Is it possible for Ann Cleeves to pen a poor novel? From my experience to date the answer is no, here we have the second outing for Venn, we learn more about his situation and this rounding of his character is welcome. The sense of place is another strength of Cleeves' writing and is found again in The Heron's Cry, it is bound to encourage people to want to visit the beauty of the North Devon coastline, minus the body count. Though the second in the series it can certainly be read as a standalone but you will be compelled to go back and correct your previous oversight!!

#TheHeronsCry #NetGalley

Who would want to kill, the widely respected head of North Devon Patients Together, Dr. Nigel Yeo? Why would his murderer use a piece of glass made by his daughter, Eve, as a weapon? In the heat of summer, the ancient lanes and idyllic beaches are packed with visitors, but tensions and tragedy lie just beneath the surface, just as the swirling currents of cold water lie unseen and unsuspected, as the rivers Torridge and Taw collide. As the investigation grows in complexity and pressure mounts, friendships are fractured and relationships questioned. This is a study of community, the intricate, interlocking ties of family, friends and colleagues told from a number of perspectives, the lives of DS Jen Rafferty and DC Ross May, their families and ambitions, are given equal weight, to that of DI Matthew Venn and his husband, Jonathan. This is no mere puzzle to be solved, no parlour game, we feel the grief, see the consequences, know that nothing can be as it was before, that rural communities are places of poverty and uncertainty and desperation, for all the beauty of the landscape.

For many years crime fiction has developed an audience willing to engage with complex social issues, to examine new realities and ways of living, to address anxiety, depression and grief. Ann Cleeves gives the reader a richly rewarding complexity of character and plot, while never losing the intensity and excitement of the hunt for a killer, who may strike again, at any moment, the false leads, the dead ends and the pressure from the all sides, and the final wild pursuit in the darkness.

It is one of the joys of a series of books that we can revisit the lives of a familiar cast of characters. Ann Cleeves has created a network of compelling, interwoven storylines, which is a joy to revisit and explore. There is a truth in her depiction of the lives of her protagonists, an honesty in the examination of the problems and social issues which challenge them, a delight in the sense of place and the unique beauty of the landscape of Devon. At the centre of the book is Matthew Venn, a subtle, complex and conflicted man, organised, analytical, thorough, driven, yet still, ill at ease, tense - a new detective for our new circumstances. She has brought us to an ingenious world, and I look forward to hearing more, as the books continue and the life of Matthew, Jen and Ross unfold.


Publisher ‏ : ‎ Macmillan; Main Market edition (2 Sept. 2021)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 150988968X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1509889686

This is the second novel in the Matthew Venn series from renowned author.

Can be read without having read the first, The Long Call but then why deprive yourself of such good storytelling. You will also get the background of the characters and the previous case which through witnesses does filter into this story.

DI Matthew Venn, uptight and determined to maintain a level response to what he sees in his work is back alongside his DS Jen Rafferty and ever eager DC Ross May. Jen is at a party when another guest, Dr Nigel Yeo approaches her to ask for her help. Jen, not fully sober, brushes him off.

The next day that man is found dead, stabbed with a piece of glass from his daughters glass blowing workshop. He seems such an unlikely victim and when his daughter turns out to be a friend of Matthew’s husband Jonathan, it seems this crime is always going to involve that Matthew knows.

When another body turns up, with a similar killing method. Matthew and his team dig deeper into these people and what Dr Nigel Yeo really wanted to tell Jen at that party. However the truth is sometimes hidden away amongst those in the community and are they all closing ranks as the police get to the truth.

This book is not a fast paced thriller, if that is what you are looking for then this is not the book for you. It is a book which develops as you turn the pages, the characters and their background build. The past is filled in and as the clues lead you to think that perhaps the answer is all so clear, the metaphorical rug is pulled out and you are turned to face the truth. Of course it was obvious – wasn’t it?

More is filled in about Matthew and the past life he has escaped as he tries to come to terms with the life he is leading now. We learn more about Ross May and his relationship with his wife. Jen is still coming to terms with living in a smaller town than the large city she left behind. All three of them seem unlikely work colleagues but somehow it works and the author uses the small team, the community, the setting to weave a great murder mystery tale.

If you want modern day crime fiction in the vein of those golden ages then always start with Ann Cleeves and you will enjoy every page, every book and every detective created.

