I really enjoyed this third book in the Matthew Venn series. Ann Cleeves is a great writer-excellent character development and wonderful at evoking a strong sense of place.
Looking forward to recommending this one to our patrons.

Ann Cleeves is one of my go-to authors. Her books do not disappoint. This police procedural features Matthew Venn, police detective, investigating a death in a small coastal town in England. Ann Cleeves is such a good atmospheric writer, and the cast of characters is relatable.
This is such a good series! However, it is not necessary to read the other books in this series to enjoy this book. Highly recommend this book and all of her wonderful books!

This is the third in the Two Rivers series. I read the second one; the first is on my TBR. This would work well as a standalone.

Jem Rosco, a celebrity in his own right due to his having sailed around the world, returns to Greystone, having rented a local cottage. Nightly, he tells people in the local pub he is waiting for a visit from someone. It is autumn, and the weather is unsettled, with frequent storms and dangerous winds. When Jem’s body is discovered in a dinghy in Scully’s Cove, people wonder about the ominous legend of that location. DI Matthew Venn, who visited Greystoke as a child, and his team travel there to investigate, uncovering Jem’s history and secrets of the locals. When storms isolate the town and another body is found, the danger heightens. And, what about that religious cult, The Brethren? Do they have something to do with the murders or are they a red herring?

Well written, with strong character development, Cleeves will have you guessing throughout. Stressing characters and plot rather than action, this is an engrossing read that I didn’t want to put down. It is atmospheric and a bit claustrophobic due to the small, rather closed community and the constraints of the weather.

If you are not familiar with this series, you might recognize Cleeves name from her very successful Vera and Shetland books and TV series. If you like methodical, introspective, well plotted and characterized police procedurals, seek her out.

You can't go wrong with Ann Cleeves. This new installment of the Matthew Venn, Two Rivers series does not disappoint. Jem Rosco, an advnturer and celebrity blows into Greystone in DEvon and shortly is discovered murdered and floating in a dinghy in Skull Cove. Venn is sent to investigate and Greystone is where he grew up in a very conservative religious sect, the Brotherhood, until his break. As always, Venn is a very real character, well developed and sympathetic. So glad that Ann Cleeves has added another book in the Two River series

Ann Cleeves expands and enriches characters with every book she writes. Matthew Venn series reveals a bit more of the character of Matthew's upbringing in The Brethren, really focuses on wrongs done in the past and the long, long resentments of people in a small, isolated town.

One of the darkest Cleeves book, with the setting in a small Devon coastal village everyone describes as dreary, Cleeves excels at writing descriptive narrative so lush you can feel the rain on your face.

The Raging Strom is book 3 in the Matthew Venn Two Rivers series. Each book in this series keeps getting better. Ann Cleeves is a favorite author, whether the detective is Vera or Matthew Venn. Admittedly, I love them both. Cleeves is adept at keeping the reader guessing. She creates a complexity of plot that misleads the detectives and keeps readers trying to idenify the guilty party until the end.

As has been true in both the Two Rivers series and the Vera series, the characters are diverse and multi-layered and not at all whom readers think they are. Every character has an interior life that keeps readers guessing until the end. None of the characters in Cleeves' books are boring. Some are guaranteed to be unlikeable, while others are both guilty and sympathetic. Even as readers worry that a character, who is well liked will not be guilty, Cleeves pulls no punches in providing a human reason--whether ego or need--for the actions of the guilty party.

And so yes: I love Cleeves books. I feel honored to have been given this ARC to read and review. I want to thank Cleeves and her publisher, Minotaur Books, for providing me with this ARC. I loved this mystery and highly recommend it to readers. The above is my honest review. Like all Cheeves novels, this book is excellent. Thank you also to NetGalley for making this book so easily available to download.

Cleeves just keeps getting better with every story she writes. This new entry in the Matthew Venn series reveals a bit more information about Matthew's upbringing in The Brethren, but really focuses on long simmering feuds, wrongs done in the past and the long, long memories of people in a small, isolated town.

The atmosphere here is one of the darkest I recall from a Cleeves book, with the setting in a small Devon coastal village everyone describes as "bleak." Cleeves excels at writing descriptive narrative so lush you can feel the rain on your face and the wind in your hair.

The characters here are also memorable, from the charismatic Jem to devoted mother Mary, her protective father Alan, and the ultra-manipulative woman who fools them all.

