In the small fishing village of Greystone, superstitions run rampant. So when a body is found dead in a boat off Scully Point, the rescue team can be heard muttering words to ward off bad luck: 'Skulls and bones and the white, white light.' Matthew Venn and his team are called in to investigate. He's familiar with that area of Devon, having grown up nearby and even visited Greystone as a child. However, that was a lifetime ago--he left it and his family's religious life behind at the age of 18. But still, the memories return...

This is a very atmospheric novel with the wild ocean and the storms and the local superstitions. Matthew Venn is a very complex character and we are often in his head, privy to his thoughts. He reminds me quite a bit of P.D. James' detective, Adam Dalgleish, another intelligent detective. This is a character-driven police procedural. It's fascinating to watch Venn lead the investigation and peel back the many layers of secrets to solve the mystery. I can highly recommend the series but this installment can easily be read as a stand alone, if you are eager to jump in.

I received both an e-arc and a paper copy of this new book from the author and publisher. Many thanks! My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

Another atmospheric British mystery by the talented Cleeves. The third book in the Two Rivers series, this one is set seaside in Devon. When Jem Rosco returns to the village of Greystone, the residents are intrigued to have a legend in their midst. He is awaiting a mysterious visitor, but before they can arrive, Jem meets his end. Who murdered him and why? Everyone is a suspect for Detective Venn and his team. A perfect book for fans of the Vera series and Louise Penny novels.

**Spoiler warning**

I've really come to enjoy Ann Cleeves' new Two Rivers series. One of the author's strengths is creating minor characters in each story who portray different relatable challenges. In The Raging Storm, I found myself drawn to the character Mary Ford. A single mother to a seriously ill child, Mary fights the sexism inherent in the lifeboat rescue group that she volunteers for. She also writes questionably inappropriate letters to her celebrity crush. She's complex, strong, and slightly creepy at times. I like her.

Speaking of my preferences with characters -- honestly, I've never warmed to the main character in the series, Matthew Venn. There's so much focus on his past religious experiences and their aftermath that I feel we miss out on the rest of him. I feel similarly about his husband, Jonathan. Jonathan is such a perfect opposite & perfect match for Matthew that he never quite feels real. I *do* hope that we get to know additional sides of both Matthew and Jonathan as this series evolves.

The Raging Storm is the third procedural mystery featuring Detective Matthew Venn and his colleagues by Ann Cleeves. Released 5th Sept 2023 from Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 400 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats.

This is another beautifully written mystery set in North Devon and featuring Detective Matthew Venn, a cerebral and solemnly intelligent investigator and his ensemble team. The pacing of the investigation is unhurried and the characters built up so well and in such detail that they seem to live and breathe. The author always does a stunning job with the setting and this is no exception, a true three dimensional engrossing read. The wildness and remoteness of the coastal area, the palpable danger of a huge coastal storm, and the bravery and dedication of the folks involved in search and rescue are all beautifully and believably rendered by the author.

Although it's the third book in the series, it works well enough as a standalone. This book is also quite intricately plotted, but there aren't any major spoilers if they're read out of order. The denouement and resolution were exciting and satisfying.

The author does a good job of showing the frustrations and difficulties of dealing with the challenges of a very ill child and the lengths to which families must accommodate. The language is rough in places (R-rated), and there are some blood/gore descriptions on page, but nothing egregious.

The audiobook is unabridged, has a run time of 9 hours 47 minutes, and is most expertly read by series narrator Jack Holden. He has a pleasantly nuanced voice and manages numerous characters with widely divergent accents (and ages, and both sexes) impressively well. One of the main characters is from Liverpool, the secondary characters are varied and have accents from Scotland to the Southwest and points in between, and he manages all of them with expertise and precision. Sound quality and production values are high throughout the recording.

Five stars for the book itself, five for the audiobook. This is a superlative series. It would make a great choice for a mystery book club read, or buddy/binge read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

A Gripping Traditional Police Procedural

In a little town in North Devon, UK, Jem Rosco, who is an adventurer, sailor, legend, and a local in his youth, shows up out of the blue. He tells all at the Maiden's Prayer bar that he is waiting for someone to arrive. Rosco would come for two pints of cider every day. A few weeks later, he stopped coming. Then, one morning the coastguard receives an emergency call from a fishing boat in difficulty that was sheltering from the storm in the lee of Scully Head. When the rescue boat arrives, there is not a fishing boat but a dingy with the body of Jem Rosco. From this start, a very classic investigation proceeds.

