the personal lives and dynamics of Venn and his team, and more about the mystery itself, at least compared to the first two. Matthew Venn is still dealing with his childhood traumas and the Brethren, but it's more of a sinister undercurrent running through the story. The murder itself centers around a charismatic celebrity adventurer, Jem Rosco, whose true motives in life have always been questionable. With his personal life an enigma, Venn and his team must piece together the truth about the man in order to discover the motive behind his reappearance in Greystone, and his death.

Cleeves' books are always easy to get wrapped up in, and are a favorite of mine to recommend to library patrons looking for something with more bite than a cozy mystery, and who are looking for something driven by plot and setting. Her twists and endings don't disappoint, and this book is no exception. For those who like to feel like they have 'traveled' through their reading, this book also fits the bill, taking you to the coast of Devon and giving a glimpse of life in a small sailing community. Like the previous two entries in this series, it will have wide appeal for both mystery readers and those who were looking for lgbtq+ main characters.

(I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I review all books through the lens of my role as Librarian, considering not just my own personal taste but how my patrons would enjoy this book, and how I would recommend this book during a Readers' Advisory.)

As a completist, I have a difficult time abandoning series once I’ve gotten invested. Because of this, I have a difficult time committing myself to murder mystery series. Though I almost always enjoy the core characters and getting to see larger arcs and character development for them, the mysteries at the heart of each novel tend to be less consistent. While I thoroughly enjoyed The Long Call, the first novel in Ann Cleeves’ Two Rivers series, I found the central murders of the second installment, The Heron’s Cry underwhelming. With the upcoming third installment, The Raging Storm, I enjoyed more of the story than The Heron’s Cry and find the central characters compelling, but the resolution of the murder at the heart of the novel let me down again. It felt contrived in a way that was incredibly disappointing and doubting whether I want to bother with future novels in this series.

A series of autumn storms batter the coast and a call goes out for the local lifeboat crew to aid someone in distress. But when they come upon the small vessel, it’s clear this wasn’t a typical call. They discover the naked body of a local legend, clearly stabbed to death and with the boat anchored in place. Detectives Matthew Venn, Jen Rafferty, and Ross May must navigate the weather as well as local social politics, delving into the relationships between members of the sailing club, the Brethren, and the defunct local quarry to find possible motives for the adventurer’s murder. When another body is found near the first, they must decide whether the two deaths could be linked and if so, who would have wanted them both dead when the two men seemed to be so at odds with one another.

Envy and jealousy played a significant role in The Raging Storm and, although the themes of power structures were still present, it was more through a critique of class and wealth than in the institutional sense of the previous novels in the series. Seeing the everyday tensions within the core team of investigators – especially given where some of them stand by the end of the novel – might be enough to keep me invested in this series moving forward. Because the mystery at the heart of the novel didn’t end up doing much for me. There were certain small tidbits stirred up during the investigation that felt like they should have carried more narrative weight and could have supported decent subplots but instead the sense that the detectives were spinning their wheels to kill time was a little too strong.

It’s impossible to get into what it was about the resolution that bothered me without giving too much away. Suffice it to say, the motivation behind the murders felt tenuous and forced instead of logical or natural. Instead of a clever puzzle that the reader can piece together alongside the characters, it feels like more of a muddle designed to distract the reader into thinking the characters are clever for figuring it out when really it just doesn’t hold together that well in the first place. When the big reveal came, I actually rolled my eyes at both how it unfolded and the reasoning behind it all. It’s one of those cases where I wanted to like it and I enjoyed reading most of it, but the ending fell so flat that it ruined my enjoyment of the rest. And it’s an even bigger disappointment because I do find so many of the characters so compelling and I do want to keep reading about them and their lives… They just need more satisfying cases (perhaps a case that hits closer to home, and not just geographically close).

The Raging Storm will be available September 5, 2023.

In telling us the tale of the life, and death, of Jeremy (Jem) Rosco, this author sucks us into a place where the sea dominates everything in life. The mood is set with vivid descriptions of the sea, the storms, and the insular people who live in this small village where narcissism and obsession seem to run rampant.

As the son of a single mother, Jem Rosco had been looked down upon. He wasn’t accepted as an equal among his peers – and you’ll vacillate between thinking him a good guy and a bad guy. Whatever you decide about him, you will know he didn’t deserve to die the way he did or be left the way he was. Why would he return to North Devon after decades away? What drew him back? WHO drew him back? He told everyone he was waiting for someone. Was he? He was now a world-famous adventurer, television personality, and author – what in the world could he want in Greystone?

