Crime fiction set in Devon – Ann Cleeves

Submitted: 16th August 2019

Hear the Long Call all the way from Devon

Ann Cleeves is of course the author behind the classic detective series Vera and the Shetland novels too. Now, the last full stop has been written at the last Shetland novel, we were waiting for a charismatic new detective with a secret past. Enter Detective Matthew Venn who returns to his home town as an outsider. Very much so. He is no longer in his family’s ‘ church’ and is also gay. Think of all the backstory to come out in later books if this first one is anything to go by!

This pretty much a character driven novel but the setting is strong and fresh. Devon here we come!

BookTrail Travel to the locations in The Long Call

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BookTrail Travel to the locations in The Long Call

When an author is a favourite of yours and has written such iconic characters as Vera and Jimmy Perez, then you wonder what a new series is going to be like. No fear here – this new series from Ann Cleeves feels fresh and different. New location, an interesting new lead with an even more interesting back story. Add characters and witnesses with disabilities who play major roles in the story, and you have a new start indeed.

Detective Matthew Venn isn’t a troubled figure with a drink problem – so that was a winner from the off. He’s something else. Unsure of himself in many ways and with enough self-awareness to know that he might be a leading detective but he likes to keep learning and getting to know his team. He has an inquisitive mind which is not bad thing for a detective of course, but this man’s mind is very deep and I think this is going to be very interesting in future books. What really interested me was his past in a strict religious group. This seems so apt for today’s world with the various beliefs and groups which now seem to hold sway. Again, I would think there is some interesting scope in this sense. A man from such a background is going to see things differently to others.

Matthew’s husband works at a centre for disabled people and so we get to meet people who have Down’s Syndrome and other disabilities. The characters stories overlap and intertwine and it was fascinating to see it all play out.

It’s a slow burn from finding that body on the beach but the novel pans out nicely. Devon is moody, atmospheric and omnipresent. Devon in the detail you might say. Same could be said about Jen Rafferty – I wish I could have seen her boss’ face with some of the lines she came out with!

A new series from a well trusted author. Devon is calling!