I was really looking forward to catching back up with Anna and book 2 in the series didn't disappoint. A fabulous fun read with some really poignant moments. I loved it.
Highly recommend

Welcome back Jimmy Perez! I didn't realise how much I'd missed you. I would have said welcome home but this book is set in Jimmy's new home in the islands of Orkney. Ann Cleeves superbly sets the scene for the latest murder investigation. A winter storm, the run up to Christmas and close family and friends all entwine together with twists and turns to make a great read. Highly recommend this 5 star read and I look forward to more. Thank-you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for an early read.

Jimmy Perez, the detective protaganist of the 'Shetland' series of novels, returns for another quiet thriller. But this time, he's in Orkney, where he is happily settled down with Willow and their young son, James.
When his best friend from childhood, is brutally murdered on an ancient archaeological site, Jimmy and Willow are drawn into a tangled web of murder and mystery in a small, island community, where everyone knows everyone else's business, newcomers never quite fit in and where legend and folklore run deep.
Archie's death is followed by two more gruesome killings, both at other significant sites on the islands. Can Jimmy and Willow solve the crimes and keep the community safe?
This is a solid, reliable and thoughtful thriller where, of course, everything is not quite so straightforward as it seems initially. A list of suspects reveals itself to Jimmy and Willow, together with some plausible motives. I had my suspicions about the killer's true identity quite early on but not the reasons for their actions.
This was my first Ann Cleeves' novel, having only seen the Shetland television series previously. Perez was nothing at all like Douglas Henshall who plays him on screen, but I still had the image of the actor in my head when I visualised the detective. For me, there was too much telling as opposed to showing and that annoying thing when you as the reader know that the protagonist has been told something important because the author tells you that but the 'what' is not revealed to you until the end.
A map of the Orkney islands at the beginning of the novel would be useful, especially in a print version.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advance review copy of The Killing Stones.

Yet another superb book from Ann Cleeves. Set in and around Shetland's islands, D I Jimmy Perez is tasked with solving one of his most difficult cases yet. His close friend Archie is found brutally murdered, the weapon being an ancient stone with viking inscription which is usually kept on display in the local heritage centre.

The hunt for the killer begins hampered in equal measure by extreme weather conditions and proximity to Christmas. When another murder occurs again involving the stones, suspicions among the islanders are rife about who is to blame.

An excellent, well written mystery, well deserving tye 5 star rating I've awarded it.

The Killing Stones (Shetland 9) by Ann Cleeves is about Jimmy Perez, who is now living in the Orkney Isles, investigating the death of his best friend Archie Stout, with his heavily pregnant partner Willow Reeve.
There follows another two deaths all within sites of well known stones in the Orkney Isles, it is also days before Christmas and the Glasgow police aren’t able to get across because of fog.
Who could be responsible for these deaths and why? The killer responsible is unexpected and his discovery is very sad when it is finally known.
Highly recommended

This is the first book I have read by Ann Cleeves and I have enjoyed it.

I loved his strong the sense of Orkney was and how easy it was to imagine the characters in this setting. I found the book quite an easy read, but it had enough detail and depth to avoid being fluffy and dull. Although this is not the first Jimmy Perez novel, it was easy to read as a standalone novel.

The plot intrigued me and kept me guessing until the end.

I am looking forward to reading more of Ann Cleeves work

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book as an advanced copy. I already know quite a few people I will be recommending this book to!

I have read all the books in the series and I’m always eager to read the next book! A brilliant crime series

Book 1 of the new Jimmy Perez and Willow Reeves series.

On a dark and stormy night Detective Jimmy Perez’s best friend, Archie, has gone missing.
The next day Jimmy finds him dead, killed by a blow to the head and the murder weapon, an ancient artefact called a Story Stone, was left near his body.

The tale that ensues leads Jimmy and his partner, Willow Reeves, in all different directions across the various Scottish islands around their new home on Orkney. Across ancient sacred sites, the clues start to build a picture of what happened that fateful night. These clues start leading them to different suspects and as the facts start to build, more murders happen.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Around the 70% mark I was sure that I’d figured out who had done the deeds, but how wrong was I?!
I also really liked how Ann took us through Jimmy’s and Willow’s separate parts of the investigations.and how their different perspectives helped them ultimately find the killer.

Thank you to Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for the chance to read this eARC

We left the Shetland series back in 2018 with Wildfire, not expecting to see Jimmy Perez again, but 7 years later Ann wanted to explore what may have happened in his story since he moved away from The Faire Isles to Orkney with his partner Willow and their young child.

Perez and Willow are called in to investigate the brutal death of a colourful local Archie, who Perez has known since childhood. He had been bashed with one of two Viking “story stones” which Jimmy believes is meant to send a message about the history of the area.
This is classic Ann Cleeves full of twists and turns and red herrings galore. I really loved being re-introduced to Jimmy and his new life in Orkney.

Another great book by Ann Cleeves.

Jimmy Perez is back (well I haven’t read them for a while) and living on Orkney with his heavily pregnant partner Willow and son James.
One of James’ best friend’s Archie Stout is found murdered on Westray, and with Christmas coming and the weather closing in, Perez is called to investigate it, with Willow as his boss, even though she is on maternity leave.
There are few suspects, and Perez and his team uncovers some uncomfortable stories about Archie and his family. There’s also an archeologist who is just - well, a bit dodgy! Can Jimmy find out who killed him Before anyone else is killed?

Great read.

Really good book which I will recommend to others.

Thanks for the opportunity to read & review it.

This was absolutely worth the wait.
Excellent author, sets the scene well for readers

Detective Jimmy Perez’s friend Archie was missing from his home and found murdered. Wow what a great plot and kept me reading.

Can I have some Jimmy Perez please

Thank you to Netgalley and Pam MacMillan

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
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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.