This is the third installment in the Two Rivers series, and it does not disappoint. Readers are brought back into Matt Venn's world, who is called to investigate when local resident Jem's body is discovered. This isn't a typical fast-paced thriller, but there is excellent character development and it is an intriguing police procedural - readers definitely need to pay attention to all of the details in order to weave everything together. The author also does a really good job at creating an atmosphere perfect for the mysterious element, and as you read you really feel as if you are present and investigating yourself.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books who gave me this ARC in exchange for an honest review

As much as I love the Vera Stanhope books by Ann Cleeves, her series with Matthew Venn is just as readable and enjoyable. When Matthew has to go back to the town he grew up in to solve the killing of Jeremy Roscoe, a celebrity sailor, he confronts his challenges of growing up with the Brethern and the effect that has had on his life. As always, there are many twists and turns with the townfolk and their stories. It is nice to read about a detective with flaws, who nonetheless manages to solve the mysteries given him.

This has become another one of my fave new series. This newest installment is also the best one so far. JMHO😊 The team is back: DI Matthew, DS Jen and DC Ross along with Matthew’s husband Jonathan. The book summary introduces the primary storyline; the investigation of a local celebrity who had “come back home” (that typically leads to no good) to meet up with “someone very special” and ends up dead. There is also a secondary storyline where the remote location that they are working in is a community of the same church/religion that Matthew grew up in and he even knew one of the church elders when they were kids. He also remembers having been to several locations around town and it brings up a lot of memories of his childhood with his parents.

Most of the story revolves around the investigation of the murder that Matthew and the team find really bizarre in so many ways. So many of the clues and details of the murder and the murder scene just seem either staged or just really reckless in a dubious way; they just don’t add up. Additionally, there are so many connections, past and present, between the victim and so many other people in the town as well as others in the victim’s life. Even the victim’s life as well as the days leading up to the murder are really strange and confusing. Cleeves doesn’t give up much to help the readers and us armchair detectives try and figure out “whodunit”. I have mixed feelings about that whole style of writing. I love being surprised and shocked with twists and turns, yet I also like to be able to try and figure out the crime and mystery. It’s a bit of a consolation that Matthew and the team are just as clueless as I am😊

It's well into the second half that a second murder is discovered and all the clues and leads began to fall together, at least for Matthew, and he concocted this elaborate and highly detailed plan that the killer must have executed in order to commit the murder. Sounded good to me, I went with it. So, the final 10% came as quite a shock. Didn’t see that one coming nor could anyone else for that matter.

Once again, this has been my fave installment of the series. One of the things I liked about the story were the memories and glimpses of Matthew’s childhood with his father as well as his mother, who he now has a strained relationship with. I also liked the Author’s Notes at the end. Cleeves talked about how she came to develop the series as well as Matthew Venn’s character. For Cleeves, Matthew was a mixture of inspirations for Cleeves from two different sources. She also talked about how coming to the end of one of her other series, Shetland, she wanted to create a different and new series. I’m not familiar with that series, but I may check it out now.

I alternated between the ebook and the audiobook, and the narrator Jack Holden was wonderful. I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #StMartinsPress #MacmillanAudio #TheRagingStorm

Another great mystery by Ann Cleeves. I enjoy her books because the mystery always has an excellent plot, is character driven, and isn't over violent. Less of a thriller and more of a good piece of fiction writing. Her books are always set in very interesting locations as well. Her descriptions transport you to that part of the world, even if you've never been there. If you like mysteries and good writing, you'll The Raging Storm.

This was an exciting murder mystery that takes place in a sea side town. The lead detective has quite the cast of characters to choose from when trying to determine who has committed the murder. There are several twists and turns throughout the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ann Cleeves for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review.

This is the third book in the Two Rivers series by Ann Cleeves. It is a British police procedural set this time in a small village in North Devon. Although it could be considered a stand alone, it is definitely more enjoyable if you read the first two books before this one.

The main character of Detective Inspector Matthew Venn, as always, is beset with self doubt and memories from his childhood as a member of a strict religious sect based in the same area as he now lives and works. As he and his team struggle to solve first one, and then a second murder, storms rage adding to the charged atmosphere of the book.

While I found most of the book very enjoyable, I felt the ending was a little weak. This series has an interesting cast of characters, though, so I’ll definitely be back for the next installment.

My copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to the the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review it.

Grade: A

Ann Cleeves has been long established as a strong mystery writer, and this third entry in her Two Rivers series further cements her reputation.

While the mystery here was strong, that isn't what struck me about this novel. As with any mystery, the central puzzle should be complicated enough to keep the reader entertained but not so convoluted that it can't be solved; Cleeves succeeds on both counts. But two other aspects of this novel really stood out for me.

