Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

Another captivating mystery from Ann Cleeves, 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.

The Raging Storm is the 3rd book in the police procedural, suspense series, Two Rivers. Greystone Village is a small fishing village that has lots of superstitions. When a body is found dead in a boat off Scully Point, the rescue team can be heard muttering words to ward off bad luck: 'Skulls and bones and the white, white light.' Matthew Venn and his team are called in to investigate. He's familiar with that area of Devon, having grown up nearby but he left his family's religious life behind at the age of 18, but as he investigates, memories return. When another body is found, Venn is worried about his own judgement. As the investigation continues, it seems no one is safe from the secrets and superstitions surrounding this case.

The setting of this story was a character in itself. With storms and winds and the superstitions surrounding the religious group in the area, it was extremely atmospheric. Matthew Venn is a very complex character and we learn more about his and his past in every book. His thoughts are written in a way that we feel like we are in his head. He is intelligent, but doesn't see it and often doubts himself. He is antisocial and doesn't open up to others, nor want to have anyone try to get close to him. Jen and Ross are on his team and they both have some issues as well. Jen has a chip on her shoulder and is always trying to prove herself. Ross seems to be trying to one up Jen to get Venn's attention, which isn't necessarily helpful on a team. This is a character-driven police procedural, with some twisty plotlines and suspense. It's fascinating to watch Venn lead the investigation and peel back the many layers of secrets to solve the mystery. I didn't figure out who the culprit was and I was surprised when the reveal came. Although this is often referred to as a thriller, it is more of a slow burn suspenseful story that I enjoyed and will continue to look for books in this series. The audiobook was narrated by Jack Holden and I enjoyed his performance. His voice gave it the creepy feel that this atmospheric story needed and I enjoyed listening to it.

I struggled with this one and restarted it several times but just couldn't get pulled in. I hadn't realized it was part of a series so that might have been it. I would consider exploring the beginning part of the series and maybe that would make a difference. I think the fact that it was part of a series should have been made clearer in the title information. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the audio Arc.

This was my first Ann Cleeves book. Sometimes it's really difficult to come into a series partway through but I found that there was no issue following the story or picking up what was going on. The characters were relatable, the story was expertly told, the narration was wonderful and I'm anxiously awaiting listening to the next one.

I spent time trying to get into it but ended up falling off around halfway through. I didn’t realize this was a series and not the first book. I want to try the first and then retry this

"The Raging Storm" by Ann Cleeves is a gripping mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Cleeves excels at crafting well-developed characters who feel authentic and relatable, adding depth to the story. The pacing is excellent, with suspenseful twists and turns that keep the reader engaged without feeling rushed. Each revelation adds to the intrigue, making it hard to put the book down. Overall, "The Raging Storm" is a compelling read that showcases Cleeves' mastery of the genre, earning it a solid four stars.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with this audio ARC copy.
Second in the series proves just as good as first.

I wanted to love this one, but I just didn’t. I also didn’t realize it was one in a series, so I felt like I was missing some information.
Overall, a good book, I would recommend if this is your genre!

Always a pleasure to read Ann Cleeves. This will make a great story for tv. Her books are well written and lend themselves to adaptation.

Love this series and this installment. The characters, plotting, and storyline are always excellent. Enjoyed listening to this one.

THE RAGING STORM is a great British police procedural. While it is the third in the series, you can pick this up without reading the previous books and enjoy the mystery.

This an atmospheric, character-driven mystery. It's not a fast page turner, but takes a slow pace, immersing the reader into this seaside town. As Detective Inspector Matthew Venn investigates, we also learn of his own personal connections to the town which gives dimension to his character as he works to solve the mystery.

I really enjoyed listening to Jack Holden's narration, he does a great job. I think you can't go wrong if you chose to listen or pick up a physical copy of this one!

I was fortunate to have both the audiobook and physical book for this title. While I was having trouble getting into the physical book, the audiobook, with narration by John Holden, grabbed me from the beginning.

Ann Cleeves' writing is brilliant and although I didn’t read the first two books in this series, I had no problems listening to this as a standalone.

The small coastal town of Greystone has been buzzing with the arrival of local legend Jem Rosco. Rosco grew up in Greystone and went on to become a sailing legend. Most of the locals like him but not all are keen on his return.

Jem tells the group in the local bar that he’s not sure how long he will stay, he is awaiting a visit from someone.

The next day, while a storm rages, his body is found naked, in an anchored dinghy.

Lead detective Matthew Venn and his team are called in to solve the mysterious death. Venn also has ties to the area, having spent time there as a child. There is a large group of villagers who belong to a religious cult and they are distrustful of Venn.

As he and his team work to solve the mystery, ANOTHER BODY IS FOUND!! Now the tension to find the killer increases along with the raging storm.

There are quite a few characters in the novel but they are all very different and well described. I had no trouble following the plot.

I absolutely loved the descriptions of the coast and the incredible power of the sea during the storm. There also were descriptions of what the people had to deal with when communications were cut off and fallen trees blocked many roads leaving them stranded in the town.

I will definitely go back to read the first two books in the series! Lots of exciting scenes and twists in the plot to keep the listener engaged.

I received an ARC of the novel from Edelweiss and the audiobook from MacMillan audio and the publisher through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to review this title.

