The Killing Stones A Detective Jimmy Perez Novel by Ann Cleeves I am a huge fan of Ann Cleeves writing and British mysteries and this did not let me down. Ann Cleeves's latest Jimmy Perez novel is an absorbing and atmospheric read, set against the stunning backdrop of the Orkney Islands. When Jimmy's close friend Archie Stout is murdered, Jimmy and his partner Willow Reeve embark on a complex investigation.

Archie's character is masterfully crafted - a spirited, mercurial individual beloved by his family and community, yet with secrets and a troubled past. Jimmy's personal connection to the victim adds depth to the story, and his partnership with Willow is showcased beautifully.

The plot is twisty and engaging, with multiple leads and suspects keeping me guessing. Although I had a suspicion about the killer's identity early on, the journey was full of surprises and challenges that kept me invested. Following the clues was satisfying, and Cleeves's writing made the story feel immersive and authentic. A compelling read that showcases Cleeves's mastery of the genre!

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from the publisher and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Postcards, once again, from the Isle of Outliers.

Okay, I've read 13 books by the talented Ann Cleeves that have spread across a multitude of her series. She's one of my favorites. But the ending in this one is absolutely bonkers. Let's chat.

Although this is the ninth book in this Shetland Series, it can easily be read as a standalone. I've only read a few in this particular series and they've been so good. We'll meet up with DI Jimmy Perez who hails from Shetland Island. But this time, Jimmy is called to Orkney which is off the northern coast of Scotland. The inhabitants of these coastal islands are brawny people who can withstand anything. But this latest event is now personal.

Jimmy's bestfriend since childhood, Archie Stout, has been found murdered at an archaelogical site. He was attacked with a heavy stone that has historical significance to this island. One of the others in this pair of stones is missing from the museum. But who would have killed Archie? Archie has always been well liked as a husband, as a father, and as a fellow islander.

The plot thickens when two other bodies are found. Jimmy works alongside his love interest, Willow Reeve, who is also his boss. They share a four year old son and a baby on the way. We feel Jimmy's angst as he tries to solve these crimes while his heart is crushed after the loss of his best friend.

Ann Cleeves does a stellar job in her descriptors of the island itself and those who inhabit it. The tension ratchets up as the island people draw closer and closer to Christmas with murder in the wind. We're also perplexed as to who the perpetrator is.

Then someone must have grabbed the wheel from Cleeves and veered off into the sea. The ending was bonkers. Shock stands by itself without any fertile ground. And because of this, a long and lengthy explanation has to take place to jam all the loose tentacles back into the jar. I'm far from convinced. I'm disappointed. Don't ever allow anyone to whisper in your ear, Cleeves. You're a superb driver of mystery/thrillers all by yourself. I'm counting on ya to get back on the road in the next one.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Minotaur Books and to Ann Cleeves for the opportunity.

No time is better than another to investigate a murder of one’s best friend. Because of the Christmas holidays and the the major athletic events, many people became suspects.
Despite all these impediments, Perez was able to recognize all the puzzling relationships and their interactions to reveal who the murder was.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press Minotaur Books for the eARC to review.

What a joy to have Perez back in the rotation! This novel shows Cleeves at her best--propulsive plot, deft and deep characterization, and a fabulous ending.

Great murder mystery in the typical Cleeve’s style. It was good to have Jimmy Perez back as I thought we had lost him when he left Shetland.
Good story, well developed characters and a twisting mystery that kept me guessing far longer than most books.

I really enjoyed this book. I appreciate the attention to detail that the author provides: I feel like I am there in Scotland with the characters. Having been a fan of the TV series, I am now enjoying reading the books. This story is about the murder of a childhood friend centering around the archeology and history of the town. Perez has to tread carefully during his investigation with such close ties to the victim and the family. This book is starting to show more of the inner emotions of Jimmy Perez as we see him be a father to his son and another child on the way, but while also trying to stay connected to his step-daughter. Those parental instincts are showing in his approach to this case, and I am enjoying it. This book wraps up nicely, but I am anxious to see how his relationship with Willow will progress after the birth of their second child.

