I have been told for a few years that I needed to read Ann Cleeves, so when I saw that she was writing a new series, I figured it was a great time to start. In The Long Call, we meet police detective Matthew Venn. Venn, is an ex-member of the religious sect the Brethren and is is mentioned throughout the book. He was disowned by his family and this story opens with his estranged father's funeral. He and his husband Jonathan live in a fixer upper on the shore in North Devon, and Jonathan works nearby at The Woodyard, a renovated warehouse that serves special needs individuals and community members with counseling, art lessons, and finely cooked foods. Matthew takes a call about a body of a young man on the beach not far from his home and duty calls.

The Long Call is definitely a character-driven police procedural. Matthew is an interesting and complicated character. He is smart and analytical, but has baggage from his past that I hope will gradually be brought out into the open and eventually sorted. Venn's partners, DS Rafferty and Constable Ross May bring different skills and personalities to the team. Rafferty has recently been transferred to North Devon to escape an abusive husband. I really like her character. She has a calm presence about her and is able to get witnesses to share information that they either didn't remember previously or didn't think was important. I love the gentle way she questioned the young woman with special needs. May is the one I'm not sure about. He is a bit of a whiner and jumps in before thinking or where he should hold back. The plot unfolded at a non-hurried pace but was steady enough to keep me interested. The story is told from the POVs of Matthew, Jen, and the elderly Maurice Braddick. Braddick's daughter, Luce, is wonderful. She has more information than she realized, and is an integral part of the plot. The murder investigation is a complicated one. There are two abductions of the Woodyard's clients, one after the other, that seem to be unrelated, but need to be investigated. Are these abductions connected to the murder, or is something else going on in this tight knit community? I was not sure who was responsible, but as more clues were uncovered, I was led to a satisfying conclusion. I enjoyed this story and am ready to jump into The Heron Cry, book 2 in the series.

Bestselling author Ann Cleeves introduces DI Matthew Venn in a new series. Matthew returns to North Devon to attend his father's funeral, a place he would rather not have gone back to. When he receives a phone call from a dead body on the beach, he immediately shifts his attention to the case, focusing on the calling card the killer left. Will Matthew stay in North Devon and work on solving the case, or will he go back home, a place that he does not have so much baggage.

Matthew is a complex character, and I am glad that I read this book before reading book two, The Heron's Cry. Matthew has a lot going against him, and as a result of his strict religious past, is a man wrought with anger and sadness. After leaving the church, he became estranged from his parents. Even when attending the funeral, Matthew kept his distance.

Matthew's personal and professional life begin to clash in this story. His focus is on the murder, interviewing many possible subjects. At some point, Matthew does begin to wonder if perhaps his husband Jonathan could be involved. If so, that would be utterly devastating for Matthew. This engaging read proved to be an excellent start to a new series. After reading this I read the next book immediately after, as I was quite drawn to Matthew, the case he was working on, all while hoping his life wouldnt be so overwhelming.

Many thanks to Minotaur Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

In anticipation of the September 7, 2021 release of the follow-up book, The Heron's Cry, I was gifted a copy of The Long Call, by Ann Cleeves, a new series featuring Detective Matthew Venn. When a drifter is found stabbed on the beach, Detective Venn begins an investigation into the murder and finds himself almost immediately entangled with his husband's employer--a center that assists those with learning disabilities and features a cafe and special art classes for the community. Still reeling over the death of his estranged father, Matthew dives into the investigation and learns that the murdered man might not have been a drifter after all. The investigation forces him back into the circle of powerful men involved in the strict religious society of which his parents were a part, all the while knowing that he is too close to the case and should definitely withdraw due to the conflict of interest involving his husband.

It's been a while since I've read a good murder mystery and this one was great--it had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I've read one or two of Cleeves' Shetland series (and I LOVE the tv show) and this reminded me that I have to go back. She tells a great story with just the right amount of twists and turns. And I have to say, I loved that Matthew Venn bucked the stereotype of a tortured romantic past or present. Matthew loves and respects his husband, and his husband feels the same. I will definitely be checking out The Heron's Cry.

Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur books for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

Anne Cleeve nis a household name for mystery lovers and this book is a new start to a series!

