Book overview Matthew Venn, Book 3 Ann Cleeves

The Raging Storm: A Detective Matthew Venn Novel – Full Study Companion

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Quick Facts

Field Detail
Book The Raging Storm
Author Ann Cleeves
Series Matthew Venn (Book 3)
Genre Crime fiction / Mystery
Setting Greystone, a fictional coastal village in North Devon; also Morrisham, Wirral, London, and Barnstaple
Narrator Third-person limited, shifting among Detective Matthew Venn, Sergeant Jen Rafferty, and DC Ross May
Publication Year 2023

Short Summary

When the body of celebrity adventurer Jem Rosco is found naked in a dinghy off the remote village of Greystone, Detective Matthew Venn is called in to investigate. Rosco had been staying in the village for weeks, claiming he was waiting for “someone special.” As a storm isolates Greystone, Venn and his team uncover a web of hidden relationships, class resentment, and long‑buried secrets. The investigation leads to a second murder and a conspiracy orchestrated by Eleanor Lawson, Rosco’s first love, who used her influence to manipulate others into killing. The novel explores themes of obsession, deception, and the power of a closed community.

Full Summary

The Raging Storm opens in Greystone during a fierce September gale. Jem Rosco, a famous solo sailor and adventurer, arrives in the village and rents a cottage, becoming a fixture at the Maiden’s Prayer pub. He tells the locals he is waiting for someone but never reveals who. Then he disappears. The next morning, the lifeboat crew responds to a mayday call and finds Rosco’s naked body in an anchored dinghy near Scully Head. He has been stabbed multiple times.

DI Matthew Venn, accompanied by Sergeant Jen Rafferty, arrives at the scene. Venn has personal history with Greystone: as a child he visited with his Brethren parents, and the village is home to many Brethren families. The storm cuts off the village, trapping the investigation team. Venn interviews landlord Harry Carter, cleaner Gwen Gregory, and lifeboat helm Mary Ford. Rosco’s rented cottage shows signs of having been cleaned, but blood is found in the bathroom. A shower curtain is missing.

DC Ross May investigates the local sailing club, where he learns that Rosco’s boat, the Nelly Wren, was named after Eleanor Lawson—Rosco’s first love. Eleanor is now married to wealthy Bartholomew Lawson, a drunk and bitter man. Rosco’s ex‑wife Selina reveals that Rosco never got over Eleanor. Meanwhile, Jen follows a lead to Imogen Holt, an actress who turns out to be Rosco’s secret long‑term partner. Rosco had mail forwarded to her address.

The case takes a darker turn when Bartholomew Lawson is found dead at the base of a cliff near Scully Cove. Venn’s husband Jonathan discovers the body while exploring the coastline. Venn initially suspects Eleanor of complicity, but she goes missing, leaving behind blood in her own bath. The team realises the killings are connected.

Venn and Ross are trapped on the beach at Scully Cove by a deliberate rockfall, intended to kill them. They survive and set a trap. The next morning, Davy Gregory and Alan Ford arrive. Ford attempts to strangle Jen, but Venn knocks him unconscious with a boulder. They are arrested.

In the final chapters, Eleanor Lawson confesses. She orchestrated Jeremy Rosco’s murder because he refused to donate money for the medical treatment of Mary Ford’s son Arthur, who suffers from Jasper Lineham Disease. (The treatment was a scam, as Mary later learns.) Eleanor admits to pushing her husband off the cliff when he became suspicious. She staged her own disappearance and blood evidence to mislead the investigation. Davy Gregory participated to obtain funds for Arthur’s treatment, and Alan Ford carried out the physical attacks. Eleanor’s motive, however, was ultimately her own desire for power and control, not charity.

Venn returns home to Jonathan, who reveals he wants to find his birth mother. The novel ends with the case solved and personal changes looming.

