The Long Call: Two Rivers Book 1
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4.0 • 515 Ratings
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
Now a major ITV series, The Long Call, adapted for television by screenwriter Kelly Jones and starring Ben Aldridge.
The Long Call is the No.1 bestselling first novel in the Two Rivers series from Sunday Times bestseller and creator of Vera and Shetland, Ann Cleeves.
In North Devon, where the rivers Taw and Torridge converge and run into the sea, Detective Matthew Venn stands outside the church as his father's funeral takes place. The day Matthew turned his back on the strict evangelical community in which he grew up, he lost his family too.
Now he's back, not just to mourn his father at a distance, but to take charge of his first major case in the Two Rivers region; a complex place not quite as idyllic as tourists suppose.
A body has been found on the beach near to Matthew's new home: a man with the tattoo of an albatross on his neck, stabbed to death.
Finding the killer is Venn's only focus, and his team's investigation will take him straight back into the community he left behind, and the deadly secrets that lurk there.
PRAISE FOR THE LONG CALL
'Had me hooked . . . a promising beginning to another fine chapter in the Ann Cleeves' story' - The Times
'A triumph that cements Cleeves' status as one of Britain's best crime writers' - Daily Express
'Clever, compassionate and atmospheric . . . I am already a Matthew Venn fan' - Elly Griffiths
'Cleeves combines a flair for evoking sense of place with a thoughtful, complex plot' - Mail on Sunday
'A traditional mystery of the best sort' - Guardian
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Following her two hugely successful series, Vera and Shetland, celebrated crime author Ann Cleeves returns with the first instalment of the Two Rivers series. Cleeves excels at exploring the underbelly of close-knit communities amid breathtaking landscapes, and The Long Call is no exception. Set on the coast of North Devon, a murder leads reticent DI Matthew Venn—recently returned to the area after a long estrangement—on a collision course with his past. Layered characters and sensitively explored issues like same-sex marriage, religious intolerance and disability make this an absorbing read, with plenty of twists that kept us eager for more.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Set in Devon, England, this thoughtful series launch from bestseller Cleeves (the Vera Stanhope series) introduces Det. Insp. Matthew Venn, who spent his childhood among the Barum Brethren, a strict evangelical community led by the charismatic Dennis Salter. As a teenager, Matthew rejected the teachings of the community and was banished. Now in his late 30s, the tightly wound and reserved Matthew works in nearby Barnstable and is married to Jon, who runs a multi-use community arts center called Woodward. When a local man turns up stabbed to death on a beach near Matthew and Jon's house, the resulting investigation draws a few too many connections to Woodward including that the victim volunteered there and soon Matthew's past and present lives begin to collide. Cleeves makes good use of Devon local color and populates this subtle, expertly paced mystery with distinctive supporting characters. Hopefully, future installments will delve even further into the intriguing Barum Brethren.
Customer Reviews
Missing Shetland
Perhaps I’ll warm to this as the series continues but I don’t feel the authenticity of the central relationship
Another winner
A great book from one of my favourite authors. Good plot and characters.
The Long Call
A different location for this Ann Cleeves story, but as good a read as Shetland or Vera. A very engaging & well written book. I enjoyed it & would recommend the book.