Ann Cleeves’ The Killing Stones, the ninth novel in the Detective Jimmy Perez series, is a masterful blend of suspense, rich character development, and vivid cultural immersion. Set in the Orkney Islands, where Jimmy now resides with his pregnant partner and boss, DI Willow Reeves, and their young son, this installment thrusts Perez into a deeply personal investigation when his lifelong friend, Archie Stout, is found murdered at an ancient Neolithic site. The red herrings are plentiful, and will keep you guessing until the shocking conclusion. There are certainly no dull moments, and the escalating body count—each murder tied to significant archaeological sites—adds layers of intrigue, compounded by whispers of plagiarism and hidden agendas.

Cleeves is masterful at being able to transport readers to Orkney’s stark landscape; she has such a tremendous gift for atmosphere. The Neolithic sites—Ring of Brodgar, Skara Brae, and Maeshowe—are characters in their own right. I loved the cultural details, from island traditions to the weather.

Jimmy Perez is now like an old friend that I’m always happy to see. I love his combination of sensitivity and intenseness. It was also good to see that he’s moved past the depression that haunted him earlier.

I was, however, a bit puzzled by the reluctance of Glasgow authorities to prioritize the case given the mounting deaths, but this in no way detracted from my enjoyment. Fans of the Jimmy Perez series are going to love this latest installment. Those new to the series, I’m sure, will find this a real page turner that surprises until the very end.

4.5 Stars

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for this honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read "The Killing Stones" in exchange for my honest opinion.

This new story in the Jimmy Perez series has brought the beloved detective back to the readers. Perez has left Shetland and now lives in Orkney with his 4 year old son James and his pregnant girlfriend Willow who is also DI Reeves - his boss.

When Jimmy finds out that his good friend Archie Stout is missing he races to go and help. When he finds Archie he sees that he was killed with a Westray Story Stone that is part of a pair kept at the Heritage Centre. There are several parallel stories and characters in this, all with motives to kill Archie and all possibly red herrings to the real culprit. The characters in this story are all interesting and well developed. The descriptions of the scenery make the reader feel that they are there with Jimmy.

DI Reeves manages all the Scottish Islands for Glasgow and they don't feel that it warrants their time - chalk it down to a little local incident. When another body appears, killed by the other Story Stone, they are still reluctant to send additional manpower, saying it's too close to Christmas and the islands are a wild and uncivilized place.

After a third murder, there is talk of plagiarism as it seems everyone is writing some sort of a book on the island. All the deaths have occurred at important archeological sites that have been featured on the program of one of the suspects.

When Perez finally puts all the pieces together the resolution of the case is shocking and totally unexpected. A wonderful new story to add to the series!

This was pretty good...but so very different of a Jimmy Perez from the show! I miss him in Shetland and thought this could bridge the gap, but too much is different. I rarely watch TV shows that are based off of books but I made a case with this one. Ann Cleeves is a great writer though!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I miss Jimmy Perez! When his friend goes missing on a small Scottish island, he quickly stops in to investigate. A mysterious archeological dig and a puzzling murder make this a five star read. Not to be missed.

I love Ann Cleeves novels, whether Vera, Jimmy Perez, Ramsey, or the Matthew Venn series. All of her novels are well-written, character driven, and with a complexity of plot that pulls readers into the novels. The Killing Stones is the ninth novel in the Jimmy Perez series. Jimmy has moved away from Shetland and is now living and working on Orkney, where the Neolithic sites of early inhabitants will become the setting for multiple murders. I visited these same sites--Ring of Brodgar, Skara Brae, the Standing Stones of Stenness and Maeshowe--while visiting the Scottish Isles 19 months ago. Revisiting them in The Killing Stones added a personal connection to this Jimmy Perez novel and made this crime mystery even more dynamic.

In The Killing Stones, Cleeves pulls readers into the story immediately, with the murder of Jimmy's best friend. As Jimmy and his wife and boss, Willow, begin working to solve this murder, readers get to know more about Orkney and other nearby islands in this chain, where the wind blows and the cold rain helps to set a vivid landscape. Cleeves' writing has a depth of plot that makes it easy to draw readers into the story. Her descriptions of the settings transports readers into these ancient Neolithic sites. and readers become characters, rather than simply observers in Cleeves' novels. The many red herrings provide readers with enough suspects and motives that when the crimes are solved, readers will be surprised at the final dénouement.

I absolutely do recommend The Killing Stones. This is a novel that does not disappoint. Thank you to Minotaur / St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing this ARC for me to read and review in exchange for my honest review. Readers should take the time to explore the photos and locations in The Killing Stones. Doing so will add even more enjoyment while reading this ninth novel in the Jimmy Perez series. The comments above reflect my honest appreciation for this new Jimmy Perez novel.

