X-Book

The Long Call

Get in the xigxag app
Already purchased

Click to open directly in the xigxag app.

This book is not purchasable in your country. Please select another book. Pre-order Buy Now €{{ price }} Send as a gift
How does xigxag pricing work?

Listen to a sample

What to expect

Meet Detective Matthew Venn. From Ann Cleeves, the Sunday Times bestselling creator of Vera Stanhope and Shetland's Jimmy Perez, The Long Call is the number one bestselling first novel in the Two Rivers series.

Read by Ben Aldridge, star of ITV's hit TV adaptation.

'Clever, compassionate and atmospheric, with a great cast of new characters to love' – Elly Griffiths, author of The Frozen People

North Devon. Where the rivers Taw and Torridge converge and run into the sea, Detective Matthew Venn stands outside the church as his father's funeral takes place. The day Matthew turned his back on the strict evangelical community in which he grew up, he lost his family too.

Now he's back, not just to mourn his father at a distance, but to take charge of his first major case in the Two Rivers region; a complex place not quite as idyllic as tourists suppose.

A body has been found on the beach near to Matthew's new home: a man with the tattoo of an albatross on his neck, stabbed to death.

Finding the killer is Venn’s only focus, and his team’s investigation will take him straight back into the community he left behind, and the deadly secrets that lurk there.

'Stunning' – David Baldacci, author of The 6:20 Man

'Another fine chapter in the Ann Cleeves story' – The Times

'One of Britain's best crime writers' – Daily Express

The Long Call is the first entry in the Two Rivers series. Continue the mysteries with The Heron's Cry.

This audiobook is an updated recording by Ben Aldridge.

Critics Review

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, author of The 6:20 Man
Had me hooked — a promising beginning to another fine chapter in the Ann Cleeves story
The Times
Clever, compassionate and atmospheric, with a great cast of new characters to love. I am already a Matthew Venn fan
Elly Griffiths, author of the Ruth Galloway Mysteries
A triumph that cements Cleeves' status as one of Britain's best crime writers
Daily Express
Brilliant, thoughtful and deeply engaging
Sara Paretsky, New York Times bestselling author of the V.I. Warshawski series
Brilliant - a page-turning and sensitively told tale, with a vividly evoked North Devon setting, a powerful emotional heft and a new detective hero in Matthew Venn who you will want to follow for book after book. Wonderful!
Chris Ewan, bestselling author of Safe House
Ann Cleeves’ new series gets off to a terrific start with The Long Call – her native Devon is wonderfully evoked, and Matthew Venn is a very appealing new detective. Another sure-fire hit
Martin Edwards, author of Gallows Court
Cleeves combines a flair for evoking sense of place with a thoughtful, complex plot
Mail on Sunday
The troubled Venn is a great protagonist, and Cleeves may well have created her next top TV cop
Heat
A traditional mystery of the best sort
The Guardian
Unputdownable series debut! With an evocative setting, a gripping plot, and beautifully drawn characters, The Long Call is a terrific read—and Matthew Venn is my new favorite detective
Deborah Crombie, New York Times bestselling author of Garden of Lamentations
Who knew there could be a third detective as compelling as Vera and Jimmy? Matthew Venn is a triumph of Cleeves’ particular blend of compassion and toughness and I already love him
Catriona McPherson, national bestselling author of Strangers at the Gate
Ann Cleeves has done it again! A new detective, a new series, another terrific puzzle of a story that won’t let you go until the very end. Matthew Venn quickly earns his place beside Vera and Jimmy in a debut you don’t want to miss: The Long Call
Charles Todd, bestselling author of The Black Ascot
In The Long Call, Ann Cleeves builds a prism of a world, multi-faceted, complex, and as brilliant as a diamond. Fans of Vera and Jimmy will love Matthew Venn
Lori Rader-Day, author of The Death of Us
Ann Cleeves is a phenomenal talent. With unfailing skill, gorgeous setting, flawless plot and seamless voice, she brilliantly conjures new worlds in crime fiction. Her instantly iconic Detective Matthew Venn is a treasure—and we will all follow him anywhere
Hank Phillippi Ryan, author of The Other Woman
Cleeves writes of the left-behind and the unfortunate with intelligence and compassion
Literary Review
Murder, mystery and a great new cast of characters mean you won't be able to put this one down!
My Weekly
Hauntingly written, it evokes every possible emotion with Ann's gripping narrative
Woman
Evocative and gripping – an absolute triumph
Daily Mirror

User Reviews

Book 5.0
Narration 4.8
5.0
4.0
Gaynor 08/07/2025
5.0
5.0
Wonderful! An intriguing and compelling mystery, an interesting cast of characters, a complex, sensitive lead detective, a sympathetic portrayal of women with learning difficulties and a social justice theme. Clear and well paced narration with convincing regional accents. Enjoyed it so much I want to listen to the next in the series immediately!
jackdor 20/04/2025
5.0
5.0
Geoff Miles 21/01/2025
5.0
5.0
This was an excellent read and kept me guessing right up to the end.
annonisle 25/05/2023

More from the same

Author

Narrator

About xigxag and the x-book®

Discover the best audiobooks with xigxag, an innovative and user-friendly audiobook platform designed to simplify finding, purchasing, and enjoying your favourite books in audio format. Our flexible pricing model makes bestselling audiobooks affordable, offering the best audiobook deals without the need for a subscription. You can also give the perfect gift with our convenient audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.

A core differentiator of xigxag is our groundbreaking listen-and-read x-book® technology, which delivers a truly immersive digital book experience. This unique innovation seamlessly combines the audiobook, text, and images into a brilliant, integrated format, complete with exclusive audiobook features and a next-generation digital reading experience. Our growing x-book selection is easily discoverable by looking for the distinctive purple x-book® ribbon, or by simply filtering your search by ‘x-book’.

Beyond our technology, xigxag is committed to sustainability and ethical practices, ensuring a guilt-free listening experience from an exceptional digital book platform. As the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service, we stand as a leader in audiobook innovation and a compelling alternative to big tech. Our commitment extends to delivering extraordinary customer service, provided by our friendly UK support team.

Effortlessly search audiobooks, gain insights from honest audiobook reviews evaluating both the content and narration, and easily discover hidden gems. You can download or stream top audiobook titles anytime, anywhere, guaranteeing the best possible listening experience on the UK’s best independent audiobook app. Experience the future of audiobooks today.