‘The Heron's Cry’

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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