The latest in the Cornwall-set Matthew Venn series finds the police detective in the small coastal village of Greystone: forbidding by name and forbidding by nature, it’s also a place with links to the religious sect in which Venn grew up and a place he knows well.

When a local man famed as an adventurer goes missing and is later found dead on an isolated beach, Venn must investigate people to whom he has long-standing ties through the religion that spurned him for his sexuality.

I enjoyed The Raging Storm, and especially the parts that allow the reader to delve more into Venn’a background, but I still - 3 books into the series - find him a fairly dull main character. Luckily the secondary characters are, typically for Cleeves’ work, all fascinating, which makes up for it.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Reading books by Anne Cleeves is to me, quite comforting, you know you’re in for a really good story! I love the sense of community her stories imbue, from the village around the crime to the police team investigating. A real character-driven police procedural drama, with the added atmosphere of being set in an austere Devon village, cut off from the surrounding countryside.

Reacquainting myself with Matthew Venn, his troubled background and upbringing within the Barum Brethren and breaking away, which made him who he is today, was thoroughly enjoyable; Jen Rafferty and Ross May, his team, both equally keen to solve the crime.

I love the way the book is written with skill and clarity, I found myself placed so easily at Greystone, seeing the same sights, hearing and smelling the sea, feeling the atmosphere in the pub. The ‘Raging Storm’ keeps the team fighting the elements as well as the confusion surrounding the case. I found it more realistic that the team couldn’t solve the case quickly and felt their frustration with seemingly random facts, which refuse to hang together with any coherence.

Solving the case feels such a hard task, the deeper they investigate, the more complex the plot seems and the further back in local history it goes. The twists and turns, challenging relationships within the community, mixed with a huge dose of superstitions surrounding routines around the sea, makes for a brilliant novel.

A thoroughly enjoyable read which will keep the reader deep in thought, trying to solve the case.

I’d like to thank Pan MacMillan and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Raging Storm’, the third and final book in the Two Rivers series written by Ann Cleeves, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Jem Roscoe is well-known in Greystone for being a yachtsman, author, TV celebrity and regular visitor to the ‘Maiden’s Prayer’ public house where he tells them he’s waiting for a special visitor. During the early hours of the morning the lifeboat is called out to locate a yacht stranded in Sandy Cove. They don’t find the yacht but do find a dinghy that’s been anchored in the cove with a dead body onboard – Jem Roscoe. DI Matthew Venn together with his team of DS Jen Rafferty and DC Ross May are tasked with finding the killer.

Although ‘The Raging Storm’ is the third in the series I don’t feel at a disadvantage for not having read the previous two. It’s set in Greystone, a Devonshire coastal town that doesn’t have much going for it as it’s not attractive enough to encourage tourists therefore the residents all know each other and their business, family disagreements abound and gossip is rife. The concept of this police procedural novel is interesting with a plot that’s well thought-out but I couldn’t warm to DI Venn and didn’t enjoy it as much as some of the author’s other novels especially those with DI Vera Stanhope. It’s a good solid read with a few twists and turns but isn’t one I’d want to read again.