Although clearly well established, I am new to these detectives. I can see why they have a following, though. This book is about a murder that hits very close to home to Perez. When this crime is linked to a subsequent crime, the case becomes more confusing. The character development is exceptional. I felt that I got to know most of the characters well enough to like them, tolerate them, or really dislike them. You got a real sense of the case as it progressed, as well as the situations of the characters. Which all means that you got drawn in enough to be a part of the story. I enjoyed the lay of the land and how the author wove the landscape into the mystery. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The story drew me in from the start, captivating me by the mix of characters, and leaving me almost crying at the conclusion. A great read!

The Killing Stones is the first book I read from the Shetland series and I did. It have a problem following even though I am not familiar with it.
Archie Stout is found murdered during a gale in a remote community. He was a family friend of Jimmy Perez - Jimmy shouldn’t be on the case but with the bad weather and Christmas around the corner, he is needed. His partner and boss, Willow, is on maternity leave but takes charge because Jimmy is too close. It proves a difficult case.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is well written and and well paced. I would recommend it and hope to read more by Ann Cleeves.

I am elated that Jimmy Perez is back and that he’s teamed up with Willow is an extra treat! I see that this is labeled as book 1 so maybe a continuing series!

It’s a sad situation though because Perez’s dearest friend is involved and it causes him to be emotionally evolved in the case. Through it all we learn his thoughts and ways of discerning how the tragedy could have happened.

I have really enjoyed being part of Jimmy’s investigations and seeing him grow and tackle the changes in his life. But most of all, I love how Cleeves stumps me Every Time!! Seriously, I thought that I had finally figured out the key to her murder mysteries only to be baffled and devastated at the big reveal!! Of course I’ll have to read it again so I can experience it knowing who the murderer is and catch the clues. Cleeves is such a fun entertaining author.

The content in this book is sad but something that needs to be addressed. No spoilers so I’ll let you find out in your own!

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for the ARC via NetGalley!

Set in one of the Orkney Islands, Ann Cleeves's latest Jimmy Perez police procedural is an absorbing, atmospheric read. When Jimmy's best friend, Archie Stout, is murdered, Jimmy and his partner in life and work, Willow Reeve, are on the case. Jimmy's grief and friendship with Stout's wife and boys complicate an investigation that showcases Jimmy and Willow's partnership. Archie was spirited, mercurial, beloved by his family and community, a fierce champion of the island's history (and of his deceased father, the island's amateur historian), and a womanizer. As the twisty story proceeds, more bodies and candidates for killer appear. Following the bread crumbs was very satisfying! While I had an inkling early on of the killer's identity, I immensely enjoyed the many challenges to my spidey senses throughout.

Ann Cleeves never disappoints; The Killing Stones is one of her best!

Thank you Net Galley for the free ARC. I am so glad to have Jimmy Perez back, even if he is on Orkney now. I hope we still get to hear from Tosh and the rest of the Shetland crew. Jimmy has to solve the murder of one of his friends and things start to snowball. I loved the well researched local history.

Ann Cleeves is one of my favorite crime writers and she continued to do a superb job with her Shetland series featuring Detective Jimmy Perez; his partner and supervisor, Willow, has also become a critical character in the series. In this ninth book, a close childhood friend of Jimmy’s has been murdered, which makes the investigation very personal and allows us to learn more about his early background. Ann does a beautiful job describing the location and history of the isles, with neolithic stones and medieval traditions important to the story. There are multiple, well developed characters throughout the book as well as a fairly complex plot with twists and red herrings. Highly recommended – Ann Cleeves continues to deliver!

It is wonderful to be back on the Scottish Islands with Jimmy Perez. The characters were intriguing and almost all of them were possible killers or victims. The history of the islands was again a highlight. However, some of the sentence structure of the writing was a little awkward which made the reading less smooth than usual.

This is the 9th book in Ann Cleeves' Shetland series and it was worth the wait! I wasn't sure if there was going to be another book in the series as the main character, Jimmy, moving and having a baby/being part of a couple had a "happy ever after" feel to it, but it was fun to get an update even if this mystery took a dark turn (I won't say more to avoid spoilers).

I also appreciated that this mystery was centered around an old friendship so we got to learn more about Jimmy's past and family life/childhood. The solution truly came out of nowhere for me. I also appreciated seeing Jimmy and Willow (his partner) working together as an investigative team instead of as a couple.