There is only one thread in this storyline, which is the investigation. Most of the entire main storyline is in the voice of DCI Matthew Venn or of one of his team. CSI teams do examine the crime scenes, but this case is solved through good old gumshoe detective work. Jem Rosco had been absent for quite some time, and it took time to unravel this life to find who had murdered him. If you want to be entertained with a complex and multifaceted mystery, this is the novel to read. My interest was quickly captured faster than by the previous two novels in this series. This is my major criterion for a high star rating.

The background on DCI Mathew Venn is provided both through his interaction with his team but also with the citizens of North Devon, and his thoughts, words and actions with his husband, Jonathan. There is a decision that Jonathan is making but not sharing with Venn. The background is not limited to Venn. His primary colleagues, Jen Rafferty and Ross May also have extensive backgrounds. Much of May’s thoughts are on how he seems to be getting the short end of the stick compared to Rafferty, and his career is suffering as he should be a sergeant by now. This very rich background produced very solid characters and enhanced my reading enjoyment.

There is not much in this novel that should offend even sensitive readers. There are not any intimate scenes. Rude and vulgar language is practically non-existent, but there are some British words that did meet this criterion. Violence is generally described after the fact. I do find it amazing that no matter how many novels that I have read from British authors, I always find British informal words that I have not come across before. I regularly made use of my e-reader’s dictionary and internet access. If this also describes you, I recommend reading this novel on an e-reader with similar capabilities.

For me, this was the best of Two Rivers series. This is based on my comments above about the main storyline and background. Some readers may see the novel slow, but for me, it was methodical. My interest was captured very early and was kept engaged throughout the novel. I have read seven previous novels from the Vera and Two River series. I’ve even purchased an earlier Vera novel. This novel has only reinforced her position as one of my Must-Read Authors. I am looking forward to reading any further novels by this author. I recommend reading this novel. I rate this novel with five stars.

I received a free prepublication e-book version of this novel through NetGalley from Minotaur Books. My review is based solely on my own reading experience of this book. I wish to thank Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.

Ann Cleeves is a fabulous writer. Whether it is Vera, or Jimmy Perez, or her new series featuring Matthew Venn, the reader is assured of a fine plot, interesting settings, and excellently drawn characters. It cheers me up to know I have a new Ann Cleeves book on tap.

As always, and especially with this new series set in Devon, the book is very atmospheric. The reader, even one like me who has never been to Devon, feels as if they have. If you are new to the series, you will have no trouble starting here. No plot spoilers from me, read the blurb for that.

I really enjoyed this book, and I am already looking forward to the next one.

Anne Cleeves has done it again! She delivers a psychologically rich and compelling story filled with secrets, deceits and murder. She is also a master at describing the isolated villages and harsh but beautiful landscape where many of her mysteries take place. I can just imagine the waves pounding against the shore and cliffs as the storm rages (of course, the storm isn't just wind, rain and a tossed ocean).

I haven't read this series before but it was easy to follow along and why I'm sure there are some emotional connections I have missed not reading the others in the series first it isn't something that is necessary. I also felt that this wasn't quite as dark as some of her other series.

A very good read and something I would definitely recommend if you are looking for a mystery you can sink your teeth into.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest opinion.

OHHH how I love this series!! I remember being so sad when Shetland ended and I know I only have one more of Vera [so far], so this series has been a balm in the midst of series endings and bonus, it is SUCH A GREAT SERIES. I really like Matthew as a MC and the supporting "cast" is just fantastic [though I am still not a fan of Ross], and the way they all have to work in this one was some really great writing. Unfortunately, I knew part of the mystery early on [though the rest was a surprise] so it wasn't a five star read for me [but oh so close - enough that after a couple days of sitting with this, I may change my mind, you just never know]; I DID love how the former religion of Matthew plays deeply into this one and I hope we learn more about this cultish "church" in future books as I can see it being a fascinating subject to keep butting against.

Ann Cleeves is one of the best writers out there and this book is just more proof of that. I hope that tons of people find this series and dive deeply in - I don't think they will be sorry; I certainly am not.

I was able to get the audiobook ARC of this book and I JUST LOVE THIS NARRATOR!! He is so good reading this series and I know that I would listen to him narrate just about anything. He adds so much to the story with his delivery and I am so glad that I was able to listen to this book - I highly recommend Jack as a narrator!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Ann Cleeves, Jack Holden - Narrator, St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books, and Macmillan Audio for providing both the eBook ARC and the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love Ann Cleeves's books! The Raging Storm is the third in the Two Rivers (Matthew Venn) series and can be read as a standalone. I've read all three in the series now and highly recommend them! The Raging Storm takes Venn to Greystone, a place Matthew remembers visiting as a child, when the body of a famous adventurer is found off the coast.