Everyone in the village knows that Jem Roscoe, is expecting a mysterious visitor. Then he is found stabbed to death. Was the visitor the killer? Jem was a round the world yachtsman, TV star and author, so, when he turned up in the North Devon village of Greystone, the locals were excited but bemused. He rented a vacant cottage and settled in to wait for his visitor, but gave no clues as to why the meeting was going to happen here, nor any information about the visitor. The favourite guess was a secret liaison with a woman. A couple of weeks passed with no sign. Then the lifeboat got a call out to a boat in trouble in Scully Cove, a notoriously dangerous spot. Surprisingly, the boat, really just a dinghy, is anchored in the cove. More surprisingly, it contains Jem’s body. The village is a close-knit community, although there are two distinct groups because a great many are members of an obscure religious cult. The main hub of activity for the rest is the pub, the “Maiden’s Prayer”, where the lifeboat crew meet, including Mary Ford who is the ‘Helm’. She is a single mother of two children, one of whom has a degenerative disease. The village is trying to raise the money to pay for a potentially lifesaving operation. She is supported by her father, Alan. Although the investigation is centered on the village, it extends along the rocky coastline between Greystone and Scully Cove, and further out to the nearby small town of Morrisham and the larger town of Barnstaple, where the team are usually based. A major focus is on the local Yacht Club, where Jem had originally learned to sail and where his first girlfriend Eleanor (constantly referred to as “the love of his life”) is now the wife of the Commodore.
DI Matthew Venn and his team, DS Jen Rafferty and DC Ross May, are assigned to the murder. They have very distinct personalities ,and a great part of the story involves looking at these, and how they influence there thinking and therefore the investigation. Venn, in particular, is a complex character, married to his husband, Victor, an atheist but brought up in the cult and therefore familiar with the village, the people and their motives. Jen, a single mother of two children having escaped from a violent and coercive marriage, is a sparky, impulsive scouser. Ross is young, eager to have his contributions recognised by Venn but also keen to get home to his new wife.
This is a police procedural, the third in a series but OK as a standalone. The plot is reasonable, and the range of suspects is fairly easy to identify and then whittle down. Partly because of the analysis of Venn’s personality and back history it is quite slow in places; even when we are in more active situations it can never be accused of being pacy. My main concern is the motivation when finally revealed, which just doesn’t sound likely. Overall, it’s a solid but unexciting story. I make it 3.5 which will round to 4, a flattering score.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

I promised my mother in law ages ago that I would read an Ann Cleeves novel as I knew it would be right up my street.
I found it engaging at first and obviously well written but I'm afraid I started to lose interest about half way through.
It just felt long and had I not promised, I would have abandoned it half way through. I thought the ending was disappointing too.

The Raging Storm is the third book in Ann Cleeves' north Devon set Matthew Venn series and is another atmospheric, twisty mystery.

Jem Rosco is a local boy done good. Once a troubled youth he is now a world famous adventurer and explorer, a TV star and documentary maker, world record setter. So when he rents a house in the small fishing village of Greystone his presence is the source of much speculation, after all there's not much in Graystone and he owns an apartment in the larger town of Morrisham close by. Rumours mount, the most popular claiming he is waiting for a mystery woman. The mystery deepens when the lifeboat is called out to aid a ship in distress during a storm only to find not a storm, but a boat with Rosco's naked body in it.

Venn and his officers head to Greystone only to find themselves stuck there thanks to a felled tree. It's an uncomfortable stay for Venn, Greystone is home to a large community of the Brethren, the religous sect he was raised in and left in his teens, and there are memories around every corner.

As always the power in Cleeves writing stems not just from the mysery solving and crime but by the characters who populate her books from Venn himself, and his team, talented detective Jen Rafferty, full of self doubt and juggling motherhood and work as she recovers from an abusive marriage and cocky, ambitious Ross May to the inhabitants of the village, and the setting, wild and dangerous behind the idyllic tourist friendly facade.

Immensly readable and satisfying. Recommended.

This was my first Ann Cleeves book and I wasn’t disappointed. Although it’s the third in the Two Rivers series, I had no problem with reading it as a stand alone. I loved the lead detective, Matthew Venn. The other characters were well developed too - I liked Jen particularly- and the plot was suitably twisty. I had ideas about the murderer but I didn’t guess the ending. Highly recommended. I’m eager to read more of Ann’s books now.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Venn is on the case to discover who has killed Jeremy. A complex mystery that keeps you guessing. A riveting read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book.

Another great book from Ann Cleves. She certainly knows how to write a great story, and the characters are always believable and sympathetic. The book also evoked a real sense of place, and I am looking forward to reading more in this series.

I loved this, the third book in the Matthew Venn series. I really feel like Matthew has settled into himself in this book, although I wish we had seen more of Jonathan, his husband. In this book the body of a local famous sailor and celebrity is found in a boat anchored in a storm, rescued by the lifeboat volunteers. He had been staying locally for a few weeks, but who was he waiting for and who would want him deaD?

I really enjoyed the.fast pace of this book, the characters are believable and although the story line was complexed I did manage to keep up. The ending was a huge surprise to me which added to the enjoyment..This book is part of a series but can be read as a stand-alone as there is just enough back ground information..

