The third book in the Two River series is a strong addition to the series. A famous adventurer who has sailed around the world comes into the small town of Greystone. All he will tell the residence is that he is there to meet someone, but he will not say who. Before too long, he is found dead in a dinghy, floating in the sea. Matthew Venn and his team arrive to investigate what happened. Before too long a second body is discovered. As Matthew tries to uncover the killer, he must also deal with his religious past and his times spent in Greystone as a kid.

The Two Rivers series is one. I find myself looking forward to more and more each passing year. Matthew Venn is a very atypical and interesting lead character. His dynamic of trying to balance work and his direct reports while also trying to live his life with his husband in an area he grew up in fascinates me. The work triangle between Matthew, Ross Pritchard, and Jen Rafferty provides excellent storylines and tension throughout the book. The characters are very relatable, and as you read, you want to learn more about them.

The plot is thorough with many twists and turns as you go. The backdrop of the English coast adds a nice scenic, studying for the novel. I feel like the Two Rivers series keeps getting better with each book. I would say The Raging Storm is the best entry so far. I would strongly recommend this book and the Two Rivers series as a whole. Thank you to @NetGalley @AnnCleeves @McMillanAudio @StMartinsPress @MinotaurBooksfor a free advanced copy for an honest review.

I love the Vera novels and television episodes, but didn’t like the first book in this new series by well-known author Ann Cleeves. I skipped the second book, but jumped at the chance to read an early version of this one, the third.
And I’m glad I did. Still can’t connect to— or even really get a handle on—the lead detective protagonist, (and it feels like the author hasn’t, either). But his coworkers are interesting. The single-mother female detective in his team seemed, in particular, to come to life. As did some of the many supporting characters and suspects. The setting was interesting—mostly because it was so unusual—but also unremittingly bleak, which is usual for both this series and the author’s other books, which include the ‘Shetland’ series as well. The mystery moved along and kept me guessing, but did drag on a bit long, with some red herrings that seemed overly-contrived. It doesn’t seem like the author has quite found her footing with this new series, but she’s such a good writer that I’m willing to keep going along for the ride.

Very good! This story caught my attention from the beginning and never let go.

A body has turned up, strategically placed to get attention, but no blood so where was the person killed? Why? This was a person who was much loved, happy go lucky, who would want to kill? The police have few clues to go on. Matthew, the lead on the case, has roots going back to this community, from a time when he was a child and his family belonged to the Brethren, a religion based on the Rapture. He's recognized and remembered and they all know why he is no longer a member which is awkward for him.
Others on his team include Jen, divorced with 2 teens at home, which makes it hard to be away overnight in a creepy town during a storm where the bodies are piling up.
Ross is a younger team member, full of impatience and wants to be home with his wife, yet he likes the excitement.

Then there are the townspeople, many of them, who all play a role, some large, some small. Who knows more than they are telling?

I really enjoyed this and thank NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest opinion. 4+ stars for this latest work by a talented author.

Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the advanced readers copy of the latest from Ann Cleeves.
Raging Storm is the third in the Matthew Venn series.and is set in a small, dreary town in Devon. When a native son walks int0 the local pub one evening, there's shock among the villagers. Jem Roscoe had been a tearaway youth in Greystone years ago. When he mysteriously came into money he followed his passion for sailing, became the youngest person to sail solo around the world and went on to star in televised travel adventures. The question is , why is he back in Greystone as he's getting older and fame is fading? His story is that he's waiting for a visitor.
When Jem's body is found naked in a small boat off the treacherous beach more serious questions arise.and rumors are rampant. Not long after, the body of a local magistrate and commander of the yacht club is found on the beach at the foot of the cliff. He and Jem have past history involving a woman.
Venn and his team are called in to investigate the crimes and encounter close-lipped villagers. With patience and procedure Venn begins to piece together a story that spans years.
I liked the story up to the point when it became convoluted in terms of motives and suspects. Then I just wanted it to end. The constant traveling back and forth from Greystone to other towns had my head swimming. The finished book will have a map and that will be a help..
I like the series and feel Venn is depicted as the author intended. Some readers find him flat, but they're usually comparing him to Vera and Jimmy Perez. Venn carries scars of a rigid, religious upbringing and of parents who disowned him when he lost his faith and came out as a gay man. His character reflects those influences.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC!

