I got about halfway through this novel and it just wasn’t for me. Idk what it was. From the beginning I found myself wandering. I checked out a few other reviews, many liked this novel, this just wasn’t for me!

I gave feedback for the audiobook since I ended up listening to it. I received the audio edition after I had requested the ebook version. I typically prefer to listen because I can cover more books that way because I can listen while doing other things.

As 2023 is wrapping up, I have to confess I've read fewer books than I intended. That may be partly due to the ease of binge watching British crime shows at night. (I have subscriptions to both BritBox and Acorn). But even with all the binging, Ann Cleeves's VERA remains my favorite. Why it has taken me this long to pick up one of Cleeve's actual novels is just amazing. But I assure you, RAGING STORM (book #3 in the series TWO RIVERS) will not be the last one I read. Despite being part of a series, I had no problem following the sleuthing and personal lives of Inspector Matthew Venn and his assistants Jen Rafferty and Ross May as they investigated the gruesome death of Jeremy Rosco. Rosco, a once-upon-a time celebrity sailor had mysteriously returned to the village of his youth. Yet, when his naked body is found in a dinghy anchored off shore, no one seems to know much about him or how he died. As the three officers peel back layers of the small community and its inhabitants, I was reminded of Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache and Three Pines. If you like complex mysteries with the details held close to the author's hand until just the right moment to unfurl the whole story, then I recommend RAGING STORM. But start with the first novel and read all three. I received a copy from Netgalley. All opinions are mine.

Ann Cleeves is one of my absolute favorite British crime writers, who has created iconic lead detectives: Jimmy Perez, Vera Stanhope and now, Matthew Venn. The Raging Storm is the third Venn novel, and you could start reading here and then fill in the gaps with only minor spoiler-y reveals. I didn’t think I could ever love a detective as much as the blustery, brilliant Vera, but Matthew is someone I would enjoy knowing in real life. He’s a courtly gentleman with some repressed emotions and trauma, a gentle reverence for his spouse and a fierce commitment to his work. Cleeves is a master at “show, don’t tell,” so we learn a bit more about Venn and the other North Devon citizens as the novel unfolds. She’s at the top of her game in The Raging Storm, definitely an author you should check out if you love British mysteries, evocative seascapes and clever plots that are neither cozy nor gruesome.

Another great mystery from Ann Cleeves. Set in a small town in the north of Devon, a famous round-the-world sailor is found murdered in a small boat anchored in a hidden cove. Matthew Venn and his team is called in to find the killer. It seems like everyone in the small town could be a suspect at one time or another. The killer's identity remains elusive until the last final twist, then I had to read slowly to remember all the personal relationships and sensibly piece together the story. Inspector Venn is very different from Cleeve's other famous detective, Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope, with a team that competes against each other but works well together. I hope BBC adds this story to their list of mystery dramas.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

Another captivating mystery from Ann Cleve's, Inspector Mathew Venn is an excellent addition, love the fact that he is a gay man, it is about time mainstream stories become more inclusive!

Looking forward to more from this series.

“OMG, you guys, this book is intense! It’s about this detective, Vera Stanhope, trying to solve a murder during this crazy storm that’s like, wreaking havoc everywhere. I mean, the way Ann Cleeves describes the weather is like, whoa, you feel like you’re right there, getting soaked and blown away!

Anyway, Vera is super smart and stuff, but also super messed up, you know? She’s got her own issues, but she’s still all about justice and stuff. So, she’s investigating this dead guy, and it turns out he was kind of a sketchy dude, but also kind of a hero? It’s all, like, complicated, you know?

The characters are so real!!! They’ve all got secrets and stuff, and Vera is trying to figure it all out. It’s like, a big puzzle, and you’re like, totally trying to piece it together with her. And the ending is , whoa, I didn’t see it coming!

Anyway, if you like, mystery and suspense and stuff, you should totes check this out. It’s totally engrossing, and you’ll be like, on the edge of your seat, wondering what happens next. For real, it’s an amazing read!”

I really liked this book, it was different than anything else I've read which was a breath of fresh air. I will be recommending this to my friends, and auto buy this author!

3.5-4 stars
Ann Cleeves writes excellent police procedurals and is outstanding at evoking a sense of place. This one wasn't my favorite as it is somewhat slow-moving and a bit overcomplicated. Also, the villain's motives didn't feel 100% plausible to me. That's not to say I didn't enjoy it, however!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free digital ARC of this book.

