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This thread is to discuss The Long Call, the first book in the Two Rivers series by Ann Cleeves.

Pages: 376 pages


Length: 1 Month (May)


Participants:Lynn, Kristy, Sunny, oshizu, Saha

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.

This shall be my first read in May because it fills one of my ATY prompts (an author with two sets of double letters in their name). Hah!

oshizu wrote: "This shall be my first read in May because it fills one of my ATY prompts (an author with two sets of double letters in their name). Hah!"

This is for my Clear the Shelves challenge. It's been sitting on my kindle for two years this month.

Ooh, this is a good book. I hope you enjoy it. There is also a four episode TV series that was released in the UK in 2021 - hopefully it's available elsewhere

Rachael wrote: "Ooh, this is a good book. I hope you enjoy it. There is also a four episode TV series that was released in the UK in 2021 - hopefully it's available elsewhere"

Thanks! I knew there was a show for the Shetland series but I didn't know about this one.

Ooohhh...great minds! I will plan to make this my first May read as well!

To oshizu: I'm waiting for Case Histories to arrive and I was more anxious to read this one and try this new author for another series rather than Where the Wild Ladies Are. Shall we plan to read WtWLA second? LOL

Yay for The Long Call first!
Also, thank you, Rachael, for mentioning the TV adaptation to us. I don't watch TV and was unware of it.
But now I can sign up for the MEDIA MAYHEM challenge.
.

@Lynn & Oshizu: So we're reading this one before we start Case Histories? I've marked Where the Wild Ladies are for Mid May.

I've got to check this one out today.

Sunny,
Yes. The plan is (1) THe Long Call, (2) Case Histories, and (3) Where the Wild Ladies Are.

Personally, I'll probably be inserting a quick-ish read between each Buddy Read so I don't fall into a panic over my monthly challenges, LOL!

oshizu wrote: "Sunny,
Yes. The plan is (1) THe Long Call, (2) Case Histories, and (3) Where the Wild Ladies Are.

Personally, I'll probably be inserting a quick-ish read between each Buddy Read so I don't fall in..."

Most likely I'll be doing the same.

oshizu wrote: "Sunny,
Yes. The plan is (1) THe Long Call, (2) Case Histories, and (3) Where the Wild Ladies Are.

Personally, I'll probably be inserting a quick-ish read between each Buddy Read so I don't fall in..."

I'll definitely be reading other books as well for other challenges and book clubs!

Sunny wrote: "@Lynn & Oshizu: So we're reading this one before we start Case Histories? I've marked Where the Wild Ladies are for Mid May.

I've got to check this one out today."

BTW, I did receive Case Histories so I'm ready! I'm starting The Long Call tomorrow!

I'm ready to begin Chapter 3 at page 16 (hardcover version) and am already enjoying this! Really like her writing style. Very descriptive and yet "showing," not "telling" which I appreciate. Interesting and diverse characters!

I have read through chapter 21 up to page 206 in the hardcover version. I stayed up later than I should have last night/this morning reading. I am finding this to be very enjoyable and compelling. My thoughts:
(view spoiler)[I admit I am a bit leery about the connections Matthew is making at this point in time between the Christine's disappearance and Walden's death. Although my mind had already gone there, I'm wondering if this is a red herring...

And I admit I don't trust Gaby and Caroline, or maybe just Gaby? The whole "Look! I just found his key!" in his laundry thing was so very convenient. Too convenient? Was it planted? As meticulous as he was it seems very strange to me that he would have left his key in his pants pocket or whatever...

And now that we know Walden did have another place to live and wasn't homeless that forces me to believe he had ulterior motives in befriending Caroline, moving in to her house, etc. Definitely fishy!

I love it when an author connects the title to the book in some way. On page 6 in my version:
He'd left the window down and now he could hear the surf on the beach and the cry of a herring gull, the sound naturalists named the long call, the cry which always sounded him to him like an inarticulate howl of pain.
So immediately I'm wondering who is going to be "howling in pain"...

