Two Rivers · #1
The Long Call
For the first time in 20 years, Ann Cleeves --international bestselling and award-winning author of the Vera and Shetland series, both of which are hit TV shows-- embarks on a gripping new series.
In North Devon, where two rivers converge and run into the sea, Detective Matthew Venn stands outside the church as his father’s funeral takes place. Once loved and cherished, 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 into the community he thought he had left behind, as deadly secrets hidden at its heart are revealed, and his past and present collide.
An astonishing new novel told with compassion and searing insight, The Long Call will captivate fans of Vera and Shetland, as well as new readers.
The series
Nestled between the rolling hills and rugged coastline of North Devon, Two Rivers introduces readers to a world where the tides of the sea mirror the tangled webs of human emotions and dark secrets. The series follows Detective Matthew Venn, a man whose return to his coastal hometown for his estranged father's funeral sets in motion a series of investigations that will force him to confront not only the mysteries of his cases but also the ghosts of his past.
Read full series description
From the very first page of The Long Call, Cleeves draws readers into a community bound by quiet histories and unspoken tensions. Venn, marked by a difficult past and personal struggles, is an unusual but compelling protagonist. His investigations are as much about unraveling the complexities of human nature as they are about solving crimes. His approach to justice—methodical, introspective, and shaped by his own journey of self-discovery—creates a poignant and deeply human thread that runs through the series.
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Devon’s wild beauty, Two Rivers offers more than just crime-solving. It immerses readers in a world of complicated relationships, tangled loyalties, and emotional reckoning. Each book, from The Long Call to The Heron's Cry and The Raging Storm, peels back the layers of its characters, revealing hidden desires, buried regrets, and unexpected truths. The stories explore not only the investigation of crime but also the price of keeping secrets in a small town where everyone is connected in some way.
In the Two Rivers series, the line between right and wrong is often blurred, and the atmosphere is thick with suspense and emotional resonance. The settings, whether the tranquil beauty of the rivers or the stormy, windswept coastline, are more than just locations—they are characters in themselves, reflecting the emotional turmoil and the secrets lurking within.
For those who crave more than just a thrilling whodunit, Two Rivers delivers a deeply engaging exploration of identity, belonging, and redemption. With its richly woven plotlines, vivid sense of place, and a protagonist who feels as real and flawed as the world around him, this series is a journey worth taking—one that will linger long after the last page is turned.
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