The Raging Storm - Ann Cleeves

 The Raging Storm - Ann Cleeves

Publication Date: Sept. 5, 2023

She read

This is the third in the Two Rivers series.  I read the second one; the first is on my TBR.  This would work well as a standalone.

Jem Rosco, a celebrity in his own right due to his having sailed around the world, returns to Greystone, having rented a local cottage.  Nightly, he tells people in the local pub he is waiting for a visit from someone.  It is autumn, and the weather is unsettled, with frequent storms and dangerous winds.  When Jem’s body is discovered in a dinghy in Scully’s Cove, people wonder about the ominous legend of that location.  DI Matthew Venn, who visited Greystoke as a child,  and his team travel there to investigate, uncovering Jem’s history and secrets of the locals.  When storms isolate the town and another body is found, the danger heightens.   And, what about that religious cult, The Brethren?  Do they have something to do with the murders or are they a red herring?

Well written, with strong character development, Cleeves will have you guessing throughout.  Stressing characters and plot rather than action, this is an engrossing read that I didn’t want to put down. It is atmospheric and a bit claustrophobic due to the small, rather closed community and the constraints of the weather.  

If you are not familiar with this series, you might recognize Cleeves name from her very successful Vera and Shetland books and TV series.  If you like methodical, introspective, well plotted and characterized police procedurals, seek her out.  

Thanks to #netgalley and #Stmartinspress #minotaur for the ARC.

*****