I loved Matthew's description of Jen:
Hard partying and hard drinking; if she'd been a man, you'd have called her predatory. That comment alone really drew me up short and started me thinking about her... She was red-haired and fiery. Fit and gorgeous and she liked her men the same way. But despite herself, Matthew admired her guts and spirit. She brought fun and laughter to the office and she was the best detective he'd ever worked with. I already loved her after reading this paragraph! I loved the bit about her sexy dreams of the guy she had babysit her children, who had "turned into a very fit young man"! LOL

Whereas Ross is, IMO, a typically obnoxious brat. 😂 But I love the way we are inside Jen's head as she forces herself to cooperate with him...and try to accept his behaviors, though only to a certain degree and then she sets her boundaries! Good girl!

And where the hell is all this money?

I admit I emitted a sigh of relief when Matthew and Jonathan were introduced as a married couple. I so appreciate such diversity. It reflects real life, IMO! (hide spoiler)]

I think there were some other bits I marked but I'm off to do a ton of driving today, hauling a very good friend quite a distance for doctor appointments and then hopefully I'll be done with that in time to work out at the gym this evening. That means there will be little to no reading done by me today. I'll be finishing this tomorrow! So anxious to see where she goes with this... And I'm anxious to see your comments as well!

Sorry I'm late with starting this book.
I've been reading The Swerve: How the World Became Modern for the past four days and thought I'd be done by now but it's a difficult read for me. Up to now, it's been more focused on philosophical schools of thought in Ancient Grece and the rediscovery previously lost manuscripts b Ancient Greek philosophers in the 1400s.

Hello? Did I just hear you snoring? I'd like to reach at least the halfway point of Swerve, after which I can reward myself by devouring The Long Call.

I'll catch up soon!

oshizu wrote: "Sorry I'm late with starting this book.
I've been reading The Swerve: How the World Became Modern for the past four days and thought I'd be done by now but it's a difficult read for..."
There's no "catching up" needed! :) When you get to it is when you get to it! LOL

I feel as if nonfiction almost always requires more time for me to read than fiction!

Lynn wrote: "I feel as if nonfiction almost always requires more time for me to read than fiction! "

I know it does for me. I have several in my 'currently reading' because I get easily distracted while reading nonfiction. I did discover in the last year that if I listen to the audio, I can do it in a few weeks as opposed to months, years...but I have to listen twice to make sure that I didn't miss anything. LOL

I started this one last night. I'm only a couple of chapters in. So far so good.

Kristy wrote: "Lynn wrote: "I feel as if nonfiction almost always requires more time for me to read than fiction! "

I know it does for me. I have several in my 'currently reading' because I get easily distracted while reading nonfiction. I did discover in the last year that if I listen to the audio, I can do it in a few weeks as opposed to months, years...but I have to listen twice to make sure that I didn't miss anything. LOL

I started this one last night. I'm only a couple of chapters in. So far so good."
I rarely listen to audibooks. I just find I cannot remember from listening as well as I can from actually reading! 😁

Glad you've begun this one. I'm almost done...

Page 300 in the hardcover, ready for Chapter 34...
(view spoiler)[Aha! Gaby was lying! Though I doubt she could murder anyone...

And Jonathan. I feel as if Cleeves is definitely setting him up as a red herring, but what if she isn't? What if...he isn't innocent?

I love Cleeves making Matthew realize his own prejudice against Salter that may be leading him to suspect him more than is necessary, given the facts, or lack of them... I admit to my own prejudice against any organized religion and that definitely affects my own suspicions as I read this. So that bit definitely rang true for me!

