I had been focusing on the Vera Stanhope series and was happy to know Ann Cleeves is developing yet another detective series called Two Rivers. Matthew Ven is the starring detective and the setting is Devon.
The story starts with a party in Barnstaple hosted by Jenn's friend Cynthia. The detective Jenn is newly single and we learn about the ups and downs of her new life as she adjusts. Jenn is getting into her cups when she meets a nice man at the party, Dr. Nigel Yeo. He expresses an interest in contacting her later in the week. Is it to ask for a date or is it related to business?
Jenn won't find out as she awakens very hung over and called to a murder scene. Nigel's daughter Eve has discovered him in his studio, dead with a shard of glass embedded in his neck.
In addition to the murder there is a suicide and the connections slowly form as you read on. The ending was surprising.
I mostly liked the characters but I couldn't get invested in this series even though I can see this series developing into a cohesive team. It just does not grab me as the Shetland or Vera series does. Certainly I am in the minority about this new series as I see many people love it. The writing is well done as always - I am simply not connecting with the characters or their personal lives as I did with Cleeves' other series/detectives.
Publication date September 7, 2021 by St. Martin's Press. Genre: Mystery and Thrillers.
Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced reader's copy of this book. I was not compensated for the review, all opinions are mine.
Sharing with Joy's Book Blog for British Isles Friday.
