Ann Cleeves is an excellent storyteller and I was
excited for the opportunity to read her new book The Raging Storm,
the third book in the Detective Matthew Venn series. I have not read the first two books.
Matthew Venn and
his team were called to handle a case in Greystone, Devon after a famous sailor
and adventurer, Jem Rosco, has been found dead in a dinghy. Though Jem hails from the Greystone area, he
is not necessarily considered a local hero by those who knew him way back when. Will the investigators be able to draw out
the truth from the people in this community?
I wanted to like
this book, but I really struggled with the characters. The main character Matthew was not likable. He came off as a miserable man, who chose to
carry the baggage from his past, and have a chip on his shoulder. At times he treated his team poorly and seemed
to have a low opinion of them, as well as the townspeople.
Of all the
characters I liked Sergeant Jen Rafferty the best. Her character was better developed and came
across likeable. Though things are not
easy in her life, she doesn’t wallow in self-pity. Ross May’s character was rather flat and the object
of Matthew’s criticism.
From Matthew’s experience
of religion, to the people in the community that seemed rather cultish,
Christianity was portrayal as unhealthy.
It was an unrealistic portrayal of Christian believers.
The story was very
convoluted. The people in the community
seems rather insular and secretive, not the kind of folks you want to spend
time with. There were only a few
characters that were somewhat likeable. The
story seemed to drag on and I just wanted it to end. From the town, to most the characters everything
about this booked seemed rather grey and unappealing.
I have enjoyed Ann
Cleeve’s other books and movies taken from her novels. But The Raging Storm was not appealing. When the main character is so off-putting it
doesn’t make a good foundation for a story.
I would like have to have had the other characters on Matthew’s team
better developed.
Because of the
unlikable main character Matthew and the convoluted story that dragged on, I
didn’t care for The Raging Storm.
I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley
for the opportunity to read Ann Cleeve’s book The Raging Storm.
I received a complimentary copy of this
book and was under no obligation to give a favorable review. The Raging Storm is schedule to
be released September 5, 2023.
