Rating: 4 star rating
I just finished The Long Call by Ann Cleeves, and if you love British mysteries, you may want to check this one out . It introduces a new detective, Matthew Venn, who is quiet and intense.
He starts off weighed down by his past, but as the case continues it forces him to face his childhood trauma, you see him slowly growing and learning to trust his team and he starts to open up with them.
The story takes place in a coastal town in North Devon. It starts with Matthew watching his estranged father's funeral from a distance because he was kicked out of his family's strict religious group years ago, so he cant attend the funeral. Right after the funeral, a troubled ex-soldier named Simon Walden is found stabbed to death on the beach.
Then shortly after the murder, a handicapped young woman goes missing, and the clues lead straight to a community center run by Matthew’s husband, Jonathan. Matthew is forced to investigate the religious community that rejected him, which adds personal tension.
Heads up for those looking for LGBT representation or wanting a content warning: the main detective is gay, and the book features clean romantic moments and kissing between Matthew and his husband, Jonathan. It is completely wholesome and PG-style intimacy, but it is a central part of his life and identity.
The side characters get great development too. His sergeant, Jen Rafferty, starts as a tough single mom escaping an abusive past, but she really steps into her own authority here. Even the victim, Simon, feels real as you uncover his past guilt from a fatal car accident, that killed a young child. You also get Dennis Salter, the controlling leader of the local church, that his parents attended and who holds a massive grudge against Matthew.
It is definitely a slow-burn mystery that focuses on psychological tension rather than big action scenes. The best part is that you get closure at the ending. The killer is unmasked, every single loose end is tied up, and Matthew takes some huge steps toward healing from his past. It's a completely satisfying read that leaves you genuinely excited for the next book.
I really enjoyed this mystery series, there was some details I personally overlooked, but I really like the authors writing. This is my first time reading this authors books, I love her writing. Her writing flows so well.
Thank you, NetGalley, St. Martin's Press Minotaur Books, author Ann Cleeves, for this free ebook review consideration. All review opinions are my own.
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