But who has kidnapped Lucy and who kidnapped Christine and is it the same person who kidnapped both of them? I'm thinking this person believes Simon may have divulged something of substance to one of these girls and that is why he kidnapped Christine and then kept asking her so many questions. And now Lucy... (hide spoiler)]

And now to finish! *Rubs hand together with glee and an impish grin of anticipation!*

I finished Swerve about an hour ago and I'm soooo glad that I stuck with it.
(1) It was an incredibly well-written, deeply-researched, and thought-provoking book. I gave it 5 stars and put it in my 2022 favorites shelf on ŷ������;
(2) This historical work focused on the activities of an Italian intellectual who served as secretary/scribe to eight consecutive Popes, so it filled my ATY prompt regarding the Major Arcana (Pope); and
(3) The last quarter of the book was all footnotes and bibliography. 😁

I will start The Long Call tonight. Yay!

P.S. I have never tried an audiobook before.
We all have reading approaches that work for us individually, but I prefer to savor words on a printed or digital page (with footnotes!).

Finished! This book worked for me on all levels. I especially appreciated the internal dialogues of Matthew and Jen. Ross was a very interesting character to me and he helps provide additional insights into both Matthew and Jen's characters and their own perceptions and self-realizations.

I personally adore the fact that the main character who is leading this group of police is a male, but a male married to a male, and therefore, not the typical bad-ass heterosexual male stereotype. He seems very thoughtful about himself and others, as well as thorough in his work.

I admit to being gratified by the (view spoiler)[villains' identities: a young priest (or priest-to-be?), his girlfriend, another long-time cultish religious leader, a high-powered very wealthy businessman, and one other couple... I must divulge that I am rather adamant in my dislike for any organized religion, being an atheist or secular humanist or whatever term you like.

I personally feel Cleeve was rather brave in portraying Down's Syndrome folks. I thought she did it well, however. I was glad to see they were not marginalized but rather depicted as capable to a great degree. Perhaps much more capable than most people would assume, which is accurate. I worked as a mental health advocate and have had emotionally challenged relatives and realize that most people vastly underestimate their abilities...

I felt that Cleeves made me totally despise the villains without beating me over the head. But perhaps that was just my own biases coming into play... (hide spoiler)]

I am suggesting that we do a Buddy Read of The Heron's Cry in June. Any takers? 😁

Well, I’m about halfway through, around pg 200. (view spoiler)[I really enjoy contrast between the staid and careful Mathew and his shorts-wearing artistic husband. I’m also enjoying Jen’s brash character and cheering on her annoyance with Ross. Yes, I want Matthew to admonish Ross to “follow the money�� as they say in most investigations.

Since I’ve started writing more reviews, I’ve found myself really paying attention to who the narrators are in the story. This immediately made me suspicious of Gaby’s involvement in all this, but when the key came up in the laundry, I thought Caz/Caroline (that confuses me at times) acted a little squirrely. Maybe it’s all a red herring

And speaking of narrators, I feel like Lucy knows something more than she’s telling about Christine’s disappearance. Or maybe I’m just looking for why Maurice is a narrator. I suppose it could be that he’s just imparting information to the reader that the police don’t know yet. At this point, I know it’s a jump that Christine’s disappearance and Walden’s murder are connected but I feel like in a small community like this it the probability is high that two big crimes happening so close together are connected.

Lynn- your comment on “the long call�� is spot on. I hate it when I finish a book and then I wonder why was that the title? It was nice to have a moment in the book where Matthew ponders concept.

As regards to Walden’s second place �� the absence of his kitchen stuff makes sense but what was this guy up to? (hide spoiler)]

I'd love to read book 2 in June but I'd have to do it the first week because I'll be away the rest of the month on my 25th anniversary trip. I can always read and leave comments in spoilers if you guys need to read later, since I usually do that anyway.

Kristy wrote: "Well, I’m about halfway through, around pg 200. I really enjoy contrast between..."
That would work well, Kristy! I'll have it added to the spreadsheet! Then you can decide and sign up if you wish! We all read at different times throughout the month anyway... ��😊

Kristy wrote: "Well, I’m about halfway through, around pg 200. I really enjoy contrast between..."
Regarding your spoilers: I'll not say much because I fear I might give something away for you.
(view spoiler)[I LOVED Jonathan and Matthew as a couple. I thought they were very considerate of each other, making allowances for the other as appropriate.

