Audiobook
I read the first in this series and had an opportunity to listen to the audiobook of The raging storm, book 3 in the Matthew Venn series.
Really engaging, great listen. Quite a lot of characters so I had to keep focus to keep up.
DI Matthew Venn investigates a man found naked and dead in a small boat anchored in Scully Cove. With his team Ross and Jen he delves deep into the close knit community that he grew up in (and couldn’t get out of fast enough!).
Twists and turns and an unexpected ending. Great weaving of lives, tales, descriptions and imagery of the Devon coast - I could almost smell the sea air.
Must go back and find book 2!

This is an engrossing page turner with striking imagery and breakneck twists. The author has a crisp writing style which guides readers through this layered and innovative thriller. It was a treat to read.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book 3 of the Two Rivers series continues along the same fabulous path that the rest of the series has followed.

Matthew Venn, Jen Rafferty and Ross May - returning characters from the first two books in the series - find themselves investigating the murder of celebrated adventurer Jem Rosco in a small, remote and rather inward looking village, and an approaching storm. This sets the atmosphere for the rest of the book which makes for a tense and rather unsettling police procedural tale.

As with the other books in this series both the characters and the location are superbly described and developed. The author is a master at letting you believe you have the story all figured out only to throw in the odd curve ball here and there to throw you off the scent. This is a series I thoroughly enjoy and I hope there is a book 4 coming out in the not too distant future - I’m hooked!

I listened to the audiobook version of this book and found the narration to be pitched just right.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan UK Audio for providing me with the ARC of this book ahead of publication in August 2023.

Another excellent book in Ann Cleaves’ Matthew Venn series. As previously the audiobook was engaging and atmospheric - adding something to the narrative and our relationship with the characters.
The rugged landscape was brought to life giving a picture of a coastal community very different to the tourist hotspots commonly portrayed in this area. Venn’s personal life, past and present, was skilfully interwoven with the investigation without dominating. A thoroughly enjoyable listen. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this audiobook.

Ann Cleeves has that unerring talent to be able to write great series with some wonderful lead and supporting characters. With the Two Rivers series, set in Devon, she has done it again, and this third book in the series keeps up the same high standard from the first two books.

Like the Shetland Series and much of the Vera Stanhope series, this is set in a very remote community and this adds greatly to the book, almost feeling like a character of its own. Following the death of a celebrity and the finding of his body afloat at sea Detective Matthew Venn needs to dig deep in the community, as well as the back story of the deceased and others within this small settlement. It appears some are not what they seem, and he and his team are being led a merry dance by some. The connections to himself and his early life also throw another dimension into the book.

Like with most Ann Cleeves books this is superbly written with great plotting and writing, as bit by bit the story is slowly revealed. Never expect things to happen fast in her books, apart from in the final reveal. As usual it is almost impossible to work out who was behind the murder and why, until towards the final reveal and there are plenty of twists and surprises as the story progresses.

If you read high quality fiction then you definitely need to read this book and series. I listened to the audiobook and this certainly seemed to add to the experience with some great narration of the book. I definitely recommend both the book and series.

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

A book that picks you up and carries you along with the story, an excellent addition to the Matthew Venn series, very well narrated.

*A big thank-you to Ann Cleeves, Macmillan UK Audio, and NetGalley for a free audiobook in exchange for my honest review.*
Ann Cleeves delivers again with a quiet police procedurial focusing on the character dynamics and bonds from the past which cast long shadows. Discreet glances into Matthew's marriage and his parental relationship continue together with his work partner's single parenting. Ms Cleeves' interest in what drives us is what I find constantly interesting about this series.

An incredibly atmospheric mystery, set against the backdrop of a raging storm. The excitement is encapsulated well listening via audiobook. When renowned adventurer and sailor Jem Rosco goes missing in the quiet town of Greystone, no one thinks much of it. People come and go, and any issues are dealt with amongst themselves. It is an extremely private community of Barum Brethern. However, when Rosco is found naked and dead in a dingy, Matthew Venn and his partner are sent to investigate. This is the third Venn book, but it can be enjoyed as a standalone. Venn is a great addition to Cleeves' detective protagonists. When a second death occurs, the stakes rise, and Venn is under pressure to follow the clues to unearth a murderer; not an easy task with the community concealing and, or giving false information. #theragingstorm #anncleeves #netgalley #Matthewvenn #audiobook

Tried for a clever plot twist but somehow managed to be simultaneously too complicated and longwinded whilst also failing to provide interesting or relevant backstory.