The sense of place here is exquisite. Matthew Venn and his team find themselves in a neighboring coastal town. This isn't a destination spot. There are no tourist attractions or resorts. Rather, this is a working-class community made up, in part, of members of the religious group Matthew was raised in and then left. The hard edges of this place come through in the prose, and I could see all the hues of gray that paint the scene. It is one thing to draw a paradise in prose, but it is far more difficult to construct a place devoid of color. While I've never thought Cleeves was weak in setting her scene, this is the first time I was really impressed by her skill in this area.

In the previous entries in the Two Rivers series, we met Matthew and learned about his past. Now, we are getting the chance to dive deeper into his character. We see the scars left over from his upbringing and his desire to be able to move past them. While Matthew is a successful detective, he deals with his own insecurities and social anxieties. These were touched on in earlier books, but here they are on display. We also get another look into his relationship with Jonathan and are left with a tantalizing tease about what might be next for them. We also get to know Matthew's subordinates, Jen and Ross, more deeply than before. They each have their own baggage, and there is a competitive element to their working relationship.

I have enjoyed all three books (plus one novella) in this series, but The Raging Storm is my clear favorite. Cleeves has taken a strong series and made it into one you can really sink your teeth into, filled with characters who come to life off the page.

Jem Roscoe, well known as the man who sailed around the Earth in the shortest time, is staying in Greyston in a rented cottage. He shows up at the hotel every day, until the day he didn't show up. Mary Ford, is waked by her pager that someone needs rescue. She goes with a couple of helpers to Scully cove where she finds a naked man in an anchored skiff. The man is Jem Roscoe.

Detective Inspector Matthew Venn goes to Greystone, with Jen and Ross to help. This is the area in which he grew up, and there is something about the people and the winds which is a little spooky. Scully Cove is a particular place with lots of history and rumor. He finds Roscoe was stabbed somewhere else. The case brings up lots of questions. Roscoe has a very nice home nearby. Why was he renting a cottage? He claimed he was waiting for someone to come to the hotel, but never said who. He was not wealthy. Who funded his trip around the world and other sailing trips he made?

The woman he named his boat after is married to the wealthy man who thought she was his girl. Then a second person is found dead at Scully Cove. This becomes a very difficult case, and the police themselves needed to be very careful!

This is a great addition to the series. I think Netgalley and St. Martins Press for allowing me to read an ARC.

She’s done it again. Cleeves’ meticulous descriptions and attention to detail make me feel part of the landscape. The plot is intricate, cunning, and satisfying. This is a triumphant addition to the series.

It has been years since I've read an Ann Cleeves novel (all of the Shetland series). I've seen all of the Vera series but read none of those books. I was looking forward to reading one with a new main character. To me, this story took a little time to get into but then branched out with more characters/possible suspects to pick from. While I kept reading to see who the culprit was, not sure if I'm ready to pick up another series.

I have not read Ann Cleeves before. Net Galley gave me the opportunity to read her newest one: The Raging Storm. It starts off well. A former resident, now a renowned world traveler returns to his hometown of Greystone, located on the North Devon Coast of England. He shows up every night at the local pub where he is a celebrity. He says he has returned to meet someone but he won’t tell anyone who that is. After a few weeks of showing up at the pub, he stops showing up and soon enough his dead body is found in a skiff off the coast. Matthew Venn (the newest character for Cleeves?) shows up with his team to investigate. And then nothing much happens for about half the book and another man is found dead on the beach. The two men had something in common: their love for the same woman. The second man is the man who was/is married to her. At about 80% through the book she disappears. Finally, the murders are solved and the ending is kind of feeble. Like other mystery thrillers that I have tried to read in the past couple of years the pattern seems the same. A good start, and then boring or non-essential information about main characters, secondary characters, and tertiary characters. This is what mostly fills up the book. I think the mystery/thriller/suspense category is done with me.

My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book. Cleaves’ solid writing kept me reading but the plot was less compelling and interesting than hoped for. The mystery wraps up nicely but there are a lot of characters to keep straight.

⚡Book Review⚡

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVE Ann Cleeves! Her mysteries are some of my favorites and this book did not disappoint. This is the third book in the Matt Venn series, but I think it reads like a standalone. This story is fast paced, and I really enjoyed it the whole way through including the ending. It really kept me turning the pages.

If you like crime fiction, unreliable witnesses, and clues to unravel, then you will enjoy this book.

Publication date: September 5, 2023

On a stormy night, in a small pub in North Devon, Jem Rosco blows in as if he never left. He visits the pub regularly-- until he doesn't.

Rosco was the youngest person to sail around the world single-handed. His adventures seemed to be on TV all the time. These days he's not forgotten exactly , just not thought of very often. Suddenly, he's dead.

Inspector Matthew Venn is a quiet, efficient man who likes to get to the bottom of a mystery. His parents raised him within a strict religious sect, one in which Matthew no longer participates.

Ann Cleeves' characters generally seem like people from any small town-- believable and troubled by problems that real people would have.

In this case though, one of them-- at least-- has a secret. Inspector Venn can't imagine which of them is angry enough to kill.