You are asking such great questions and considering such important aspects of the mystery! (hide spoiler)]

Keep reading. You're asking almost all the same questions I did as I read. I hope you find the solution(s) to be as satisfying as I did... Anxious to know your thoughts once you finish!

I jotted this stuff down on May 3rd ...

As of today I have read 25 Chapters. Am considering not reading anymore until after Thurs -- when I have posted comments on what I've already read -- not sure if I'll hold out or not!

(view spoiler)[I enjoyed the little introduction Cleeves made of her new character and series. I always find it interesting what authors think and feel about what they have created.

Having read Vera for the first time a couple of months ago, I knew what to expect as far as writing style and was not disappointed when I started reading. I felt right at home from the get-go! I like the way Cleeves weaves a tale; and I love this new character! And what an array of characters that make up his world!

Jen and Ross are hard to like, but for the moment, I like her more than I do him. And I was drawn more to her when she was shown at home in the interaction with her daughter.

I wonder who had Christine? Her uncle? And I'm not so sure about Caroline and Gaby. I also wonder what else Miss Lucy might know. Hopefully, nothing will happen to her -- she's such a sweetie! (hide spoiler)]

@Lynn

(view spoiler)[ my comments in BOLD:

I love it when an author connects the title to the book in some way. I noticed this, too when I read it, but was reading the book where I didn't have a pen and paper to jot anything down. And was so caught up in the book, I forgot about it later.

So immediately I'm wondering who is going to be "howling in pain"... I was kind of worried that something might happen to Lucy or Jon when I saw this.

I loved Matthew's description of Jen:
Hard partying and hard drinking; if she'd been a man, you'd have called her predatory. That comment alone really drew me up short and started me thinking about her... She was red-haired and fiery. Fit and gorgeous and she liked her men the same way. But despite herself, Matthew admired her guts and spirit. She brought fun and laughter to the office and she was the best detective he'd ever worked with. I already loved her after reading this paragraph! I loved the bit about her sexy dreams of the guy she had babysit her children, who had "turned into a very fit young man"! LOL
That was a hoot wasn't it?! LOL


Whereas Ross is, IMO, a typically obnoxious brat. 😂 But I love the way we are inside Jen's head as she forces herself to cooperate with him...and try to accept his behaviors, though only to a certain degree and then she sets her boundaries! Good girl I agree!

And where the hell is all this money? Perhaps Ed and Caroline have it?! Or perhaps it's stashed safely away somewhere and someone will come into a windfall? And not his ex-wife. I'd like to see Lucy get it, myself.

I admit I emitted a sigh of relief when Matthew and Jonathan were introduced as a married couple. I so appreciate such diversity. It reflects real life, IMO! I didn't sigh in relief, I dropped my book in surprise did a little happy dance inside and grabbed my pen to jot down that I'm so glad to have another man couple that I can enjoy reading about! I really enjoy reading about men couples. (hide spoiler)]

Looking forward to seeing how all this ties together and plan to finish it in the next couple of days. Will hopefully be able to post my comments this weekend. And I have signed up to read the next one in June 😊

Sunny wrote: "Looking forward to seeing how all this ties together and plan to finish it in the next couple of days. Will hopefully be able to post my comments this weekend. And I have signed up to read the next one in June 😊"
YAY!! Another one up for the second book!
Your spoilers:
(view spoiler)[Awww, I love Jen! She just is who she is though I feel she is a very responsible and caring parent! Ross is what I consider to be a "typical male' to a great degree. Who knows why he acts as he does, but he is obviously VERY immature and in need of some life lessons! LOL

Ooohhh, yes, "howling in pain." I think that will be a good point for discussion once everyone has read it. Like you, I was wondering...