Main Characters

  • Matthew Venn – Detective Inspector, estranged from the Barum Brethren, leads the investigation while confronting his past.
  • Jen Rafferty – Venn’s sergeant, a single mother dealing with guilt and personal longing.
  • Ross May – Eager DC who uncovers links to the sailing community.
  • Eleanor Lawson – Rosco’s first love and the mastermind behind the murders.
  • Davy Gregory – Taciturn taxi driver and Brethren member, coerced into aiding the killings to fund medical treatment for a sick child.
  • Alan Ford – Mary Ford’s father, a naturalist who becomes the violent enforcer.

Themes

Symbols

  • Scully Cove – A remote site where bodies are found, symbolising death and hidden truth.
  • The Gold Locket – Found by Rosco, used to inherit Grace Fanshaw’s fortune, representing how small tokens unlock destructive obsession.
  • The Missing Shower Curtain – Removed from the murder scene to hide blood evidence, symbolising the killer’s attempt to sanitise the crime.
  • The Storm – The gale that isolates Greystone, representing external and internal turmoil.

Ending Explained

Eleanor Lawson confesses to planning the murder of Jem Rosco because he refused to donate to Arthur Ford’s medical fund. She admits to pushing her husband Bartholomew off a cliff when he suspected her. Davy Gregory and Alan Ford acted as her accomplices. Eleanor’s true motive was her love of power and control, not altruism. Mary Ford later learns that the American cure for her son was a con. Venn and his team arrest all three. Venn returns home to Jonathan, who wants to find his birth mother, signalling a new chapter in their relationship. For a deeper analysis, see the ending explained page.

