Third Time to Charm

Two TV detective series already adapted from Ann Cleeves’ novels—Shetland and Vera—have proven so successful, that British network ITV has decided to launch a third. As The Killing Times reports, Cleeves’ latest protagonist, introduced in the 2019 novel The Long Call, is slated to be given his own show soon:

The story centres around Detective Inspector Matthew Venn, who has returned to live in a small community in North Devon with his husband, Jonathan. It’s a place Matthew walked away from 20 years ago, after being rejected by his family.

We first meet the reserved, but intense Matthew Venn outside the local church as his father’s funeral takes place. Sadly, the day Matthew turned his back on the strict evangelical community in which he grew up, he lost his family too.

Now he’s back, not just to mourn his father at a distance, but to take charge of his first major murder. A body has been found on the beach near to Matthew’s new home: a man with the tattoo of an albatross on his neck, has been stabbed to death.

There’s no word yet as to casting or a premiere date.