Male couples. Yes! I love that you did a happy dance! I would have joined you had I been there! One of my favorite people is married to a man. And I have several female couples (and single lesbians) in my life whom I adore. I feel as if there is a "special" feeling about these couples, at least in my mind there is. I'm just thrilled they've found love. Who cares about the gender of the partner? None of our business!! It just doesn't matter... (hide spoiler)]

You, obviously, have more self-control than I do. I had to know!

I finished this book this morning and really enjoyed it.
I'm a fan of Ann Cleeves since last year and have about a half dozen books from her previous two series at home. I hope to get to all of them soon. I need to return them eventually, lol.

Just a few thoughts, since y'all have discussed all the good stuff already (view spoiler)[
*Characterization and dynamics: I appreciate how unique each of the main characters are and how the different narrators and new clues give us different glimpses into the same characters and situations.
*Ross: Isn't much liked by Matthew and Jen, but he's confessed to them that he can't get out from under Oldham's thumb. His negative portrayal in this book will gradually change in future installments, I imagine. In Book 1, we get a lot of Matthew and Jen's "internal monologue" but we only "see" Ross through his speech and actions.
*Matthew: rejects his ties to the Brethren, which continues to influence so many aspects of his present life (family, community, self-esteem, sense of belonging). Matthew & Jonathan are depicted as very attractive, charismatic people on the outside, yet fraught with doubt and vulnerability on the inside. It makes them both very relatable. Their relationship seems rather perfect; they're so understanding and attentive to each other's moods, so affectionate; their empathy serves them will in their professional lives.
*Jen: What's not to love?
*Broken characters: There were so many! But I feel like I've written enough, haha. (hide spoiler)]

Great book!

I finished yesterday and that did not go where I was expecting to! I really enjoyed it. I love to be surprised by a book. I've read the first book in the Shetland series and one in the middle of the Vera Stanhope series and while I liked both of them, I think I liked this new series even more! Looking forward to reading book 2 next month.

(view spoiler)[
@Lynn I admit to being gratified by the [villains' identities: a young priest (or priest-to-be?), his girlfriend, another long-time cultish religious leader, a high-powered very wealthy businessman, and one other couple... I was surprised at all the parties that were involved in this cover up. I suppose I shouldn't have been, but wow. I have my own issues with organized religion so even though I saw some negative reviews about this aspect, it didn't bother me one bit. I also enjoyed the positive portrayal of the Down's syndrome characters.

@oshizu - Even though I didn't care much for Ross during most of this book, he started to show some growth by the end with his confession about Oldham. So I have some hope for his character in the future.

For some reason, I guess because of the all the negative interviews in the beginning, I had this picture of the Walden that made me feel like he was up to no good acting like he didn't have money or a place to live. What a surprise to find out in the end that he was trying to reveal a grievous wrong done at the Woodyard! (hide spoiler)]

I admit to being a huge MM romance reader and I love mysteries with law enforcement protagonists so this series appeals to me on two levels.

I finished this one last night around 11PM. I thought about saving some 'til this morning, but couldn't wait to see what happened!

(view spoiler)[I loved that the lawyer had the money. And his changing the will made me even more suspicious of everyone involved. And I was pleased with moi when I was correct about them having the wrong girl, which put me back on the track of Ed and Caroline. And her father was bugging the heck out of me, too. Turns out everyone was involved in one way or another!!! What a nifty wrap-up of the entire mess!

And didn't Miss Lucy do her part! I was so happy they reached her in time -- not to mention Ross saving the day. He certainly has me viewing him in a more favorable light. He still needs to grow-up a bit, and I'm sure Jen will have no trouble aiding him!

It's a pity some of those other men didn't get their lights punched out -- wouldn't have minded seeing some of the females given a smack across the cheek, either. (hide spoiler)]

Looking forward to reading the next one in June!

FYI: I now have a copy of The Crow Trap, the first book in Cleeves' Vera Stanhope series and asked that this be listed in the June Buddy Reads as a possibility. (Hope I'm not too late to get one added in June.)