I’ve only just started reading Ann Cleeves books and her detective Matthew Venn (this is book 3) isn’t a very dynamic detective and very different to Ann’s other detective Vera as he has a more quiet, introverted way about him and the Devon coast in raging storm seems to fit right in with him, here he has to find out who killed a local celebrity who has quite a few enemies that would of wanted him dead. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing to the end.
This audiobook was narrated by Jack Holden who did a good job at bringing the atmospheric Devon Town to life.

I listened to the audio book of this Christie-esque mystery, set on the North Devon Coast. At the start, the large number of characters, and the fact that two of the main characters had very similar-sounding names (Venn and Jen) was a little confusing, however, by a few chapters in I’d gotten used to it. I think it’s particularly challenging for one narrator to create voices for so many characters, most of whom had local accents, as well as several Liverpudlian accents (which didn’t all sound that convincing, but that’s my only criticism).
The story trotted along at a good pace and there were plenty of interesting characters. I loved the Miss-Marple feel of the close-knit coastal community with all the locals’ gossip, foibles and petty jealousies, marking out several likely candidates as the potential perpetrator.
Was the reveal a huge surprise? No, and it wasn’t quite as dramatic as Poirot gathering all the likely suspects into a candle-lit room to reveal whodunnit, but it was still an enjoyable listen.
A big thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan U.K. audio for the chance to listen to an ARC.

This book is one in a series, and although I hadn't read the previous books I still enjoyed it. After returning to his hometown, adventurer Jem Roscoe goes missing and after his body is discovered in a dinghy, D I Matthew Venn is called in with his team to investigate. A raging storm leads to another death and the team try and solve the mystery.

I listened to this on audiobook which I very much enjoyed, the narrator was great and the story kept me guessing all along. Lots of unexpected turns in a story that unfolds slowly. A good police procedural. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy.

I love Ann Cleeves books and will read them all when published and will settle down on a Sunday evening to Vera and Shetland.

This new book series is now becoming another firm favourite, so i did not listen to this book as i really can not get into audio books, however my Dad loves listening audio books so i request and he listens and then tells me his thoughts.

He loved this book and was completely engrossed and said on numerous occasions thought he new who the murderer was to be foiled and foiled again, he loved all the characters and the reasoning behind the murder.

He really liked the narrator and is looking forward to listening to many more.

Thank you netgalley for an audio copy for an honest review

Detective Matthew Venn was brought up in Greystone, Devon so when local legend is found dead at sea he returns to investigate.

Sculls Cove is a place of local legend. It was an odd way to leave a body when clearly he was not killed in a small boat.

Venn and his team must find out what happened, when and why?

A well written novel and well narrated (I listened to the audiobook). Great characters with a twisting storyline that keeps you wanting to know what’s going to happen next. Enjoy.

I was happy when I got this book to review. I was so happy to see this book was in support of the work that the RNLI do.

Firstly, I wasn't aware this was part of a series. Had I known, I might not have applied for this book. I felt like I was missing a lot of context. That's my fault though!

I usually really like police procedurals but this one just wasn't my cup of tea. I found lead detective Matthew Venn to be quite devoid of personality which made it difficult to read and relate to.

The descriptions and wording are beautiful, but unfortunately, the story just wasn't for me!

A celebrity sailor returns to the lonely North Devon coastal village full of personality and looking forward to meeting a mystery person. He intrigues the local community. When his body is found in the sea after a storm, foul play is suspected, and Detective Matthew Venn and his team arrive in the village to investigate. They are met with a wall of silence and many unanswered questions. This is an atmospheric, claustrophobic crime mystery. The location is easy to visualise, and the cast of characters is believably created. The immersive investigation is fascinating and delivers a myriad of emotions from the characters as their secrets are revealed. The twists are relentless, and there is an engaging balance of introspection and action. The detective team have a believable dynamic, and all are complex. I like the coastal location, the detective team dynamic and the sense of menace that ebbs and flows throughout the investigation.
I listened to the audiobook and found the narrator brought the characters and events to vibrant life.
I received a copy of this audiobook from the publisher.

This is the latest atmospheric and twisted crime offering from Ann Cleeves in her Two Rivers series, featuring her gay, married DI Matthew Venn, set in North Devon. I read and listened to this on audio, narrated by the terrific Jack Holden, it is just over 10 hours long, Holden's voice kept my attention from start to finish, capturing the atmosphere and drama of the story with ease. When the larger than life, famous local sailor and adventurer Jem Rosco blows into the small, dreary, remote coastal town of Greystone, he brings excitement, colour and drama in his wake. He is staying at a basic cottage, dropping into the Maiden's Prayer pub run by Harry Carter on a daily basis, making his presence felt. He tells people he is waiting to meet someone there, but does not elaborate any further, although the consensus is that it is a woman he is planning to meet. Rosco disappears, only for his naked body to be found in a dinghy at Scully's Cove, a feared and cursed legend of a place swirling in superstitions.