Meet Senior Investigator Matthew Venn, a man haunted by his ADJ of his traditional religious upbringing, he is shunned by his parents and community for his lifestyle. Matthew is introduced as he views his father's funeral from a far and we follow him as he is the head DI on a murder taking place at his partner Jonathon's Adult Care Center.

Through Matthew, Cleeve discusses cultural issues such as homophobia and societal norms. She brings great detail to the plot and supporting characters and it is a joy to read such a complex and complete police procedural. The book moves slowly and steadily to a satisfying conclusion.

If you haven't read Anne Cleeves, start now! This is a great book for those who love police procedurals, British mysteries and want a touch of cultural discussion in their novels.

Thanks to @MinotaurBooks , @StMartinsPress and @NetGalley. for this ARC in exchanged for a fair review.

Thank you Netgalley for the e-book of The Long Call by Ann Cleeves in exchange for my review.

From the blurb: “In North Devon, where two rivers converge and run into the sea, Detective Matthew Venn stands outside the church as his father’s funeral takes place. Once loved and cherished, the day Matthew left the strict evangelical community he grew up in, he lost his family too.
Now, as he turns and walks away again, he receives a call from one of his team. A body has been found on the beach nearby: a man with a tattoo of an albatross on his neck, stabbed to death.
The case calls Matthew back into the community he thought he had left behind, as deadly secrets hidden at its heart are revealed, and his past and present collide.
An astonishing new novel told with compassion and searing insight, The Long Call will captivate fans of Vera and Shetland, as well as new readers.”

This is my first read from Ann Cleeves and I admit, I had not heard of her previously. I do love character driven crime thrillers, which The Long Call definitely is. However, I had a hard time getting into the story. I felt detached from the characters and felt it was just a bit too slow for my liking. I am sure I may be in the minority here with my opinion as many people loved this book and Ann Cleeves other series.

Ann Cleeves is a master, in a class all her own. Since I’m quickly nearing the end of the Vera series and am almost caught up with the Shetland series, I’m thrilled that The Long Call is the beginning of a new and quite different series by Cleeves.

The Long Call introduces us to Matthew Venn, a Detective from North Devon, who has just attended the funeral for his estranged father when he receives a call regarding a murder very near his home by the sea. The case brings Matthew in circles back to his former life in a very strict church which then collides with his new life for which he was ostracized by his family and church. As always with Cleeves, the story unfolds slowly as the characters and the clues unfold allowing the characters to come alive for the reader. I was a bit unsure about Matthew when the book began but by the end I wanted more and, thankfully, the next book in the series is out this summer!! If you like Ann Cleeves, you will adore The Long Call. If you haven’t read her before, this is the perfect starting point for you.

i loved the way this book made all charters equal. The girls with downs syndrome were treated as equals. I really liked that they showed how a community center could really bring together many different people in the community. That centers like this could be multi use spaces and help the community as a whole.

I liked the interaction of strict upbringing and the real world. I hope in the next book that the family are able to come together.

I am sorry for not reviewing fully but I don’t have the time to read this at the moment. I believe that it wouldn't benefit you as a publisher or your book if I only skimmed it and wrote a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for not fully reviewing!

An unexpected new mystery from Cleeves.

Ann Cleeves reliably creates atmosphere and complex compelling characters. She evokes the seaside Devonshire climate and rural living—into which she brings the loving partnership of detective Matthew Venn and Jonathan Church, newly relocated in North Devon. There are multiple suspects in a slippery murder scenario. The plot grows increasingly dense and the ultimate culprit was from a devious field of high-minded suspects. Cleeves brings several types of abuse into the plot which did not strengthen the story development. Nonetheless, she surprises with insights into the character motivations and failures of both those who police and those who harm. A new direction for this author and well-accomplished.

In almost anyone else's hands this police procedural would be ordinary and, most likely, dull. Fortunately for her readers, Ann Cleeves brings the characters and the setting to life vividly, placing the reader in the midst of the mysterious series of interrelated crimes. The first of a new series, Cleeves has created an accumulation of police detectives - the gay leader whose husband runs the center at the core of the crimes, his flamboyant female second who having fled an abusive husband is raising two children, and the newbie who tries too hard to please - and placed them in a setting with which her readers will be familiar, as they will be with the birds that are ever-present.

