**4.5-stars rounded up**

The Raging Storm is the third release in the Two Rivers series by beloved Mystery author, Ann Cleeves.
This Police Procedural Mystery series follows Detective Matthew Venn. I loved the first book in the series and have been hooked on it ever since. I feel like I have been waiting for this release for so long and it did not disappoint!!

The setting for this story is the small village of Greystone, Devon, a place Venn is very familiar with. He spent time there as a child, and due to personal reasons, has since parted ways with the community. This might sound ominous, and it sort of is. If you've read the previous books, you'll know, but basically, Matthew was raised in a very religious household; part of the Barum Brethren, who have many members living in Greystone.

Matthew's sexuality, among other things, forced his separation from the group and family. Even the thought of returning makes him uncomfortable, but he's a professional and goes where he must. Duty calls after the body of minor-celebrity sailor, Jem Roscoe, has been discovered in a dinghy anchored off Scully Cove. The residents of Greystone are shocked.

Roscoe, who grew up there, had returned after many years away and was renting a cottage. He just came back a few weeks ago, who could possibly want him dead? Everyone seemed to find his presence entertaining. Many were curious as to why he came back. When asked, he claimed to be waiting for a visitor, but never indicated who. Could this person be the one responsible for his death?

Matthew, along with his team members, Jen Rafferty and Ross May, head to Greystone to investigate this highly mysterious death. As they begin their investigation, talking with the locals and digging into the lore and history of the town, they discover this mystery may run much deeper than they initially expected. As mentioned, Roscoe did have roots in the community, even if he had been away for many years.

With storm fronts ripping through the small town, the investigation takes many unexpected turns as we rushed towards the surprising and satisfying conclusion.

I had so much fun with this. The audiobook is fantastic. I definitely recommend that as a format for this story.
I love Matthew as a character. He is smart, dedicated, but also still processing his childhood and schism from his family and community. This makes him feel vulnerable at times. He's healed a lot, is happily married and obviously successful in his career, but those old insecurities sneak up on him sometimes. I feel like his character is just so relatable and I think a lot of Readers will be able to really connect with him.

In addition to a compelling leading man, these novels contain exceptionally well-plotted mysteries. I loved how this one evolved over the course of the story. You can tell from the very start that Cleeves is a veteran-Mystery writer. This lady knows what she is doing. All you have to do is sit back, relax and take it all in.

I love mystery stories set in small towns and this one is a perfect example of why. As the detectives began questioning the locals, they certainly learned a lot. There are so many connections and everyone knows each other's business.

It was interesting that Jem Rosco, who was originally from the town, had gained some celebrity. They all had opinions on that, whether it was based on who he was when he was young, or assumptions they made about his character now. I loved how he created such a fervor just by returning to town. The rumor mills were churning even before he got himself killed. That may sound harsh, but seriously, the town was just a'clucking about his return.

I would definitely recommend this series to anyone who enjoys Police Procedural Mysteries. I think this whole series is just incredible. The writing is fantastic, the characters well-developed and the mysteries all super compelling.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. I cannot wait for the next book!!!

This was a really good atmospheric novel, perfect for dreary days. I want to go back and read the previous book s in this series now!! Love a book that unfolds at a perfect pace, such as this one.

THE RAGING STORM by Ann Cleeves and narrated by Jack Holden is the perfect juxtaposition to my endless sunny days.

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

Ann Cleeves is an author to whom I tend to give automatic credit. I love her writing. Her detective stories have been made into television series with good reason, though I have seen very few. The atmosphere is brought to life in such vivid and relatable ways. For example, a passage in this story mentions the rain had stopped, but the wind gust blew the water off the leaves of the trees right into his face, and I could absolutely feel it! It was better written than I relay however!

The story here is a layered detective story in a place where Matthew Venn has a history. The dead man came to this village with not a small bit of intrigue, and the case is unraveling even more. It has a protagonist and his team trying to decipher who is telling the truth as bodies keep increasing in this quiet, religious town, all while trying to balance work and life.

Holden narrates this tale well, with distinctions, but not over-the-top changes, which felt right to me. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to him tell me this what the various characters were thinking and doing.

Thank you to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for sharing this ALC for my thoughts! This installment of Detective Matthew Venn series will be available on September 5th, and while part of a series, this can definitely be read as a stand alone.

Ann Cleeves has not disappointed me yet.
Matthew Venn has been called to the town he spent time in with his parents as a young boy. With mixed feelings he tries to settle in the local overnight accommodations with his team members. The large religious community to which his parents had belonged brings back uncomfortable memories for Matthew Vern. Having broken up with the group he is curious when meeting with old friends to see if they still belong. Not always understanding their logic.
His team ended up been trapped due to the stormy weather. This makes it harder to stay in contact with the outside world.
Ann brings up the following issues:
A woman trying to make her mark in a man’s world.
The world of the rich and the local townspeople.
Buried secrets of the past.
The narrow line been crossed when it comes to Matthew Vern’s husband trying to help. Does Matthew Vern appreciate the help or is he worried that his husband is sticking his nose in the criminal case?
This isn’t a fast read describing the emotions of the various people involved. It will keep you puzzled till the end when everything becomes clear.
Listening to this book was a great enjoyment and enforced the story I had read previously.

