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The Long Call

Two Rivers, Book 1

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The Long Call

Written by: Ann Cleeves
Narrated by: Ben Aldridge
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About this listen

Now a major ITV series, The Long Call, adapted for television by screenwriter Kelly Jones and starring Ben Aldridge, who also reads this updated audiobook.

The Long Call is the No.1 bestselling first novel in the Two Rivers series from Sunday Times bestseller and creator of Vera and Shetland, Ann Cleeves.

In North Devon, where the rivers Taw and Torridge converge and run into the sea, Detective Matthew Venn stands outside the church as his father's funeral takes place. The day Matthew turned his back on the strict evangelical community in which he grew up, he lost his family too.

Now he's back, not just to mourn his father at a distance, but to take charge of his first major case in the Two Rivers region; a complex place not quite as idyllic as tourists suppose.

A body has been found on the beach near to Matthew's new home: a man with the tattoo of an albatross on his neck, stabbed to death.

Finding the killer is Venn’s only focus, and his team’s investigation will take him straight back into the community he left behind, and the deadly secrets that lurk there.

The next book in the series is The Heron's Cry.

This audiobook is an updated recording by Ben Aldridge.

©2019 Ann Cleeves (P)2021 Macmillan Publishers International Ltd
Crime Thrillers Fiction Police Procedural Thriller Mystery Suspense
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What the critics say

"As a huge fan of both the Shetland and Vera series of books, I had high expectations for Cleeves’ latest. She easily exceeded those expectations with The Long Call. Matthew Venn is a keeper. A stunning debut for Cleeves’ latest crimefighter.2 (David Baldacci)

"Clever, compassionate and atmospheric, with a great cast of new characters to love. I am already a Matthew Venn fan." (Elly Griffiths)

"Brilliant, thoughtful and deeply engaging." (Sara Paretsky, New York Times bestselling author of the V.I. Warshawski series)

What listeners say about The Long Call

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A little long

Convoluted and I got a bit confused with all the characters, but it is a good introduction to Ann Cleeves writing. I will read more.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Very good in all aspects

The reading by Ben Aldridge was excellent, took me a couple of chapters to appreciate the pauses and tempo changes, however once I ‘tuned in’ to his style I loved it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Almost like a film!

Story held me listening.
Narration excellent, each character had a different persona
Ann Cleaves provides great background

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Two Rivers is shaping up to be TEDIOUS.......

I guess I have been spoiled by the best of British crime novels, by masters of the craft, like Ruth Rendell, PD James, Colin Dexter, Ian Rankin and others. I thought I would give this Two Rivers opener a try, as I have enjoyed Cleeves’ Shetland series, and was lured by the beautiful location of the story - Devon! Alas, the charm of the south coast of England was drowned out by large doses of self-conscious political correctness (ugh!) mixed with a painfully pedantic writing style.The ‘excitement’ ends early, followed by two slow-moving kidnappings of two separate Down Syndrome women, one of whom gets rewarded at every turn with candy, chocolate cake and Twix bars. [This in spite of being described as being “large” and “not fit” by her enablers] Go figure!
That was the real crime, apart from being relentlessly schooled on same sex marriage and how to caretake the mentally/intellectually challenged. I was looking for a challenging crime drama with a modicum of tension and excitement ....there is NONE here.
I had the feeling the author thought up the next bit as she wrote. It seemed amateurish.

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