Inspector Matthew Venn is fairly new to leading his team and they are still adjusting to each other’s idiosyncrasies. Matthew had a strict upbringing as part of the religious cult, the Barum Brethren. That upbringing still causes him issues – especially in places like Greystone where the Brethren have a strong presence. Jen Rafferty is a contradiction, but a good sergeant. It took her years to escape an abusive marriage and now she’s filled with self-doubt about her parenting skills. Jen likes to drink and have a good time since she missed out on all of that by marrying too young and having babies too young. Ross May is also a conundrum. He has aspirations for finer things – he has the showcase wife (whom he actually loves) – and he dresses extremely well. Oh! And he’s the golden child of Venn’s boss – Superintendent Joe Oldham. Can such a disparate bunch ever solve such a convoluted crime as this one? You bet they can!

I’ve loved the character growth of the team over the three books of the series and I can’t wait to see where they are going. This case was a very puzzling one and each of the three on the team worked to their strengths and came up with an astounding solution. Believe me, you won’t know who the villain is – even when you start eliminating all of the red herrings.

I can definitely recommend this excellently written, well-plotted, perfectly paced story to you. I’ve just finished this one and I’m already anxious for the next one. I hope you’ll enjoy the book as much as I did. Happy Reading!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I've read a lot of Ann Cleeves and enjoyed them. In this story, Jem Rasco, a celebrity comes to Greystone to the small close-knit town's delight. But shortly after he disappears and is found dead. DI Matthew Venn is in charge of the investigation and soon finds himself embroiled in lies and questions he can't answer. The death of another citizen mounts the pressure on DI Matthew and his team. DI Matt and his team's lives are in the line of fire and he needs all of his expertise to survive and get the killer.
The story was long and it took me a while to read it. I do recommend it but be aware it's slow-moving. Thanks to NetGalley and publishers St Martin’s Press for this ARC

With all of the hit shows based on her books, Ms. Cleeves is a busy woman. And we are all very glad for that. This series is the Matthewl Venn series. We watch all three of the series and love them.

Detective Matthew Venn is busy. Investigating the murder of a celebrity in Scully Cove. Jem is a lot of things, bigger than life, and now dead.

The case will take him to Greystone. A conservative community whose values he did not uphold. When another body turns up, he is afraid he can’t be objective about this case. And maybe that is a good thing! Because is anyone safe in Scully’s Cove?

Lots of juicy and dark secrets in this one!

NetGalley/ St. Martin’s Press, September 05, 2023

4.5 stars. Ann Cleeves does it again! The Raging Storm, the third entry in this excellent series, is a tightly-plotted, character-driven police procedural that provides a superb read. DI Matthew Venn, who left his childhood village and the cultish Barum Brethren religious community of which he was a part, returns to investigate the death of Jem Rosco, a somewhat famous adventurer and sailor from the area. As Venn and his team (especially Sgt. Jen Rafferty and Officer Ross May) begin to unravel the clues surrounding the man’s murder, Venn’s past and present once again collide because the murder may have some links to the religious cult he has renounced.

This series just seems to get better and better, and reading this newest installment lets us discover what some of our old friends (Venn, his team, and his husband Jonathan) have been up to. I definitely am looking forward to the fourth in this series!

I really enjoyed this book! It’s the third book in the series, but can be read as a standalone. However, I think it would be appreciated most if you’ve read books One and Two. Matthew, Jen, and Ross are called out to a remote village to investigate an odd murder. I don’t want to give too much away, but really advise you to read this book. Ann Cleeves is a master at character and story development!

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

4 stars / This review will be posted on goodreads.com today.

The Long Call was the first Matthew Venn novel. This is the third. While it always helps to read the prior novels, I have been happy to find that Ann Cleeves’ novels are standalone. You can pick up any of her mysteries and be happily immersed without needing the previous.

Venn finds himself in Greystone, a place he was quite familiar with as a child. The town is settled with many who are Barum Brethren, a sect of Christianity that is rather private and devout. Matthew, as a gay man, gave up his faith many years ago, but the memories still tend to haunt him.

So being back here, in Greystone, isn’t all that comforting him. He’s here to investigate the finding of a famous sailor, Jem Rosco, murdered and floating in a dinghy in a cove. Along with Venn are his fellow detectives, Ross and Jen.

From the beginning, Venn feels that the town is hiding something. Something he needs to know to be able to solve this murder. Between the weather and the locals, he doesn’t seem to be making any headway. He can sense that there’s more to the story than he’s getting, but he can’t quite wrap his head around what is missing. Then the bodies start piling up.

Cleeves has a way of wrapping you into the story. Caught up in the seaside community of Greystone - it’s gray and bleak feeling - almost as though you could feel the sea spray and the cold. The people of the town feel almost as cold as the weather. It is so well written and enjoyable. I love reading her novels.

And now I know that there is a companion TV series! Sign me up.

“The Raging Storm” is Ann Cleeves third detective novel featuring Matthew Venn, set on the coast of Devon England. The ocean, the geography, and the weather are all part of this series’ appeal.