Sometimes it is hard to sustain a series especially after more than 2-3 books, but this one has only gotten better with time.

Jimmy Perez is now living in Orkney. His wife Willow who is now pregnant with their child works with him. He gets a call from Vaila, his best friend Archie's wife, who asks him to come to Westray and help find Archie who is missing. Archie leaves a note for his wife and and takes a ferry. When Archie's house is empty he goes looking and finds that Archie has been killed by an ancient Story Stone near the site of an archeologic dig. Perez gets a room at the Hotel, and Willow calls him in the morning and he tells her that Archie was murdered.

It turns out that many people had access to the stones and there are a few suspects, but it takes quite awhile to figure out the real culprit. Willow and Jimmy interview many people and gradually get little hints. Then, two of the possible suspects were killed. However, it isn't until Christmas festivities back on Orkney that the real killer is found.

This is a great addition to the series. I thank Netgalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC so that I could read the book before publication.

The highly anticipated return of Ann Cleeve's iconic detective Jimmy Perez was worth the wait. Although in a different venue and with life changes the canny detective pervails once again in snagging the culprit. In this outing the victim is one of Perez's childhood friends so it hits much closer to home making him much more nostalgic and resistant to interference. Cleeve' greatest strength as a writer is a fushion of character development and using the setting as an eerie atmospheic background for the unfolding twists and unexpected revelations. Add in a few histoical bread crumbs concerning the island's history and a cast of unique engaging supporting characters and you have the recipe for a cracking good yarn. When more deaths follow Perez and his team struggle to make the connections between the killer and his seemingly unrelated crimes. These events evidently take place several years after the last entry in the series so it would work well as a standalone and a good starting point for a reader new to the author. Perez is a quiet well buttoned up man who prefers to work on his own agenda and timeline which causes friction with his co workers and supervising officers. A solidly plotted smooth paced crime novel.

The killing stones takes place on a group of small islands in Scotland. Willow and Perez and a couple who also work together as police officers. Willow being the senior officer. A murder occurs and then two more before the story comes together with a shocking conclusion. Ann Cleeves is an exceptional writer and this story does not disappoint.

As Shetland has continues on television, focusing on the crew that remained after Jimmy left for his new life, this is a great turn, to see what Jimmy is up to in his new life, and how things are working out for him, far from the island of Shetland. Orkney is familiar to him, having spent his summers there, so it's not a huge adjustment, but he is still settling in with his new squad (and having his wife as his boss!) and new life with a child, and another on the way. The latest case catches him off guard, as it involves people he knows well, so Willow has to step in and take over the case. But he can't let it go, and works things that he can from Orkney, to tie into the case. As his life and the case keeps overlapping, Jimmy has to struggle with memories and promises made and unkept. It's a great turn to the series, and I hope Cleeves gives us a few more Jimmy novels, now that Vera has ended! The book is great for fans of Cleeves, but also good for newcomers to the series.

When “Wild Fire” came out in 2019, readers were told it would be the last of the Shetland mystery series. But evidently author Ann Cleeves wasn’t done with Jimmy Perez … and I, for one, am glad. Perez has made a home with colleague Willow on Orkney, an archipelago south of the Shetland isles. Archie Stout, a childhood friend of Jimmy’s is found dead in an unusual way—bludgeoned with a Neolithic stone, one of a pair stolen from a local museum.

Not long thereafter, one of the suspects, a professor with a TV history program, is killed in a similar manner by the companion ancient stone. Jimmy and Willow, who is 7 months pregnant with their second child, work together on the case during the days leading up to Christmas. The investigation comes to a head at the traditional Kirkwall Ba’, a medieval football-type game played on Christmas Day.

I appreciate the way Cleeves incorporates local history and customs into her novels. She creates a yearning within me to visit these beautiful islands. And yes, as I was reading the book, mental images of actor Douglas Henshall filled every page.

What a fabulous book! As a fan of the tv series Shetland, I was delighted to get the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book, thanks to the publisher and NetGalley. Of course, now I must go back and read the Shetland books to fill in some of the gaps about Jimmy Perez’s life. The book is very atmospheric and I was fascinated by the island locales. There were many red herrings that made the book very suspenseful and interesting. I loved the characters and their relationships, and I look forward to the next installment as well as a tv version. Highly recommended!