What readers think of The Long Call, plus links to write your own review.

Ann Cleeves has started a new series with The Long Call. The book, named for the cry of a herring gull, “The cry which always sounded to him like an inarticulate howl of pain.”

Cleeves has developed a great set of characters here. Our main character, Matthew is a DI in Barnstaple. He’s smart, a complex thinker, a loving and loved man in a healthy relationship. The story starts with Matthew watching from afar the funeral of his father. He’s left the evangelical church he grew up in. It soon becomes apparent it’s because he’s gay. But Jen is probably my favorite character. She’s one of Matthew’s DS’s and she’s transferred to Barnstaple to escape her abusive husband. She’s got great instincts and I love her insights, not only into motherhood, but into the people she’s interviewing. Even Ross, the brown noser, is eventually shown as a complex person.

Cleeves also gives us a true sense of the area. It’s easily apparent why her books are turned into TV series as they’re accessible, smart and engaging. The same is true for this new series. It’s suspenseful and I had no idea how things were going to shake out until almost the end.

I can only hope that Cleeves writes enough of these books so that some wise tv producer can pick up this series as well.

My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.

4.5

Reputation, weak link, atonement….

The Woodyard is a combo day centre/ community hub that includes A- level students and those with learning disabilities. Woodyard’s purpose is to “provide a glorious community, bringing people together.” A board of trustees runs Woodyard , with Jonathan being the general manager. Woodyard has paid employees as well as many volunteers.

Now a volunteer has been found murdered and a Woodyard attendee has gone missing. Parents expect Woodyard to be a safe haven , where their children should be safe and protected. It should not be a place where horrific things happen.

Detective Matthew Venn and his team are only finding stray leads. “Things are getting complicated. Too many coincidences. Too many people circling around each other, without touching. No real evidence.” One thing is crystal clear — all these stray leads seem to lead back to Woodyard.

A first time reader of this author! I saw Ann Cleeves at a local author event last month. Although she talked about The Raging Storm, I decided to also get book #1 to meet the characters. I will be reading # 2 and #3 next!

Consider me a new fan of this author!

Kept me guessing! Didn’t know who to trust or who to believe! Surprise ending. I recommend!

Very descriptive writing.

Follow the money!

This was a recent Christmas gift. My wife thought I would bask in a Devon setting having emigrated thence over 50 years ago. I was familiar with Cleeve's work through the truly atmospheric 'Shetland' series. Her Devon debut is a stumble; nothing evokes the more metropolitan milieux of the county (I'm a Plymothian at heart; North Devon always seemed only slightly more civilized than Cornwall). The book is bereft of Devon dialect other than "maid" a few times. I wasn't expecting 'Poldark lite' but Devonians DO still say "Ow be ee?" "Wareby gwain" and so on, and archaic talk still flavors pubs, which are notably absent from this book. I was raised buying and selling fish, and Cleeves is quite oblivious to the nuances of coastal Devon.
Politeness reigns as it certainly doesn't in Devon; no-one says "well I'm buggered" or "bugger me". When I began at Cambridge my fellow students were appalled at my regionalisms. Devonians did and do resent retiree newcomers with money and attitude, as well as the tourists who support the County economy. That facet is mostly missing as well. Bottom line? If you choose to set a series in a really distinctive English county, get it right. I'm about to embark on the series second book; maybe Ms. Cleeves is learning to embrace Devon culture. I hope so.

Thanks to Minotaur Books and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this upcoming mystery. Overall, it fell flat for me. I didn’t find the mystery story that compelling and yet still felt it was wrapped up rather quickly towards the end. The main character is a detective and I hear this is going to be a new series. I’m not that interested though in reading more about him. I found him rather irritating. Well, all books are not made for all. I’m sure readers of British mystery series may like it.

Have to agree with previous reviews. The book was bland and pro Woke. Anti-Christian as well. Deliberately casting Christian characters in a negative light while any gay character is sweetness and light.

Very disappointed after the Vera series. I found the main character Venn totally bland and thought Ms Cleeves was going 'Woke' in making him have a husband. Not a believable character. Not one of her best, she should stick to the excellent Vera.