I love how much of a part the atmosphere "plays" in Cleeves's books. The Raging Storm actually has a raging storm that greets Venn and his team when they arrive to investigate. Her descriptive writing makes you feel as if you're in that storm. You're cold and drenched through. The wind is whipping your wet hair into your face. Your shoes are squishing in the wet sand. It's unpleasant, and it's the perfect backdrop for this book. The small village makes the setting even more unpleasant for Venn since almost all of the villagers are members of the almost cult-like religion in which Matthew was brought up.

Though Cleeves's books aren't technically cozy mystery books they often feel like it to me. They're clean and set in smaller villages or towns. The books are more traditional detective books since they're solved by the police rather than amateurs, but who cares?! They're amazing! I highly recommend The Raging Storm!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

“The Raging Storm,” by Ann Cleeves, Minotaur Books, 400 pages, Sept. 5, 2023.

Jeremy Rosco, sailor, adventurer and legend, arrives suddenly in Greystone, Devon. He goes to the Maiden’s Prayer tavern and says he’s rented a cottage. Gwen Gregory owns the cottage.

People are delighted that there’s a celebrity in town. Rosco told them he was in Greystone to meet someone, but didn’t say who. Harry Carter, the landlord, says he came in nightly, then stopped just as suddenly as he started.

Mary Ford is on lifeboat duty when a call comes in about a fishing boat in trouble. Rescuers find Rosco’s body in the dinghy. He has been stabbed. Mary is a single mother to Isla and to Arthur, who has a rare genetic illness. Mary’s father, Alan, is visiting and watches the kids when Mary is called out.

Detective Inspector Matthew Venn remembers visiting Greystone as a child. His parents took him to Barum Brethren social events. But Venn has been estranged from his family since coming out as gay. He is now married to Jonathan. Sergeant Jen Rafferty is with Venn.

This is the third in the Two Rivers series. The characters are well-drawn and they evolve over the books. Ann Cleeves is also very good at creating settings for her novels and excellent plots. She is also the author of the Vera Stanhope and Jimmy Perez series, all of which I enjoy.

In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

The Raging Storm by Ann Cleeves features her newest character: Matthew Venn, a policeman, the head of his unit and the head of this murder investigation. Matthew is an interesting and complex character, easily envisioned given the gift telling of his story by the author. He had lived a troubled childhood, not of abuse, but of a lack of love. When he grew up, left the oppressive church his parents belonged to, acknowledged he was gay, and found Jonathon, things were changing for him. Now this murder took him back into the center of the Brethren, many of whom were good people; he just had a prejudice. The dead man had been a local, once, and had left and become famous by televising and writing about his travels on his sailboat. He had been well-known but now was past his prime. His body was found, naked, curled up in the bottom of a small dinghy in Skully Bay. There were lots of legends surrounding Skully Bay and plenty of the older emergency crew didn’t want to go there. The police were called and Matthew and his team arrived.

Greystone was a small town, close-knit. Matthew remembered it well from his childhood when his family attended worship here. He had some fond memories. But he couldn’t figure out why this man, newly arrived in his childhood home town, had been murdered. He reportedly spent most evenings in the Maiden, a local pub and was friendly enough. He said he was waiting for someone. That was all they had to go on. That and interviews with people who knew him. It was a tough mystery and it took all of the team’s expertise to solve the crime. Ann Cleeves is a wonderful author, always giving the reader a complex character and an interesting crime. Such was the case here, when they finally resolved the murder.

The book was read by Jack Holden who personified Matthew Venn, with his innate shyness and insecurities. Holden did a credible job with the other characters and the narration as well. I always have trouble at the beginning of a new audio book with the narrator, but Holden became familiar very quickly. Although I enjoyed the book, I enjoyed the audio book more. That is not always the case.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Raging Storm by St. Martin’s Press and a free e-AUDIO by MacMillan Audio. All thoughts and opinions are freely given. #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #MacMillanAudio #JackHolden #AnnCleeves #TheRagingStorm

I received a free digital copy of AnnCleeves’ “ The Raging Storm” from Net Galley to read and review.

