I love Ann Cleeves' books and the latest in the Matthew Venn series is no exception. Matthew is again pulled into a case that touches on his childhood in a closed religious sect. Plenty of mystery--including on Matthew's homefront--to keep you hooked. Cleeves never tips her hand too early and I was left guessing til the end.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for access to a digital ARC on NetGalley.

I really enjoyed the narrator's work in the audio edition, and enjoyed this new installment in Ann Cleeves' On Call series. An involving traditional mystery in a vividly drawn and atmospheric setting. When a famous sailor and explorer returns to his hometown to have a meeting with a special person from his past, it sets the whole town buzzing. But when he's killed and his naked body is placed in a dinghy that the lifeboat recovers, Matthew Venn and his team are called in. Venn is torn between the case and the strangeness of being in the town where his family worshipped when he was part of a religious community. The other detectives are often sent on their own interviews and make important discoveries, and even the arrogant younger male detective is mostly likable. But I could have done with less of the female detective's "broodiness" and wistfulness over no more children in her future. Some nice twists, but also some developments that seemed less shocking. Overall, very enjoyable. I also loved the choice to have the author read her own note at the end of the novel--it's lovely.

Third in a series, The Raging Storm is classic Ann Cleeves: a thoughtful lead detective with personal baggage and an interesting backstory, a central mystery that requires the lead detective and his underlings (with their own personal baggage and interesting backstories) to spend time in a remote English village, an insular community in said village that is at times resistant to the detective squad's attempts to solve the mystery, and above all, a satisfying ending. Fans of Ann Cleeves should go ahead and pre-order this one, as should anyone who enjoys a well-written and deeply engaging detective novel.

The Raging Storm is the third in the Matt Venn series by Ann Cleeves. It starts when Jem Rosco, a local boy made good as a sailing hero returns to his hometown of Greystone. But then, his dead body is found in a dinghy anchored in Scully Cove and Matt and his team are called in to investigate. It’s an uncomfortable situation for Matt as this town is the home of the conservative church that tossed him out.
This isn’t a fast paced story. It’s a cerebral police procedural, expecting the reader to pay attention. This is a character driven story. Both the suspects and the team are fully developed individuals. My favorite police procedurals balance the mix of mystery to the team’s personal issues and this manages that mix perfectly.
Cleeves just does a wonderful job of setting the scene and I appreciated the ability to easily envision how it all plays out. The ending to this was perfect (which to me means it makes sense and isn’t unbelievable).
Make sure to take the time to read the Author’s Note and Cleeves’ discussion on how Matt came to be.
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book

The Raging Storm by Ann Cleeves – Unlikable Characters and Convoluted Story


Ann Cleeves is an excellent storyteller and I was excited for the opportunity to read her new book The Raging Storm, the third book in the Detective Matthew Venn series. I have not read the first two books.

Matthew Venn and his team were called to handle a case in Greystone, Devon after a famous sailor and adventurer, Jem Rosco, has been found dead in a dinghy. Though Jem hails from the Greystone area, he is not necessarily considered a local hero by those who knew him way back when. Will the investigators be able to draw out the truth from the people in this community?

I wanted to like this book, but I really struggled with the characters. The main character Matthew was not likable. He came off as a miserable man, who chose to carry the baggage from his past, and have a chip on his shoulder. At times he treated his team poorly and seemed to have a low opinion of them, as well as the townspeople.

Of all the characters I liked Sergeant Jen Rafferty the best. Her character was better developed and came across likeable. Though things are not easy in her life, she doesn’t wallow in self-pity. Ross May’s character was rather flat and the object of Matthew’s criticism.

From Matthew’s experience of religion, to the people in the community that seemed rather cultish, Christianity was portrayal as unhealthy. It was an unrealistic portrayal of Christian believers.

The story was very convoluted. The people in the community seems rather insular and secretive, not the kind of folks you want to spend time with. There were only a few characters that were somewhat likeable. The story seemed to drag on and I just wanted it to end. From the town, to most the characters everything about this booked seemed rather grey and unappealing.

I have enjoyed Ann Cleeve’s other books and movies taken from her novels. But The Raging Storm was not appealing. When the main character is so off-putting it doesn’t make a good foundation for a story. I would like have to have had the other characters on Matthew’s team better developed.

Because of the unlikable main character Matthew and the convoluted story that dragged on, I didn’t care for The Raging Storm.

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Ann Cleeve’s book The Raging Storm. I received a complimentary copy of this book and was under no obligation to give a favorable review. The Raging Storm is schedule to be released September 5, 2023.

Ann Cleeves is a true master of the mystery genre. From her early series featuring Inspector Ramsay to her Birdwatcher series, and then on through the Vera and Jimmy Perez novels, she has entertained me for hours. Her latest protagonist is Matthew Venn; here we have the third in that series.

Matthew has a somewhat complex history. His parents were part of a (fringe) religious group that he felt he needed to leave. Matthew was not comfortable with the Brethren’s beliefs and knew that his partner Jonathan might never succeed in being fully accepted by them. Series readers have followed Matthew as he engages in his new life. That said, this book could be read as a standalone.

