Ann Cleeves' The Killing Stones takes us to the remote Orkney Islands, where a violent storm has just unearthed a murder victim-larger-than-life local Archie Stout. The murder weapon? A Neolithic stone carved with ancient symbols, intertwining the past and present in an unsettling way.

Detective Jimmy Perez, who grew up with Archie, must navigate a case fraught with personal history and the islanders' hidden lives. As he sifts through loyalties and grudges, the line between local folklore and fact begins to blur, forcing him to uncover the truth before violence strikes again.

Perez's personal life plays a central role in the story, balancing his detective work with his commitments to partner Willow and their young son. His emotional connection to Archie fuels his urgency, and his interactions with villagers peel back layers of secrets. Supporting characters are authentic and complex, their relationships forged by the isolation and interdependence of island life.

The novel grapples with how history haunts places like Orkney, where ancient artifacts coexist with modern lives. The stone weapon symbolizes this tension, suggesting that past and present are inextricably bound. The island's harsh isolation and landscape amplify distrust, paralleling the characters' inner turmoil. Themes of gossip, loyalty, and fear of outsiders resonate deeply, mirroring tensions in real-life small communities.

Cleeves' vivid prose pulls readers into Orkney's brooding beauty, from salt-sprayed cliffs to relentless storms. The setting becomes a character in its own right, shaping relationships and decisions. While the mystery's pacing keeps suspense high, Perez's investigative logic remains largely hidden, which might make the final reveal feel sudden for some readers. However, crisp dialogue and atmospheric detail maintain the story's authenticity.

The book successfully balances suspenseful moments with quieter ones, particularly in Perez's home life. His vulnerability lends depth, contrasting with his professional resolve. The community's grief and suspicion create an undercurrent of tension, heightening the personal stakes beyond the central crime. While a greater focus on Perez's thought process during the investigation could deepen satisfaction, the emphasis on human dynamics is compelling.

In the realm of crime fiction, The Killing Stones sets itself apart with its rich setting and nuanced characters. Fans of Perez's earlier cases will appreciate his evolving character arc, while newcomers can enjoy this as a standalone story. The blend of archaeology and modern policing offers a unique angle, avoiding genre clichés. It's a story less about cracking a puzzle than understanding how people cope-and heal-under pressure.

Cleeves delivers a mystery steeped in place and character, offering a nuanced look at how secrets fester in insular communities. For readers drawn to simmering tension and vividly drawn settings, this novel proves both gripping and thoughtful.

As an Ann Cleeves fan I was very happy to get early access to a copy of the latest instalment in the Shetland series. I guess we still call it that even though this book is set in the Orkney islands, a lovely excuse to give the readers a taste of what these are like. We get a great sense of local life and customs, I especially liked the part about the Ba', and the landscape, as always, contributes greatly to the atmosphere of the story. Ann Cleeves knows how to create an intrigue and incorporates a lot of contemporary issue into it right alongside history and folklore. The reader also gets the next episode in the life of the familiar characters of Jimmy Perez and Willow, a bonus if you have read the other novels in the series. All in all, a satisfying read.

Detective Jimmy Perez is back with a complicated close to home case. After a storm on Orkney, the body of Archie Stout is found, a man Perez has known for decades and is more like a brother. Stout’s death shocks the community, and there’s a motley crew of suspects, including those who have made the island their home and those just passing through. Couple this with the murder weapon – something that ties the island to its neolithic origins – and Perez and co have an investigation that will require much to-ing and fro-ing, planes and asking some deeply unpleasant questions. Also, it’s the week before Christmas and the weather isn’t improving… I’ve read some of Ann’s books, never the Perez series, but this would encourage me to start from the beginning.