Ann Cleeves is the writer of the Vera Stanhope books that coined the long- running tv series. I had enjoyed those stories so I was pleased to get this copy of a e-book “ The Raging Storm” .
The book, as the Vera books is set in south coastal England, in Greystone a remote village that has seen prosperity pass its by. During a raging storm, with strong winds and heavy rain, the local rescue boat service is called out for a small boat on the rocks. A body is discovered in the boat, a murdered man with a knife in his chest. The constabulary is called in. Responding are Matthew Vail and sergeant Jen Rafferty. Greystone is an apt name for the bleak sight that greets them: all the houses and shops look in need of maintenance, the skies are dark with clouds, the shingle beach unwelcoming .it may be pleasant in the summer , but it is gloomy in the icy downpour .
Vail knows the area well: as a child his family often visited here. His was a religious family, and the town. had many other coreligionists of the Brethern to visit. ( The Brethern were/ are sort of strict Baptist Christians ,, descended from German sects born in the early days of the Reformation. Some of the area groups have joined the LDS. (I looked them up - thanks Wikipedia). But Vail has no religious affiliation; indeed, may be put off by the idea, especially since he openly declared his homosexuality. Nevertheless , he has acquaintances in the village.
Early in the investigation we know the name of the victim: Jeremey, Jem, Rasco, who in life was some sort of tv show personality who was know for adventuresome taking trips to exotic places. Earlier in the week, he visited here and took a room in the Cottages while, he said he waited for the arrival of a friend. Affable and gregarious he made friends in the local , buying rounds, telling stories ,generally being a good fellow. So who would want to stab him in leaving his cottage a blood.sprayed mess. Why take him out in a small boat in a storm with dangerous winds and waves. A local boatman? . Why leave him adrift in stead of weighting the body somehow and simply tossing the body in the sea? Did they want him found- maybe as a warning? Was the killer the visitor? All for Venn to discover. He does of course, but that is the plot of the story , for the reader to discover and enjoy.
Like the Vera stories the book is filled with quirky locals, often surly, who sometimes telling only part of the truth. if not outright lying. Like the wind and rain that permeates the area, nothing is easy to navigate for the police. Venn is an aloof, even prickly character, resembling Vera in that way. He wants nothing more that get the job done. One does not have to like or feel sympathy for the primary character in a book, but it helps. But the story is good and fast moving, the and the writing is crisp and clear and the outcome logical. Fans of Brit mysteries will enjoy “ The Raging Storm”

What I loved most about this book, is the location, the setting and the perfectly described weather. There were times I could almost feel the rain and the wind! This is a slower paced detective mystery, which has a sort of rambling, bumbling (in an endearing) way about it. You get perspectives of several of the characters, and its interesting to see what they think of one another as they are working through the mysteries. I will say, the ending felt quite odd to me in comparison to the rest of the book, almost like there was a stronger point that was trying to be made than I expected. However overall, I enjoyed this and if you like a dreary, slower paced mystery you may really enjoy this. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.

Having read & enjoyed The Long Call, I was happy to have the opportunity to read an advance copy of The Raging Storm.
Matthew Venn returns to an area he knows from his childhood. He’s in a remote North Devon coastal village to investigate the death of a local well-known celebrity who had recently returned to the area. The description of the isolation, cold windy weather, & dangerous rocky shore really helps set the tone.

I had a hard time putting this book down. It really kept me interested from the start. The mystery of Jem Rosco & his strange death is set up perfectly in the first couple chapters. There are many characters to meet, but the author does a good job of introducing them gradually as the crime unfolds, & the team investigates. Guessing who & why is made all the more challenging when there are a lot of suspects with intertwining lives in the past & present. I thought I had things figured out a few times, but ended up being a bit off the mark. I love that!

Although Matthew is the lead, I like his whole team. Their dynamic is one of the best things about the series, & I’m glad to have the multiple points of view. It’s interesting to get a glimpse of their lives & thoughts outside of police work, too.

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy. I picked up the 2nd book in the series after I finished this one. Each story holds up on its own, so I haven’t had any issues reading it out of order.

From gale-force winds, rising tides, and going out on stormy seas on a lifeboat search and rescue, Ann Cleeves' The Raging Storm kept me drenched in salt water and glued to the page. This talented woman knows how to blend mystery with setting and characterization to make a compelling read.

Venn's own history and his upbringing within a religious cult have made him a loner, someone who's introspective and prefers observation instead of interaction. Through word and deed, his methods have begun taking root in Jen and Ross, the two members of his team. These two tend to be competitive, and it can be entertaining to watch them try to one-up each other.

The fictional village of Greystone is one that I would want to avoid since it is very insular and wary of anyone who doesn't live there. As Matthew, Jen, and Ross interview villagers, readers watch the three form opinions of each one. The problem is... are these opinions valid? Even the "all-seeing" Matthew Venn finds out that he can be led astray.