I have read one other Ann Cleeves book, The Darkest Evening, which is part of her Vera Stanhope series and loved it. It seems that I have made a habit of reading Cleeves' books in the middle of the series as I picked up The Raging Storm before reading the other two in the Two Rivers series. I found that I was easily able to pick right up in the plot and loved every minute of it. Cleeves' mysteries are exactly what I look for in a solid mystery novel. She provides a great cast of characters and viewpoints with excellent atmospheric settings. I loved how she kept me guessing throughout with each character in the gloomy village of Greystone seeming to have some kind of vendetta and the tension coming from the villagers amping up the suspense throughout. I am looking forward to reading the first two books in the Two Rivers series along with the rest of Cleeves' books. Her novels are to me like one of my favorite shows, "Midsommer Murders" in text form. Highly recommend!

The newest in the Matthew Venn series does not disappoint. The mystery involves the death of a boating hero in a small coastal village. Filled with detail and questions it's a fun and interesting read. Each of the characters is fully developed and feel like real people. I would highly recommend this series to anyone who loves a good mystery.

Ann Cleeves is the queen of moody police procedural mysteries, and I normally love her strong characters, but I am having trouble with Matthew Ven. I cannot say specifically what does not work for me, maybe I expected a more detailed relationship with his husband Jonathan, and how this makes him the man, and detective he is? Rounded up to 3.5 stars

Another twisted, involved whodunnit. An excellent and engaging story, involving one of my favorite characters, Matthew Venn. Loved the intricacies of this story. And the “mastermind” behind was not really a surprise, but added to the investigation and skewed reasoning of the case. This is a true whodunnit. Do not miss this one.

Another fun mystery with Matthew Venn who is becoming my favourite Ann Cleeves character after Vera. Sorry, Jimmy. My only disappointment was Jonathan's revelation to Matthew at the end which seemed anticlimactic, but does set up a future book.

The residents of Greystone, a small fishing town in North Devon, England, like to keep their problems hidden from outsiders. But when the celebrity sailor and adventure seeker, Jem Rosco, is found dead, his body lying in a boat in the legendary and feared Scully Cove's water, they have no choice but to accept the police presence. DI Mathew Venn and his team – Sergeant Jen Rafferty, a divorced mother with two teenagers, and Ross May, a young and impatient man – are assigned to investigate the high-profile murder.

"The Raging Storm," similarly to other Ann Cleeves mysteries, while still concentrating on the investigation, portrays the closely knit community very well. This is the town where people gather at the local pub for a pint. Nature teaches them to be respectful of the sea and wind. Some residents are members of the Brethren church, which was also the church Matthew Venn attended when he was a child. Now, he is a successful detective and happy with his husband, Jonathan. Still, the old ghosts don't die quickly, and Matthew is slightly uncomfortable around people who remember him.

I enjoyed this novel very much. It has the best of two worlds – an exciting murder investigation and the fascinating background of the place that is very different from the hustle and bustle of a big city. People know each other there. The old sins are never forgotten, but the good deeds are also remembered, and the town can get together for a good cause, such as charity events to help a sick boy get treatment. Each character is skillfully described, and at times, I almost felt like I was there, looking from the cliff at the raging sea or observing people at the pub. And being so immersed in a book that it takes me to a different place is something I treasure the most in a novel.

