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The Long Call
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The Long Call (Two Rivers #1) by Ann Cleeves - May 2023
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set in the beautiful but hauntingly remote landscape of North Devon and follows Detective Matthew Venn and his team as he investigates the mysterious death of a man found on the beach in a tight-knit community. As with all Ann’s books we can expect complex and intriguing characters, twisty plots and the slow burn of a good mystery! Happy reading and I look forward to some great chats.

Leena wrote: "This is a book thays been on my tbr for a very long time. This could just be the impetus needed to read"
Do it!!!!
Do it!!!!
I am going to make a start on this today. I watched the TV adaptation and really enjoyed it so hopefully the book will be just as good.



Yes I totally Agree Bill, the characters are definitely bring the book to life.
Briar Neumann wrote: "Leena, Sheri and Kathryn, I hope you enjoy the book! I started on the weekend and am up to chapter nine today, loving the story - oh my gosh I got the picture in my head of Matthew being like Aaron..."
I love Criminal Minds! I unfortunately don't have picture of Aaron. I can only picture the actor who played Matthew in the TV show.
I love Criminal Minds! I unfortunately don't have picture of Aaron. I can only picture the actor who played Matthew in the TV show.

This series has both a great character ensemble and strong plots (at least so far). I love the relationship between Matthew and Jonathan.


This series has both a g..."
I must confess Joan I accidentally read book 2 first, it was actually my first Ann Cleeves book and it stayed with me for weeks I enjoyed it so much. I'm glad we will have more in the series too!
Great characterization. I can see them in my mind too although for me Matthew doesn't have any gray. 😄




Hi Leena, it is the small details for sure, Ann's style of writing is really creative! I still have no real inkling as to who I think committed the murder - those I suspect keep changing as the plot draws out.


I was so worried that Jonathan would be involved in the murder somehow. I'm so glad he wasn't. Mathew had been dealt such a rough deal from his parents, I wanted him and Jonathan to be happy together at the end.
I get too attached to the characters : )

Matthew Venn is going to be a worthy addition to Ann Cleeves existing stable of detectives, Vera Stanhope and Jimmy Perez. Gay, a bit of a loner/misfit who lacks confidence in himself and feels awkward in company, a bit anal, he has an analytical mind, and is only too aware that his past experiences with some of the people involved in this investigation may colour his perceptions. Jonathan, Venn's husband, is manager at the Woodyard, so should Venn even be investigating this case?
Jen Rafferty, who has demons of her own is dedicated and smart, and Ross, DCI Joe Oldham's protege, and a bit of a fashionista with an inflated opinion of himself, make up Venn's team.
The story, definitely not as dark as many of Cleeves works, moves at a steady pace, and is told from the points of view of Matthew, Jen, and the elderly Maurice Braddick who, along with Luce his daughter, are probably my two favourite characters.
The Long Call is very much a character driven murder mystery. The murder investigation is complicated by the abductions of two of the Woodyard's other clients, one after the other. Are these abductions connected to the murder, or is something else going on in this tight knit community? It was a definite challenge to figure out whodunit and how, and I failed, miserably.
Thank you Ann Cleeves for a new series and another wonderful whodunit. I am looking forward to reading The Heron's Cry.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Read my full review at /review/show...
Terry wrote: "Finished. Very good! I was surprised! There were so many characters with multiple and varying connections to each other. I suspected one of wrong doing but certainly not the whole elaborate conspir..."
I've finished too and was also worried that Matthew was somehow going to be involved. Whew!!!
I like that it's written in a slow, methodical way that allowed us to get involved with the characters and plot. If I have one thing I didn't like it's that I think the very ending dragged on way too long.
I've finished too and was also worried that Matthew was somehow going to be involved. Whew!!!
I like that it's written in a slow, methodical way that allowed us to get involved with the characters and plot. If I have one thing I didn't like it's that I think the very ending dragged on way too long.


This was my first book by Ann Cleeves and it was a good one! Great cast of characters and a wonderful rural setting. The main character, Detective Matthew Venn, is both complex and driven. The story is a slow building Police Procedural but are not most real cases like that? The mystery itself is first rate. I will continue with this series and sample her others in due time. This was five (5) stars for me.
Bill wrote: "I loved it!
This was my first book by Ann Cleeves and it was a good one! Great cast of characters and a wonderful rural setting. The main character, Detective Matthew Venn, is both complex and driv..."
Did you think Detective Matthew Venn is a little bit too flatline or am I just used to Vera being so explosive. I kept waiting for more emotion from him.
This was my first book by Ann Cleeves and it was a good one! Great cast of characters and a wonderful rural setting. The main character, Detective Matthew Venn, is both complex and driv..."
Did you think Detective Matthew Venn is a little bit too flatline or am I just used to Vera being so explosive. I kept waiting for more emotion from him.



My review: /review/show...
Review does include a spoiler alert.

The actual whodunit was quite mediocre and clichéd.
Personally, Lucy is the true hero of the book.
I am very disappointed with the book.

I have so enjoyed Cleeves Vera books and the TV series (thank goodness Vera looks better on TV than she is portrayed in the book!)
that I also wondered about Detective Venn, as you did, Sheri. At the end of the book, I was more hopeful.
The end was really good and strong. I could easily imagine what happened and the why. Time to definitely pick up more Cleeve books.
This is why I enjoy discussing books. The different takes on writing and characters makes me think about the book in different ways.
Read both books in the series awhile ago. Enjoyed them both. These are the type of stories that keep me reading long into the night.

Andrea wrote: "I had never read any Ann Cleeves prior to this book, but think I will go back and read some of her prior books now. While I did not think this book was exceptional (five stars), I enjoyed it and ag..."
Andrea, British author Mari Hannah writes a terrific police procedural series that you might enjoy; the DCI Kate Daniels mysteries. The first book is The Murder Wall
Andrea, British author Mari Hannah writes a terrific police procedural series that you might enjoy; the DCI Kate Daniels mysteries. The first book is The Murder Wall

Lisa wrote: "This was my first Ann Cleeves book, so I really wondered if I would like it. I am always on the hunt for a new author! Now that I’ve finished, I am going to have to read the next ones in this serie..."
I'm going to do the same.
Icewineanne wrote: "Andrea wrote: "I had never read any Ann Cleeves prior to this book, but think I will go back and read some of her prior books now. While I did not think this book was exceptional (five stars), I en..."
Thanks. I'll check it out.
I'm going to do the same.
Icewineanne wrote: "Andrea wrote: "I had never read any Ann Cleeves prior to this book, but think I will go back and read some of her prior books now. While I did not think this book was exceptional (five stars), I en..."
Thanks. I'll check it out.
Books mentioned in this topic
The Murder Wall (other topics)The Long Call (other topics)
The Long Call (other topics)
Authors mentioned in this topic
Mari Hannah (other topics)Ann Cleeves (other topics)
Welcome to our discussion about The Long Call (Two Rivers #1) by Ann Cleeves, your discussion leader is Briar.
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Summary
In North Devon, where two rivers converge and run into the sea, Detective Matthew Venn stands outside the church as his father’s funeral takes place. Once loved and cherished, the day Matthew left the strict evangelical community he grew up in, he lost his family too.
Now, as he turns and walks away again, he receives a call from one of his team. A body has been found on the beach nearby: a man with a tattoo of an albatross on his neck, stabbed to death.
The case calls Matthew back into the community he thought he had left behind, as deadly secrets hidden at its heart are revealed, and his past and present collide.