I found this 3rd book in the Matthew Venn series absorbing, despite its length and leisurely pace. Never having read any of Cleeves's Detective Matthew Venn novels (I'm a Vera fan), I found it easy to enter the series here at book 3 and will definitely pick up 1 & 2. Like many of her other murder mysteries, The Raging Storm is atmospheric, has good character development-- and I didn't figure out who done it until the big reveal.

Jack Holden's narration is terrific!

First I’ve read by this author…so, no, I did not know it was part of a series…
For me, I found the characters very confusing at times…
We had Venn and Jen…the detectives. Then we had Rosco and Ross…plus a whole slew of other characters!
The book definitely kept me engaged, and I did not see any twists and turns coming…so there’s that, but it was just ok for me. Nothing to write home about.
Rosco is a self made celebrity. No one knows where his money came from…but this small town knows that he started out here. And he has returned in a big way…and made it very clear that he was back in town. And then, he was missing, and turns up dead!
The police get involved, and start turning every stone…
As I said, engaging, page turning, surprising…but somehow just didn’t do it for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the ARC of the audiobook!
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me.
Soon to be released on September 5th.

A book with a lot of great detail about the characters and what is going on in the story. This helps understand the background. Quite a bit going on in the story! Enjoy!

2.5 stars rounding up

Synopsis

When celebrity adventurer, Jem Rosco, returns to his sleepy, seaside hometown of Greystone, Devon, locals clamber to glean a bit of his starlight and the gossip mills start churning. When questioned about his return, Rosco cagily says he is waiting for someone to meet him. Then he turns up murdered and Detective Inspector Matthew Venn must find who killed Jem Rosco. Like any small town, Greystone has its quirky locals and plenty of secrets. Can an outsider like Venn penetrate the tight lips and discover the truth?

My Overall Thoughts

Atmospheric is the word that bubbles to the top of my thoughts in describing this novel. The author really captures the feel of the seaside village. She sustains a tense, dark, foreboding feeling all the way through.

However, it is a long, long way through at a very slow pace. I had a hard time hanging in to the end. The twist ending was slightly surprising, but I was also not really invested in the outcome by the time it got there.

What I Didn't Love

The pacing of the book is really slow and though some of the townspeople are very well developed throughout the story, the detectives and police remain pretty two-dimensional. I just could not find any reason to cheer them on.

Potentially Offensive Content

Violence - not very graphic

What I Loved

I was captivated by the rich descriptions of the setting. The author really put me there. I could taste the sea air.

The narrator did a great job nurturing the mood as well. It was dark, but not horror. It was tense but not graphic. It had quirky characters, but it was not cozy.

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.

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.

I listened to this book as an audiobook, and the narration provided by Jack Holden was excellent, The characters voices were well defined, and the pace kept me interested.

Colleen Chi-Girl
3-1/2 stars round up to 4 for the strong writing and characterization:

The Raging Storm: A Detective Matthew Venn Novel by Ann Cleeves; Narrated by Jack Holden

First, a big thank you to the author, Ann Cleeves, NetGalley, and Macmillan Audio, for the audiobook ARC for my honest review.

The Raging Storm (Two Rivers #3)
by Ann Cleeves (Goodreads Author)
Colleen Chi-Girl's review Jul 13, 2023
bookshelves: 2023, contemporary, crime-mysteries, england, netgalley

3-1/2 stars round up to 4 for the strong, interesting settings, writing, and characterization:

First, a big thank you to the author, Ann Cleeves, and NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for the privilege of reading this audiobook ARC for my honest review.

This is the 3rd book in the series by Ann Cleeves, who is well known for her Vera series. Although, it took me a while to get into this "cozy mystery", I suppose it's because Ms. Cleeves is new to me as an author. Although....I've seen a few episodes on BBC with Vera. I'm not sure if it was due to the choice of the male narrator, the slower pace of this mystery, or the curmudgeon-ish characters who take a while to get to know, yet who are so well developed!

Here is where Ann Cleeves really shines: The setting is a small fishing port in Greystone Devon, England. It is bleak and stormy, which is a perfect storm (yes: pun), when a famous man is found dead and naked in a dinghy. What an intro!

The style of "cosy" may not always be my thing, but I love mysteries set in England whether in the past or current. In this case, I didn't connect with the characters and felt the story was slowly paced to the point that I had to push myself to stay involved. At this time in my life, I much prefer a faster plot. However, if you like a strong character-driven novel, with atmosphere, as opposed to a fast and thrilling plot, this is worthy of your cuppa.

Regardless, the writing by Cleeve is very clever, intriguing, and well done. Thank you!

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.

