AUDIO BOOK REVIEW: The Long Call by Ann Cleeves

Publication Date: April 8, 2021 Format: Audio Genre:  Mystery Thriller Narrators: Ben Aldridge

Publisher: Macmillan Audio Length:  11 hours 36 min Buy: Kindle | Audio

Synopsis

In North Devon, where two rivers converge and run into the sea, Detective Matthew Venn stands outside the church as his estranged father’s funeral takes place. On the day Matthew left the strict evangelical community he grew up in, he lost his family too.

Now, as he turns and walks away again, he receives a call from one of his team. A body has been found on the beach nearby: a man with a tattoo of an albatross on his neck, stabbed to death.

The case calls Matthew back to the people and places of his past, as deadly secrets hidden at their hearts are revealed, and his new life is forced into a collision course with the world he thought he’d left behind.

Review:

This was a great police procedural. Matthew Venn comes from a strict evangelical community when he leaves he craves the regiment of the community so he joined the police. Now he is a strictly by the book police officer. His husband works at a community center that hosts art classes and day school for people with disabilities. 

A man who worked at the center is found dead on the beach and two women with mental disabilities go missing. All things point to the center. 

This was a good introduction to Detective Venn and his co-workers. I like Brit police procedurals there is such a difference in how they do their jobs compared to the USA. The absence of guns actually leads to more investigation and less death. 

Matthew and his husband seem very different and Matthew doesn't seem confident in his relationship constantly feeling that his husband shouldn't be with him. That he isn't good enough.  I think a lot of this goes back to his evangelical upbringing and being disowned by his parents. 

This is a great start to a new series.  It's also a show on BBC. 

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