Lovely to be back in this world. The change of location to Orkney works really well. I would love to see more books in this series.

3 deaths. Storm-swept islands. Nearly Christmas, but without snow. Modern crimes committed at the helm of ancient ruins and history. A trail of secrets, animosities, and jealousies.

Before I started reading The Killing Stones, I hadn't realised that this book is a part of the Shetland series - it could very well be a great standalone book as well. Now that I've read this book, I will definitely be turning to read the other books in the series!

DI Jimmy Perez finds himself at the heart of a chilling triple-murder investigation on a remote island. It begins with the death of Perez’s old friend, Archie, whose body is found near ruins with his head smashed in. Another person is soon found dead, and it turns out that the murder weapons are two Neolithic stones with significant historical links to the island. As the story progresses, the case spirals into something darker and far more personal.

Orkney is brought to life with eerie beauty. I really liked the depiction of the island itself and its history throughout the book, which added a strong atmosphere around the murder investigation. I also liked how the book depicts Jimmy struggling to suppress his grief and being an impartial police officer investigating a crime, all the while trying to avenge his friend's brutal murder. However I think the pacing of the book could be quicker at times. A solid 4*, and I will be reading the other books in the Shetland series soon!

Thank to net Galley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is an entertaining read and I have enjoyed reading this book. It's good to see Perez happy with someone, although I did miss some of the characters I grew to love in the Shetland series. It took longer to read due to the pacing, for me it seemed a little slower in this. The beginning was good but it dragged until the middle point of the book. This it could easily be read as a stand alone.

Detective Jimmy Perez must solve the murder of his oldest friend, but is he to near the people involved to be truly objective? He also struggles with how he remembered his friend, and how other people saw him. The ending was quite a shock.

I really enjoyed reading this book, especially as it brings back Jimmy Perez. It felt like I had just picked up from reading the previous novel and made me excited for the next. The beauty of Orkney and the landscape, history and mystery all brought together to lead, at the end, to the stone murder weapon all bound together make this a powerful, gripping read.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher, for letting me read this ARC copy and review it.

#netgally.com
#amazon.co.uk
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#goodreads.co.uk

Ann Cleeves writing is first class. I've loved watching Vera and Shetland. It's great to read that Jimmy Perez is back!

When reading books by her you feel like you are picking up where you left off from the previous books as her writing is so consistent and comforting too. I am so looking forward to the next book in the series

Thankyou to NetGalley for giving me the chance to review this book

Moody, atmospheric, and satisfyingly intricate.

Returning to Jimmy Perez’s world felt like slipping on a well-worn jumper—familiar, reliable, and subtly comforting, even amid the murder and stormy skies. *The Killing Stones* captures the haunting beauty of Orkney with quiet power, weaving history, landscape, and grief into a mystery that unfolds at just the right pace.

The plot is carefully constructed, with enough red herrings and secrets to keep you guessing, but the heart of the book lies in its characters. Perez, now more settled with Willow and their son, brings a weary compassion to the case that makes him so compelling to follow. The use of the Neolithic stone as a murder weapon added a fascinating, mythic layer that felt perfectly suited to the Orkney setting.

While the pace is more meditative than gripping in parts, there’s no denying Ann Cleeves’ mastery of tone and setting. A quietly powerful read that lingers long after the final page. Fans of the series will be more than satisfied.

Now living in Orkney, DI Jimmy Perez finds himself investigating the murder of a childhood friend, apparently linked to a Neolithic site on the island. The story is atmospheric and gives a great portrayal of island life in winter and the challenges of conducting an investigation in such a close knit community. As a reader who has only a passing acquaintance with the Shetland TV series and no previous experience of the books, I can confirm that this works well as a stand-alone story and was compelling enough for me to go back and explore the other books in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of this book.

The Killing Stones by Ann Cleaves is the ninth instalment of the DI Jimmy Perez series. Although I’ve read all of them, you don’t need to have done to enjoy this book. Equally, I’ve watched all the TV adaptations and didn’t find this alternative narrative difficult to adjust to.

We meet Perez a few years after the last book, now living with Willow, his ‘boss’, their son and with a baby on the way. Now resident in Orkney rather than Shetland, this story centres on the history, traditions and landscape of the Island as much as the previous ones did on Shetland. The descriptions are atmospheric and made me want to visit Orkney!

The book also focuses on family life in the islands and the place of newcomers in island life. Visitors are also a big part of this story, as is the weather. Set at Christmas, the challenges of travel between the mainland and the Islands means Perez and his team are alone in solving the murders as they happen.