This time, the coastguard receives a mayday and heads out. They find a fishing boat with a dead body inside – that of a well-known TV personality and adventurer, Jem Rosco. Rosco is something of a rags-to-riches celebrity, who grew up poor only to become the youngest man to sail single-handed around the world. Rosco returned to the remote seacoast village of his childhood a few weeks earlier, reportedly to await the arrival of an unnamed visitor.

The suspicious death falls within Matthew’s jurisdiction so he, along with Sergeant Jen Rafferty and Officer Ross May show up to investigate. There are former schoolmates of Rosco’s who both admired and despised him. Love triangles and bad business deals from the past resurface. To further complicate things, the Brethren -- a cultish religious group Venn was raised in -- is active within the community. Midway through, a second murder occurs. The detectives believe the two deaths are linked, and what’s more, are tied to something in the past.

I keep reading Ann Cleeves’ mysteries because of: (1) the way the atmospheric setting is almost another character; (2) seeing the recurring characters grow and develop; and (3) her exploration of motives within the human heart. Keep writing, Ann.

The third installment in the Two Rivers featuring Matthew Venn is a welcome addition to the series. Venn and his supporting crew are working on the murder of a famous travel and adventure journalist, known for his seafaring and television show. Soon, they are drawn into the seaside community of Greystone, a sanctuary of the conservative religious order of Venn's youth. Local superstition, folklore and rumor all mix with class, wealth and fame to impede their investigations. With Cleeve's wonderful sense of atmosphere throughout, this title will please readers and listeners alike.

This is the third book in the Two Rivers series. While I haven’t read the first two books (I didn’t realize it was a series until I had already started reading), it was easy enough to follow the story and main character without prior exposure. This was my first Ann Cleeves book and it certainly won’t be my last - she provides an immense amount of detail for her characters, setting, and story. The ambience of this book is also suspenseful and mysterious, without going too dark. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys murder mysteries and will be sure to catch up on the earlier two books in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for an advanced reader’s copy.

LOVED the third novel in the Two Rivers series. Ann Cleeves is a genius at character development and plot twists and turns..

Thank you to St. Martin Press, Minotaur Press and Net Galley for the ARC.

I found the third book in the Matthew Venn Two Rivers series to be a very good one.

When the well-known adventurer and sailor, Jem Rosco, returns to Greystone, a small village in Devon, he causes quite a stir. A month later, he is found dead in a small dinghy floating in Scully Cove. Matthew is called in to investigate the suspicious death, along with team members Jen Rafferty and Ross May. Matthew feels a little off balance, as Greystone is the community that he grew up in when he was a member of the religious group the Brethren. Some of the villagers treat him with suspicion as he is no longer a true believer.

This book is very atmospheric, as storm after storm hits the small community, and Matthew and his team are unable to leave because of the weather.

Matthew had always been my least favorite of Cleeve's main characters, with Vera and Jimmy Perez being much more interesting, but in this book I felt he was coming into his own more. We get an understanding of some of his motivation, and the complexities of his background.

As is typical, I failed to figure out who was the murderer until Cleeve's revealed it to me, but the ending was a good one. Another great book from one of my favorite Authors.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martins Press and Minotaur Books for a great installment in the Two Rivers Series.

I love Matthew Venn! He’s my fictional book boyfriend! Seriously, he’s a thinking man’s detective. More of what I’d like to see in my books today. Less CSI, more cerebral. I also like his team a lot. Jen, the single mother and ex-wife of an abusive husband, is the right female addition. And Ross, a young, full of himself, “climber”. Together they congeal into a solid murder solving machine.

A machine with their skills was exactly what was needed to solve, what turned out to be two murders, at Greystone. For a small village, there was no lack of motivation or dearth of suspects. The unusual make up of this small community, paired with the hint of a religious cult, and Venn’s ties to it make for an appealing read. You won’t want to miss this one.

Many thanks to both Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of The Raging Storm, by Ann Cleeves. It is the third book in the Two Rivers series. Expected publication: September 5, 2023.

Greystone is a place Detective Inspector Matthew Venn visited as a child. A community he parted ways with. It's also a place where superstition and rumor mix with fact...

Jem Rosco, a celebrity sailor, and adventurer, returns to the area of his youth, and within a short period of time, his body is discovered in a dinghy by a local lifeboat crew during a raging storm. When another body is found, Venn realizes that no one, including himself, is safe from Scully Cove’s storm of dark secrets.

This is the first book I've read in this series and I found it to be quite atmospheric and interesting. The pace was a bit slower than the books I usually read but that helped me properly follow the intricate plot. I definitely felt as though I had plopped down into the cold rain and howling wind along with the characters!

The only downside for me was that there were quite a few characters, and they were sometimes referred to by just their first names or just their last names. I felt like I had to keep track of twice as many characters.