The Raging Storm is a complex mystery with many characters, relationships and plot threads. The story takes place in the small community where Matthew had grown up. Readers spend time with his team, a sometimes competitive group, and with Matthew and Jonathan. Jonathan, by the way, is a very loving and tolerant spouse.

There are also all of the people in the community and they make for a large group of suspects. The (first) victim was a well-known sailor and a second murder occurs (no spoilers so not naming this person) as well. In addition, there is a disappearance. There are many interrelationships here.

Settings in the book are well described. There are emergency workers on the lifeboat group heading out to sea, members of the yachting club, houses that are falling apart and more.

Why did the first victim, Jem, return to the community? Who did he plan to meet? Why did he choose to spend his time there in a broken down hut? Was there a special reason for the location of his body and the next one?

This book has a slow burn. It is long (400 Pages) and involving. I recommend The Raging Storm most highly (though my heart will always belong to Jimmy Perez of another series).

I toggled back and forth between the print and audio editions of this title, reading when I was home and listening while on the go. This worked perfectly for me. The narration of the audio book was crisp, clear and easy to follow.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for this title. All opinions are my own.

Ann Cleeves always manages to work the setting into her novels, almost making it like a character itself, and this book is no exception. The weather matches the darkness of the crimes and the screaming squalls of the sea seem to constantly be warning everyone that something bad is about to happen. So atmospheric you almost get the chills every time the wind blows. However, she spent so much time making the setting amazing, that I found it very hard to remember who was who. There weren't enough descriptions of the characters for me to tell them apart, and I never knew what any of the major players' ages were, which factored heavily in the mystery.

Despite this fairly minor quibble, I enjoyed the book very much. There were several times where I thought I knew whodunnit and why, but I was never correct. One of my theories had the who correct but not the why, and I was somewhat disappointed when the actual reason behind the murders was revealed. It was a bit of a letdown. But that's something I've experienced in most of the books I've read by this author. The books are always totally great and engaging but somewhat lacking when it comes to the reveal of the mastermind behind the mystery. But for the most part, I don't mind too much since the rest of the books are so good. I love that Ann Cleeves has so many books already published so I have so many great reads to look forward to! She's one of my favorites!

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Now let’s talk about a page turner! This one was SO good! I will be recommending this to everyone I know upon the release date.

I really enjoyed this third book in the Matthew Venn series. Ann Cleeves is a great writer-excellent character development and wonderful at evoking a strong sense of place.
Looking forward to recommending this one to our patrons.

Ann Cleeves is one of my go-to authors. Her books do not disappoint. This police procedural features Matthew Venn, police detective, investigating a death in a small coastal town in England. Ann Cleeves is such a good atmospheric writer, and the cast of characters is relatable.
This is such a good series! However, it is not necessary to read the other books in this series to enjoy this book. Highly recommend this book and all of her wonderful books!

This is the third in the Two Rivers series. I read the second one; the first is on my TBR. This would work well as a standalone.

Jem Rosco, a celebrity in his own right due to his having sailed around the world, returns to Greystone, having rented a local cottage. Nightly, he tells people in the local pub he is waiting for a visit from someone. It is autumn, and the weather is unsettled, with frequent storms and dangerous winds. When Jem’s body is discovered in a dinghy in Scully’s Cove, people wonder about the ominous legend of that location. DI Matthew Venn, who visited Greystoke as a child, and his team travel there to investigate, uncovering Jem’s history and secrets of the locals. When storms isolate the town and another body is found, the danger heightens. And, what about that religious cult, The Brethren? Do they have something to do with the murders or are they a red herring?

Well written, with strong character development, Cleeves will have you guessing throughout. Stressing characters and plot rather than action, this is an engrossing read that I didn’t want to put down. It is atmospheric and a bit claustrophobic due to the small, rather closed community and the constraints of the weather.

If you are not familiar with this series, you might recognize Cleeves name from her very successful Vera and Shetland books and TV series. If you like methodical, introspective, well plotted and characterized police procedurals, seek her out.

You can't go wrong with Ann Cleeves. This new installment of the Matthew Venn, Two Rivers series does not disappoint. Jem Rosco, an advnturer and celebrity blows into Greystone in DEvon and shortly is discovered murdered and floating in a dinghy in Skull Cove. Venn is sent to investigate and Greystone is where he grew up in a very conservative religious sect, the Brotherhood, until his break. As always, Venn is a very real character, well developed and sympathetic. So glad that Ann Cleeves has added another book in the Two River series

Ann Cleeves expands and enriches characters with every book she writes. Matthew Venn series reveals a bit more of the character of Matthew's upbringing in The Brethren, really focuses on wrongs done in the past and the long, long resentments of people in a small, isolated town.

One of the darkest Cleeves book, with the setting in a small Devon coastal village everyone describes as dreary, Cleeves excels at writing descriptive narrative so lush you can feel the rain on your face.

