I haven't read either of the two previous novels in this series but I think this matters not. While quite enjoying this well-written book I could not get overly excited by it with its storyline of a somewhat flawed D/Insp within a wild seaside backdrop, a scenario which seems to be very popular if not repetitive these days. I found the concept and credibility a little disappointing. I think this normally excellent writer is better than this.
I know this is an advanced copy but getting the correct rank for Ross should be addressed. He fluctuated between D/C and D/Sgt on three or four occasions!
My thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

This is a classic crime thriller, focusing on personalities, place and motives rather than gruesome and visceral torture and death as in so many modern novels. Jem Roscoe, explorer, adventurer and local celebrity returns to his old stomping grounds in the small Devon community of Greystone, suggesting that he will be meeting someone. Delighting the locals in the pub, he stirs up old memories and it soon becomes clear that not everyone is a fan. When the lifeboat crew respond to a call about a vessel in trouble at a famous old wrecking spot, they find instead Roscoe’s dead body in a tethered boat, and it becomes a case for Matthew Venn and his team. There is a strong atmosphere of tension and doom at Greystone, exacerbated by foul weather that cuts off power and leaves the police team stranded there- this is no cosy seaside spot, despite the wild beauty. Venn is reminded of his childhood as part of an extreme religious sect, the Barum Brethren, who he rejected years ago but who still have members here, while his colleague Jen, originally from Liverpool, feels out of place and struggles with her resentment of her ex-husband who is expecting a baby with his latest girlfriend, and with guilt over her own perceived neglect of their two teenagers. Each character, even minor ones, has enough personality to bring the narrative alive, and the strands of plot require considerable unravelling and keep the reader guessing to the end. A treat for lovers of intelligent, well-written and meticulously plotted murder mysteries.

Set in Devon, the plot centres around the death of Jem Roscoe a well known local sailor. Venn and his team are called to investigate and quickly become caught up with local gossip. I liked the many different characters, especially Jen and although it starts off slow, the pace is steady throughout. The book is more a cosy mystery, it's number 3 in the Matthew Venn series and is an easy read. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

When a local celebrity, Jem Rosco, wanders into the Maiden's Arms in Greystone, Devon, the locals are thrilled. Rosco's presence is a mystery; he's waiting for someone but gives no more details. Few pay much heed when he suddenly vanishes until his body is recovered from a dingy anchored in a nearby cove after a massive storm.

The Raging Storm is the third entry in Ann Cleeves' DI Venn series. Like all Cleeves' novels, it is character driven; we learn much more of Ross and Jenn and their backgrounds, which Cleeves contrasts nicely. Venn remains a flawed and insecure person but is intriguingly so.

The cast of characters, as befits a small village, are all connected. There past loom large with grudges and secrets. As Cleeves excels at characterisation, she manages to make each one unique, meaning you cannot confuse them. I also like how Cleeves includes past characters — even if they’re just small cameos.

Cleeves creates a strong sense of tension which pushes you on. The plot is a true mystery, littered with clues and red herrings, and the end is a brilliant revelation.

I thoroughly enjoyed this entry and strongly recommend it. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publishers for the eARC.

This is the third book in this new Two Rivers series set in Devon and featuring detective Matthew Venn. This takes him back to Greystone - a tightknit community on the Devon coast unattractive enough to be ignored by visitors or tourists (wonder where this could be?) and remembered by Venn from his childhood spent as a member of the Brethren Christian community which he left and has been shunned as a result.

Not a locked room mystery as such but it has that feel as there is such a small tight community feel, and the sense of claustrophobia is heightened by the storm which cuts the village off shortly after the body of a dead man is discovered. It is a page turner and I enjoyed it, although I did find the ending and motivations for the murder unconvincing.

I will look forward to reading more in the series.

The third novel in Ann Cleeves' new strand, and the best so far. As always the writing is beautiful and the descriptions excellent. Indeed, the North Devon coast is a character in itself. The titular storm forms a dramatic backdrop and the plot is never less than interesting. I did feel, however, that the denouement was a little contrived.

I’ve only just started reading Ann Cleeves books and her detective Matthew Venn (this is book 3) isn’t a very dynamic detective and very different to Ann’s other detective Vera as he has a more quiet, introverted way about him and the Devon coast in raging storm seems to fit right in with him, here he has to find out who killed a local celebrity who has quite a few enemies that would of wanted him dead. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing to the end.

