Characters The Raging Storm: a Detective Matthew Venn Novel Ann Cleeves

DC Ross May: Ambitious Detective in The Raging Storm

Overview

DC Ross May is a young, ambitious detective constable in Ann Cleeves’ The Raging Storm, the third Matthew Venn novel. Eager to prove himself and move up the career ladder, Ross brings energy and persistence to the investigation of Jem Rosco’s murder. He is the team member most focused on making a name for himself, sometimes feeling overlooked by his superiors. Ross’s key contribution is uncovering the links between the victims and the insular sailing community of Greystone, as well as proposing that the remote Scully Bay holds deeper significance than a simple dumping ground. His arc moves from insecurity and resentment toward a grudging respect for his colleagues, driven by his determination to solve the case.

Plot Role

Ross acts as the boots-on-the-ground investigator, conducting interviews and following up forensic leads. He is the first to notice that the dinghy containing Rosco’s body, the Moon Crest, belongs to local fisherman Sammy Barton, and he senses the Bartons are hiding something (chapter 8 outline). Ross also identifies the mysterious woman seen near Rosco’s cottage as Imogen Holt, Rosco’s secret partner, by tracing Rosco’s forwarded mail to an address in Wirral (chapter 20 outline). His most significant intellectual contribution is his theory that Scully Bay—where both Rosco and Bartholomew Lawson’s bodies were found—is not a random location but a site of past tragedy or revenge (chapter 33 outline). Matthew Venn takes this suggestion seriously, demonstrating Ross’s growing influence on the investigation.

Motivations and Traits Shown Through Actions

Ross is driven by a need for recognition and validation. He resents being assigned routine tasks (like checking CCTV) while Jen Rafferty handles more complex interviews, and he feels “like the tea boy” (chapter 33 evidence). When Venn sends him home for a weekend, Ross initially treats it as a slight, though later he appreciates the gesture (chapter 23 outline). His jealousy of Jen is evident: he thinks she lacks stamina because she has children, and he privately believes he works harder (chapter 14 evidence). Yet Ross also shows genuine detective instincts—his careful questioning of Sammy Barton yields the crucial link to the Moon Crest dinghy, and his persistence in learning Rosco’s background from Desert Island Discs reveals the adventurer’s humble origins and obsession with Eleanor “Nelly” Wren (chapter 14 evidence). He is observant, noticing the lack of intimacy in his own suburban friendships compared to the close-knit Greystone community (chapter 8 evidence). Ross’s ambition is tempered by a growing respect for Venn’s methods, as seen when he acknowledges that Venn took his Scully Bay theory seriously (chapter 34 evidence).

Chronological Arc

When the story begins, Ross is eager but often sidelined; he arrives at the crime scene and immediately works to make a difference. He interviews Sammy and Jane Barton, learning about the missing tender and local resentment toward Rosco. Feeling overlooked, he disobeys Venn’s order to go straight to the Barton cottage, instead briefly returning to the pub, a minor rebellion (chapter 14 outline). As the case progresses, Ross gathers background on Rosco’s past—ex-wife, agent, and the will leaving all to Eleanor Lawson (chapter 23 outline). He proposes the Scully Bay revenge theory during a team meeting, earning Venn’s attention (chapter 34 outline). Ross assists in the search for Bartholomew Lawson’s body, descending to the cove and noting the deliberate staging (chapter 29 outline). Later, during the climactic rockfall at Scully Cove, Ross is injured and hospitalized, his injuries a sign of his commitment to the investigation (chapter 50 outline). By the end, he is recovering at home while the team wraps up the case, his contributions having been crucial to solving the mystery.

Relationships

  • Matthew Venn: Ross initially sees Venn as distant and sometimes unappreciative. He notices Venn’s awkwardness in pubs and resents being assigned menial tasks. However, over the course of the novel, Venn shows trust by sending Ross home for a break and by seriously considering his theories. Ross begins to understand Venn’s methodical approach and earns a measure of respect.
  • Jen Rafferty: Ross often feels competitive and dismissive of Jen, seeing her as a single mother whose children interfere with work. He privately mocks her stamina and wishes he could solve the case without her (chapter 33 outline). Yet he also collaborates with her, and when Jen rescues him and Venn from the cove, he must indirectly acknowledge her competence.
  • Sammy and Jane Barton: Ross’s interview with the Bartons is one of his first successes. He picks up on their defensiveness and the fact that they are Brethren members, linking them to the local religious community (chapter 8 evidence). Jane treats him with a kindness reminiscent of his grandmother, softening his attitude.
  • Mel (his wife): Ross often mentions Mel as a grounding influence; she understands when he is called away, and he thinks about their future children (chapter 29 evidence). Their relationship provides a contrast to the tensions in the investigation.