The Raging Strom is book 3 in the Matthew Venn Two Rivers series. Each book in this series keeps getting better. Ann Cleeves is a favorite author, whether the detective is Vera or Matthew Venn. Admittedly, I love them both. Cleeves is adept at keeping the reader guessing. She creates a complexity of plot that misleads the detectives and keeps readers trying to idenify the guilty party until the end.

As has been true in both the Two Rivers series and the Vera series, the characters are diverse and multi-layered and not at all whom readers think they are. Every character has an interior life that keeps readers guessing until the end. None of the characters in Cleeves' books are boring. Some are guaranteed to be unlikeable, while others are both guilty and sympathetic. Even as readers worry that a character, who is well liked will not be guilty, Cleeves pulls no punches in providing a human reason--whether ego or need--for the actions of the guilty party.

And so yes: I love Cleeves books. I feel honored to have been given this ARC to read and review. I want to thank Cleeves and her publisher, Minotaur Books, for providing me with this ARC. I loved this mystery and highly recommend it to readers. The above is my honest review. Like all Cheeves novels, this book is excellent. Thank you also to NetGalley for making this book so easily available to download.

Cleeves just keeps getting better with every story she writes. This new entry in the Matthew Venn series reveals a bit more information about Matthew's upbringing in The Brethren, but really focuses on long simmering feuds, wrongs done in the past and the long, long memories of people in a small, isolated town.

The atmosphere here is one of the darkest I recall from a Cleeves book, with the setting in a small Devon coastal village everyone describes as "bleak." Cleeves excels at writing descriptive narrative so lush you can feel the rain on your face and the wind in your hair.

The characters here are also memorable, from the charismatic Jem to devoted mother Mary, her protective father Alan, and the ultra-manipulative woman who fools them all.

This can be read as a stand-alone, but it will make you want to go back and read the others in the Venn series.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC.
Ann Cleeves is one of my favorite authors and I was so excited to get this third in the Matthew Venn series.
It's quite an intriguing mystery he has to solve this time and I was shocked by the perpatrator(s) in the end. Didn't see that coming!
Venn is complicated character (so different from Vera, who's my all-time favourite!) and I find myself feeling a bit sorry for him at times. Thanks to his upbringing he doesn't seem to be comfortable in his skin, but he loves his job and his husband, which makes up for his occasional unease. He's definitely growing on me and I can't wait to see what happens next. Will Jonathan find his mother?

Never one to rest on her laurels, Ann Cleeves continues her new series with her serious detective Matthew Venn. The plot is as well paced and twisty as usual, with many surprises awaiting the reader. Matttew's husband, Jonathan does not play as prominent a role in this book, however, the two younger detectives round out the story. The setting promises to intrigue lovers of the sea as does the murder victim an adventurer who factored greatly in the small town where the murder takes place. Cleeves is a master storyteller and this book does not disappoint.

This is the third installment of Cleeves’ (relatively) new DI Matthew Venn series — the first two of which have been dramatized in the BBC’s The Long Call. This story takes place in Greystone — a sea town and home to the Brethren — the religious community where Mathew Venn was raised and then parted from. A famous sailor and adventurer comes to town but disappears after a few weeks with his body turning up shortly afterwards. In typical Cleeves style, nothing is what it seems, and it is difficult to unravel the motivations and connections between people in the small community. Moral priorities figure into the narrative which always interests me.

The other two Cleeves series which have made their way to television are the popular Vera and Shetland. As is the case with the Venn series, her stories make excellent underpinnings for the television shows. In truth, I do prefer to watch them on the screen because a lot of time in the books is spent on descriptions of physical surroundings which are less interesting to me than plot, characterization, and dialog — while watching them I can take in the surroundings with one glance and not waste time trying to visualize the (arresting) landscape from words.

Easy to read. Full of atmosphere, personality, and dramatic scenery.

If you've already gotten hooked on Ann Cleeves' latest series with detective Matthew Venn, then you'll certainly enjoy this one. Cleeves' writing is crisp and the plot engaging and twisty. It has a decidedly different feel from the first two books by virtue of its setting away from North Devon. Personally, I find the emphasis on Venn insecurities and guilt related to his religious upbringing quite tedious. There are plenty of antisocial detectives who don't spend any time wondering how other people make friends. And Venn seems to relate to others quite well. It is his listening skills and patience that make him such a good detective. The characters of Gadgetry and May come perilously close to remaining one dimensional. I was more hopeful for May's potential for growth after book 2, but he's back to being an impatient, self absorbed pup here. Also tiring is Rafferty's guilt about not being a good enough mother and her imagining abusive relationships everywhere she looks. It's difficult to care about these particular characters.

I'm a really big fan of Ann Cleeves - her books and their adaptations. I love all her detectives so I was excited to read this one. Unfortunately, I didn't find the mystery or location very compelling and kept putting it down to read something else. Ann Cleeves is such a great writer that even though this wasn't my favourite, I kept going and I'm glad I did. .