The Long Call cover art

The Long Call

Two Rivers, Book 1

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The Long Call

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 Mystery Police Procedural Thriller Thriller & Suspense Crime Suspense

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Critic reviews

"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)
All stars
Most relevant  
There is so little tension and the narrators voice is so gentle it is just right for inducing a snooze. I got so soothed I felt I was lying on marshmallow. The story passed by as a warm summer afternoon with the peace being broken only by the necessity to wonder if there was anything going on in the background, I dreamed of Vera in her scruffy mac, eating from a poke of chips and longed for twang as Tyneside.

Slow, Oh so Slow

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What I usually like about Ann Cleeves stories is the human aspect of the characters. However, this book went a bit too far, in my opinion so in a way the story got lost in the long descriptions of the private lives of the investigators. Performance was good but didn't really save the story.

Not the best from Ann Cleeves

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Interesting characters and clever plot set within an atmospheric environment. Excellent - with good though not perfect narration.

Classic Cleeves

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Loved the narrator, he was what kept me listening. As a previous reviewer mentioned, it was s l o w going but okish

The narrator

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Brilliant plot line, nuanced and engaging. Believable and likeable characters. Excellent readers. Highly recommended. I would definitely listen to another novel in the Matthew Venn series.

Excellent readers

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A well crafted story I’ve read and listened to Vera but I now know that a bigger world exists.

Ann Cleeves at her best

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Once started story had me hooked the narrator portrayed the different characters
in different voices

Gripping and interesting characters

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A well plotted tale with convincing characters and sufficient twists to keep the listeners interested.

Entertaining

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It feels like it was written ages ago. No modern language used. All very proper English.

Slow and drawn out

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really enjoyed plot and atmospheric description. didn't really like Liverpool accent but that is a tiny part of otherwise excellent narration.

usual great story

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