Then, suddenly, one part of the puzzle fits into place, then another, and the rest combines at a breakneck pace into an unexpected yet not completely shocking whole. The plot feels like a jigsaw puzzle: you keep turning over random pieces but can't see how they can possibly fit together into a complete picture.

Over her long writing career Cleeves has mastered the art of creating the impeccable crime novel, and The Long Call is a real stand-out.

He's complicated, scarred by being banished in his youth by his evangelical parents and community for both his beliefs and his lifestyle, but he's also sympathetic and sure to appeal to Cleeves' fans.Ī character-driven murder mystery is all well and good, but unless the mystery itself works on all levels, the book will fail. 'He'd been viewing this from his own perspective,' he thinks to himself, and comes to the realization that he personally 'needed solitude far more than he needed company, but not everyone was like him.' Grateful for the insight, he compliments the woman publicly on her point of view. He's the type of person who makes coffee for his staff because 'he'd never wanted to be the kind of boss who demanded that his minions wait on him.' When a junior detective mentions thinking their victim was seeking society, Venn gives her theory consideration. The star of the novel, though, is undeniably the quiet, introspective and incredibly perceptive D.I. The Long Call is no exception the cast is large, but each character stands alone, fully formed. As Venn and his team investigate, they uncover perplexing clues, scandalous secrets and bizarre coincidences that ultimately allow them to identify the killer.Ĭleeves' characters across her novels unvaryingly are well written (see Beyond the Book). To his shock, Venn finds that the crime happened a stone's throw from the house that he owns with his husband, Jonathan, the director of a daycare center for individuals with learning disabilities. Ann Cleeves does this perfectly in her latest novel, The Long Call, pairing a memorable protagonist with a baffling crime that is complex yet believable.ĭetective Inspector Matthew Venn, the book's central character, is attending the funeral of his estranged father when he's called to the scene of a murder near where he grew up in North Devon, England. An author must find a way to fit his or her plot within that framework, however, while still managing to make it fresh. The story often fits into a standard template: there's a murder someone investigates clues and red herrings are introduced and finally the person at fault is revealed. Penning a great murder mystery seems like it would be particularly challenging.

Ann Cleeves, the author of four successful mystery series, has started a new one with her latest book, The Long Call, set to be the first in the Two Rivers series.

The long call book