Chapter-by-Chapter Summary

Chapter Title Summary Link
Author’s Note Author’s Note Cleeves states villages are fictitious, thanks lifeboat crews, and takes responsibility for errors. Chapter 1
1 Chapter One Jem Rosco arrives in Greystone during a storm, rents a cottage, and tells locals he is waiting for someone. He disappears, and a body is found. Chapter 1
2 Chapter Two Mary Ford responds to a lifeboat call; the crew finds the naked body of Jem Rosco on Scully Point. Chapter 2
3 Chapter Three Venn and Rafferty travel to Greystone; Venn recalls childhood visits. They investigate the murder scene at the lifeboat station. Chapter 3
4 Chapter Four Venn interviews pub landlord Harry Carter; learns Rosco arrived on 2 September. They enter Rosco’s cottage and find blood in the bathroom. Chapter 4
5 Chapter Five Jen Rafferty feels uneasy. Venn notices a missing shower curtain. Jen interviews Gwen Gregory about the rental. Chapter 5
6 Chapter Six The storm traps the team. Venn assigns tasks and phones his husband Jonathan. He interviews Dr. Smale, a former Brethren friend. Chapter 6
7 Chapter Seven Jen does door‑to‑door interviews and learns from Alan Ford about a woman with pale hair seen near Rosco’s house. Chapter 7
8 Chapter Eight Ross May interviews Sammy Barton; learns Rosco had a reputation as cocky. Barton’s dinghy is missing. Chapter 8
9 Chapter Nine Venn interviews truck driver Billy Brennan, who claims to have seen nothing. Venn feels isolated. Chapter 9
10 Chapter Ten Venn wakes to a calm morning. He agrees to let Jonathan stay. He visits Davy Gregory, who explains his father was scammed by Harry Carter. Chapter 10
11 Chapter Eleven Mary Ford wakes from a nightmare. Ross May interviews Alan Ford about his sighting of a woman. Chapter 11
12 Chapter Twelve Jen attends the post‑mortem. The murder weapon – a kitchen knife – is found in a quarry. Chapter 12
13 Chapter Thirteen Venn and Jen interview Matilda Gregory, who provides a babysitting alibi. She denies being the woman seen. Chapter 13
14 Chapter Fourteen Ross visits the sailing club and meets Bartholomew Lawson, who is drunk. He learns Rosco’s boat was named after Lawson’s wife Eleanor. Chapter 14
15 Chapter Fifteen Jen interviews Rosco’s ex‑wife Selina, who describes his lifelong obsession with Eleanor. Chapter 15
16 Chapter Sixteen Jonathan arrives. Venn decides to interview Eleanor alone. Ross collects soil samples. Chapter 16
17 Chapter Seventeen Venn visits Eleanor Lawson. She reveals she was Rosco’s first love and that Rosco funded his boat by finding a gold locket. Chapter 17
18 Chapter Eighteen Venn and Ross visit Rosco’s penthouse and find three photographs, including one of a beach party. Chapter 18
19 Chapter Nineteen Venn learns that Rosco’s mail was forwarded to an address in Wirral, to a recipient named Imogen Holt. Chapter 19
20 Chapter Twenty Jen learns from Harry Carter that his gastropub plans failed. Ross identifies Imogen Holt as an actress. Chapter 20
21 Chapter Twenty‑One Venn verifies Matilda Gregory’s alibi with the Smales. Discrepancies emerge about her car and outfit. Chapter 21
22 Chapter Twenty‑Two Jen learns Imogen Holt’s car disappeared before the murder. She travels to the Wirral with her children. Chapter 22
23 Chapter Twenty‑Three Ross interviews retired lawyer Rodney Bottle, who confirms Rosco left everything to Eleanor. Chapter 23
24 Chapter Twenty‑Four Matthew goes home to surprise Jonathan but finds him with a teacher friend, Guy, who describes Rosco as a liar. Chapter 24
25 Chapter Twenty‑Five Jen investigates Imogen Holt’s flat. Someone pulls away her ladder, and she falls unconscious. Chapter 25
26 Chapter Twenty‑Six Jonathan shows Venn a hidden gully to Scully Cove. They find Rosco’s bag, a shower curtain, and the body of Bartholomew Lawson. Chapter 26
27 Chapter Twenty‑Seven Venn declares Lawson’s death a murder. He secures the scene and suspects the killer has local knowledge. Chapter 27
28 Chapter Twenty‑Eight Jen confronts Imogen Holt, who reveals her long‑term secret relationship with Rosco. Jen seizes fan mail. Chapter 28
29 Chapter Twenty‑Nine Ross returns to Scully Bay and interviews Jane Barton, who admits she and Sammy are Brethren members. Chapter 29
30 Chapter Thirty Venn informs Eleanor of her husband’s death. She learns she is the sole beneficiary of Rosco’s will. Chapter 30
31 Chapter Thirty‑One Jen reads fan mail and spots letters from Mary Ford. Ross calls with news of Lawson’s death. Chapter 31
32 Chapter Thirty‑Two Venn interviews Davy Gregory about the footpath to the coast. Davy becomes defensive. Chapter 32
33 Chapter Thirty‑Three Ross proposes Scully Bay’s significance may be linked to a past tragedy. The sailing club gives an alibi for Lawson’s disappearance. Chapter 33
34 Chapter Thirty‑Four Venn and Ross interview Mary Ford about her letters to Rosco. She admits to an erotic fantasy and is now cured. Chapter 34
35 Chapter Thirty‑Five Jen interviews Eleanor, who describes her marriage as companionable but distant. Eleanor dismisses the idea of a single killer. Chapter 35
36 Chapter Thirty‑Six Jen meets magistrate Cynthia Prior, who describes Lawson as lazy and bigoted. Jen struggles with personal longing for a baby. Chapter 36
37 Chapter Thirty‑Seven Venn and Ross interview Alan Ford, who tentatively identifies Imogen Holt as the woman seen. Ford reveals Henry Lawson’s suicide at Scully Head. Chapter 37
38 Chapter Thirty‑Eight Venn proposes that Bartholomew killed Rosco and Eleanor helped cover it up. He overhears Davy say he is not sorry Lawson is dead. Chapter 38
39 Chapter Thirty‑Nine Jen researches Grace Fanshaw. She decides to interview David Fanshaw, the nephew who contested the will, in London. Chapter 39
40 Chapter Forty Venn interviews Matilda’s parents, who reveal Philip Vickery discovered financial fraud by Henry Lawson leading to his suicide. Ross reports Eleanor missing with blood in her bath. Chapter 40
41 Chapter Forty‑One Jen interviews David Fanshaw, who recalls Rosco’s charm and a young woman playing a role. She learns Eleanor is missing. Chapter 41
42 Chapter Forty‑Two Venn learns Eleanor had breast cancer. Love letters from Rosco are found. An empty boat is discovered adrift at Scully Cove. Chapter 42
43 Chapter Forty‑Three Mary Ford responds to a lifeboat call at Scully Cove. They find an empty yacht, the Scully Maid. Chapter 43
44 Chapter Forty‑Four Venn waits at Eleanor’s house. Bartholomew’s boat is found empty. Nightfall prevents search. Chapter 44
45 Chapter Forty‑Five Mary feels anticlimax. Jen visits to discuss the empty boat. Mary warns that spring tide will cover Scully beach. Chapter 45
46 Chapter Forty‑Six Venn and Ross return to Scully Cove. A deliberate rockfall injures Ross and knocks Venn unconscious. Chapter 46
47 Chapter Forty‑Seven Jen interviews a workman who saw a man in a dark hat leave on the Scully Maid. Jonathan identifies a photo. Chapter 47
48 Chapter Forty‑Eight Stranded at Scully Cove, Venn and Ross are rescued by Jen and Sammy Barton. They set a trap. Davy Gregory and Alan Ford arrive. Ford attempts to strangle Jen; Venn knocks him unconscious. Chapter 48
49 Chapter Forty‑Nine At the cliff top, Matilda confronts Davy, who confesses to helping kill Rosco and Lawson to fund Arthur’s medical treatment. Venn and Jen find Eleanor at a hotel and accuse her. Chapter 49
50 Chapter Fifty Venn reveals the full conspiracy at Ross’s house. Eleanor orchestrated the murders; Arthur Ford and Davy participated for different motives. Chapter 50
51 Chapter Fifty‑One Jen visits Mary Ford, who admits the American cure was a con. Mary’s father became obsessed. Matilda convinces Mary to stay. Chapter 51
52 Chapter Fifty‑Two Eleanor confesses to planning Rosco’s murder and pushing her husband. She admits staging her disappearance. Returns home to Jonathan. Chapter 52
53 Chapter Fifty‑Three (Chapter 53 not present) – applies to chapter 52. The final narrative chapter is 52. Chapter 52 includes the confession. The author bibliography is chapter 54. Chapter 53
54 By Ann Cleeves A bibliography listing Cleeves’s Vera Stanhope, Shetland, and Two Rivers novels. Chapter 54