This police procedural was set in Greystone, with the investigative team of Matthew Venn, Jen Rafferty and Ross May. The team was engaged in the mysterious disappearance of a celebrity adventurer, Jem Rosco, who was raised in the town. When Jem returned for a visit to meet up with someone, he disappeared after a few days, and his body turned up in a dingy anchored off the shore of Scully Cove (a mysterious place with local superstitions).
I found the pacing of this book incredibly slow and kept looking for the end of each chapter. There were a lot of characters, and a lot of extraneous characters who added absolutely nothing to the story or the investigation.
The 3 investigators backstories were touched upon, but I couldn't see how their personal lives impacted the mystery. Jonathan, Venn's husband seemed distant, and completely extraneous to the story.
Venn was originally from this town, as well as the victim, but evidently had issues with the Brethren - an ultra religious group-which he belonged to as a child, but didn't like. Again. this was something mentioned in the book quite a few times, but didn't seem to have an impact on the murders, or the townspeople.
The plot was complex, and it felt like the twist was put into the book to surprise the reader as it didn't seem convincing to me. Finally the rushed ending identified the mastermind but I was not convinced that the person really could have put the conspiracy together so expertly, or had the motivation to do so.
I received an advance ARC from NetGalley and the publisher and the opinions expressed are my own.

Great mystery with twists. I didn’t read the first two so it was a little confusing with all the characters but it can be read as a stand alone. Love the character development, setting and twists.
Thank you Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review. Thoughts are my own.

This was not my favorite in this series. I thought Ann took some risks in her storytelling her and many of her fans will find much to enjoy. In many ways it felt more like a thriller than a mystery, which is not what I expect from the author--which might have had a lot to do with my reaction. Could also have been a case of bad timing, however, I have recommended this book to several readers who are boating enthusiasts and they reported enjoying it.

I didn't like this book and I struggled to finish it. I did enjoy very atmospheric setting around the storms that constantly threaten the coastal town but I didn’t think the killer, nor their motive, was believable.. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Ann Cleeves writes a readable murder mystery with an assortment of engaging characters. I found The Raging Storm to be a somewhat engaging read albeit a wee bit predicable. A good read if you're looking for a "whodunnit" set in an atmospheric setting and characters with interesting backstories and motivations.

This was a well written mystery novel! While I have not read the previous two books in the series, I felt like I still got to understand the main detective characters fairly well. I appreciated how they worked together as well as how they tackled tasks individually. While this book focused on a small community (Greystone), the question really becomes how much can the individuals in the community be trusted? Are they telling the truth or are they that loyal to their community, or even the religious group in the community?

Thanks to NetGalley for the book!

A small English town is rocked by murder. Detective Inspector Venn and his colleagues are called to Greystone to investigate after a body is found in a rowboat during a wild storm. The victim was Jem Rosco, an adventurer and sailing legend who had been in Greystone for just a few weeks. Someone in Greystone is a murderer, and it's up to Venn and his team to find the truth... if they don't fall victim themselves first.

This was an enjoyable police procedural mystery. I love the stormy coastal setting, and the mysterious Scully Cove. Very atmospheric. I enjoyed each of the three detectives and found the mystery engaging. This is apparently the third book in the series, but works fine enough as a standalone. I didn't have any trouble following, though I'm sure the other two books would have given more background on the main characters. Would recommend.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Let me first say that I did not realize that this was the third book of the series before I started. With that being said, I was still able to thoroughly enjoy the book with nothing lost in translation.
A good mystery centered around a boating town with a mysterious murder…..or two. The book went at an appropriate pace and I felt like I could really get to n ow the characters.

I've been a fan of Ann Cleeves for years now, and I'm really enjoying this series. This book is a character-driven police procedural. The atmosphere was intense, and was almost a character in its own way. I'm looking forward to more by Cleeves.

I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley. This is my honest review.

I love Ann Cleeves. If there is no more Shetland series this is the next best thing! Her characters ring true and her settings transport- there is something about the moody, rainy British setting that makes for a cozy read (even with dead bodies).

This is the 3rd book in the Two Rivers series and I really enjoyed it. I read both the e-book and listened to the audiobook as I drove while going to Vegas. DI Matthew, DS Jen, and DC Ross as well as Jonathan, Matthew's hubby are all on the team and I loved seeing them all work on this one. Plus, there was a VICKI character (my name and spelling) so that was fun to see.

This investigation is of Jem Rosco, a celebrity who comes back to meet up with someone after not being home for awhile. His visit was short-lived when he ended up dead. The question is how? Was he murdered and by who? Matthew has to go back to an area in which he grew up with "The Brethren" and he had memories to deal with and they're not so good.

I must say that as I tried to figure out the whodoneit, I was totally clueless but so were the investigative team. lol There ends up being more than one murder, but how did they fit together? Were they connected or simply coincidence? I have to admit that I was totally taken by surprise when I found out the who, what, when, why and how. I never figured any of it out. lol Loved that!