I got about halfway through and realized it just wasn’t for me. I found the timeline to jump around a lot from the beginning. It wasn’t a bad book just a little hard for me to follow but still a decent story if you like Ann Cleeve I think this could be for you

3.5 stars rounded up.

My real issue with this book was that the timeline was all over the place. Mary would go out for a walk at lunchtime, then go drop off her kids at school…but reference the lifeboat trip she took in the afternoon of the same day…in the morning after school drop off. In that order. It was impossible to keep straight. Also, I wish we could have gotten to know—really know—some of the main characters more deeply. We learned little things about them, but there were many of them, and it was a lot to keep them all straight—let alone get to know them on a deeper level.

Overall, a good police procedural. There were loose ends, and not everything was wrapped up neatly. This was my first Ann Cleeves novel, so I’m not sure if the prior two books in the series also had unfinished business to return to in future books.

Ann Cleeves Matthew Venn series is one of my favorites. The Raging Storm finds Matthew investigating the murder of local legend Jem Rosco in Greystone, Devon. This place holds memories for Matthew, a place he visited often in his youth, a strict religious community.

Matthew is finding his voice in this third novel, his straight-forward, almost to logical personality seems to loosen a little and I found myself relating to him a bit more.

The plot is complex and twisty, layered with secrets and local community beliefs and speculations; this is often a hinderance in the murder investigation.

As with all of Cleeves books, the atmosphere is richly portrayed and lush. It’s always a joy to go traveling with her!
My thanks to St. Martins Press for this gifted DRC.

My apologies for the lateness of this review, somehow I missed it in my download shelf!

I had The Raging Storm on my shelf for way too long, considering I love an Ann Cleeves novel. But I think I timed it right when I picked it up during our recent atmospheric rivers. I felt very connected to the book as our storm raged outside.
Matthew Venn is a calm and thoughtful Inspector and his team each have traits that complement his style. We are introduced to a cast of locals who are rarely forthcoming as our team meanders through leads. The mystery is good, but I will say that the setting steals the show for me. The characters who have lived there long enough almost become the setting, ss they peer mysteriously behind curtains and have personalities as gray as the cliffs.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's press for this ARC in exchange for a review.

I was cold reading this book, the source being the rich descriptions of a cliffside, coastal community with drafty houses and dark lit pubs.
A slow going murder mystery where the reader becomes a part of this little community bathed in traditions and superstitions.
When three murders occur in this quiet town, although there is a primary detective in charge, it becomes a communal interest with a lot of finger pointing. The fact that one of the victims was famous adds another layer of mystique.
It’s a complex story full of interesting characters.

4.5 stars

Matthew Venn and his team are called to investigate a body found floating in a anchored dinghy in cove in Devon. Grey cliffs, dark skies and secrets compound and create an atmospheric, almost claustrophobic bleakness. While Venn grew up in this general area, fleeing once he broke with the Brethern, the extreme religious sect of his parents, he returned as an adult with his partner, Jonathan. Venn's intelligence is challenged by the death of the celebrity adventurer who had returned to his hometown awaiting a mysterious visitor. Each book in this series shares both the palpable sense of place and the characters, detailed and incisively drawn. A stellar series worth reading in order, but this book also would be an acceptable entry to the series. Highly recommended.

I received a free copy from NetGalley. Part three of a series. I've read part one a long time ago and do not remember it. This book worked fine as a stand alone. A little on the slower side, which fit the small town setting during a storm.

I have loved every book that I have read from this author, and I was sad to see that this is supposed to be the last Matthew Venn story.

Once again Ann Cleeves has given a moody, twisty, turny mystery.

While I haven't read any other Ann Cleeves other than the Matthew Venn series in which this is book three. She has become a father mystery writer of mine for book set in England. And Matthew is one of my favorite book detective. He's how I picture the British police detective.

I got about halfway through this novel and it just wasn’t for me. Idk what it was. From the beginning I found myself wandering. I checked out a few other reviews, many liked this novel, this just wasn’t for me!

I gave feedback for the audiobook since I ended up listening to it. I received the audio edition after I had requested the ebook version. I typically prefer to listen because I can cover more books that way because I can listen while doing other things.

As 2023 is wrapping up, I have to confess I've read fewer books than I intended. That may be partly due to the ease of binge watching British crime shows at night. (I have subscriptions to both BritBox and Acorn). But even with all the binging, Ann Cleeves's VERA remains my favorite. Why it has taken me this long to pick up one of Cleeve's actual novels is just amazing. But I assure you, RAGING STORM (book #3 in the series TWO RIVERS) will not be the last one I read. Despite being part of a series, I had no problem following the sleuthing and personal lives of Inspector Matthew Venn and his assistants Jen Rafferty and Ross May as they investigated the gruesome death of Jeremy Rosco. Rosco, a once-upon-a time celebrity sailor had mysteriously returned to the village of his youth. Yet, when his naked body is found in a dinghy anchored off shore, no one seems to know much about him or how he died. As the three officers peel back layers of the small community and its inhabitants, I was reminded of Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache and Three Pines. If you like complex mysteries with the details held close to the author's hand until just the right moment to unfurl the whole story, then I recommend RAGING STORM. But start with the first novel and read all three. I received a copy from Netgalley. All opinions are mine.

