For the first time in 20 years, Ann Cleeves --international bestselling and award-winning author of the Vera and Shetland series, both of which are hit TV shows-- embarks on a gripping new series.

In North Devon, where two rivers converge and run into the sea, Detective Matthew Venn stands outside the church as his father’s funeral takes place. Once loved and cherished, 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 into the community he thought he had left behind, as deadly secrets hidden at its heart are revealed, and his past and present collide.

An astonishing new novel told with compassion and searing insight, The Long Call will captivate fans of Vera and Shetland, as well as new readers.

Published
September 3, 2019
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Author

Ann Cleeves

Ann Cleeves is a name synonymous with atmospheric crime fiction, known for creating intricately woven tales set against the stark, often harsh landscapes of Northern England and beyond. Born in Herefordshire in 1954, Cleeves' upbringing in the countryside planted the seeds for her later work, where setting and place are as integral as the characters themselves. Her early career was far from typical for a writer—before becoming an author, Cleeves held various jobs, from child care officer to bird observatory cook, before eventually training as a probation officer. These experiences, combined with a deep connection to nature and remote places,…