The book opens with Perez called to Westray due to the disappearance of his friend and the family’s concern. Perez finds his body the next day, with the murder weapon left next to it. Theories abound, fingers are pointed and secrets uncovered.

I enjoyed this next instalment as written by the author and look forward to future ones! With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Kurz vor Weihnachten auf den Orkneyinseln geschieht ein Mord. Dieser Fall ist für Jimmy Perez sehr persönlich: sein bester Freund Archie wurde erschlagen. Die Mordwaffe ist einer der Story Stones, einer von zwei Steinen, die aus den alten Grabstätten von Orkney stammen und mit Schrift der Wikinger verziert sind. Sie sind die berühmtesten Ausstellungsstücke im Museum auf der kleinen Orkneyinsel. Die Mordwaffe liegt neben dem Toten, der andere Stein ist verschwunden.

In einer so kleinen Gemeinschaft zu ermitteln, wie es die Orkneyinseln sind, ist nicht leicht. Wenn dazu der Tote noch der beste Freund ist, macht es das ungleich schwerer. Während der Ermittlung kommen Dinge ans Licht, die ein offenes Geheimnis sind, aber über die nicht gesprochen wird und Jimmy lernt andere Seiten von Archie kennen, vor denen er früher lieber die Augen verschlossen hat.

Bei den Ermittlungen steht ihm seine Frau Willow zur Seite, die aus ihrem Mutterschutz zurück kommt, weil die Kollegen in Glasgow wegen des Wetters nicht auf die Inseln fliegen können. Aber Jimmy und Willow ist das ohnehin lieber, denn sie kennen die Menschen und können anders ermitteln, als es ein Außenstehender tun kann. Auf der anderen Seite muss kann es auch nicht leicht für die beiden sein, unangenehme Dinge über Menschen zu erfahren, die sie kennen und schätzen.

Jimmy, Willow und ihr Team gehen davon aus, dass der Mord an Archie einen persönlichen Hintergrund hatte. Aber als ein weiterer Mord passiert, bei dem der zweite Stein gefunden wird, wirft das ein anders Licht auf den Fall.

Trotz der beiden Morde und der grausamen Art, wie sie verübt worden sind, ist es ein ruhiger Krimi. Ann Cleeves beschreibt das Leben in der kleinen Gemeinschaft der Orkneyinseln und zeigt, wie vorsichtig sich die Ermittler bewegen müssen, um niemand zu verletzen, aber um auch zu Ergebnissen zu kommen. Während Weihnachten und damit der berühmte Orkney Ba' immer näher kommen, steigt die Spannung stetig an und alles läuft auf einen Showdown beim Ba' hinaus.

Mit dem Täter habe ich nicht gerechnet. Auch rückblickend wäre ich nicht darauf gekommen, Auch den Grund für die Morde fand ich überraschend. Damit meine ich nicht, dass er weit hergeholt war, sondern dass es ein Motiv war, das mich überrascht hat, das aber absolut stimmig war.

This is only the second Ann Cleeves book I've read and what an omission from my reading list.
It worked as a standalone novel, although I do wish that I had read the previous Shetland books first. I have6seen any over the TV series either, of which I'm glad because I was able to form my own images of the characters. I will be going back to the beginning for my summer reading and very much look forward to immersing myself in island life.
A very atmospheric read.

Jimmy Perez is back!

And its been worth the wait!

Ann Cleeves is at the top of her game as Jimmy investigates the death of his best friend Archie Stout. The drama is set on the Orkneys( the islands are the real main characters) and the sense of a close-knit community is strong- binding people's lives together and "outsiders' even being accepted or held on the margins.

The murder weapon is an ancient stone that bears inscriptions and has a message - this stone and one other tell of the past -are they linked to the crime for a reason.

Jimmy and his partner/boss -Willow Reeves investigate the events just before Christmas and as things become even more bewildering the body count rises. Who is the perpetrator ? Clues or red herrings, unspoken animosities and jealousies are revealed.

The plot is so well crafted and leads the reader in different directions - Jimmy is reflective and brooding in this tale as he has to come to terms with his friend's death as well as keep a professional stance.

It's great that Ann Cleeves has brought Jimmy back to our attention and hopefully will introduce new readers to the Shetland collection and now this new crime read.

Police/crime friction at its best - highly recommended for an autumn/winter's read.

Set on Orkney , this is the latest in the Shetland series with Jimmy Perez. The eponymous stones are ancient stones with runic inscriptions that are usually housed in the museum. However , Perez' long time friend Archie is found dead with stone nearby and so the trail begins with many twists and turns. An excellently plotted story as always from this prolific author.

