The Long Call is the first in a new series from bestselling author Ann Cleeves, creator of the Vera Stanhope mysteries (filmed as the award-winning TV series Vera), and the Jimmy Perez mysteries (filmed as the TV series Shetland). This also has been adapted for TV, and features a twisted web of secrets for a thoughtful, determined detective to ferret out.
Fans of Ann Cleeves will not be disappointed.
Matthew Venn has returned to North Devon on the eve of his father's funeral. Years ago he turned his back on the small religious community he was brought up in, and is now a local detective in charge of the area. The body of a man was discovered on the beach, a seemingly homeless man with a troubled past who volunteered in the kitchen of a local charity organization named Woodyard. A portion of the complex teaches the learning disabled and it is odd that he has befriended a girl with Downs Syndrome. He lived in a rented room with the art therapist and a church secretary, but liked to keep his secrets. Matthew and his team interview the staff of the organization, as well as the high powered moneymen behind the financing of it, including the charismatic and domineering head of the local Barum Brethren Matthew left behind, of which his mother is still an ardent member who has never forgiven him for denouncing. When two girls with Downs are abducted, the secrets begin to unravel and Matthew questions whether he should step down from his first large investigation due to conflict, as his new husband Jonathan manages the Woodyard organization.
Matthew is a terrific new detective, thoughtful and direct with a habit of groundwork, not office work. His team includes Ross, an anxious young rookie, and DS Jen Rafferty, a Scouse redhead equal to Matthew, but happy to be his solid back up. Divorced with grown children, she has been at the department for 5 years and they make a good team. I found I liked every character in the book, and the final outcome was slightly predicted, yet complex enough to not disappoint. Cleeves has a way of injecting the right nuance to each proceeding, each character is deep with layers to ponder.
An excellent beginning to a new series, which continues in The Heron's Cry.
2019 / Tradeback / 375 pages
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