The Raging Storm

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What to expect

Fierce winds, howling seas and deadly secrets await in The Raging Storm, the latest mystery featuring Detective Matthew Venn from Ann Cleeves, the number one bestselling author and creator of Vera and Shetland.

When Jem Rosco – sailor, adventurer and local legend – blows into town in the middle of an autumn gale, the residents of Greystone, Devon, are delighted to have a celebrity in their midst. The residents think nothing of it when Rosco disappears again; that’s the sort of man he is.

Until the lifeboat is launched to a hoax call-out during a raging storm and his body is found in a dinghy, anchored off Scully Cove, a place with legends of its own.

This is an uncomfortable case for DI Matthew Venn. He came to the remote village as a child, its community populated by the Barum Brethren that he parted ways with, so when superstition and rumour mix and another body is found in the cove, Matthew soon finds his judgement clouded.

As the stormy winds howl and the village is cut off, Venn and his team start their investigation, little realizing their own lives might be in danger. . .

Now a major ITV series, The Long Call, starring Ben Aldridge.


Praise for the Matthew Venn series:

'Matthew Venn is a keeper' - David Baldacci

'Had me hooked . . . a promising beginning to another fine chapter in the Ann Cleeves story' - The Times

'A triumph that cements Cleeves’ status as one of Britain’s best crime writers' - Daily Express

'Clever, compassionate and atmospheric' - Elly Griffiths

'Cleeves combines a flair for evoking sense of place with a thoughtful, complex plot' - Mail on Sunday

'A traditional mystery of the best sort' - Guardian


What readers are saying about The Raging Storm:

‘Absolutely brilliant, Ann Cleeves at her best’

‘The twists and turns, challenging relationships within the community, mixed with a huge dose of superstitions surrounding routines around the sea, makes for a brilliant novel

‘In my opinion, Ann Cleeves ranks among the top crime writers. She consistently delivers classic murder mysteries by balancing diverse characters and rich settings to create unique stories every time’

‘The setting in this is so integral to the plot that it could almost be a character in its own right’

Cleeves creates a strong sense of tension which pushes you on. The plot is a true mystery, littered with clues and red herrings, and the end is a brilliant revelation’

Critics Review

A modern version of a classic English detective novel
The Sunday Times
As a huge fan of both the Shetland and Vera series of books, I had high expectations for Cleeves’ latest. Matthew Venn is a keeper. A stunning debut for Cleeves’ latest crimefighter
David Baldacci on The Long Call
Had me hooked — a promising beginning to another fine chapter in the Ann Cleeves story
The Times on The Long Call
Clever, compassionate and atmospheric, with a great cast of new characters to love. I am already a Matthew Venn fan
Elly Griffiths on The Long Call
A triumph that cements Cleeves' status as one of Britain's best crime writers
Daily Express on The Long Call
Brilliant, thoughtful and deeply engaging
Sara Paretsky, New York Times bestselling author of the V.I. Warshawski series on The Long Call
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, on The Long Call
Cleeves combines a flair for evoking sense of place with a thoughtful, complex plot
Mail on Sunday on The Long Call
The troubled Venn is a great protagonist, and Cleeves may well have created her next top TV cop
Heat Magazine on The Long Call
A traditional mystery of the best sort
The Guardian on The Long Call
Evocative and gripping – an absolute triumph
Daily Mirror on The Long Call

User Reviews

Book 4.5
Narration 4.5
5.0
5.0
Another intriguing and gripping mystery by Ann Cleeves. The key characters in this Matthew Venn series become even more developed and familiar in this third book. It is almost worth purchasing just for the delightful conversation at the end between the author and narrator - a rare glimpse behind the scenes, including where the idea for the happily married gay couple came from, and both author and narrator's relationships with the places where the novels are set.
jackdor 01/05/2025
4.0
4.0
jo tait 13/09/2023

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