It is a strange murder that feels oddly posed, but for what purpose? Greystone is a place familiar to Venn as a child, spending time there with his family, members of the Christian sect, the Barum Brethren, a sect that he later dropped out of. This traumatic past has Venn ill at ease and not always seeing what is in front of him, the sect dominates the Greystoke community, and there are some faces he remembers from long ago. Venn is viewed with suspicion by many, the police are greeted with a wall of silence that hampers their ability to make fast progress in their inquiries. As ferocious storms rage, there are power cuts and the community are cut off, with Venn, his Scouse, single mother DS Jen Rafferty and the often awkward, sometimes resentful, but ambitious DC Ross May, stranded and having to stay over.

There is more murder, mysteries, intrigue, deeply buried secrets and deadly dangers revolving around Scully's Cove and Greystoke as the police delve into the past and present life and personal history of Rosco in their search for the truth. By now Venn has become a established leading character with his own low key, thoughtful style of working, and we have become familiar with his close and loving relationship with his husband, Jonathan Roberts. Jen has still not settled down in Devon, and still misses her beloved Liverpool which she briefly visits, she has some regrets over how she has raised her children, the emphasis she has placed on her career, and finds herself pining to have another baby. This is shaping to be another great series from Cleeves, with a superb sense of location in the North Devon coast, and after that conclusion, I look forward to the next book! Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC and Macmillan UK Audio for an ALC.
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Before starting, I do have to nail my colours to the mast and admit that as a Northumbrian living near the Scottish border my allegiance will always be with Vera and Perez as those books are some of my very favourite in this genre.
I have to admit that I’m yet too warm to Venn. I’m not entirely sure why, perhaps it’s because he’s based so far south for this northern lass. However, Ann Cleeve’s descriptions of the area are wonderfully vivid and as such paint the area in which the book is set in such a way that it is hard to think this is the case. For me, Venn has yet to show all aspects of himself, he feels a little flat for me, despite the many facets to his life with the brethren, his husband and the homophobia they have faced and the traumatic experiences from the first book. He just feels somewhat uninteresting compared to the incredibly complex beings that are Vera Stanhope and Jimmy Perez. I hope that his character will continue to develop through further books in the series.
A really interesting story that kept me guessing and second guessing right to the end. I did feel that the presence of ‘the brethren’ didn’t add anything to this storyline and, if anything, detracted from the storyline. Surely the brethren don’t have to feature in every village Venn comes across in his work and form the basis for suspicion for every storyline? Vera does mention Hector from time to time, but although her childhood has formed who Vera is as an adult and detective, and rears its head from time to time, it does not feature so prominently or as the potential basis for all murders she investigates. I realise this is only a couple of books into the series, but please, please let the next book be brethren-free!
All in all a very enjoyable book, full of twists and turns and written in Ann Cleeve’s wonderful, vividly descriptive style that captures not only the stunning scenery, but creates characters within the setting that capture the reader’s interest throughout.
Very well narrated, the tone and speed of the book was perfectly matched by the narrator and added to my enjoyment of the book.

Another great tale from Ann Cleeves. Set in a remote corner of Devon, it focuses on the discovery of Rosco’s body, soon followed by a second murder. Interwoven with village lore and unrequited love, this makes for a cracking read.

I was so happy when I got the audiobook of The Raging Storm via Netgalley. I'm a big fan of police procedural mystery books and this series is one of my favourites that I kept waiting for. It didn't disappoint me at all. The twists were really good and kept me engaged and guessing whodunit.

The story started from a local salling hero, Jem Rosco suddenly came back to stay in Greystone after he left there decades ago and then found him murdered. DI Matthew Venn found out Jem came to Greystone to meet with someone. He and his team started to investigate Jem's past and entangled relationship with locals.

The investigation into Jem's background and the secrets that locals had were really intriguing. I couldn't stop listening to the story.
I liked the ending, I guessed right who did it, but it was still a really good mystery!

I also enjoyed reading about Matthew and Jen's life stories. In the previous book, Matthew had an issue with Jonathan involving into his investigation, so they still had tension towards the case involvement. In addition, Jen's feelings towards her career and family, and her failed marriage made me like her more.

I can't wait to read next book!!
Highly recommend it!