The Long Call by Ann Cleeves offers a compelling and atmospheric mystery set in North Devon. Critics praise its well-developed characters, especially the protagonist Detective Matthew Venn, and the intricate plot. However, some note a slow pace. Overall, it's a satisfying start to a new series that balances traditional and modern detective fiction elements.

Fans of Ann Cleeves' distinctive style will enjoy The Long Call, a gripping murder mystery with rich character development and atmospheric settings. Readers who appreciate the complexity found in Louise Penny's Still Life or Tana French's In the Woods will find this book similarly compelling and immersive.

Written by Ann Cleeves and published in 2019, The Long Call is the first novel in the Two Rivers series and follows Matthew Venn, a detective who is investigating the murder of a man found stabbed to death on the beach. As Matthew begins to investigate, the clues lead him ever closer to the heart of this rural, religious community—and to the local arts center, which happens to be run by his husband. The novel’s narrative structure features the perspectives of multiple characters to highlight the consequences of guilt, the role of faith in shaping community mindsets, and the complex intersection of religion and patriarchy. Like many of Cleeves’s previous novels, The Long Call has been adapted into a television series and first aired on ITV in 2021. This guide refers to the 2019 hardcover edition published in the US by Minotaur Books. This novel contains descriptions of rape, abduction, domestic violence, anti-gay bias, ableist language and attitudes, sexism, death by suicide, and alcohol use disorder.

Mysterious / Unnerving / Suspenseful / Melancholic

Ann Cleeves

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