This can be read as a stand-alone, but it will make you want to go back and read the others in the Venn series.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC.
Ann Cleeves is one of my favorite authors and I was so excited to get this third in the Matthew Venn series.
It's quite an intriguing mystery he has to solve this time and I was shocked by the perpatrator(s) in the end. Didn't see that coming!
Venn is complicated character (so different from Vera, who's my all-time favourite!) and I find myself feeling a bit sorry for him at times. Thanks to his upbringing he doesn't seem to be comfortable in his skin, but he loves his job and his husband, which makes up for his occasional unease. He's definitely growing on me and I can't wait to see what happens next. Will Jonathan find his mother?

Never one to rest on her laurels, Ann Cleeves continues her new series with her serious detective Matthew Venn. The plot is as well paced and twisty as usual, with many surprises awaiting the reader. Matttew's husband, Jonathan does not play as prominent a role in this book, however, the two younger detectives round out the story. The setting promises to intrigue lovers of the sea as does the murder victim an adventurer who factored greatly in the small town where the murder takes place. Cleeves is a master storyteller and this book does not disappoint.

This is the third installment of Cleeves’ (relatively) new DI Matthew Venn series — the first two of which have been dramatized in the BBC’s The Long Call. This story takes place in Greystone — a sea town and home to the Brethren — the religious community where Mathew Venn was raised and then parted from. A famous sailor and adventurer comes to town but disappears after a few weeks with his body turning up shortly afterwards. In typical Cleeves style, nothing is what it seems, and it is difficult to unravel the motivations and connections between people in the small community. Moral priorities figure into the narrative which always interests me.

The other two Cleeves series which have made their way to television are the popular Vera and Shetland. As is the case with the Venn series, her stories make excellent underpinnings for the television shows. In truth, I do prefer to watch them on the screen because a lot of time in the books is spent on descriptions of physical surroundings which are less interesting to me than plot, characterization, and dialog — while watching them I can take in the surroundings with one glance and not waste time trying to visualize the (arresting) landscape from words.

Easy to read. Full of atmosphere, personality, and dramatic scenery.

If you've already gotten hooked on Ann Cleeves' latest series with detective Matthew Venn, then you'll certainly enjoy this one. Cleeves' writing is crisp and the plot engaging and twisty. It has a decidedly different feel from the first two books by virtue of its setting away from North Devon. Personally, I find the emphasis on Venn insecurities and guilt related to his religious upbringing quite tedious. There are plenty of antisocial detectives who don't spend any time wondering how other people make friends. And Venn seems to relate to others quite well. It is his listening skills and patience that make him such a good detective. The characters of Gadgetry and May come perilously close to remaining one dimensional. I was more hopeful for May's potential for growth after book 2, but he's back to being an impatient, self absorbed pup here. Also tiring is Rafferty's guilt about not being a good enough mother and her imagining abusive relationships everywhere she looks. It's difficult to care about these particular characters.

I'm a really big fan of Ann Cleeves - her books and their adaptations. I love all her detectives so I was excited to read this one. Unfortunately, I didn't find the mystery or location very compelling and kept putting it down to read something else. Ann Cleeves is such a great writer that even though this wasn't my favourite, I kept going and I'm glad I did. .

The third book in the Two River series is a strong addition to the series. A famous adventurer who has sailed around the world comes into the small town of Greystone. All he will tell the residence is that he is there to meet someone, but he will not say who. Before too long, he is found dead in a dinghy, floating in the sea. Matthew Venn and his team arrive to investigate what happened. Before too long a second body is discovered. As Matthew tries to uncover the killer, he must also deal with his religious past and his times spent in Greystone as a kid.

The Two Rivers series is one. I find myself looking forward to more and more each passing year. Matthew Venn is a very atypical and interesting lead character. His dynamic of trying to balance work and his direct reports while also trying to live his life with his husband in an area he grew up in fascinates me. The work triangle between Matthew, Ross Pritchard, and Jen Rafferty provides excellent storylines and tension throughout the book. The characters are very relatable, and as you read, you want to learn more about them.

The plot is thorough with many twists and turns as you go. The backdrop of the English coast adds a nice scenic, studying for the novel. I feel like the Two Rivers series keeps getting better with each book. I would say The Raging Storm is the best entry so far. I would strongly recommend this book and the Two Rivers series as a whole. Thank you to @NetGalley @AnnCleeves @McMillanAudio @StMartinsPress @MinotaurBooksfor a free advanced copy for an honest review.

