Reviews

The Girls on the Shore by Ann Cleeves

katewhite77's review against another edition

challenging mysterious relaxing sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I Would Read Anything Ann Cleeves Wrote

Great short story. Full of Cleeves' trademark sense of place and compassion but in miniature and part of the Two Rivers series.  

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Content Warnings

Minor: Alcoholism and Domestic abuse

balthazarlawson's review against another edition

4.0

This is a very short story featuring DI Matthew Venn. It shows more of his character and his approach to things. A quick enjoyable read.

mschwartz's review

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

oceans_hannah's review

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

0.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Alcohol and Child abuse

deirdreanais's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

teal_reader's review against another edition

mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

As a short story, it’s quite good, but it is *very* short, and certainly not a ’novella’ as the cover would have you believe. If anything, it’s more of a teaser/trailer for the next Vera novel even though the short story itself is set within the ‘Two Rivers’ world (after the short story, there are then 3 chapters included from the upcoming Vera book). If you like the Two Rivers series of books featuring Matthew Venn (as I do), then this short story is worth borrowing through Libby, but I’m certainly glad I didn’t spend any money on it. 

taleisin's review

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

2.5

ari_reading_'s review

2.0

2.5
I found this very randomly on my kindle and was intrigued. I definitely expected more of a mystery but the tension and suspense were there.
This could definitely have been a full length novel honestly.
However, apart from that, nothing really grabbed my eye, hence the 2.5.

aliciagoeser's review

challenging mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

kgraham10's review

2.0

I love this series. The characters are fully developed and the writing pulls you in. But this was not a book or a novella or even a good short story. It felt like an intro chapter. It wasn’t resolved. Highly frustrating.