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The Heron's Cry: Book summary and reviews of The Heron's Cry by Ann Cleeves

The Heron's Cry

A Detective Matthew Venn Novel (The Two Rivers #2)

by Ann Cleeves

The Heron's Cry by Ann Cleeves X
The Heron's Cry by Ann Cleeves
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  • Published Sep 2021
    400 pages
    Genre: Mysteries

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Book Summary

Ann Cleeves - New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of the Vera and Shetland series, both of which are hit TV shows - returns with the extraordinary follow-up to The Long Call, in the Two Rivers series, soon to be a major TV series too.

North Devon is enjoying a rare hot summer with tourists flocking to its coastline. Detective Matthew Venn is called out to a rural crime scene at the home of a group of artists. What he finds is an elaborately staged murder--Dr Nigel Yeo has been fatally stabbed with a shard of one of his glassblower daughter's broken vases.

Dr Yeo seems an unlikely murder victim. He's a good man, a public servant, beloved by his daughter. Matthew is unnerved, though, to find that she is a close friend of Jonathan, his husband.

Then another body is found--killed in a similar way. Matthew soon finds himself treading carefully through the lies that fester at the heart of his community and a case that is dangerously close to home.

DI Matthew Venn returns in The Heron's Cry, in Ann Cleeves powerful next novel, proving once again that she is a master of her craft.

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Reviews

Media Reviews

"In her follow-up to The Long Call (2019), Cleeves provides a complex mystery full of surprises...This character-driven exploration of people's darkest flaws is a sterling example of Cleeves' formidable talents." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"[W]ell-crafted...Though Matthew's inflexible personality mutes the narrative at times, the intricate plotting, complex characters, and rich atmosphere more than compensate. Both new and existing fans will be pleased." - Publishers Weekly

This information about The Heron's Cry was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.

Reader Reviews

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Bookworm Becky

Whodunit #2
4.5

Shard, artists, chatroom…

Detective Matthew Venn returns for a new case in Book #2 of the series. Many of the same characters but a new investigation. One murder will lead to more at the rural home of a group of artists. Is there a link with the earlier suicide of a young man?

Matthew Venn will lead the investigation into the deaths. His husband Jonathan compares Matthew to a heron . “So patient. Just willing to wait. Entirely focused on the prey.” While Matthew at times feels muddled - “too much going on. Too many connections. Too many motives.”


I saw Ann Cleeves at a local author event in Sept 2023. I had never read any of her books at that time. Book #3 of the Matthew Venn novels was included with the ticket. I also bought Book #1 at the event. A few days after reading/enjoying #1, I ordered #2. Unfortunately , I’m just getting to Book #2 now three months later. I should have read it sooner!

You will learn a lot of details in Matthew’s team briefings / meetings.

Lots of new-to-me vocabulary. Ex: boring sod, Billy-no-makes, hubby is a dry, old stick, and dogsbody.

Lots of possible suspects & motives. I did not figure it out!

Another gripping whodunit/mystery/police procedural.

I said this in my review of #3 The Raging Storm, but it’s worth repeating. Consider me a new fan of this author!

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Author Information

Ann Cleeves Author Biography

Photo: David Hirst

Ann Cleeves is the author of over thirty critically acclaimed novels, and in 2017 was awarded the highest accolade in crime writing, the CWA Diamond Dagger. She is the creator of popular detectives Vera Stanhope and Jimmy Perez who can now be found on television in ITV's Vera and BBC One's Shetland. The TV series and the books they are based on have become international sensations, capturing the minds of millions worldwide.

Ann worked as a probation officer, bird observatory cook, and auxiliary coastguard before she started writing. She is a member of "Murder Squad," working with other British northern writers to promote crime fiction. Ann is also a passionate champion for libraries and was a National Libraries Day Ambassador in 2016. Ann lives in North Tyneside near where the Vera ...

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Link to Ann Cleeves's Website

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  • The Long Call jacket

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