The Raging Storm is another masterful outing for Ann Cleeves. Long may she write, and long may I read every one of her books.

s the third installment of the Two Rivers series. When I started it, I realized that although I had purchased the second book in the series, I hadn’t read it yet so I went back and read book two before I started this one. You don’t really need to read them I order but there are some background details introduced in each volume that helps flesh out the characters. Now into book three, the characters are becoming more familiar. I love Ann Cleeves’ writing and have followed all of her series.

As in the other two series, Vera and Shetland, one of the things the author does so well is to make the landscape a character in itself. You can absolutely visualize the dark, brooding seascape in this novel as a menacing backdrop to the story that adds to the tension and mystery.

Matthew Venn along with his team Jen Rafferty and Ross May are summoned to Greystone to investigate the curious death of Jem Roscoe. Jem had mysteriously arrived in this creepy little town situated on the cliffs above the sea, renting a cottage from one of the locals, saying he was waiting for an unnamed guest to visit. In the meantime he spent his time at the local pub hanging out with the villagers who seemed simultaneously curious and baffled by his reappearance. Jem, as it turns out, wasn’t really a stranger but grew up not far from Greystone before he went off to fame and fortune as an adventurer with a TV series that plotted his exploits. Who exactly was he waiting for and why?

Mathew Venn , too, isn’t really a stranger to this town either having visited here with his parents as a child when they were involved with a local religious community, something he would sooner forget.

There are numerous backstories here that emerge as Venn, Rafferty and May try to figure out who wanted Jem Roscoe dead. The plot is very twisty with a few red herrings and I honestly did not guess the ending which is always fun when reading a mystery.

I would definitely recommend this book and the entire series…..great plot, well written with good character development and an atmospheric setting. I look forward to the next one.

This book is part three of a series. Although I read the book without realizing this, I had some small clues that it was part of a series. This in no way affected my ability to read and enjoy this book.

It starts with a raging storm and a woman is called to lead the crew to address a distress call. They discover a local and worldwide celebrity, dead, naked and laying in a boat that had been anchored. He had not been killed in the boat. It takes the police investigation a while to gain any traction. The town is small, distrustful of strangers, and divided by religions differences.

The book is slow to get started, but the mystery is intriguing. There are at least a couple of likely suspects. But historical relationships, motivations, and clues are very difficult to cull from all the data that the police are uncovering. It's definitely a mind tickler.

DI Venn investigates the murder of a local hero in the small community of Greystone. Having grown up nearby, Venn is familiar with its guarded nature, but will the locals be helpful or harmful? The Raging Storm is well-paced and builds to a surprising and satisfying conclusion. I enjoyed the characters and the sense of atmosphere. The village and its surrounding harsh landscape became an additional character, creating suspense and danger. The secondary characters are well-developed and believable and add to the richness of the narrative. The twists and turns never felt unnecessary, and the end was twisty and satisfying. I'm hooked and look forward to more from this series.!

I found this 3rd book in the Matthew Venn series absorbing, despite its length and leisurely pace. Never having read any of the Detective Matthew Venn novels (I'm a Vera fan), I found it easy to enter the series here at book 3 and will definitely pick up 1 & 2. Like many of her other mysteries, The Raging Storm is atmospheric, has good character development, and great writing. While I typically identify the murderer quickly, Cleeves's novels often keep me guessing; for this one, I didn't figure out who done it until the big reveal.

Very delightful read I can see as a movie.

The Raging Storm is third in the Two River Servies but also a stand alone read. This book takes place in Greyston, Devon England.

Jem Rosco blew into Greystone and went to the Maiden's Prayer which is a pub. Jem was known as a legend because he was a sailor, adventurer who was a celebrity on TV sharing his travels sailing around the Southern Ocean. Jem was renting a cottage not far behind the pub. The patrons of the pub enjoyed Jem stopping in for his 2 pints as they found him very interesting and when Jem said he was meeting someone and never comes back to the pub they were wondering who he was to meet.

When Jem ended up being found curved up around the inside a dinghy, naked, and very dead, anchored off Scully Cove, superstition, secret, and unanswered questions arise.

Inspector Matthew Venn is on the case. Greyston was a village he had visited several times with his parents so many memories were brought back. Greystone is a community of Brethren that never liked outsiders and Matthew being an ex-member he thought all this was left in his past until now.

This book is highly recommended for those that like a slower paced read as I enjoyed taking my time with this book. Secrets, murder, and Raging Storms a must for the lovers of a good mystery.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.