The Raging Storm (Two Rivers #3) by Ann Cleeves
Date Published: September 5, 2023
Date Read: August 12, 2023

Grade: A

Ann Cleeves has been long established as a strong mystery writer, and this third entry in her Two Rivers series further cements her reputation.

While the mystery here was strong, that isn’t what struck me about this novel. As with any mystery, the central puzzle should be complicated enough to keep the reader entertained but not so convoluted that it can’t be solved; Cleeves succeeds on both counts. But two other aspects of this novel really stood out for me.

The sense of place here is exquisite. Matthew Venn and his team find themselves in a neighboring coastal town. This isn’t a destination spot. There are no tourist attractions or resorts. Rather, this is a working-class community made up, in part, of members of the religious group Matthew was raised in and then left. The hard edges of this place come through in the prose, and I could see all the hues of gray that paint the scene. It is one thing to draw a paradise in prose, but it is far more difficult to construct a place devoid of color. While I’ve never thought Cleeves was weak in setting her scene, this is the first time I was really impressed by her skill in this area.

In the previous entries in the Two Rivers series, we met Matthew and learned about his past. Now, we are getting the chance to dive deeper into his character. We see the scars left over from his upbringing and his desire to be able to move past them. While Matthew is a successful detective, he deals with his own insecurities and social anxieties. These were touched on in earlier books, but here they are on display. We also get another look into his relationship with Jonathan and are left with a tantalizing tease about what might be next for them. We also get to know Matthew’s subordinates, Jen and Ross, more deeply than before. They each have their own baggage, and there is a competitive element to their working relationship.

I have enjoyed all three books (plus one novella) in this series, but The Raging Storm is my clear favorite. Cleeves has taken a strong series and made it into one you can really sink your teeth into, filled with characters who come to life off the page.

I was given an electronic ARC of this book Minotaur, though Netgalley, in return for an honest review.