The Long Call Audiobook By Ann Cleeves cover art

The Long Call

A Detective Matthew Venn Novel

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The Long Call

By: Ann Cleeves
Narrated by: Ben Aldridge
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An instant New York Times best seller!

From Ann Cleeves - best-selling and award-winning author of the Vera and Shetland series, both of which are hit TV shows - comes the first in a gripping new series, told with deep compassion and searing insight.

“Ann Cleeves is one of my favorite mystery writers.” (Louise Penny)

A People Magazine Best Book of Fall 2019

In North Devon, where two rivers converge and run into the sea, Detective Matthew Venn stands outside the church as his estranged father’s funeral takes place. On the day Matthew left the strict evangelical community he grew up in, he lost his family, too.

Now, as he turns and walks away again, he receives a call from one of his team. A body has been found on the beach nearby: a man with a tattoo of an albatross on his neck, stabbed to death.

The case calls Matthew back to the people and places of his past, as deadly secrets hidden at their hearts are revealed, and his new life is forced into a collision course with the world he thought he’d left behind.

A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books

©2019 Ann Cleeves (P)2021 Macmillan Audio
Detective Fiction International Mystery & Crime Mystery Traditional Detectives Crime Heartfelt
Engaging Characters • Surprising Plot Twists • Well-developed Backstories • Complex Mystery • Satisfying Ending
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Great strory. A definite “page turner”. Could not put it down. I love Ben Aldridge as an actor. As a narrator, I was often confused who was “talking”.

Very engaging

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My first novel by Ann Cleeves, though I have watched all her series on Britbox. So brilliantly written, more depth than the tv shows even those are amazing too! I love the character development, the story’s twists and turns, so fun to figure out!! And the narrator was wonderful, he did a good job with accents and genders, also so easy to listen to. Lovely. I will listen to the next boom in this series with glee!

My first Ann Cleeves novel

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loved it! very well done performance. captured each character and their personalities. Story thought out and persuasive.

Enjoyed

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I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to more crimes being solved by DI Venn. Narrator was great as well. I found DI Venn's backstory fascinating, so many people have been raised in religious sects or cults.
I found it interesting to see how he managed to break away and integrate himself into so called 'normal' society.
Meanwhile, he has managed to find a job to meet his need for social justice. I look forward to hearing more about his co-workers as well. In addition, the subject of Down's syndrome and learning disabilities was handled in a sensitive and caring manner.

Impressive!

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The book was good but the narrator I could sit and listen to read for the rest of my life!! Well done

Narrator

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A great fan here of the author's Vera Stanhope series - except for her most recent addition, which I found dull. I was so excited about this new series, set in one of my favorite parts of England (Devon) and featuring a complex leading character. Well - here is my mixed reaction to this book. I did indeed like the main character and his husband. I did not like the other characters from the police squad. They were very sketchily portrayed. The plot seemed contrived rather than growing naturally from characters and circumstances. All this was magnified by a performance by a reader who sounded half asleep. I won't continue with this series unless the next book is featured in an Audible sale. I might spend $4.99, but I definitely won't use a credit. I think the author has over extended herself. I'd rather re-listen to early and middle Vera books.

Disappointed.

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What happens when you write a mystery and spread the guilt among the characters? The motivations and the spark for evil is diluted. No one has been truly able to do this except Christie, P.D. James and Tana French.This was an interesting but highly flawed exercise. it may make a doable tv series adaptation with the right actors but not compelling reading.

A jumble of characters a rambling plot

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Enjoyed the book. I'm looking forward to the next in this series. I always look forward to reading Ann Cleeves.

Interesting story

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Loved the character development in this story

Will certainly read the next one in the series

New detective

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I was left guessing until the end. Of course I’d expect nothing less from Ann Cleeves!

Excellent mystery!

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