When sailor, adventurer and local legend, Jem Rosco blows into town in the middle of an autumn gale, the residents of Greystone, Devon, are delighted to have a celebrity in their midst. The residents think nothing of it when he disappears again, because that’s the sort of man he is, but then his body is found in a dinghy in a raging storm, anchored off Scully Cove, a place with legends of its own.

Venn and his team start their investigation but as the body count and the rumours increase, and the village is cut off by the continuing storm, their own lives are threatened by danger…

This is the third title in Ann Cleeves’ Two Rivers series, featuring Detective Matthew Venn, and as with the others it is beautifully descriptive - her evocation of North Devon is top notch.

The somewhat thoughtful and measured unfolding of the plot rather than a fast, frenetic, edge of the seat type of mystery, is also to be savoured. However, that said, in The Raging Storm, the atmosphere and tension are palpable. Here we have the perfect portrayal of an isolated, small community – the claustrophobia and suffocation that comes with that: everyone knowing everyone’s business, the gossip, the social hierarchy, the alliances and the fall-outs. Then on top of all that there is the feeling of being trapped by the storm which looms and rages throughout. It is pathetic fallacy done to perfection.

For me, Ann Cleeves’ strength is always her characterisation. As the series progresses we get deeper character studies. Each of the main characters is developed further with more layers peeled back. I’m still struggling to warm to Ross May who irritates me as much as he does Venn, but I love the character of Jenn. Venn and is husband Jonathan are also well drawn. They are the perfect example of opposites attracting, yet that is also their strength as a couple, with each having traits that the other lacks, offering what the other needs.

As with all great crime series, Venn is seen to be flawed and is not portrayed as perfect which adds authenticity and believability to the character, and his unhappy childhood and his struggles with his Brethren roots will always be an issue for him.

All in all this is a completely engrossing and absorbing read, which I found really hard to put down. I loved how I was kept guessing, and enjoyed the constant misdirection, which meant that my theories about the suspect kept changing. There are multiple potential suspects, all plausible, and the subtle nudging of our suspicions to favour one then another, shows Ann Cleeves’ roots in, and love of classic, golden age crime. She never disappoints, and this series is really getting into its stride now. I have enjoyed seeing it develop and become established, and for me it just gets better with every instalment.

Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ann Cleeves in the Raging Storm manages to evoke the North Devon I knew as a boy before the 'smart set' moved in (her words not mine). However, unlike where I lived when winters were as closed off and tight knit as Greystone (in the novel), Greystone never seemed to have the summer influx we did. It's a novel of atmosphere, brooding, intrigue, allegiances (friendship, romantic and religious) and the ever-changing sea as a backdrop. The lead detective Matthew Venn is brought in to solve the murder of a former celebrity found in a dinghy near Scully Point. A place the locals were superstitious of. Weirdly, the dinghy was at anchor and Jem Rosco, the victim was naked.and lying in the bottom of the boat. Jem had arrived in Greystone some days previously and was welcomed as the national treasure he was. He rented a small property with the intention of meeting up with someone special who was to join him, sadly his death intervened and no one subsequently turned up.

A lengthy and very entertaining novel, best read when there's rain lashing at your window and a howling gale outside, July 2023 was perfect. The lack of forensic evidence at the scene of the first murder was the only thing that let it down but I'll forgive that.

Though I hadn't read the previous books in this series it did not spoil my enjoyment of it .Ann Cleeves is such a brilliant writer of good mysteries and great characters.The story is set in the town of Greystone on the Devon Coast.A body is found drifting on a boat in a cove and Matthew Venn and his Sergeant Jen Rafferty are called to investigate and thus begins a great story with mysteries galore and twists and turns and a very surprising ending .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC .

I have been loving the Matthew Venn, Two Rivers, series and with The Raging Storm, Ann Cleeves has served up another atmospheric, mystery filled read that leads Venn and his team to the coastal town of Greystone after local hero and celebrity sailor, Jeremy Rosco, is found dead in a boat that is moored at an isolated cove. Venn knows Greystone from his childhood, from a meetings held by the Barum Brethren, and whilst not all of his memories are bad ones, it is enough to set him on edge. Finding out who would want to kill Rosco and why takes leads the team into an investigation where it is impossible to know who to trust, and with a killer who will stop at nothing to protect their secrets.