The Killing Stones(Jimmy Perez & Willow Reeves) by Ann Cleeves: ratings story 10/10, characters 10/10, easy to read 10/10, very good whodunnit with the welcome return of Jimmy Perez, he is now living on the Orkney Islands with his partner Willow Reeves and their son, plot When a violent storm descends upon Orkney, the body of Archie Stout is left in its wake. An unusual murder weapon, a Neolithic stone bearing ancient inscriptions, is found discarded nearby. Archie is Jimmy’s childhood friend, so this case is more personal than most. I was kindly given this advance ARC copy of this book by the kind people at Pan MacMillan and NetGalley
#anncleeves #thekillingstones #jimmyperez #willowreeves #orkneyislands #crimestory #whodunnit #musthavebooks #mustreadbooks #panmacmillan #netgalley

Several years since leaving Shetland, Detective Jimmy Perez has settled on Orkney, with his partner Willow Reeve and their son James. One stormy winter night, his oldest and closest friend, Archie Stout, is murdered, closely followed by another 2 murders.

This was a delight to read, and has lost nothing in moving from Shetland to Orkney. The characters and plot work well in their new location. It's nice to see Jimmy happy in his personal life, I feel like I know him after all these years.

Love the new Ann Cleeves which is also a new Jimmy Perez! Gripping plot and seeing Perez in a new location is a brilliant idea! Going to love this series as I have with the others.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of The Killing Stones by Ann Cleeves . Many thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for this ARC.

Ann Cleeves’s forthcoming novel, The Killing Stones (out 7 October 2025), sees DI Jimmy Perez stepping away from his familiar Shetland shores and into the windswept mystique of the Orkney Islands. While the setting shifts, the mood remains wonderfully recognizable: another insular Scottish community where long-standing family ties and a wary attitude toward newcomers create fertile ground for suspicion and intrigue.

Cleeves thoughtfully weaves Orkney’s Neolithic heritage into the plot, with a murder weapon fashioned from an ancient stone unearthed on Westray (Perez’s new island home) providing both historical texture and a chilling hook. Her atmospheric descriptions of place and people evoke the same immersive storytelling that made the Shetland series so memorable, where every ritual and relationship carries weight.

True to form, Cleeves constructs a tightly knit mystery that unfurls slowly and smartly. With Perez—this time joined by his capable partner, Willow Reeves—methodically uncovering truths, readers will once again find themselves deliciously misled until the final, satisfying reveal. Fans of the Shetland novels will feel right at home while also savoring the fresh terrain of Orkney’s brooding beauty. A must-read for lovers of crime fiction steeped in history and atmosphere!

I loved the Shetland books and while I was content with the way Ann Cleeves left the series, I knew I'd be happy to see Jimmy Perez again.

This didn't disappoint and I hope there will be more set in Orkney and next time including Cassie.

These books aren't fast paced and full of action, like some police/detective novels, but neither are they cosy. They hit that balance between gritty and gratituous - we’re well aware of the violence of the crimes without the need for gory murder scenes. I was surprised by the perpetrator and found it a really thought provoking ending.

I do love Jimmy and I'm very grateful for the opportunity to read this.

My thanks to Ann and Netgalley for allowing me to read The Killing Stones prior to publication.
As a long time follower of the Shetland series, I thought that Ann was brave to move the long established detective to Orkney. Don’t be put off by the slow start as Ann sets the backstory of the characters and the Orcadian culture.
Perez seems to be struggling with his work/life balance. With a 4 year old son and partner Willow about to give birth to their second child, he is focused on finishing his work and getting home to the family.
Having found his long term friend bludgeoned to death, Perez has to cope with the impact this has on himself.
Meanwhile, he is faced with an impossible scenario as he has to balance being a friend to Archie’s family whilst investigating Archie’s murder.
As we have come to expect, the author has included vivid descriptions of the Orkney landscape.
The Westray Heritage Centre provides the base for the details of Neolithic Orcadians and later Viking settlements, influences of which can still be seen today. The mythology of the islands creates a chilling atmosphere whilst the Orcadian gastronomy is interesting.
I look forward to further books in this new series.

This is the latest book in the Detective Jimmy Perez series. This time set on the beautiful Orkney Islands.
When Jimmy's oldest friend, Archie, is murdered, a twisting story unfolds opening up secrets and lies within the close-knit community.
The genius of this book is definitely the scene setting and description of island life.
There's something comforting about picking up with an old favourite detective.