This is book two in the Two rivers series featuring DI Matthew Venn so, to get the very best from it in terms of character backstory and development, I really would recommend reading book one first. Some events from that book are mentioned herein so if you are going to read it, I'd definitely read it before this one.
Matthew is called out to the scene of a death at a rural home for artists. It appears that the father of one of the resident artists, Nigel Yeo, has been found dead, stabbed by a shard of glass from one of his daughter's vases. But who would want to kill him? On the face of things, he's a good man. And, to Matthew's absolute horror, his daughter Eve is a good friend of Matthew's husband Jonathan. So much for his wanting to keep work and home life separate. Also interesting is that Nigel was at a party the night before. The same party as Matthew's DS, Jen Rafferty. And as Jen explains, he wanted to talk to her about something he needed help with, professional, police help.
Initially the police flounder. Matthew and Jen are joined by DC Ross May and the three of them divide and try and conquer the smallest clue to get a foothold into the case. And then there's a second body...
I blooming loved this book. It's a relatively slow burn of a book and does focus on the three police outside their work as well as the crime being solved. It's what I call a proper series book as we get to meet a community of people who will all play some part in each book. People outside the crime being solved and it is this sort of thing that I am more than happy to invest in, when done well. But that said, the crime does not take a back foot. It is present all the way through but it's a bit of a plod - realistic - to get to the crux of what is happening. And when we did get there I was rather shocked at the conclusion...
It's told from the perspective of several of the characters but it was always clear whose as their voices were quite distinct. This method of storytelling suited the narrative well and made for an excellent read overall.
All in all, a cracking follow up to a great series opener. Roll on book three. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Ann Cleeves does it again! In the second instalment of the Two Rivers series, a murder is committed in the first 30 pages and Ann quickly has you suspecting every one. The body count rises as the claustrophobia and familiarity of these Devon coastal communities cranks us the anxiety and suspicion. The characters are multi dimensional and flawed. Also fully appreciate how much of a force the weather is in Ann’s novels - moody, atmospheric and memorable. Some of the best sentences are at the close of chapters. Watch out for those!

I have to admit I've never read a Ann Cleeves book before and I've only just got round to watching Vera, so when I saw this book I thought I'd give it a go, this is book 2 of the Venn series but it does work as a standalone novel with just a few nods to the previous book, the story itself isn't awful it has the usual twists and turns you expect from a Detective novel but according to other reviews I seem to be in the minority but the characters just didn't jump off the page for me, inspector Matthew Venn, the main character just doesn't come across as very engaging he seems quite dull but then Vera isn't much different, maybe it's a trait of Ms Cleeves writing, but I just couldn't like him, but I did warm to Venns husband Jonathan who seemed more appealing, maybe he'll open up more as the books progress. I did like the way I was kept guessing to the end at who the perpetrator was but even the revelation of this was anticlimactic in the telling which was frustrating. I really don't know what to make of it, maybe it's a grower that will get better with time.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a great storyline with excellent characters. I would highly recommend this book as it was a great read.

The second of Ann Cleeves’ new Matthew Venn series (which has filled the gap left by the ending of her Shetland-set Jimmy Perez series) is a perfect holiday read, particularly for those venturing to Devon, where the series is set, this summer. The settings are – as always with Cleeves – beautifully described, with both the beauty and the challenges of rural and small town life laid bare. I still haven’t quite got to grips with Venn as a main character (his DS, single mother Jen Rafferty, feels more fleshed out and ‘real’ to me) but The Heron’s Cry is a compelling whodunit which will appeal to fans of police procedurals. I was also thrilled to see the return of Lucy from The Long Call, however those who have yet to read the first in the series will find this works admirably as a standalone.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for an advance copy of The Heron’s Cry, the second novel to feature DI Matthew Venn of the North Devon police.

Eve Yeo walks into her glass blowing workshop to find her father, Nigel, dead on the floor, stabbed by a shard of her glass. Matthew Venn and his team are baffled by why anyone would want to kill this upstanding man who had devoted his life to public service. Then another body is found, killed the same way and still the team struggle to find a motive.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Heron’s Call, which is a masterpiece of misdirection full of unexpected twists and turns. The novel is told from various points of view, something I frequently moan about for giving a choppy read, but in this case it works well, adding context and a broader perspective on events. The transition between characters is smooth and welcome, perhaps because the author takes her time on each voice and always adds something of value to the reader.

I also loved the plotting. I got really involved in the investigation, poring over the details and trying to guess the perpetrator with no luck whatsoever. Of course, my problem was I took what I was told as gospel and didn’t step far enough back to look at it critically and logically, but, in my defence, the writing and plot are so absorbing I didn’t think to question what was really going on. It’s an excellent example of not seeing the wood for the trees, so I didn’t mind being fooled.

I think the author has the balance just right in her mixture of professional and domestic. It isn’t easy on the home life being a detective and the small misunderstandings in this book shine a light on the detectives’ characters and their attitudes without spelling things out. It’s cleverly done and has whetted my appetite for spending more time with Matthew and the team.

The Heron’s Cry is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Brilliant! A great, solid detective murder mystery whodunnit. I have read all of Ann Cleeves' Shetland and Vera books and also the first in the Detective Matthew Venn series. If you liked any of those, chances are you will also like this, the second one. It could be read as a stand alone, but it's well worth reading the first one as it sets out the characters and also the sense of place, as well as being a great read. We get more of a feeling for Matthew Venn in this story, how he solves the crimes and interacts with his team. I love the use of the setting and the weather to create atmosphere, there is also a good sense of the people and the local community, what it's like to live in that part of Devon. I didn't work out who the murderer was until it was revealed, there were plenty of twists along the way and it was well paced. An excellent read, highly recommend!