The Long Call is the latest police procedural from successful author Ann Cleeves. As a long time fan of both her Vera and Shetland (Jimmy Perez) series, I was intrigued by the likelihood of a brand new series from the talented author.
Thankfully, Cleeves's experience shows through from the attention grabbing opening pages as DI Matthew Venn sneakily attends his father's funeral. You just know that there is a family history that will come into play throughout the novel.
There are several strands to this story and we begin with the tale of Matthew and his family, then there is the murder of Simon, followed by several mysterious disappearances. The strands are all interconnected and the place that links each person is the Woodyard. But for me, the most interesting aspect of the tale is the development of the characters. From our main protagonist DI Matthew Venn, to his colleagues Jen and Robb, we are provided with sufficient background to the characters so that they seem real-life and not at all one -dimensional. This adds another layer of interest to the tale.
I also felt that the depiction of the characters such as Rosa and Lucy was compassionate and realistic, a pleasant change from the frequent stereotypes that are all so often used.
I'm looking forward to the next novel in the Two Rivers series.

On the surface this book is in my wheelhouse so I immediately asked for this book when I saw it. It's a police procedural that takes place in England. The book for the most part moves rather slow and picks up at the end. While the writing is good, it was hard for me to stay interested in it. I don't think I will read the next book in series. If you enjoy slower paced police procedurals it might be for you. I gave it 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

It’s starts out slow and picks up speed with force. You think you are find the all of a sudden the road drops off never to be seen again. No not ok, your heart stops and suddenly you are better. To takes where you don’t want to go.

I left and returned to this book several times-- not because it wasn't compelling but because it just wasn't the right time for me to read it. But once the right moment did come, I couldn't put it down. I love pretty much anything that gets into an extreme religious community, and I wish that had been explored more. But I loved the deep empathy Cleeves had for all of her characters, even (especially) ones who did some pretty objectionable things. The end of the book was a bit heavy handed for my tastes, saying explicitly what the themes were, but overall I really enjoyed it.

Good writing, interesting character, a strong depiction of place and a ripping story. Fans of this genre would love this. I have to confess though it wasn’t my cup of tea. I’m not the kind of reader who expects something to happen on page two but in this genre you don’t get your reward until the end stages

Crime novels aren't usually for me, but I thought Cleeves did a great job with the story. It was interesting and well thought out and really character driven. This was the first in a new series and I think the story is definitely interesting enough to continue with more books by her as well as the series.

Good basis for mystery, thriller, not hardly...when must a story base it’s backstory on
political correctness to satisfy the LBGT brigade? I suppose if you are part of this brigade you’ll love this story and the murder is just icing on the cake. If you are not part of the LBGT brigade you’ll not like it at all. I say book two Ann Cleeves give it a rest.

I’ll still look forward to the next book see how it develops. Such a story to read - looking forward to book 2.

A new Ann Cleeves series. Great! Again an atmospheric setting, this time in North Devon, where two rivers meet. In The Long Call, DI Matthew Venn, while the funeral of his estranged father, receives a call about a body found on the beach, ironically very near the house he and his husband now own. Venn left the fundamentalist church In North Devon when he was a teen and never wanted to return. However, his husband is the director of a large community center there. So, new home, new problems, especially when the community center becomes the focal point of the murder and other crimes.

At first no one can identify the murder victim, even in the small town. Later, the man's identity is discovered and his complicated relationship with multiple people in the town is revealed. This puts many North Devon citizens on Venn's radar as possible suspects. An excellent, well-written police procedural with great twists and surprises along the way.

Interesting start to a new series, with an unusual main character for Cleeves, a happily married gay man. Lots of intricate family dynamics, not just for the main character, but for the victims and witnesses as well. Enjoyable.

procedural, law-enforcement, murder, murder-investigation, family-dynamics, friction, friendship, Devonshire, secrets, lies****

DI Matthew Venn is complex, often brooding and with a lot of personal baggage in a job that could break a less driven man. He finds this case more trying than most because it is in a location he is not fond of and comes just as he has returned for the funeral of his estranged father. All of the character development is clear and realistic within nearly the whole gamut of the human condition. The plot seems rather plodding at times but it is complex with plenty of twists and red herrings. The length had me at a disadvantage, but I did enjoy it.
I requested and received a free temporary ebook copy from St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you