Lynn,
I'm tempted to sign up for The Crow Trap, though I've already read it, in hopes to tempt you into reading more of the series with me.
Does that make me a bad person?

Edited to add: I've signed up for The Crow Trap and hope more of you will join us.

oshizu wrote: "Lynn,
I'm tempted to sign up for The Crow Trap, though I've already read it, in hopes to tempt you into reading more of the series with me.
Does that make me a bad person?

Edited to add: I've signed up for The Crow Trap and hope more of you will join us."
Excellent! Well now there are two of us! :)

Are you reading The Heron's Cry with us as well? Sunny and Kristy and I are signed up for it...

Lynn - I signed up for The Crow Trap too. I have it on my kindle and this will be incentive to knock out 2 more books for my Clear the Shelves Challenge. Apparently I read Book 9 of this series then decided to go back and start at 1.

Kristy wrote: "Lynn - I signed up for The Crow Trap too. I have it on my kindle and this will be incentive to knock out 2 more books for my Clear the Shelves Challenge. Apparently I read Book 9 of this series the..."
I noticed you had signed up! That's encouraging! If you read a later installment in the series and then wanted to start at the beginning I take that as a good sign!
��😊

oshizu wrote: "Lynn,
I'm tempted to sign up for The Crow Trap, though I've already read it, in hopes to tempt you into reading more of the series with me.
Does that make me a bad person?

Edited to add: I've sign..."

Normally, I wouldn't mind rereading one I've already read, however, I just read The Crow Trap in March. So, I'll not be joining in reading with you all, but I will stop in for the chit-chat about the book. And see what you all think of it. If you decide to continue the series, I'll join in reading those with you.

Sunny wrote: "oshizu wrote: "Lynn,
I'm tempted to sign up for The Crow Trap, though I've already read it, in hopes to tempt you into reading more of the series with me.
Does that make me a bad person?

Edited to..."

I think that sounds totally fair, Sunny! I'll personally be surprised if I don't want to continue the series, but we'll see...

I just suggested Raven Black (Shetland Island #1) by Ann Cleeves as a July Buddy Read since I have a copy ordered. Please join if you feel so inclined!

Lynn wrote: "I just suggested Raven Black (Shetland Island #1) by Ann Cleeves as a July Buddy Read since I have a copy ordered. Please join if you feel so inclined!"

I joined for Raven Black. Glad it's in July since I didn't have anymore room for books in June!

Lynn wrote: "I just suggested Raven Black (Shetland Island #1) by Ann Cleeves as a July Buddy Read since I have a copy ordered. Please join if you feel so inclined!"
I've been wanting to start this series for several months now and started reading Raven Black last night.
I don't think I can wait until August to read Book 2, but will definitely continue with the Buddy Reads of Vera Stanthorpe series if that becomes a thing.

Lynn wrote: "I just suggested Raven Black (Shetland Island #1) by Ann Cleeves as a July Buddy Read since I have a copy ordered. Please join if you feel so inclined!"

I read book 1 of this series a few years ago so if you continue the series, I'll join for book 2.

Kristy wrote: "Lynn wrote: "I just suggested Raven Black (Shetland Island #1) by Ann Cleeves as a July Buddy Read since I have a copy ordered. Please join if you feel so inclined!"

I..."
Cool!

oshizu wrote: "Lynn wrote: "I just suggested Raven Black (Shetland Island #1) by Ann Cleeves as a July Buddy Read since I have a copy ordered. Please join if you feel so inclined!"
I'..."
Whatever works for you!
😁

Sunny wrote: "Lynn wrote: "I just suggested Raven Black (Shetland Island #1) by Ann Cleeves as a July Buddy Read since I have a copy ordered. Please join if you feel so inclined!"

I joined for Raven Black. Glad it's in July since I didn't have anymore room for books in June!"
You and me both, Sunny!