The Raging Storm, is laced with so much misdirection that it really does make a near perfect mystery. There are several people that Venn and the team encounter who could have been capable of committing murder, and suspicion moves between fleetingly between them, all while the killer remains in plain sight. It is fair to say that Venn's connection to the Brethren, who still have a thriving community in Greystone, does seem to cloud his judgment and distract him a touch, and he is uncharacteristically off form as a result. He's not the only one though, and news of a personal nature sets of a gamut of conflicting emotions for Jen Rafferty too. And with Ross May trying to do his best to outshine Jen, it's no wonder that it takes some time for the real picture to unfurl.

I love how Ann Cleeves takes the setting, this time a small, isolated coastal town, and makes it an integral part of the story in its own right. It is very clear the love that the author has for the setting, being able to recreate the scene so vividly that I could almost feel the fog rolling in off the sea, sense the sights and sounds of the raging wages crashing against the rocks that edge the town. Featuring a Lifeguard station is a canny move, allowing her to not only highlight the important work of such teams, all invariably volunteers, but also to make best use of the area's greatest asset, the sea. taking the cast of characters out onto the water in a brief lull in a storm, or to an isolated cove that will be cut off from everywhere by the tides, automatically adds a kind of jeopardy which feeds itself through the pages, creating a tension as strong as the tides themselves. Anything could happen and that extra sense of anticipation kept me glued to the pages.

I really like the characters in this series, Venn and his husband Jonathan especially. They are so different in personality, but compliment each other perfectly, and you can feel the strength of their bond even when apart. Jonathan once again plays a key part in discovering some of the hidden truths in this mystery, a touch ironic given that it is clear there is something he is keep from Venn. And the almost sibling like rivalry between Jen and Ross always brings a smile to my face, even though this time it boils over into a situation which proves highly perilous to one of them. But I appreciate the variety they bring to the story, the way in which they balance each other out but, as a team, all have the drive and determination to see the job done and a killer brought to justice.

I think this may have been my favourite book in the series so far. Perhaps because the characters are more established, or perhaps just because of the setting - I do love a bit of isolation and the eerie, stormy setting that can create an almost locked-room style mystery even in the great outdoors. It is not a fast paced story, although there are moments of great jeopardy, and scenes of confrontation where the stakes are raised that do drive the action onward. But I love the more contemplative pace of the investigation, they way in which we are privy to the inner thoughts of the team, and the way in which Ann Cleeves cleverly balances story with character. That enduring mystery, the how and why of the murder, as well as the brilliant team I love spending time with, made this a completely compelling read. I cannot wait to see what comes next for them all.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan McMillan for the approval to read and review this book.

Matthew Venn Book 3
It is wonderful to meet up again with DI Matthew Venn, DS Jen Rafferty, DC Ross May and the rest of the team in North Devon. The story starts in a town called Greystone, when Jem (Jeremy) Rosco visits the town to stay in a local cottage whilst waiting for a mysterious visitor! He calls into the local pub, The Maiden's Prayer, and he meets with the locals. Then one night, he doesn't show at the pub as normal. What has happened to him? One of the locals, Mary Ford, is the helm for the local Lifeboat and they get a call to go to an abandoned boat outside of Scully Head. They discovered a dinghy with a dead body! Who, what, why, how, when and where? DI Matthew Venn has a mystery on his hands in the close knit community of Greystone. There are plenty of twists and turns, with a surprise ending! I will be recommending this book.

When Jem Rosco returns to his home village of Greystone, Devon the locals are all happy to have the local legend back in their midst. But someone clearly isn’t happy to see him as his body is found naked in a dinghy just off a local cove during a heavy storm.
DI Matthew Venn and his team are brought in to find the killer but the more they discover the more confusing the case gets. Then another body is found in the same cove and Matthew knows there is a connection but is struggling to find it. Do they need to look into the past to find the killer of are they closer then Matthew thinks? The storm may have passed but the danger is very present.
This atmospheric, twisty book keeps you guessing until the end. Great characters and a wonderful setting, as you would expect from such a skilled writer, which will engage and absorb you.

This is book 3 of the Two Rivers series and after reading the previous books I’m really loving the series and look forward to more episodes in the the future.
I think what made this latest book so good is that the writing is so good I could really feel the stormy weather in Scully Cove and the claustrophobic feeling of Matthew Venn and his team cut off in a village after a storm fells a large tree and with no electricity trying to solve a murder. The plot line is terrific and captivating I didn’t have a clue as to who the protagonist was or the reason behind the murders and try as I might I couldn’t figure it out and I loved that.
Ann Cleeves always seems to have the knack of drawing you right into a book not only because of the mystery but also into the lives of the characters and what a brilliant set they all are.
So a book I loved I was sorry when I finished it and can’t wait for more, a series I would also highly recommend.
My thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Excellent detective series with good characters and a satisfying plot that is not too unbelievable. Cleeves is my favourite crime writer, I always know I will have an immersive enjoyable read. Matthew Venn is an interesting character and I really enjoyed the religious sect influences.