This is the first book I’ve read in the Matthew Venn series. I enjoyed the read but I have to say it dragged a bit. Jem Rosco is something of a local hero in his home town of Greystone, Devon. After being seen in town, he suddenly disappears and is later found dead under suspicious circumstances. Detective Venn and his team come in town to investigate and after another body is found….everyone seems to be a suspect. This was an atmospheric read that I enjoyed listening to on audio. I am planning to revisit the earlier books in the series.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗺 by Ann Cleeves, read by Jack Holden

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre/tropes: fiction, mystery, seaside town
CW/TW: alcoholism

It’s the third book in the Two Rivers/Matthew Venn series, and the first time I’m listening to the audiobook.

Matthew’s called to a small seaside village of Greystone where the body of a famous sailor/adventurer has been discovered. The circumstances of this local legend’s death are suspicious. Matthew’s arrival to the area brings back childhood memories that he continues to struggle with. Having grown up in a strict religious household he’s now talking to some folks who are still part of that religious sect. He’s once again joined by two other detectives on his team - Jen and Ross. I don’t know if Cleeves chose to highlight their dynamics more or if I was paying better attention, but I was far more attuned to them this time. Jen and Ross’ personalities and approach to their careers are different. I think Matthew notices the two personalities and does a really good job of recognizing both their strengths and flaws. This case, in particular, seems to send them around in circles. Dealing with cagey locals, myths, and superstitions; Matthew can tell they’re being played.

Matthew’s character is a huge draw for me. He’s profoundly introspective and observant. His quiet nature and demeanor - obviously a byproduct of his upbringing - are advantages to him as a detective.

I was riveted by this story from start to finish. The narrator transported me to this setting, building a vivid picture of the terrain and climate in my head. He’s the perfect voice for Matthew. It’s another hit for me from Cleeves! Fans of quiet British mysteries and police procedurals will enjoy this!

Thanks to @netgalley & @macmillan.audio for my ALC.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* I read the first book in this series but was unable to get my hands on the 2nd book before getting the 3rd from netgalley and just diving right in... Honestly didn't even notice this was the third book until i noticed something about it seemed familiar lol great read, would like to read the whole series in order one day!

I enjoyed this story a lot. The mystery was well done and the characters seemed very human (lots of quirks and questionable decisions that we all would make). I must admit, I'm a fan of the British police procedural and I can see myself reading more from Ann Cleeves. The coastal setting was a nice change from a lot of more inland crimes and I was intrigued by the cult/religion that was discussed but not fleshed out in this book. I know it's part of a series, so perhaps earlier ones touched more on it.

The story was well narrated and didn't include any weird or silly accents to differentiate the characters, however, you always knew when a new character began talking. The pacing was well done.

I listened to this book in audio format, and this may be why I'm rating it only a 4, and not a 5. The reader did a great job, actually, capturing the nature of each of the characters in his narration. However, the pace of the book was somewhat erratic and while I can speed up and slow down my own reading to match an inconsistent pace, it would have been inappropriate for Holden, the reader, to do so.

Erratic pace aside, this book is a great addition to the Two Rivers series. At the outset of the series, I wasn't sure whether I actually liked the main detective, Matthew Venn. He seemed rather stuffy and morose. As Cleeves has built his character over the three books in the series, however, I've grown to understand and like him a great deal. I also very much like his single-mother sergeant, Jen Rafferty, who plays a major role in this investigation. This is a strongly character driven procedural series, as is Cleeves' forte. The characters who are specific to this novel, as well as those who are ongoing regulars, are well developed...some likeable, some not so much. In this novel, it is difficult to tell which characters fall into which category until the very end.

The book takes place on the Devon coast, and the writing about the fierceness of the weather is compelling. The sea plays a significant role in the book both as a location for deaths and bodies, and as a force for obscuring evidence. It is also a source of a distinct atmosphere of remote wildness.

The book could certainly be read as a standalone without any sense of being left out of the full story. However, the previous two books in the series have helped to build a more sympathetic perspective on Venn than one might get from this book alone. Great writer, great series, great book.

𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘹 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨!

I love Ann Cleeves writing, it transports you right to the novel setting. A bit of a slow-burn but with complex characters and an engrossing plot that will keep you turning pages until the very end.

Thank you Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this gifted copy.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗺 by Ann Cleeves released September 5, 2023.

https://www.instagram.com/booksandcoffeemx/

I loved this book! Ann Cleeves is a masterful writer! The plot was a slow burner and the characters well developed. Her descriptions of the area made me feel like I was right there in England with the characters. I loved that I could not figure out "who did it". Ann Cleeves has written so many mystery/thriller series and she does such a great job at not giving too much away. I also loved the unreliable narrator in this. I did not want this book to end! I listened to it as an audiobook and thought the narration was excellent. I will be waiting eagerly for the next book in this series.

I have really enjoyed this series, I read books 1 & 2 to get ready for this ARC and I am so glad I did! At first, I had a hard time getting into it but once I did I was hooked! I really love the relationship between Matthew and his partner and that his partner is helping him loosen up and heal from his childhood in the local cult religion! I can't wait to see what Ann Cleves has for Venn's team in the next installment, as I am now hooked on this series!