Wednesday, May 12, 2021

On My Radar: Ann Cleeves' The Heron's Cry

 


I've been a fan girl of Ann Cleeves for years. The way she writes about the landscape and people and their frailties touches something deep within me, so it's no surprise that I break into one of my Happy Dances each time I hear she has a new book coming out. So, on this gloriously sunny day in the Sonoran Desert, let me share information about her second Two Rivers mystery featuring Detective Matthew Venn, The Heron's Cry, which is set in the very different landscape of North Devon in England.


Available September 7, 2021!
Synopsis: 

"North Devon is enjoying a rare hot summer with tourists flocking to its coastline. Detective Matthew Venn is called out to a rural crime scene at the home of a group of artists. What he finds is an elaborately staged murder--Dr Nigel Yeo has been fatally stabbed with a shard of one of his glassblower daughter's broken vases.

Dr Yeo seems an unlikely murder victim. He's a good man, a public servant, beloved by his daughter. Matthew is unnerved, though, to find that she is a close friend of Jonathan, his husband.

Then another body is found--killed in a similar way. Matthew soon finds himself treading carefully through the lies that fester at the heart of his community and a case that is dangerously close to home.
"


Sounds like another winner from Ann Cleeves, doesn't it? How many of you are fellow Cleeves fans... or have some of you never sampled her writing? Inquiring minds would love to know!

17 comments:

  1. Thanks for the heads-up on this one Cathy. I'm one of the first on the reserve list at my library for the new one. A. Cleeves right at the top of list for favorite writers. I've been thinking of reading her 1990's, Detective Ramsey books or the George and Molly series. And I see they are filming two more Shetland TV episodes. Of course I love that she's also an accomplished bird watcher and nature lover.
    Ev

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    1. I've only read one book she's written that I didn't care for, The Sleeping and the Dead, with a detective called Porteous. I haven't read any of the Ramseys yet. I have read the first one or two in her George and Molly series, and I did like those, probably because of the birding angle.

      I have had the great good fortune to meet her twice. Once was at The Poisoned Pen, and she was asked if this was her first visit to Arizona. It wasn't. She'd been here twice before to the Sulphur Springs Valley in Cochise County, Arizona-- one of the prime birding spots in the world. I've enjoyed seeing all sorts of birds there myself. I love Cochise County.

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    2. I too had the pleasure of meet AC at an author talk - promoting "Long Call." I emailed her some days before her arrival and invited her to go birding. She emailed me back and said she would love to go, but tight scheduling of only a few hours here she couldn't. She was so gracious when I met her, again thanking me for the invitation.
      I recall her mentioning during the Q&A how much better she thought her more recent writing has become. Suppose that's why I didn't jump into the older books.
      Ev

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    3. This reminds me of an appearance Ian Rankin made at The Poisoned Pen. I'd tried his first Rebus, Knots & Crosses and didn't think much of it. At this appearance, he told us that he didn't think the Rebus series didn't begin to hit its stride until Black and Blue. That gave me a new starting point. I do still think Cleeves' George & Molly series is worth a look though.

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  2. Oh, this does sound fantastic, Cathy. And I couldn't agree more about Cleeves' way of writing about place and local culture. When I read her books, I am there, in that setting and among those people. I'm sure this will be like that, too.

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    1. I adore writers who can put me Right. There. It's so rare.

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  3. I have to admit that I haven't read any of Ann Cleeve's books. However, my husband and I are fans of the shows based on her books - Shetland and Vera. So I have been meaning to read her books. Maybe this series is a good place to start.

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    1. It could very well be, or you can read one of the Shetland or Vera books to see how much the film producers changed for their end products.

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  4. Dang it! I keep saying over and over that I'm going to read something by Ann Cleeves soon, but I never get it done. I don't think I've ever read a really bad review of one of her books, and I see her name everywhere. I've started to keep a list of writers like her that I need to try someday soon...and she's still at the top.

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    1. Well...get her off the top and onto your I've Read Her list! ;-)

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  5. Read it. Liked it. Matthew Venn is coming along nicely. Haven't reviewed it yet, and I still like Vera better. But given time, I expect to like it just as much!

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    1. Jimmy Perez will always have a very special place in my heart, and I love Vera. Matthew seems to be the quiet sort of person who takes a while to grow on you, and I'm looking forward to the process.

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  6. I enjoyed the 1st Matthew Venn, so I'm definitely adding this to my list.

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  7. Well, to tell the truth, I read one Vera book and I liked it. I tried another one and didn't finish it.
    But I love the Shetland TV series with its all-gray scenery and Jimmy Perez, and I like the Vera series, with the wonderful Brenda Blythen.

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    1. And there's nothing wrong with preferring the TV series to the books--with the added bonus that it can reduce your TBR mountain.

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