Key Decisions and Consequences

  1. Interviewing the Bartons early: Ross approaches Sammy Barton after first learning of the dinghy’s name. He presses about the missing tender and senses the husband and wife are hiding something. This leads to the identification of the Moon Crest as the boat used for Rosco’s body and raises suspicion about who might have framed Barton (chapter 8 outline).
  2. Listening to Desert Island Discs: Instead of returning directly to the Barton cottage, Ross goes to the pub and streams the radio show. This yields critical background on Rosco’s childhood, his love of sailing, and his first love Eleanor (chapter 14 evidence). This information fuels the team’s understanding of Rosco’s motives for returning to Greystone.
  3. Proposing the Scully Bay revenge theory: During a team meeting, Ross argues that the location of both bodies cannot be random. He suggests a past tragedy or local legend may be involved. Venn takes this seriously and tasks Ross with further inquiries (chapter 34 outline). The theory influences subsequent interviews with Mary Ford and Sammy Barton.
  4. Descending to Scully Cove to identify Lawson’s body: Against the risk of the tide, Ross scrambles down to the cove, wetting his trainers in the process (chapter 29 evidence). He confirms the body is Lawson and notes the difficulty of disposing of a body there, emphasizing that the killer must have local knowledge. This reinforces the cove’s significance.
  5. Returning to Greystone after his break: When Venn sends him home, Ross initially resents it but later returns with renewed focus. This decision allows him to present his theory to Venn in person, rather than over the phone, which strengthens his case (chapter 24 outline).

Theme/Symbol Connections

  • Ambition vs. Teamwork: Ross’s eagerness to shine often puts him at odds with Jen and sometimes Venn. He wants to solve the case “without her” and sees himself as the star. Yet the investigation ultimately requires collaboration; his rescue by Jen and Sammy Barton humbles him. His arc reflects the theme that individual ambition must be balanced with collective effort.
  • Insecurity and Self-Worth: Ross’s resentment stems from feeling like the “new boy” and “the youngest in a family” (chapter 14 evidence). He overcompensates by working hard, but his need for approval makes him vulnerable. This parallels broader themes of community and isolation in the novel, where outsiders like Rosco and even Venn struggle to belong.
  • Outsider vs. Insider: Ross does not come from a close-knit village; he lives on a modern estate with “incomers” (chapter 8 evidence). His outsider perspective allows him to see patterns locals miss, such as the significance of Scully Bay. Yet he also lacks the local knowledge that could have helped earlier. This links to the theme of class and resentment where insiders and newcomers clash.
  • Deception and Hidden Identities: Ross uncovers Rosco’s secret partner Imogen Holt and his hidden flat in Morrisham. His work reveals how Rosco lived a double life—public celebrity, private recluse. This supports the deception and hidden identities theme.

Book-Specific Questions and Answers

1. Why does Ross May feel overlooked by his superiors, and how does this affect his investigations?

Ross often feels like the “tea boy” or the youngest sibling left behind (chapter 14 evidence). He resents Jen for having children, believing it distracts her, and wishes Venn would notice his harder work. This insecurity drives him to work extra diligently—e.g., tracking down Rosco’s agent and listening to the Desert Island Discs episode—but also leads him to rebel by delaying interviews (chapter 14 outline). His need for recognition pushes him to find key evidence, but it also creates tension in the team.

2. What is Ross’s most significant contribution to solving the murders?

Ross proposes that Scully Bay is not a random location but carries symbolic significance—perhaps tied to a past tragedy or local superstition (chapter 33 outline). This theory reframes the investigation, leading Venn to inquire about local history and the suicide of Bartholomew Lawson’s father. It also prompts Ross to question Mary Ford about the “skulls and bones” chant and the local resentment toward the Lawson family (chapter 34 outline).

3. How does Ross’s relationship with Matthew Venn change during the book?

Initially, Ross sees Venn as distant and unappreciative, feeling he is never listened to. However, when Venn sends him home for a break—a surprisingly kind gesture—Ross begins to see his boss differently (chapter 23 outline). Later, when Venn seriously considers Ross’s theory about Scully Bay, Ross feels “vindicated” (chapter 34 evidence). By the end, while Ross is still sometimes irritated, he respects Venn’s leadership and is grateful when Venn takes his ideas seriously.

4. What role does the local Brethren community play in Ross’s investigation?

Ross discovers that both Sammy and Jane Barton are members of the Barum Brethren (chapter 29 evidence). Later, he learns that Davy and Tilly Gregory also attend the Brethren (chapter 10 outline). This religious connection hints at a network of loyalty and secrecy within Greystone. Ross becomes suspicious that the community is protecting its own, and this line of inquiry eventually reveals that Alan Ford—also involved with the Brethren?—was part of the murder conspiracy (chapter 48-50 outline).

5. In what way does Ross’s personal background mirror elements of the murders?

Like Jem Rosco, Ross grew up with a depressed father who “lost his nerve” in a proper job and ended up selling menswear (chapter 8 evidence). Ross’s own ambition to be a top detective parallels Rosco’s drive to be a famous sailor. Both men feel a need to escape their origins and be recognized. This similarity gives Ross an intuitive understanding of Rosco’s psychology, though he does not explicitly articulate it; his empathy for Rosco’s underdog story helps him see beyond the glamour to the man’s vulnerabilities.

For further exploration of the novel, see the full book page, the ending explained, and questions and answers.