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A review by inhisbluegardens
The Heron's Cry by Ann Cleeves
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The sequel to The Long Call, DI Venn is called to a dramatic case within a community of artists in rural North Devon. The murder victim is one Dr Yeo, a respected and seemingly beloved individual, and the murder weapon appears to be a shard of glass belonging to his daughter's artwork. Disturbingly, his daughter is close to Venn's husband Jonathan and the couple's personal lives become more and more entangled in the case.
There was a larger cast of players in this story and I think the details got a wee bit muddled at some points, compared to the first book. It didn't feel quite as concise as I would have liked but I did still enjoy it. It deals with some heavy themes of mental illness sensitively but realistically and I don't feel like the reader is pandered to, either. There was some really great insight into familiar secondary characters, particularly DS Rafferty, and I hope this continues in future books.
There was a larger cast of players in this story and I think the details got a wee bit muddled at some points, compared to the first book. It didn't feel quite as concise as I would have liked but I did still enjoy it. It deals with some heavy themes of mental illness sensitively but realistically and I don't feel like the reader is pandered to, either. There was some really great insight into familiar secondary characters, particularly DS Rafferty, and I hope this continues in future books.