• The Heron's Cry

  • Two Rivers, Book 2
  • By: Ann Cleeves
  • Narrated by: Jack Holden
  • Length: 10 hrs and 1 min
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (32 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Heron's Cry  By  cover art

The Heron's Cry

By: Ann Cleeves
Narrated by: Jack Holden
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $16.35

Buy for $16.35

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Now a major ITV series, The Long Call, adapted for television by screenwriter Kelly Jones and starring Ben Aldridge.

The number one Sunday Times best-selling series featuring Detective Matthew Venn, from author and creator of the Vera and Shetland series, Ann Cleeves.

North Devon is enjoying a rare hot summer with tourists flocking to its coastline. Detective Matthew Venn is called out to a rural crime scene at the home of a group of artists. What he finds is an elaborately staged murder–Dr Nigel Yeo has been fatally stabbed. His daughter, Eve, is a glassblower, and the murder weapon is a shard of one of her broken vases.

Dr Yeo seems an unlikely murder victim. He’s a good man, a public servant, beloved by his daughter. Matthew is unnerved, though, to find that she is a close friend of Jonathan, his husband.

Then another body is found–killed in a similar way. Matthew finds himself treading carefully through the lies that fester at the heart of his community and a case that is dangerously close to home....

The Heron's Cry is the second novel in Ann Cleeves’ Two Rivers crime series, following her Sunday Times best seller The Long Call.

©2021 Ann Cleeves (P)2021 Macmillan Publishers International Limited

Critic reviews

"Jack Holden demonstrates his full talents in this mystery, bringing the extensive cast of characters in this small and close-knit community in Devon to life with his strong narration. This is particularly apparent as he seamlessly moves between a variety of British regional accents in many of the dialogue scenes. Holden's characterisations of both the male and female characters are strong and he creates a likeable and believable pair in the DI and his husband. His spot-on timing helps keep the story moving towards its surprising end, resulting in a thoroughly enjoyable listen." (AudioFile)

"Matthew Venn is a keeper...stunning." (David Baldacci)

What listeners say about The Heron's Cry

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    19
  • 4 Stars
    10
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    20
  • 4 Stars
    7
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    18
  • 4 Stars
    6
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Finely crafted story

Having heard An. c,elves talk about her latest book at a recent Literacy Festival , I was keen to learn more about her new detective Matthew Venn based in North Devon.
As always Ann describes the scene & setting so well that you can picture all the protagonists in the story & by using real places it is an added bonus if you know the area.
The story follows the characters introduced in The Long Call , also set in N Devon, they develop & the reader gets to know more about them.
The story itself was quite complicated with lots of peripheral characters &, as always with Ann Cleeves the final dénouement comes as a surprise but then, on reflection , the reader can see how the ground has been subtly laid to bring about this conclusion.
An excellent story which Ann told the festival participants had already been bought by a TV company , something to look forward to.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Amazon Customer
  • Amazon Customer
  • 09-08-21

Always a good "read"

I'd forgotten the details of the first in the series. This novel stands alone well. Ann Cleeves is an absorbing writer and a series by her won't disappoint. The story line did seem to be over long.
The narrator is excellent. Initially I wasn't gripped by his reading but soon decided he was perfect. He wasn't unnaturally dramatic but was beautifully able to differentiate the characters and their accents.
When the next episode comes, I'll go for the Audible version.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Mrs CJ
  • Mrs CJ
  • 12-16-21

Another great story

I love this series, the characters, the interaction between the police officers, our hero and his relationship and of course an excellent story. It’s so refreshing to hear a story that isn’t all about tortured and murdered women. And what a complicated plot it was. Narration can make or break a story, but Jack Holden is up there with the best. Highly recommended.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Maureen Frost
  • Maureen Frost
  • 11-27-21

Narration

When a narrator is chosen, please check their abilities on regional accents and dialects rather than the narrator’s natural speaking voice. Another abysmal attempt at “scouse”. I am not from Liverpool but far enough “up north” for that attempt to make me cringe and it certainly detracted from listening pleasure.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Sarah
  • Sarah
  • 09-04-21

Highly recommended

I was hooked right from the introduction, I liked the storyline, loved the characters and enjoyed the narration. It was unputdownable.
I hope that there will be more in the series.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Graleon
  • Graleon
  • 03-05-22

All bones and no meat.