A beautifully crafted novel by Ann Cleeves. I was fortunate to be given access to both the ebook and the audio book by NetGalley and as the story was so engrossing, found this to be very useful as I could switch from one to the other so in effect ‘I didn’t have to put the book down’. Ann Cleeves has always been a favourite author of mine and this is the first book I’ve read of her new series of characters. Although unnecessary, I wish I’d read the first one of this series and I’ll now go back and read it too. The team of detectives is a very mixed bunch, each person with their own quirks and they knit together very well. The story moved along at a gentle pace and I was drawn into it before I realised what had happened. The book is very well written and contained none of what seems to be the required ‘bad’ language and sex which prevails these days. In terms of the audio version of the book, it was very well narrated and the narrator certainly managed to hold my attention. I’d recommend this book to any fan of this genre.

This was an enjoyable read with original plot lines and an easy-to-read style. The characters are developing and their interrelationships are well drawn. A page turner, super descriptions of the area, and plenty of tension. My thanks go to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Thank you to #NetGalley for allowing me to read #TheHeronsCry by #AnnCleeves
I have been reading for nearly sixty years and can’t believe this is the first Ann Cleeves book I have read.
Suspenseful and compulsive reading. Detective Matthew Venn is in charge when a murder is called in.
Dr Nigel Veo has been stabbed in the neck in his daughters studio with a shard of glass from one of her sculptures.
While he is wading through all the lies another man is killed the same way. Can he find the truth.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I love this new Ann Cleeves series and especially the interesting characters of Matthew Venn and partner Jonathon and the challenges they have with aligning their attitudes and cultures. A good read, a satisfying mystery and strong characterisation, all set in a well described South Devon area.

This was book 2 in the new Matthew Venn Series by Ann Cleeves and it built very well on the success of the first book. Matthew is a great character and it was good to get to know him and his fellow colleagues better in this book.

We have a mounting death count in this book, which presents a challenge to Matthew and his team, especially as there seems no obvious reason for the murders.

As usual with any Ann Cleeves book she holds her cards close to her chest and it is quite difficult to work out who the killer is or what the motive was, until towards the end of the book; this actually adds to the enjoyment of her books. The reveal as always was excellently written, as was the whole book and I strongly recommend it to anyone who enjoys high quality crime fiction.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publishers for providing a copy of this book for me, for an an open and honest review.

I was thrilled to be given a chance to read the second book in the DI Matthew Venn series. It didn't disappoint! Ann Cleeves has created another brilliant character in Matthew. I particularly enjoy reading about his relationship with Jonathon, his husband. They are like chalk and cheese, entirely different personalities. This book is full of mystery, I couldn't figure out who the culprit was. Very enjoyable and highly recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this amazing book.

This is my first Ann Cleeves, and although it is a decent, classic mystery, I was not personally very much engaged in the drama or the characters at play. Nevertheless, it is a suitably complex story involving families, and engaging with the community at different levels. The power of being able to help is explored in the context of a small Devon community with a number of relocated townies from London... The investigating trio is varied - a gay inspector, a single mother, an insecure sergeant all of them with a varied background story. The pace of the narration is a bit patchy and there are a number of verisimilitude situations that I did not totally believed. The denouement was unexpected - I should have been reading with more attention...

All in all, an entertaining, sedate whodunnit, which can be read with pleasure. Issues of mental health are prominent in the storyline and appear under a number of different angles, suicide included.

With many thanks to the publishers via NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy.

I am a huge fan of Ann Cleeves and loved her first book set in Devon so was really pleased to be able to read this new one in The Two Rivers series. It didn’t disappoint at all and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The story starts at a party where DS Jen Rafferty is introduced to a neighbour of her hostess who wants to discuss something with her. The next day, he is found murdered in his daughter’s glass workshop. And so begins a tightly woven murder mystery involving medical trusts and possible failings by mental health practioners.
Ann Cleeves spends time developing her characters and while this can make the story slow moving, I really like knowing what makes her characters tick. The Inspector, Matthew Venn, seems to becoming more settled in his new job and his relationship with his husband, Jonathan, is one of the highlights of the story. It’s nice to have a detective with a happy home life. However, the investigation has links with the Arts Centre run by Jonathan and so the lines between private and professional lives get blurred which puts a strain on their relationship.
I love the setting. The actual place between the two rivers might be imaginary but it certainly has the feel of North Devon and the landscape is definitely part of the story.
This is another brilliant novel by Ann Cleeves and I am grateful to Net Galley and the publishers, Minotaur Books for letting me read it in exchange for an honest review.

Quickly read the first book, 'The Long Call', before diving into this. Loved it. Consistently good writing amongst all of her book series. Hope the TV adaptation is as good as 'Vera'. Not sure how many murders one can get away with in one tiny village but that never stopped 'Midsomer Murders' so could be in for the long haul. Thanks to Netgalley.

I didn’t realise this was the second in the series. I will go back and read the first. This is a great book keeps the reader going until the end. Love Vera and Shetland on t.v. Just wish I had read more of Ann Cleeves books. Great read .