---
product_id: 158590329
title: "The Long Call: The First Novel in Ann Cleeves' Bestselling Series to Feature Detective Matthew Venn: 1 (Two Rivers, 1)"
price: "A$20"
currency: AUD
in_stock: null
reviews_count: 8
url: https://www.desertcart.com.au/products/158590329-the-long-call-the-first-novel-in-ann-cleeves-bestselling
store_origin: AU
region: Australia
---

# Atmospheric North Devon setting Bestselling debut novel Detective Matthew Venn's first case The Long Call: The First Novel in Ann Cleeves' Bestselling Series to Feature Detective Matthew Venn: 1 (Two Rivers, 1)

**Price:** A$20
**Availability:** ❌ Out of Stock

## Summary

> 🔎 Dive into the mystery everyone’s talking about — don’t get left behind in the Two Rivers buzz!

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** The Long Call: The First Novel in Ann Cleeves' Bestselling Series to Feature Detective Matthew Venn: 1 (Two Rivers, 1)
- **How much does it cost?** A$20 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Currently out of stock
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.com.au](https://www.desertcart.com.au/products/158590329-the-long-call-the-first-novel-in-ann-cleeves-bestselling)

## Best For

- Customers looking for quality international products

## Why This Product

- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Key Features

- • **Series Starter:** The essential first installment that sets the stage for a compelling new detective saga you won’t want to miss.
- • **Authentic Setting:** Immerse yourself in the moody, atmospheric landscapes of North Devon, vividly brought to life.
- • **Bestselling Debut:** Ranked #352 in Police Procedurals, this novel launches a gripping new series by Ann Cleeves.
- • **Complex Crime Drama:** Follow DI Matthew Venn as he unravels a layered murder mystery in the evocative Two Rivers world.
- • **Critically Acclaimed:** Praised for its page-turning narrative and sensitive storytelling, perfect for book clubs and crime fans alike.

## Overview

The Long Call is the first novel in Ann Cleeves' acclaimed Two Rivers series, introducing Detective Matthew Venn as he investigates a complex murder in North Devon. With a strong 4.4-star rating from over 22,000 readers and a top 400 rank in Police Procedurals, this atmospheric crime thriller combines intricate plotting with rich character development, making it a must-read for fans of contemporary detective fiction.

## Description

Discover the acclaimed Two Rivers series by Ann Cleeves, introducing Detective Matthew Venn as he investigates a complex murder case in the idyllic North Devon region.

Review: A brilliant page-turning and sensitively told tale in a North Devon setting - The Long Call is the captivating first novel in the Two Rivers series from the creator of Vera and Shetland, Ann Cleeves. I had high expectations for this book and it exceeded those expectations with Matthew Venn as a very appealing new detective.
Review: New series - Book Club read. Never read a Cleeves book before, however I loved the Shetland TV series, not keen on the Vera series. This series is set in Devon, you do get a sense of the landscape but she makes beautiful Devon seem somewhat desolate and grey. I'm unsure of her new lead character DI Venn, but like any first book in a series Cleeves is setting the characters up here and they therefore will become more fleshed out as the series goes on, but as yet Venn is somewhat boring and dull. I did feel that Cleeves is jumping on the diversity bandwagon in creating a gay, married central character, however that didn't bother me. As yet the character of Venn is very one-dimensional and not fleshed out. However, the main thing that I would query, having a friend who was a police woman in the 1970/80's and attended police functions with her and therefore mixed with police officers, is that would a character such as Venn actually have risen to DI rank in the first place, nothing to do with him being gay. Venn is a shy, introspective man who totally lacks confidence in himself and left university because he couldn't deal with it. I do not think that such a man lacking in confidence would survive that long in the macho police force let alone rise to DI rank. The story itself was okay, but this book and character is not a patch on Perez and Shetland. Update: Having just watched the TV series, I will say that the TV series is much better than the book, there is less introspective dwelling on how inadequate Venn feels and the TV character was more decisive than the book character.

## Features

- New Store Stock

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | 26,455 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) 352 in Police Procedurals (Books) 619 in Social Sciences (Books) 713 in Contemporary Fiction (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.4 out of 5 stars 22,810 Reviews |

## Images

![The Long Call: The First Novel in Ann Cleeves' Bestselling Series to Feature Detective Matthew Venn: 1 (Two Rivers, 1) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91fSSz0bUBL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A brilliant page-turning and sensitively told tale in a North Devon setting
*by L***D on 28 November 2025*

The Long Call is the captivating first novel in the Two Rivers series from the creator of Vera and Shetland, Ann Cleeves. I had high expectations for this book and it exceeded those expectations with Matthew Venn as a very appealing new detective.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ New series
*by L***P on 13 January 2020*

Book Club read. Never read a Cleeves book before, however I loved the Shetland TV series, not keen on the Vera series. This series is set in Devon, you do get a sense of the landscape but she makes beautiful Devon seem somewhat desolate and grey. I'm unsure of her new lead character DI Venn, but like any first book in a series Cleeves is setting the characters up here and they therefore will become more fleshed out as the series goes on, but as yet Venn is somewhat boring and dull. I did feel that Cleeves is jumping on the diversity bandwagon in creating a gay, married central character, however that didn't bother me. As yet the character of Venn is very one-dimensional and not fleshed out. However, the main thing that I would query, having a friend who was a police woman in the 1970/80's and attended police functions with her and therefore mixed with police officers, is that would a character such as Venn actually have risen to DI rank in the first place, nothing to do with him being gay. Venn is a shy, introspective man who totally lacks confidence in himself and left university because he couldn't deal with it. I do not think that such a man lacking in confidence would survive that long in the macho police force let alone rise to DI rank. The story itself was okay, but this book and character is not a patch on Perez and Shetland. Update: Having just watched the TV series, I will say that the TV series is much better than the book, there is less introspective dwelling on how inadequate Venn feels and the TV character was more decisive than the book character.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Gripping book
*by H***B on 27 November 2025*

Excellent read as always from Anne Cleeve.

---

## Why Shop on Desertcart?

- 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016
- 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories
- 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price
- 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members)
- 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection
- ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews

**Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.com.au/products/158590329-the-long-call-the-first-novel-in-ann-cleeves-bestselling](https://www.desertcart.com.au/products/158590329-the-long-call-the-first-novel-in-ann-cleeves-bestselling)

---

*Product available on Desertcart Australia*
*Store origin: AU*
*Last updated: 2026-01-25*