The Long Call: A Detective Matthew Venn Novel (Matthew Venn series, 1)
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!
NOW A BRITBOX SERIOUS STARRING BEN ALDRIDGE AND PEARL MACKIE
The Long Call from Ann Cleeves—bestselling and award-winning author of the Vera and Shetland series, both of which are hit TV shows—introduces the first in a gripping new series, told with deep compassion and searing insight.
“In Matthew Venn, Ann has created a complex, daring, subtle character.” —Louise Penny
"Matthew Venn is a keeper. A stunning debut for Cleeves’ latest crimefighter."—David Baldacci
In North Devon, where two rivers converge and run into the sea, Detective Matthew Venn stands outside the church as his estranged father’s funeral takes place. On 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 to the people and places of his past, as deadly secrets hidden at their hearts are revealed, and his new life is forced into a collision course with the world he thought he’d left behind.
BUY THE BOOK
Community Reviews
I discovered this book through the Crime Mystery Thriller group; it was selected as one of their May group reads. I also noticed that several people I follow have really liked it. The book summary basically lays out how the story started with a short blurb about the premise of the primary storyline, the investigation of a dead man, Simon, on the dunes of a local beach in Devon, UK. What the book summary doesn’t reveal is that Matthew is a married, gay man and this was why he was estranged from his religious family.
Very early in the story, it’s revealed that the dead man worked at a local community center, called the Woodyard, where Matthew’s husband, Jon, is the Manager. Additionally, one of the Woodyard members, Lucy, who has downs syndrome, also knows the dead man, because Lucy rode the bus home with him every day and he was always really nice to her, much to the displeasure of Lucy’s father, who is her primary caregiver. The storyline around Lucy becomes one of the secondary storylines. There is another secondary storyline of one of the other Woodyard members, Christine, who also has downs syndrome and who goes missing during the investigation of Simon.
It's in the second half, around the 60% mark, Matthew begins to connect the different cases and the storylines begin to merge. So far, I have absolutely no idea of “whodunit”; it could be any of the characters Cleeves has introduced so far, or it may be none of them. I’m completely stumped, and Cleeves gives up so little in the way of clues. However, I’m with Matthew who’s thinking that there is some connection to the religious group that Matthew grew up in.
The ending comes fast after that and it’s around the 85% that Cleeves finally gives up the killer. It’s a scary and intense scene for Matthew and Lucy, who was also abducted. This story highlights the abuse and dysfunction that is often found in fanatical religious groups, as well as exhibits the sense of entitlement of men who believe they are above the law because of their sense of control and power. A story of how the secrets we keep will often define us.
This was the first book I’ve ever read by Anne Cleeves; she’s a really good writer and storyteller. I have two other books of hers on my GR shelves, a standalone and the first installment of the Shetland series, which has been on my list for quite a while now. I’m thinking that perhaps it’s time to move those onto my to-read list to check out.
Very early in the story, it’s revealed that the dead man worked at a local community center, called the Woodyard, where Matthew’s husband, Jon, is the Manager. Additionally, one of the Woodyard members, Lucy, who has downs syndrome, also knows the dead man, because Lucy rode the bus home with him every day and he was always really nice to her, much to the displeasure of Lucy’s father, who is her primary caregiver. The storyline around Lucy becomes one of the secondary storylines. There is another secondary storyline of one of the other Woodyard members, Christine, who also has downs syndrome and who goes missing during the investigation of Simon.
It's in the second half, around the 60% mark, Matthew begins to connect the different cases and the storylines begin to merge. So far, I have absolutely no idea of “whodunit”; it could be any of the characters Cleeves has introduced so far, or it may be none of them. I’m completely stumped, and Cleeves gives up so little in the way of clues. However, I’m with Matthew who’s thinking that there is some connection to the religious group that Matthew grew up in.
The ending comes fast after that and it’s around the 85% that Cleeves finally gives up the killer. It’s a scary and intense scene for Matthew and Lucy, who was also abducted. This story highlights the abuse and dysfunction that is often found in fanatical religious groups, as well as exhibits the sense of entitlement of men who believe they are above the law because of their sense of control and power. A story of how the secrets we keep will often define us.
This was the first book I’ve ever read by Anne Cleeves; she’s a really good writer and storyteller. I have two other books of hers on my GR shelves, a standalone and the first installment of the Shetland series, which has been on my list for quite a while now. I’m thinking that perhaps it’s time to move those onto my to-read list to check out.