This is the third in the Two Rivers series from Ann Cleves featuring Detective Matthew Venn and his husband Jonathan. The story is centred around a coastal town where many people belong to the religious group which Matthew had been rejected by. A well known sailor and adventurer is found dead, adrift in a boat after returning to his home town and telling locals that he is expecting to meet a special someone. There are multiple suspects
including Gwen Gregory from whom he has rented a cottage, Mary Ford, the helmswoman of the lifeboat crew who found the body, her father Alan, the lifeboat operations manager, Sammy Benton and Peter Smale, the doctor who examined the body. The characters in the story are well-developed, including the recurring ones and the plot was a great read. However, the denouement felt like it had been pulled out of a hat and I didn't find it very convincing. Worth reading because it continues the stories of the main characters but not as strong as the previous two books in the series.

Thank you for allowing me to review this book. I enjoy Ann Cleeves books and gave read quite a few. This title was of the usual genre, Matthew Venn and his team investigating a murder in Greystone, Devon. There were the usual false clues and twists to the story and the inevitable second murder.
Although i enjoyed the story I did find it irritating that sometimes Matthew was referred to as Matthew, then in the next sentence it was as Venn. Some of the character back stories were a little unnecessary.

This is the third full length novel in the Two Rivers series and is my favourite one so far.

Matthew Venn and his team are called out to Greystone after the body of a local celebrity sailor is found out at sea.

This town is particularly haunting for Venn who grew up in the local community and was shunned from them after choosing to follow his own path away from the Brethren. (This novel can be read as a standalone however this part of the story may be difficult to fully understand without having read the previous couple of books).

Whilst investigating this death, the team come up against some strange locals, superstition and a number of different theories. When another body shows up shortly after, the team are forced to abandon their previous ideas and start all over again.

Like I say, this was my favourite book of the series. Venn is definitely an underrated detective, quiet and unassuming but with a very sharp mind. I also like the characters of Jen and Ross who support him ably. Really looking forward to seeing this series develop.

Thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

In 'The Raging Storm' by Ann Cleeves, Matthew Venn and his team are called in to investigate the murder of a local celebrity Jem Rosco. Rosco was an adventurer and sailor, who after a long absence returned to the small town of Greystone to await a mysterious visitor. The town is not a happy one and there are many divisions, including between the Brethren (of which Venn used to be a part) and non-believers, and between people who have old axes to grind. When Rosco is found in Scully Cove, Venn and his team try to find an explanation that is more evidence based than superstitious.

Ann Cleeves is an excellent story teller and whilst she has written numerous books, the plots remain well developed and interesting. Like Vera before him, Matthew Venn has a backstory that leaches into the novel, but this is done in such a way that you don't need to have read previous books to understand it. You also don't feel like there is a huge amount of time taken up to explain it. This is the same for other important characters, such as Jen Rafferty and Ross May, the other two police officers on the case. This takes a lot of skill, in a novel where the reader is introduced to a lot of backstory for the other characters potentially involved in the crime.

Ann Cleeves remains one of the best crime writers out there and I would recommend people read this novel.

The Raging Storm is Ann Cleeves latest adventure involving Matthew Venn. It gets off to a good start with a great location. Greystones village is fairly incestuous figuratively with a small cast of villagers which made it easy to keep tabs on who was where and when (when they were telling the truth, that is). Throw in an adventurous and famous sailor, Jim Rosco, a man with a chequered history with some of the village residents, and the scene is set for a cracking story.
For me, unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to its early promise. I don’t find Matthew Venn particularly likeable. He lacks the with and intelligence of Vera, and the constant references and referrals to his husband, Jonathan, began to irk me as the story unfolded. I could see no real reason for this secondary character to be there. In places, he seemed more dominant than Venn.
The explanation given for the murders was, quite frankly, ludicrous and left me wondering why they were even necessary in the first place.
Cleeves does her usual good job of weaving strands together and sowing a good crop of red herrings but, ultimately, I was disappointed with both the concept and the central character.
With thanks to Netgalley and Pan MacMillan for an arc copy in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.