I love the Vera novels and television episodes, but didn’t like the first book in this new series by well-known author Ann Cleeves. I skipped the second book, but jumped at the chance to read an early version of this one, the third.
And I’m glad I did. Still can’t connect to— or even really get a handle on—the lead detective protagonist, (and it feels like the author hasn’t, either). But his coworkers are interesting. The single-mother female detective in his team seemed, in particular, to come to life. As did some of the many supporting characters and suspects. The setting was interesting—mostly because it was so unusual—but also unremittingly bleak, which is usual for both this series and the author’s other books, which include the ‘Shetland’ series as well. The mystery moved along and kept me guessing, but did drag on a bit long, with some red herrings that seemed overly-contrived. It doesn’t seem like the author has quite found her footing with this new series, but she’s such a good writer that I’m willing to keep going along for the ride.

Very good! This story caught my attention from the beginning and never let go.

A body has turned up, strategically placed to get attention, but no blood so where was the person killed? Why? This was a person who was much loved, happy go lucky, who would want to kill? The police have few clues to go on. Matthew, the lead on the case, has roots going back to this community, from a time when he was a child and his family belonged to the Brethren, a religion based on the Rapture. He's recognized and remembered and they all know why he is no longer a member which is awkward for him.
Others on his team include Jen, divorced with 2 teens at home, which makes it hard to be away overnight in a creepy town during a storm where the bodies are piling up.
Ross is a younger team member, full of impatience and wants to be home with his wife, yet he likes the excitement.

Then there are the townspeople, many of them, who all play a role, some large, some small. Who knows more than they are telling?

I really enjoyed this and thank NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest opinion. 4+ stars for this latest work by a talented author.

Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the advanced readers copy of the latest from Ann Cleeves.
Raging Storm is the third in the Matthew Venn series.and is set in a small, dreary town in Devon. When a native son walks int0 the local pub one evening, there's shock among the villagers. Jem Roscoe had been a tearaway youth in Greystone years ago. When he mysteriously came into money he followed his passion for sailing, became the youngest person to sail solo around the world and went on to star in televised travel adventures. The question is , why is he back in Greystone as he's getting older and fame is fading? His story is that he's waiting for a visitor.
When Jem's body is found naked in a small boat off the treacherous beach more serious questions arise.and rumors are rampant. Not long after, the body of a local magistrate and commander of the yacht club is found on the beach at the foot of the cliff. He and Jem have past history involving a woman.
Venn and his team are called in to investigate the crimes and encounter close-lipped villagers. With patience and procedure Venn begins to piece together a story that spans years.
I liked the story up to the point when it became convoluted in terms of motives and suspects. Then I just wanted it to end. The constant traveling back and forth from Greystone to other towns had my head swimming. The finished book will have a map and that will be a help..
I like the series and feel Venn is depicted as the author intended. Some readers find him flat, but they're usually comparing him to Vera and Jimmy Perez. Venn carries scars of a rigid, religious upbringing and of parents who disowned him when he lost his faith and came out as a gay man. His character reflects those influences.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC!

I have read one other Ann Cleeves book, The Darkest Evening, which is part of her Vera Stanhope series and loved it. It seems that I have made a habit of reading Cleeves' books in the middle of the series as I picked up The Raging Storm before reading the other two in the Two Rivers series. I found that I was easily able to pick right up in the plot and loved every minute of it. Cleeves' mysteries are exactly what I look for in a solid mystery novel. She provides a great cast of characters and viewpoints with excellent atmospheric settings. I loved how she kept me guessing throughout with each character in the gloomy village of Greystone seeming to have some kind of vendetta and the tension coming from the villagers amping up the suspense throughout. I am looking forward to reading the first two books in the Two Rivers series along with the rest of Cleeves' books. Her novels are to me like one of my favorite shows, "Midsommer Murders" in text form. Highly recommend!

The newest in the Matthew Venn series does not disappoint. The mystery involves the death of a boating hero in a small coastal village. Filled with detail and questions it's a fun and interesting read. Each of the characters is fully developed and feel like real people. I would highly recommend this series to anyone who loves a good mystery.

Ann Cleeves is the queen of moody police procedural mysteries, and I normally love her strong characters, but I am having trouble with Matthew Ven. I cannot say specifically what does not work for me, maybe I expected a more detailed relationship with his husband Jonathan, and how this makes him the man, and detective he is? Rounded up to 3.5 stars

Another twisted, involved whodunnit. An excellent and engaging story, involving one of my favorite characters, Matthew Venn. Loved the intricacies of this story. And the “mastermind” behind was not really a surprise, but added to the investigation and skewed reasoning of the case. This is a true whodunnit. Do not miss this one.