The Raging Storm is the third book in the Two Rivers series. Matthew Venn and his team are investigating a strange murder in the small coastal town of Greystone. The lifeboat is called out to a boat adrift in a stormy sea, but they find a corpse in the boat. The dead man grew up in a nearby town and was charismatic, but manipulative. But why had he returned to this little town and why was he killed?
The characters are well-developed and I was completely caught up in the story and location. Cleaves is an amazing storyteller and this book is excellent.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

I've been waiting for the next book in this series from the wonderful Ann Cleeves. DI Matthew Venn is a really interesting and unusual character with his background creating so much internal conflict. And of course, Ann Cleeves is queen of the moody procedural mystery.

In a small North Devon town, tucked in a cove, a storm approaches - both a literal weather front and one where unsettled history is catching up with the locals. A body is found in a boat - a world famous man and a one-time local. As DI Venn and his team dig into the past, it's hard to tell the truth from the lies - especially when some people have been lying for a very long time.

I enjoyed being swept up in this storm full of old timers and ambitious young detectives.

This review is for an ebook arc from Netgalley - Ann Cleeves is one of my favorite authors and I'm warming up to this new series. Matthew Venn is a British Detective (shock, right!) based in North Devon, which is much farther south than Vera or Jimmy Perez in Shetland (obvs).
Huh. I just realized I claim this author as a fave but have missed her two earlier characters... time to fix that!
Back to Matthew of Two Rivers. Ah, a tortured soul. He's gay but quietly so (I do love his husband), his sexuality has caused rifts with his past - I'll not say too much more, as that is a big part of this character.
Characters: the team of Jen & Ross (plus assorted police constables) have been built up and fleshed out. the townsfolks in this story - let me just say: Do NOT visit Barnstaple/Greystone, it sounds like the Midsomer of the SW UK coast!
I will say - I'm having trouble warming up to Matthew because he's so reserved and because of his deeply religious past - I am not religious at all, so can't understand how it holds so much sway over him.
But Ann Cleeves always writes a grand, twisty mystery and she didn't disappoint.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Ann Cleeves perfectly captures what it's like to leave a cult. Awkwardness in social settings and struggle to find your place. Even years later I find certain circumstances will trigger flashbacks

This why I love the character of Detective Matthew Venn. You see his insecurities from his upbringing but also that he's made a good life for himself out in 'The World.' I'd love for Ann Cleeves to write a prequel of how he became the man he is today; good at his job and happily married. You get some of that in the series but you know there's more to the story.

Another thing I love about Ann Cleeves writing is her ability to make the setting a character as well. It's one of the reasons I loved Shetland. In this series, it's Devon. I particularly liked how in in this one she used the storm to set the tone.

I was so excited when I was approved for a NetGally ARC. Love this series! And The Raging Storm didn't disappoint. Twisty mystery. More of all the characters backstories. And just a hint of what's to come.

I've already Pre-order. Planning a reread of The Long Call and The Heron's Cry before then. Looking forward to 2nd read, looking for clues I missed, and seeing the map that will be in the print copy.

Murder and mayhem keep this story moving. Realistic characters add to the tale. This novel reads like nonfiction at times. Written by a popular, talented author, this book is quickly a favorite story. Red herrings gs kept me guessing. The ending is not easily determined. This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher and the author. The setting is almost a character in that it keeps the reader wanting more of the story.

Ann Cleeves delivers another top-notch mystery novel, the third in the Matthew Venn series (Cleeves is also the author of the popular "Vera" novels). In this venture, detective Venn returns to the town where he grew up, a difficult assignment for him as the setting brings up unpleasant memories. A celebrity adventurist has just returned to the town and shortly after that, his body is found adrift in a dinghy. There is a slew of suspects, close-knit village secrets bubbling under the surface amidst a brooding atmospheric seaside setting. As always, Cleeves paints a strong set of characters amid a rich setting. Mystery fans will find this a pleasurable read and it will keep them guessing until the end.

The Raging Storm by Ann Cleeves


Fierce winds, dark secrets, deadly intentions.