I have listened to just about every book that Ann Cleeves has written and have found them all quite engaging. The narrator wasn't the best, he seemed to drone on and on. I am not a from Liverpool or anywhere near it so couldn't really say how close the accent was as one reviewer had commented on, but the whole book fell far below usual standards of the majority of Ann Cleeves books.
The whole thing just went on and on, it was very easy to lose interest, all bones and no meat.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for maisie
  • maisie
  • 11-11-21

Returning it, narration makes it unlistenable.

Disappointed because I had enjoyed book 1 of this series. The narration is too fast, unsympathetic to the characters and I found it unlistenable.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for J. Humphries
  • J. Humphries
  • 02-23-23

Good second book.

Good follow on book in this series. Characters more developed and original in nature. Not stereotypical eg “ troubled” or “flawed” police. Hoping for more to come.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for M J Milbourn
  • M J Milbourn
  • 02-20-23

Excellent

Thoroughly enjoyable. Good, well drawn characters, interesting plot line and an excellent narration - definitely one to recommend

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Amazon Customer
  • Amazon Customer
  • 01-19-23

Not as good as usual!!

Maybe it’s me but everything seems to be mediocre - just couldn’t get into it. Nothing to get excited about. Audible addict

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Kate s
  • Kate s
  • 11-15-22

bad narrator

I was unable to finish this book . I had been looking forward to this book but the narrators voice was so flat and lacked any tempo or enthusiasm I had to give up.
I found it grating

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for claire tuke
  • claire tuke
  • 10-06-21

Rubbish!

Boring, predictable, tedious, this person only gets published because she is a ‘name’ don’t know how it was ever picked up for tv IT’S SO BORINg! Rubbish, have a listen to Richard Osman for something light and funny! This will be a best seller but it’s so crap! Money back please!


Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for elizabeth b.
  • elizabeth b.
  • 09-06-21

Ann cleaves is a terrific author

It took me a while to get into this one thing it was difficult to know who the protagonist was. It jumped around a lot

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anonymous User
  • Anonymous User
  • 10-14-23

Immersive

Credible characters with their own fears and frailties. I couldn’t pick it and wasn’t sure how it would end.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Sarah Woodhouse
  • Sarah Woodhouse
  • 02-23-23

Engrossing

I enjoyed this audible narration very much. The threads carried over from the first novel are excellent.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anonymous User
  • Anonymous User
  • 05-03-22

Awful pretend accents.

very slow. Drab narration. The accent of the Liverpudlian lady detective is pain to listen to.
Story could be great but the monotonous narration is to much to deal with

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Beverly
  • Beverly
  • 12-25-21

ok

not as good as her Shetland and Vera series but still a good read. ok

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anonymous User
  • Anonymous User
  • 12-19-21

In the end haunting!

A bit slow to start and moments that seemed a little dull, however it built to a wonderful story that hit a spot with me and let me feeling a little haunted!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for A. R. Gilbert
  • A. R. Gilbert
  • 11-17-21

The Heron's Cry

This was an excellent second thriller in Cleeves new series. Her protagonist, Matthew Venn, is now fully developed and I look forward to the next in this series.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Jennifer R.
  • Jennifer R.
  • 10-26-21

I loved this story

Complicated and interesting right to the end. Twists and turns with relatable and compassionate characters.

I want to hear more from this group of down to earth investigators.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Alison Brown
  • Alison Brown
  • 10-20-21

Hard to follow

For me this noble was hard to follow on audible media. There were so many characters with unusual names and limited descriptions. I’m sure if I’d read it or seen it in television I would have liked it much more.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!