5 stars

I love Ann Cleeves. I love her various series, especially the Vera Stanhope and Jimmy Perez (formerly known as Shetland--but Jimmy has moved to the Orkney islands with his growing family. Followers of this series will remember that Willow is also Jimmy's supervisor.

Jimmy is still sensitive and intense but finally seems to have left his depression behind. That is, other than his devastation when a very dear, very old friend, Archie, is murdered, struck down with an ancient rune. Jimmy has to track down the killer from a limited pool of suspect in the midst of freezing weather isolating the island as Christmas approaches.

Despite her pregnancy (she's already on maternity leave and close to her delivery date) Willow jumps in to help Jimmy who is too close to the people involved to remain objective. He grow up with Archie, a wild, mercurial character who was like a brother to Jimmy.

Like any good mystery, there are a good number of suspects. His wife--who suspects Archie's fidelity? The island artist, a stranger to the community rumored to have a less-than-platonic relationship with Archie? Someone involved with the archeology center who had access to the stones?

Cleeves is expert at pacing and I didn't experience a dull moment. This a stellar entry in the Cleeves' œuvre--great characters (all of whom I found interesting), interesting plot, The Killing Stones is suspenseful -- at the same time, Cleeves creates a place I wanted to be in and people I wanted to be with.

Ann Cleeves continues to deliver. The Killing Stones is a wonderful book which made me want to reread all the Jimmy Perez books. And I've already started her Inspector Ramsey series.

Thanks to Minotour Books at St. Martin's Press, NetGalley and the author for providing me with this advance copy of the book.

The Killing Stones is scheduled to be released on September 30, 2025.

Ann Cleeves is my all time favorite authors and I was so excited when I received this book. As usual, she did not disappoint. Her books are atmospheric and moody, and the mystery is always so well planned out. I enjoy coming back and spending time with her characters time and again.

The blunt object that killed DI Jimmy Perez's old friend was a Neolithic stone carved with ancient symbols and was one of a pair of ancient story stones stolen from the local museum. There's no one else to head up the local team because Perez's superior officer is also his very pregnant partner at home as well as at work. If things weren't sticky enough, the next murder makes investigating both murders even more difficult because of the winter weather and the grieving by Perez and so many others. Excellent read that begins rather slowly and escalates in speed and intensity working around the plot twists until the dramatic ending. Fascinating!
I requested and received a free temporary uncorrected digital galley from St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Pub Date Sep 30, 2025
#TheKillingStones by Ann Cleeves #DIJimmyPerezBk9 #JimmyPerezandWillowReevesBk1 @stmartinspress @minotaur_books #NetGalley #OrkneyIslanders #suspensethriller #procedural #friends #secrets #grudges #winter #isolated #murder #artifact #depression #grieving

It’s such a pleasure to read a well written and well crafted book. Ann Cleeves does it again with her descriptions of people,
Places, and things. You feel
As though you are out in the wind and rain with the characters. The plot is well conceived and there are so many red herrings that you won’t be able to discover the killer to the end. Outstanding.

The Killing Stones (Minotaur Books 2025), ninth in the Detective Jimmy Perez series, is Ann Cleeves' usual rambling crime solving mystery soaked in culture and filled with clues. In this case, Detective Jimmy Perez is digging into the murder of a local man killed by being bashed in the head with the town's historic story stone, an artifact that shouldn’t have been outside of its protected location. The man is well liked with a wide-reaching family, but no surprise, when Perez begins digging (with the help of his wife, Willow), he turns up complications. There's an unexplained argument and a possible love interest. The dead man's father is a long time islander who helped write a history of the island and Perez wonders if that is somehow involved. Willow is heavily pregnant but--as his boss--does what she can which is a lot. She is a curious sort. When more deaths occur, Perez knows they must be related. He just has to figure out how.

As always, Cleeves' writing style is conversational, drawing readers in, making us comfortable in the world she creates. She includes details of living not dissimilar to our own lives despite that this murder occurred in the British isles on a tightly knit island community. There are endless cultural details that keep the story fascinating as with all Cleeves' series. I never tire of her storytelling. If you like a meandering sort of cultural wander that starts with a murder, you will love this book.

Publication on my blog and Pinterest at a later date.

I absolutely love Ann Cleeves stories and the characters. Vera and Shetland series have been one of my most loved to read and to watch so when I saw a new jimmy Perez story coming I had to read it, and it didn’t disappoint.

This story is set in a new island and not in Shetland. Jimmy is here with his partner and his family is growing, one day he receives a call about his oldest friend going missing and when he goes to his house, jimmy finds a horrible scene. Being close to the family he finds it difficult to figure things out and the rumor about his oldest friend doesn’t help either. Overall it had all the great twist and turns that I love to read in Ann Cleeves books and this book didn’t disappoint. I will highly recommend it.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with this eARC.

Many thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of this wonderful novel.