Ann Cleeves has written ANOTHER masterfully done psychological thriller. This time we met Jem Roscoe as he said into Grestone Devon during an autumn gale after being away for decades. The residents are excited to share the sea with a celebrity. That is until Roscoe goes missing and his body is found in a dingy off of a place called Scully Cove. The residents know this area well as it rumored to be someplace evil. Enter Detective Matthew Venn who left the area himself to depart a cultish Christian sect. As fate would have it he was brought back, but this time with his husband. While Matthew is very trepidatious about the case, he wants to find out why Jen is dead and who if anyone killed him.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book for several reasons. The storyline is perfect, the characters development is spot on and flawed with natural instincts that veer you in the direction the author wants you to go and the twists and turns leading to the explosive ending takes you on one hell of a ride. (Sorry about the run on sentence there) I hope that the others in the series are just as great (which I think they are) but you need not read them first. Amazing book

5 out of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley as well as the author and publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

“The Raging Storm” by Ann Cleeves it's the 3rd instalment in the A Detective Matthew Venn Mystery Series, a powerful novel about guilt, betrayal, and the longheld secrets people keep. I love Ann Cleeves books and this instalment did not disappoint. In fact, I thought that it was one of the best in the series.

Fierce winds, dark secrets, deadly intentions.

The Series is character-driven and also very descriptive you feel like you are right there in North Devon, England. In this instalment we get to catch up with Venn and his team, as they try to wade through the small village dynamics where outsiders are barely tolerated and superstitions prevail.

This was a very suspenseful story and I was fully engrossed in it and finding out what would happen next. There were lots of suspects and I was kept guessing till the end.

I highly recommend this book and the Two Rivers/Detective Inspector Mathew Venn Mystery series to all my British Mystery loving friends.


I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from the publisher and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Raging Storm is the 3rd book in this series. Matthew Venn is the main character. He is a police inspector. The other characters add to the suspense and story. The story takes place in the town of Greystone. Jeremy (Jem) Rosco has returned to the town and has rented a cottage from Gwen Gregory. He is an adventurer and sailor. He is considered a hero sailing around the world. He told people that he was in town to met a special person who was expected any day. He would come into the Maiden's Prayer Pub every day for a few pints. but one day he did not show.

Mary Ford was on boat duty when she gets a call by the Coast Guard that they have received a May Day call from a fishing boat the Anne Louise. Sammy Benton is the Lifeguard Operations Manager. Alan Ford is Mary's father was visiting to help take care of her son who had a disability. The lifeboat volunteers go out to help but don't see the fishing boat but a dingy with a naked body in it, The body was that of Jem Rosco. The police are called.

Matthew Venn and his sergeant, Jen Rafferty come to Greystone to check out Jem's death. What was Jem doing in Greystone and why. The body was brought ashore in the boat to the lifeboat station. Peter Smale, the GP doctor reviewed the body. Said Jem was stabbed elsewhere and put in the boat. Sally Pengelly is the coroner.

Matthew speaks to Carter, owner of the pub, about Jem and gets the key from Gwen to the cottage he has been renting. Upon seeing the cottage they find blood in the bathroom. Also no shower curtain. There was no suitcase there. Detective Ross joined them. Because of the storm they had to stay at the pub as the roads were blocked by fallen trees.

This is where the story takes the reader on an adventure. I will leave this to the reader to enjoy as there is too much going on to put on paper. The story builds up with a lot of twists and turns to a surprising ending and climax.

I really enjoyed this story. It keeps the reader guessing to the end.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotour Books for this ARC.

Ann Cleeves is again masterful in the third installment in the DI Matthew Venn / Two Rivers series! She simply writes a brilliant mystery! This third installment also lets us get to know the characters better as well!

But really, what I loved about this book was not knowing who "did it" until the last pages... and I had several guesses, but was happily wrong in the end!

I am eagerly awaiting the next book! I highly recommend!

I'd like to thank Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for the digital copy of this book!