2.5 ⭐️s rounded up. Very predictable and had so many characters to keep track of. It was very hard to keep a lot of them straight, especially when you’re listening to it and half the characters names are phonetically the same.

There was little to no character development as well, so it felt like just one long string of interviews and events. Eventually it just felt monotonous. Also couldn’t tell if the whole Brethren thing was a cult or just a regular church that the author just was bitter and prejudiced about, but again, very little development and a whole lot of detached statements.

On the rocky coasts of Cornwall and Devon a murder has occurred. After finding the blood drained body of a local hero and adventurer, the detectives come, led by Matthew Venn, to find the truth. What they find is a small coastal town with its own secrets stretching back years, and as the murders multiply it is a race against time to solve the case.

There is something magical about British crime dramas. The darkness of the story and the locales sucks you in. It was a very nice read.

Themes: 🕵🏻‍♂️🕵🏻‍♀️☠️🪦⚰️🚤🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

My feelings: 🙂🤓🥸🫡🤔🤫

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This is the third installment in the Detective Matthew Venn series. While I did not read the first two, I didn't feel at all lost. Cleeves also authored the Vera and Shetland series, both of which have been adapted to television.

There's so much going on in the story, with an entire town to meet, question, and assess.

I wasn't a fan of Venn's husband or their relationship—the writing about it seemed awkward. Perhaps one of the earlier installments included greater presence of the husband and he just wasn't meant to be a strong participant in this one. Or, perhaps they just don't have a good relationship. In any event, I didn't feel like the husband's presence in the story added value.

The narrative was not stunning or particularly compelling. Overall, the storytelling might be categorized as serviceable, and yet I was fairly satisfied with how the pieces fell into place by the end.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review. Publication is expected September 5.

Ann Cleeves has written over 35 books. I have read several that were wonderful, and this one is no different. "The Raging Storm" is a triumph in the mystery genre, a testament to Ann Cleeves' storytelling prowess. This story has compelling characters, an immersive setting, and an intricately plotted mystery; this novel is a must-read for fans of detective fiction and those new to the series.

This book was hard to get into as it introduced several characters early in the story, which made keeping them straight difficult. Additionally, I listened to the audiobooks, and because the main character was Venn and a secondary character was Jen, that made it tough to discern which character was being mentioned - those names sound very similar on the recording.

Overall, the story was okay and the minor twists we interesting, but I wasn't invested in any of the characters. Even Venn, the main character, was lackluster. I found his relationship with his husband and the short visit the husband made to the town superfluous as it really didn't add to depth the story. Sure, he may have helped with the investigation, but that could have been accomplished by any of the other characters in the story. The tension in that relationship took away from the two murders.

When recommending books to a friend, this book wouldn't be on the top of the list.

I have read every book this author has written (to my knowledge, anyway). I genuinely adore the atmospheric setting Ann Cleeves imbues in all the stories. The Matthew Venn/Two Rivers series is her newest. I miss Shetland. I am so happy that we still get a Vera Stanhope new novel every now and then. Of the three books of the Two Rivers series, The Raging Storm is the first one I have given less than 4 stars. It was by no means a book I disliked. I just didn't feel as excited or engaged with it as I have the other two in the series. That has been the case with several Vera Stanhope novels as well. Its just a universal truth that whenever you are reading a series, there are going to be some books that hit differently in a good way. The Raging Storm had a great opening and I loved the author's note at the end about what inspired her with this plot. I think what took me out of the book a bit this time was two characters' lack of emotional growth since the last book. Matthew Venn seemed to revert to some unhealthy tendencies in his communication with his husband and immaturity in how he behaves in relating with others. Jenn was another character who's regression and attitude caused me to cringe for her. Instead of allowing her circumstances to make her stronger, she seems to just become more bitter. I can RELATE to her circumstances as a woman with a demanding job and kids comparing herself to women who don't work outside the home and with the men she works with who don't have to worry that parenting will make them look bad at work. But her inner thoughts on display didn't make me want to root for her. Ironically, Ross, who is a caricature of a self-important climber annoyed me the least of the three leads as he is just what he appears to be. The other two are supposed to be better than they are. Its a similar problem I have with Vera Stanhope in some of the books in her series. It may be realistic, but its not something that makes me want to cheer for them.

The mystery was good and the outcome was not predictable to me, so I would definitely recommend this book to other fans of the series or author. Worth reading, but not the best entry in the series.

The Raging Storm: A Detective Matthew Venn Novel (Two Rivers #3) by Ann Cleeves
Narrated by Jack Holden
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Expected Publication Date: September 5, 2023

The Raging Storm: A Detective Matthew Venn Novel is the third book in the Two Rivers series by Ann Cleeves and can be read as a standalone mystery.

I thought the characters were interesting and the mystery was complex and fascinating, but there was just something that I felt like I was missing. Perhaps it moved a little slow for me or there was just too much backstory, but I didn't enjoy this as much as had hoped. Maybe it's because I didn't read the previous books first.

I thought the narration by Jack Holden was great! He became the characters!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

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