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Who killed Jem Rosco?
    Eleanor Lawson masterminded the murder. She lured Rosco to Greystone and stabbed him with a kitchen knife. Alan Ford and Davy Gregory helped dispose of the body.

  2. Why was Jem Rosco murdered?
    Eleanor orchestrated the killing because Rosco refused to donate money for the medical treatment of Mary Ford’s son Arthur. However, Eleanor’s deeper motive was her desire for power and control.

  3. What happened to Bartholomew Lawson?
    Eleanor pushed him off a cliff at Scully Head after he grew suspicious of her involvement in Rosco’s murder.

  4. Who is the mysterious woman seen near Rosco’s house?
    Alan Ford saw a woman with pale hair and a long coat. This was Imogen Holt, Rosco’s secret long‑term partner, who visited him earlier that night.

  5. Was Davy Gregory guilty?
    Yes. Davy drove Eleanor to the coast path on the night of Lawson’s death and later helped stage the rockfall that almost killed Venn and Ross. He acted to fund Arthur’s medical treatment.

  6. What is the significance of the gold locket?
    Rosco found the locket and used it to befriend Grace Fanshaw, who left him her fortune. The locket symbolises how small objects can unlock wealth and obsession.

  7. What does the storm represent?
    The storm isolates Greystone and reflects the characters’ internal turmoil. It also prevents the killer from escaping and traps the investigation team.

  8. Does Matthew Venn solve the case?
    Yes. Venn deduces Eleanor’s involvement, reveals the conspiracy, and arrests her, Davy Gregory, and Alan Ford.

Further Reading