So nice to be with Jimmy Perez again. He's now a cop on the mainland of Orkney, and Willow is in charge of all the Scottish islands, so she's his boss still. Willow is pregnant with their second child, and the first is four years old. Willow has started her maternity leave.

Jimmy's best friend since elementary school, Archie, has gone missing and Jimmy finds him dead near the golf club. He's been hit on the head with one of the two story stones, Neolithic relics from the Heritage Centre. Jimmy and Willow begin the investigation, but the main crew from Glasgow cannot attend due to the poor weather. A couple of days later, Jimmy agrees to meet with a local school teacher, but when he gets to the meeting point, the man is also dead, again hit over the head with the other story stone. What's the reason for these two deaths? The only plausible idea was the stones.

I was worried that Willow would go into labour early due to the travelling she does, but by the end of the book she's still not feeling any pangs. The Orkney islands sound much easier to live on that Shetland.

"The Killing Stones"by Anne Cleeves ... I was provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review"
The author sets the stage for a solid, atmospheric mystery in the Orkney Islands, where tradition runs deep and secrets are well-kept. Detective Jimmy Perez, born and raised on the islands, is forced to confront both his past and his community when a close friend is found murdered with a Neolithic artifact. As more murders follow, Perez navigates a complex investigation while trying to stay objective. Cleeves captures the stark beauty of the islands and the quiet intensity of island life, all while keeping the reader guessing until the very end. A well-paced and engaging read.

#netgalley #thekillingstones #annecleeves

Greatly enjoyed my first Jimmy Perez novel after devouring all episodes of the Shetland TV series. The book and the series have exactly the same vibe - slow burn, many characters that interconnect, unexpected reveal at the end. This is not a crazy and wild thriller, but rather a well executed crime drama. I will now have the pleasure of going back and reading all of the earlier Ann Cleves novels. Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for this ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC.
Ann Cleeves is my no. 1 favorite author and 'Vera' my favorite series. That said, I also really enjoy the Jimmy Perez series and it was such a treat being back with Jimmy, Willow and their little boy James. Plus, there will be a new baby soon!
The description of the islands is lovely and evocative. The case itself, the murder of Jimmy's best friend Archie, is causing not only heartbreak, but also frustration. But between Jimmy, Willow and Ellie, they get the culprit in the end.
Another excellent read and I'm hoping there will be another book in the series; looking forward to baby no. 2!

A solid, if plodding murder mystery set in the Orkney Islands. The setting and insights into the culture were enjoyable, but the tempo wasn't for me; even as the bodies dropped, I never felt a sense of urgency or truly got lost in the book. On the other hand, strong lead characters and smooth writing (and my love of deftly executed Scottish crime novels in general) keep this book on the high end of 3 stars, so I'll give it a four. Fans of Ann Cleeves will find it satisfying..

The ninth installment of the Shetland series, this mystery takes place in a new location — Orkney, a remote series of islands north of Scotland, rich with archeological significance. Famous for their Neolithic structures, the author incorporates two of these — a pair of ancient story stones from the local museum — as the murder weapon in a tale that begins with the killing of Detective Jimmy Perez’s oldest friend, Archie Stout.

Seeping with atmosphere, life on the remote Scottish islands is rugged, harsh, and close-knit, peopled with multi-generational families and couched in history, the longest of memories, and not surprisingly, many deep-seated grudges. As Jimmy, with his partner (in love) and sort-of-boss (in policing) Willow Reeves, immerses himself into the community, suspects, clues, and the occasional red herring abound. Willow, as a detective of higher rank than Jimmy, is a particularly intriguing character, and the juggling of personal and professional roles for the pair is both interesting and tricky.

With POVs presented by both Jimmy and Willow, this is an absorbing read and a satisfying mystery. For this reader, a huge fan of this author, the story felt both familiar, (with Jimmy and Willow, and that quietly mesmerizing writing style) and somewhat different, taking cues from the new geography. As expected on the islands, the pacing and character development moves slowly, with secrets unfurling, and tensions escalating, all the way to an unexpected ending, that could have perhaps used a tad more prodding to help the reader along, before the final revelations.

A solid read, as always, I’m looking forward to more of this series, and spending more time with these characters.

A great big thanks you to #Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.

I was so excited to see that there was going to be another jimmy perez book. I have read all the books in the series. I would recommend if you enjoy character driven mysteries that take place in Shetland.

A deeply engrossed whodunnit by an extremely entertaining author. The language colloquialisms are abundant in this book, as is expected but despite and perhaps because of this, a slow read with an unexpected outcome. All of Ms. Cleeves books have been great reads, this is no exception. Well worth the time to understand and enjoy. A definite addition to your TBR list. Spend some time in Scotland and it’s isles through the eyes of this author.

I greatly enjoyed this book as I have the earlier books in the series. I enjoyed the mystery as well as the descriptions of the area. I was surprised at who the killer was, didn't expect that at all.