Ann Cleeves is one of my absolute favorite British crime writers, who has created iconic lead detectives: Jimmy Perez, Vera Stanhope and now, Matthew Venn. The Raging Storm is the third Venn novel, and you could start reading here and then fill in the gaps with only minor spoiler-y reveals. I didn’t think I could ever love a detective as much as the blustery, brilliant Vera, but Matthew is someone I would enjoy knowing in real life. He’s a courtly gentleman with some repressed emotions and trauma, a gentle reverence for his spouse and a fierce commitment to his work. Cleeves is a master at “show, don’t tell,” so we learn a bit more about Venn and the other North Devon citizens as the novel unfolds. She’s at the top of her game in The Raging Storm, definitely an author you should check out if you love British mysteries, evocative seascapes and clever plots that are neither cozy nor gruesome.

Another great mystery from Ann Cleeves. Set in a small town in the north of Devon, a famous round-the-world sailor is found murdered in a small boat anchored in a hidden cove. Matthew Venn and his team is called in to find the killer. It seems like everyone in the small town could be a suspect at one time or another. The killer's identity remains elusive until the last final twist, then I had to read slowly to remember all the personal relationships and sensibly piece together the story. Inspector Venn is very different from Cleeve's other famous detective, Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope, with a team that competes against each other but works well together. I hope BBC adds this story to their list of mystery dramas.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

Another captivating mystery from Ann Cleve's, Inspector Mathew Venn is an excellent addition, love the fact that he is a gay man, it is about time mainstream stories become more inclusive!

Looking forward to more from this series.

“OMG, you guys, this book is intense! It’s about this detective, Vera Stanhope, trying to solve a murder during this crazy storm that’s like, wreaking havoc everywhere. I mean, the way Ann Cleeves describes the weather is like, whoa, you feel like you’re right there, getting soaked and blown away!

Anyway, Vera is super smart and stuff, but also super messed up, you know? She’s got her own issues, but she’s still all about justice and stuff. So, she’s investigating this dead guy, and it turns out he was kind of a sketchy dude, but also kind of a hero? It’s all, like, complicated, you know?

The characters are so real!!! They’ve all got secrets and stuff, and Vera is trying to figure it all out. It’s like, a big puzzle, and you’re like, totally trying to piece it together with her. And the ending is , whoa, I didn’t see it coming!

Anyway, if you like, mystery and suspense and stuff, you should totes check this out. It’s totally engrossing, and you’ll be like, on the edge of your seat, wondering what happens next. For real, it’s an amazing read!”

3.5-4 stars
Ann Cleeves writes excellent police procedurals and is outstanding at evoking a sense of place. This one wasn't my favorite as it is somewhat slow-moving and a bit overcomplicated. Also, the villain's motives didn't feel 100% plausible to me. That's not to say I didn't enjoy it, however!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free digital ARC of this book.

This police procedural was set in Greystone, with the investigative team of Matthew Venn, Jen Rafferty and Ross May. The team was engaged in the mysterious disappearance of a celebrity adventurer, Jem Rosco, who was raised in the town. When Jem returned for a visit to meet up with someone, he disappeared after a few days, and his body turned up in a dingy anchored off the shore of Scully Cove (a mysterious place with local superstitions).
I found the pacing of this book incredibly slow and kept looking for the end of each chapter. There were a lot of characters, and a lot of extraneous characters who added absolutely nothing to the story or the investigation.
The 3 investigators backstories were touched upon, but I couldn't see how their personal lives impacted the mystery. Jonathan, Venn's husband seemed distant, and completely extraneous to the story.
Venn was originally from this town, as well as the victim, but evidently had issues with the Brethren - an ultra religious group-which he belonged to as a child, but didn't like. Again. this was something mentioned in the book quite a few times, but didn't seem to have an impact on the murders, or the townspeople.
The plot was complex, and it felt like the twist was put into the book to surprise the reader as it didn't seem convincing to me. Finally the rushed ending identified the mastermind but I was not convinced that the person really could have put the conspiracy together so expertly, or had the motivation to do so.
I received an advance ARC from NetGalley and the publisher and the opinions expressed are my own.

Great mystery with twists. I didn’t read the first two so it was a little confusing with all the characters but it can be read as a stand alone. Love the character development, setting and twists.
Thank you Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review. Thoughts are my own.

This was not my favorite in this series. I thought Ann took some risks in her storytelling her and many of her fans will find much to enjoy. In many ways it felt more like a thriller than a mystery, which is not what I expect from the author--which might have had a lot to do with my reaction. Could also have been a case of bad timing, however, I have recommended this book to several readers who are boating enthusiasts and they reported enjoying it.