Read The Heron's Cry by Ann Cleeves Free Online

Start Reading Now

‘The Heron's Cry’ Chapters

illustration of a man wearing a bathrobe staggering in a hallway with another man in the background in a doorway

MEMBERS ONLY

Chapters 1-3

Jen had drunk too much. They were in Cynthia Prior’s garden, lounging on the grass, and it was just getting dark

MEMBERS ONLY

illustration of a man in jeans and T-shirt sitting on a sofa, resting his chin on his hand, looking at two men in suits standing in front of him, one writing in a notebook

MEMBERS ONLY

Chapters 4-6

Eve looked across the table at the red-haired detective with the nasal, grating northern voice and wished she’d just

MEMBERS ONLY

illustration of two people seated at a table looking serious, with a bearded man in a doorway in the background

MEMBERS ONLY

Chapters 7-9

Jen stood outside Westacombe Cottage, rang the bell and waited. The cottage was like something out of a child’s

MEMBERS ONLY

illustration of a woman in jeans and t-shirt and a man in business clothes holding suit jacket walking along the beach

MEMBERS ONLY

Chapters 10-12

Sally Pengelly was waiting for Matthew in the mortuary, gowned and booted. ‘Thanks for doing this so speedily

MEMBERS ONLY

illustration of a man in a suit standing near a desk and window looking at a diary, and a detail showing corner of a page with 8531 or 8537 written on it

MEMBERS ONLY

Chapters 13-15

On Sunday morning Matthew Venn woke early, as he always did. There remained the sense of unease that

MEMBERS ONLY

illustration of a woman and her shadow in the doorway of a large shed with two large doors and small windows, and part of a red car visible outside

MEMBERS ONLY

Chapters 16-18

Matthew left Lauren Miller's house in Appledore and drove back to Barnstaple. Dorothy Venn was waiting

MEMBERS ONLY

illustration of man and woman at kitchen table and man tapping on window outside

MEMBERS ONLY

Chapters 19-21

All the way back to Westacombe, Eve remained silent and still. Jonathan sat next to her in the back of the car.

MEMBERS ONLY

illustration of a man in a straw hat sitting on sun lounger, lifting a glass in greeting, and another man close by

MEMBERS ONLY

Chapters 22-24

The Sandpiper was closed all day on Mondays. ‘Our one day of rest,’ George said when Jen called to make an appointment.

MEMBERS ONLY

illustration of a woman wearing orange dress carrying large straw handbag walking down a street, and a man in the doorway of a tea shop looking in her direction

MEMBERS ONLY

Chapters 25-27

After dropping Janey Mackenzie in Instow, Jen Rafferty made her way back to the police station. She tracked down

MEMBERS ONLY

illustration of a grey heron on water with two men in the background leaning on picket fence and behind them a house with yellow light in windows against a purple sky

MEMBERS ONLY

Chapters 28-30

As he drove inland, towards the moor and Spennicott, the village where Frank Ley was considered an enemy,

MEMBERS ONLY

illustration of a woman, seen from the back, holding a metal pipe with a globe of molten glass at the end in a fiery furnace

MEMBERS ONLY

Chapters 31-33

Jen Rafferty got permission from Venn to go back to Westacombe to visit Eve Yeo. ‘I just want to check

MEMBERS ONLY

illustration of a white-suited figure with a gloved hand holding an envelope addressed in script to Detective Inspector Matthew Venn, and a pair on legs lying below in the grass

MEMBERS ONLY

Chapters 34-36

Jonathan woke early and had been for a swim before Matthew got up. It had become a ritual in these hot, heavy

MEMBERS ONLY

illustration of a man in a shirt and tie, wearing glasses with chin resting on his hand, sitting in a chair looking pensive

MEMBERS ONLY

Chapters 37-39

Ross found the whole Mackenzie family together in the Sandpiper. Venn had asked him to notify them of Frank Ley’s death:

MEMBERS ONLY

illustration of a man sitting on a desk with headphones on, beside a mobile with penguins and polar bears that is hanging from the ceiling

MEMBERS ONLY

Chapters 40-42

Jen stayed at home long enough to have breakfast with the kids. Since Nigel Yeo’s murder they’d all been working

MEMBERS ONLY

illustration of a young man rushing out of an office, his green tie flying behind him, office chair and pencil cup falling over

MEMBERS ONLY

Chapters 43-45

Jonathan was in his office, focused on spreadsheets and the minutes from the last trustees’ meeting, and didn’t realize

MEMBERS ONLY

illustration of two people walking in the pouring rain at night, one leading the way with a flashlight

MEMBERS ONLY

Chapters 46-48

Matthew Venn had completed his search of the attics when he heard footsteps echoing on the steps below him.

MEMBERS ONLY

illustration of two people sitting in a colorful room at a table beside a large window with a water view and two birds flying past

MEMBERS ONLY

Chapters 49-50

After breakfast, Matthew drove home across Braunton Great Marsh, past the pools rich with wading birds

MEMBERS ONLY

‘The Heron's Cry’

by Ann Cleeves

Benefits Recommended For You