07/05/2021
In Agatha Award winner Cleeves’s well-crafted sequel to 2019’s The Long Call , Det. Matthew Venn investigates the murder of retired physician Nigel Yeo, who was found by his glassblower daughter, Eve Yeo, in her Devon, England, studio with a shard from one of her handmade vases in his neck. As director of a patient advocacy group, Nigel was probing the death of a paranoid patient who killed himself after being released from a psychiatric hospital. The CEO of the health trust in charge of the hospital, who met with Nigel the morning before the murder, can’t afford to have his reputation sullied by blame for the suicide. But when a second victim is found murdered by glass from one of Eve’s vases, Matthew reconsiders her involvement. Conflict erupts at home, as Eve’s a friend of Matthew’s husband, Jonathan, who thinks Matthew’s suspicion of Eve is misguided. Jonathan also dislikes Matthew drawing rigid lines between his personal and professional life. 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. Agent: Sarah Menguc, Sarah Menguc Literary (U.K.). (Sept.)
A USA Today Bestseller! One of AARP's "26 Works of Fiction to Read this Season" “[A] well-plotted novel of unremitting suspense.”—Wall Street Journal "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) "Well-crafted... intricate plotting, complex characters, and rich atmosphere... new and existing fans will be pleased."—Publishers Weekly "A wonderfully engrossing, by-the-book police procedural lush with Agatha Christie-esque atmosphere and intrigue."—Booklist “The vivid setting in The Heron's Cry casts the terrifying specter of violent death against the backdrop of carefree summer sunshine with maximum effect. The multi-dimensional lead characters have edges and scarsthey're not always likable but are ultimately intriguing. A powerful cast of secondary characters are treated with the same compassionate insight.”—Shelf AwarenessPraise for The Long Call : An Instant New York Times Bestseller A USA Today Bestseller Winner of the Agatha Award for Best Contemporary Novel A People Magazine Best Book of Fall 2019 A Wall Street Journal Bestseller! A Library Journal Best Book of 2019 A September 2019 LibraryReads pick! A St. Louis Post Dispatch Best Book of 2019 One of Aunt Agatha's Best Books of 2019 "Cleeves's true strength lies in her descriptions of the natural world, gorgeously captured."—New York Times Book Review "Cleeves' acclaimed Shetland series may be history, but her newest detective—buttoned-up, gay, married, ex-evangelical Matthew Venn—is a righteous successor."—People "The plotting is complex and intriguing, the location comes alive, and the resolution satisfies... fans of Cleeves lamenting the end of the 'Shetland' series will find much to love in her new characters and setting."—Library Journal (starred) "Fans missing detective Jimmy Perez (Wild Fire , 2018, etc.) will find a worthy successor in the equally complex Venn, who presides over an excellent mystery in this series kickoff."—Kirkus "Cleeves makes good use of Devon local color and populates this subtle, expertly paced mystery with distinctive supporting characters."—Publishers Weekly "As usual with this talented author, the key is relationships, and the murder is an occasion to examine them and then, finally, to expose what rips them apart."—Booklist "Cleeves' new series is as nuanced, compassionate and compelling as her bestsellers starring two other gifted cops, Vera Stanhope and Jimmy Perez."—Seattle Times "Cleeves shows her usual mastery at creating fully fleshed characters, as well as a plot that keeps readers rapt, and ready for the next installment."—Cleveland Plain Dealer "The Long Call . . . is driven by strong characters who are deep, likeable and presented in great detail. Cleeves is also adept in providing a good sense of place. Although the story is rife with twists and surprises, the end comes together nicely."—The Missourian "Matthew is immediately engaging. So, especially, is Jonathan, and so are Matthew's two sidekicks, colorful single mother Jen and straitlaced and ambitious Ross."—St. Louis Post-Dispatch "As a huge fan of both the Shetland and Vera series of books, I had high expectations for Cleeves’ latest. She easily exceeded those expectations with The Long Call . Matthew Venn is a keeper. A stunning debut for Cleeves’ latest crimefighter."—David Baldacci, #1 New York Times bestselling author
★ 08/01/2021
Devon police detective Matthew Venn and his team are called to an artists' compound where Dr. Nigel Yeo has been found in his daughter's glassblowing studio, having been stabbed to death with a piece of her glass. Sergeant Jen Rafferty now regrets that she had too much to drink at a party the night before and missed the chance to talk to Dr. Yeo; he had wanted to discuss a suicide he was investigating for his mental health services watchdog group. When another artist is killed, again stabbed with a shard of glass, the police's focus turns to the artists' commune and the glassblower Eve Yeo. Matthew's husband Jonathan is a friend of Eve's and is protective of her, and Matthew becomes upset with Jonathan's interference in his case. Manipulation and murder only increase the pain for the involved families and the local community. The unsettling investigation finds Matthew's team examining their own family relationships as they unravel a story of suicide and depression and the inadequacy of a rural English town's mental health services. VERDICT Matthew Venn, introduced in The Long Call , is the primary detective in this installment, but Cleeves uses multiple voices, including those of Matthew's team members, to show the personal effects of this troubling case. Fans of Cleeves's "Vera Stanhope" and "Shetland" mysteries will be eager for her latest novel, where a police team struggles to cope with professional and personal lives.—Lesa Holstine, Evansville Vanderburgh P.L., IN
★ 2021-06-16 In her follow-up to The Long Call (2019), Cleeves provides a complex mystery full of surprises.
Detective Matthew Venn’s North Devon team is stretched to the limit by a series of homicides. An aborted conversation between police officer Jen Rafferty and Nigel Yeo, who wants to discuss a problem at a party thrown by a mutual friend, is the first hint of trouble. The next morning, Jen is called to a murder scene at an artist’s workshop on the grounds of wealthy Francis Ley's home. The dead man is Nigel, who was killed by a spear from one of his glass blower daughter Eve’s pieces. The investigation is complicated by several preexisting relationships. Jen had a one-night stand with Wes Curnow, the other artist in residence at Ley's, who also has studio space at an art center run by Venn’s artistic, upbeat husband, Jonathan. The murdered man worked for a watchdog organization that’s investigating the National Health Service after several families complained that their depressed youngsters got little help and committed suicide, including the son of a local family that could be seeking revenge. The homicide team, which in addition to Jen includes an ambitious detective named Ross, work in their own intuitive ways alongside Venn, a clever, soft-spoken, deeply conflicted man—he's still working on his fraught relationship with his mother after having been brought up in a cultlike religious group that doesn’t welcome gay people. A second murder with another shard of Eve’s glass widens the possible range of suspects, making it more difficult for the sleuths to ignore their personal feelings.
This character-driven exploration of people’s darkest flaws is a sterling example of Cleeves’ formidable talents.
The violent murder of an all-round good citizen brings DI Matthew Venn and his team in to investigate, and soon they have two murders on their hands. Jack Holden demonstrates his full talents in this mystery, bringing the extensive cast of characters in this small and close-knit community in Devon to life with his strong narration. This is particularly apparent as he seamlessly moves between a variety of British regional accents in many of the dialogue scenes. Holden’s characterizations of both the male and female characters are strong, and he creates a likable and believable pair in the DI and his husband. His spot-on timing helps keep the story moving toward its surprising end, resulting in a thoroughly enjoyable listen. K.J.P. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
SEPTEMBER 2021 - AudioFile