Two Rivers · #2.5
The Girls on the Shore
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 a darkly delicious short story featuring DI Matthew Venn from the Two Rivers series.
It was winter. Cold and clear, a different sort of day for this coast where the westerly winds usually blew rain and cloud.
Detective Inspector Matthew Venn is standing by his kitchen window when he first spots them. Two young girls, facing away from him, seemingly staring towards something in the distance. They are holding hands, and they are alone.
Though not a natural with children, Matthew knows he must find out why the girls are here, on a school day, unsupervised. And so he meets Olivia and Imogen, a pair of sisters whose secrets Matthew must uncover if he hopes to get them home.
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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