The ending was one I didn't see coming!!

This author, never fails to disappoint. All of her books are consistently very well written, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

After the naked body of a renowned sailor is discovered in a boat anchored off Scully Cove, it’s with great unease that the investigating team of Inspector Venn and his two sergeants Jen Rafferty and Ross May start searching for his killer. Greystone, Devon is a bleak, unappealing little village on the English coast. Wracked by violent storms, and situated by an old quarry most visitors choose to go elsewhere. There’s a deep dive into the denizens of Greystone and their past history because Venn is a detective who likes a lot of background when he’s working a case. The two sergeants don’t get along that great, but both are good at their job. The many threads all come together in the end with the surprising conclusion to the case. Perfectly executed with exactly the right details this is another great addition to Cleeves’s body of work. 4.5 stars

Third in a promising series that continues to add depth to the main detective's character and insight into the county of Devon. In the audio version, Ms. Cleeves adds a personal note on her decision to end her popular Vera Stanhope series and embark on a new one in a new location. As the backstory is essential for understanding of Venn, his history and current personal challenges, this should be read after the previous two, which is not a chore but a delight.

The Raging Storm is the third novel by Anne Cleeves that I've read and the third in the Two Rivers series. I. LOVE. THIS. SERIES.. Like a lot. Anne Cleeves is an excellent writer. The Raging Storm is well plotted and with a strong sense of place. The writing is such that I feel like I am in the small seaside town Greystone, I can feel the wind and salt water on my face.

From Amazon:
Fierce winds, dark secrets, deadly intentions.

When Jem Rosco—sailor, adventurer, and legend—blows into town in the middle of an autumn gale, the residents of Greystone, Devon, are delighted to have a celebrity in their midst. But just as abruptly as he arrived, Rosco disappears again, and soon his lifeless body is discovered in a dinghy, anchored off Scully Cove, a place with legends of its own.

This is an uncomfortable case for Detective Inspector Matthew Venn. Greystone is a place he visited as a child, a community he parted ways with. Superstition and rumor mix with fact as another body is found, and Venn finds his judgment clouded.

As the winds howl, and Venn and his team investigate, he realizes that no one, including himself, is safe from Scully Cove’s storm of dark secrets. (END)

I read a lot of mysteries and thrillers and I am fond of the "cozy" mysteries. The Raging Storm is like adjacent to the cozy mystery genre - small town, big secrets. Interesting cast of characters. Lovely main character. I say that the novel (and the others in the series) is ADJACENT because there's just enough of an edge to the proceedings and the brooding main character Detective Inspector Matthew Venn that sets is apart from being completely cozy. And I like that. I like that a lot.

The Raging Storm is a worthy and welcome addition to the series and I look forward to future installments. I'll also be checking out the other novels in the Shetland and Vera series by Anne Cleeves. She's the real deal.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the digital advanced copy. The Raging Storm will be published on September 5, 2023 and is available for pre-order now. Figure out a way to get your hand on this book! So. Good.

If you enjoy character-driven police procedurals, then Ann Cleeves’s Two Rivers series is a series to consider. Featuring Detective Inspector Matthew Venn and his team, the third book in the series, The Raging Storm , mainly takes place in and around the small community Greystone in Devon England.

Adventurer, sailor, and former member of the community, Jem Rosco, arrives on stormy night at the local pub. He’s rented a nearby cottage, but he disappears after a month, only to be found dead in a dinghy off Scully Cove.

Matthew Venn is called to the scene along with his sergeant Jen Rafferty and another member of Venn’s team: Ross May. As they investigate, Venn must deal with the fact that he visited this community as a child with his parents. Many members of Greystone are members of a religious community that Venn once was part of, but left. Secrets abound in this multi-layered story.

Venn is honest, likes background information, loves maps, focuses on logic, and is somewhat inscrutable. However, he has self-doubts, lacks charisma, and doesn’t like enclosed spaces. Jen is the single mother of two teenagers and faces the challenge of balancing her work and personal lives. She’s also passionate about her work and somewhat impulsive. Ross is a younger member of the team and is jealous of Jen. He doesn’t feel his efforts are appreciated even though Venn praises him several times for doing a good job.

The plot is full of secrets and tangled relationships. The more the team investigates, the more convoluted things feel. Superstition and rumor mix with facts to cloud the investigation. Class, money, and privilege (or the lack of it) are also woven into the complex story. The book is also very atmospheric with storms continually hitting the community. However, I felt the novel slowed down a little too much in places.

Overall, this was an atmospheric book with great characterization and a complex plot. I would recommend it to those who enjoy character-driven police procedurals. This book works well as a standalone novel, but would be even better if read in order.

St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books and Ann Cleeves provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for September 05, 2023.