Ann Cleeves is a great storyteller. I don’t know how she comes up with all the variations in her series. This is #2 in a series set in Devon. A local celebrity arrives in a small seaside village and the rumours begin. A body is found in a notorious cove, the lifeboat having been called out. The village is typical of a small place, everyone knows everyone and their business. Family feuds and resentment flourish. I enjoyed the book and look forward to the next one in the series.

A bit of a slow burner.
A local celebrity Jem Rosco visits his old home a small Cornish village, telling the villagers he`s waiting for a special visitor, then his body is found murdered.
D I Mathew Venn returns to the village to investigate the murder with all the village gossiping when another body turns up they have lots of suspects.

I've read lots of Ann Cleeves books but this one just couldn`t keep my attention so kept having to come back to it to finish, I found the main character D I Venn was a very unlikable character

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC

I enjoyed the style of writing. A solid four star read. Great premise. Good characters. Page turner. Plenty of suspense to keep me guessing Would definitely read the next novel. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

A good, entertaining and clever plot ! I enjoyed the vivid depictions of the sea and life on the seaside. Whereas I had loved the police teams of the author's other series, I can't really relate with the police team of this particular series. As in so many crime books, they are all followed by a more or less traumatic past with a personality that appears to me rather predictable in its development. However if one looks for a good plot, this investigation remains compelling.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.

Another great read from one of the queen's of crime. A man is found dead in a boat and Matthew Venn has to find out who killed him. He and his team have to battle the inhabitants of Greystone to find the answer and, whilst they are asking and looking, another man is found dead. Is it a local or an outsider? Venn must look beyond the superstitions of the villagers to get to the truth. A must read and it kept me guessing until the end

The Raging Storm is not the cleverest mystery (I guessed whodunnit pretty early on), but the plot has plenty of momentum to keep you turning the pages. There is also, as I’ve come to expect from Cleeves, some wonderful characterisation and world-building - the prose isn’t overly descriptive, but you can perfectly picture every scene. Venn and May are particularly well-drawn, they practically leap off the page, and even the more minor characters come to life in only a few savvy sentences. It’s a scriptwriter’s dream, and you can see why her work is so readily adapted for the screen.

Perhaps not her best, but The Raging Storm is still a thoroughly enjoyable read. I’m already looking forward to the next Detective Inspector Venn instalment.

I found this really hard work. Tedious and slow. The characters were not likeable or interesting in any way. The fact the whole story revolves around the detective who by his own admission is quiet and unassuming, It revolves around his life, his past and he actually doesn't seem to have anything that would give the story or him any spark. The murder of a local celeb, the dark and dismal surroundings are secondary but add to the gloom. With no characters with any redeeming features, all pretty unpleasant characters, I found I had no real interest in the case and the outcome. As reading really effects my mood, I had to admit defeat and gave up at 86%.

This latest book in the DI Venn series doesn’t disappoint. With its strong coastal setting and cast of characters the book goes from strength to strength. I love that the police officers are flawed, human beings I can relate to. There are twists and turns but not too many characters to keep abreast of, and I didn’t see the outcome at all! I highly recommend this book.

This is the third book in the Matthew Venn series. A famous sailor and local legend, Jem Roscoe, comes to stay in Greystone village in Devon. He tells the locals that he’s waiting for a visitor.
The local lifeboat is called out on a stormy night on a hoax call and they find a dinghy anchored in Scully Cove with a body in it.
Matthew Venn is assigned the case but the village has unhappy memories for him. The community of
Barum Brethren Is based here and he was expelled from the cult several years ago. He and some of his team are based in the local pub where they conduct their enquiries into the death.
They discover Jem has a luxury flat in a nearby town and try to understand why he rented the small house in Greystone when he owned this so close by. They find out he has his mail redirected to a house he shares on the Wirral. As Jen, part of the investigative teams, has transferred from the area she is sent to visit the house and interview the occupant.
Another body is discovered which eventually leads them to solving the case but not before some of tbe team’s lives are put in danger.
I enjoyed the book although I’m not sure about the killer and her motives!