This is the third volume in the Matthew Venn series and I've enjoyed each one. Thank you to Net Galley for letting me read this Advance Reader's Copy.

I decided to push through and finish this novel, and I am sure glad I did. Although I had initially felt the book was slow paced, I was proved wrong with Cleeves' ability to mix blend an atmosphere of mystery and profound imagery. I could envision every setting with her clear descriptions and loved her use of "describe not tell" the reader what was happening. This book was a winner if you have read the other parts of the series, and if not, I suggest you catch up quick.

Another home run from Cleeves. I enjoy the quiet, reserved character of Matthew Venn and his relationships with the police team and suspects.

Review of The Raging Storm, by Ann Cleeves

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy of this book.

Ann Cleeves has done it again! Her third novel with her newest police detective, Matthew Venn, is a clever, complex, yet compassionate exploration of crime in an ordinary setting. From his location in Southwest England, Venn joins Cleeves’ other long series featuring Vera Stanhope, in Northwest England, and Jimmy Perez, in the Shetlands, all working in isolated and insular communities, where newcomers arrive, but old bonds remain and old wounds fester.

Matthew Venn is a quiet but complicated man. Brought up in a Christian community called the Barum Brethren, he has left the rigid religious percepts of that group, where his mother still is involved. As a gay man, he has found some happiness with his husband, but the limited experiences of his childhood and his guilt about abandoning the Brethren, together with his still not readily accepted sexuality, have made him distant and unsure in his relationships with his colleagues.

The current mystery revolves around the murder of a sailing celebrity, who unexpectedly returns to his small village after many years, and is killed a few weeks later. Venn must dig into the victim’s shadowed past, and deal with the current lives of those who knew him. Vulnerable to his own preconceptions and assumptions about people, he almost misses important connections that finally lead to a suspenseful and successful conclusion.

This book can be read as a stand-alone novel, but it benefits from having the background and insight that come from its earlier companions in the “Two River Series,” beginning with The Long Call and The Heron’s Cry. This novel ends with a hint of future issues to be explored in Matthew’s life, and I look forward to more in this absorbing series.

Once again Ann Cleeves weaves her magic in a book that grips the reader from the beginning and holds them throughout, capturing the natural beauty of the Devon coast at its deadly best.

The quiet village of Greystone is abuzz when the sailing legend Jem Rosco shows up and tells everyone he is there to meet someone, but he won't say who that someone is--adding to the gossip surrounding him. When Rosco's naked body is later found in a dinghy anchored in a cove during a raging storm, Matthew Venn and his team are called in to solve the mysterious death.

Just as Rosco had ties to the area, so does Matthew Venn. Greystone has a large contingent of the religious cult he was raised in and he has old connections to some of the residents as well. Viewed suspiciously by the residents and coldly by the cult, Venn works to establish trust with both factions to try and solve this case. When another death occurs that is deemed suspicious, the race is on to find the killer.

I admit that Cleeves' old Shetland Island series and her current Vera Stanhope series are among my favorite reads. I also admit that I wasn't completely sold on her Matthew Venn series when it first started, but I'm happy to find that Matthew is growing on me. In this outing, we get more background on Venn and the circumstances of his upbringing. Having renounced the religious cult and then being thrown back into it to solve the murders shows how adept Venn is at dealing with all sorts of people.

The plot and characters in this book are complex and the writing is excellent with enough twists and red herrings to keep the reader engaged. Once again, another engrossing police procedural by Cleeves.

Although this is the third book in the Mtthew Venn series, it reads like a standalone. The story takes place in North Devon, England, an area known for its dramatic coastline. This is Matthew Venn's hometown. Called to investigate the murder of a famous sailor and adventurer, Venn interacts with many of the town's residents, some of whom are members of a strict religious community, The Brethren. Matthew had been a member of this group in his youth. Truth, lies, and superstition make Venn's investigation difficult.

This is an intricately plotted, character-driven police procedural. The atmosphere drew me in at the beginning of the book and I was captivated until the surprising end. I just purchased the first book in this series so I can read more of Matthew Venn and his team.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and Net Galley for the advanced copy of this book. The comments expressed are my own.

The body of a famous adventurer and sailor is discovered in an anchored boat in Scully Cove off the North Devon coast of Greystone. Found by the local lifeboat crew after receiving an anonymous call during a raging storm, it looks like the murder of returned local hero Jem Rosco was staged, but for what reason? And for whose benefit? Det. Matthew Venn and his team are called in to investigate the death, but with a sense of foreboding as the storm worsens, they find themselves trapped in the gloomy village full of possible suspects, none seemingly too keen to help with their investigation. The Raging Storm is a very atmospheric yet character driven novel. In this book, as in the previous ones in the Venn series, we learn more about the main character Matthew Venn, his inner thoughts and insecurities, his relationships with his partner Jonathan, his mother and his subordinates, Jen and Ross. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. I would like to thank NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.