Jimmy Perez has moved to Orkney with his partner and young son, so this feels like a new series, not a continuation of the Shetland books. The sense of place is fantastic, there is a lot of information about the history of Orkney and the stone age monuments. I also enjoyed the police procedural aspect of the book and the ending came as a complete surprise. Absolutely 5 stars from me, and I hope there are many more Orkney books to come.

The eagerly anticipated return of Jimmy Perez. Some years have elapsed and Perez now lives and works in the Orkneys. Anne Cleeves demonstrates her deep knowledge of the Scottish islands, the huge difference between Shetland and the Orkneys, the mythologies of the islands, as well as the challenges the residents face.

The victim is an old friend of Perez and he faces a suspect pool of familiar faces. Further bodies follow and Perez must establish a link between the killings.

An excellent and thought-provoking addition to the Jimmy Perez series. I hope more will follow.

Good to see Perez back. This is an enjoyable read and gives a feel of living in the islands . I didn’t see the ending coming but somehow it didn’t seem credible. However for fans of Shetland it is a must read.

Another dark and moody offering from Ann Cleeves. Jimmy Perez is back, needing to solve 3 murders just as Christmas is approaching. Ann Cleeves is just so good at setting the scene in Shetland - wild and seemingly so cut off and different from mainland Scotland. As I read the book, I could picture myself being there as she makes it all so real. I love the characters as they are flawed and realistic. Definitely worth reading and I don't want this series to ever come to an end.

A welcome return to the world of Jimmy Perez, remote Scottish islands and a unsettling case of murder. I loved it! Jimmy is now living in Orkney with Willow ,his official police superior ,his son James and another baby due.. When a murder is committed on a smaller Orcadian island Jimmy and Willow divide their time and their responsibilities between work and family life. This new family set-up, with step-daughter Cassie neatly kept away on Shetland with her biological father, adds a slightly different dimension to a familiar storyline. Does it work? Yes just about. There were times when I wasn't convinced ,especially by little James whose voice seemed not quite in line with his age but this is a minor detail. The plot itself was as I would expect from an author of such high calibre. Familiar, skilled plot development with recognisable tropes. The folklore of Orkney was interesting in its own right. I did find the ending slightly uncomfortable and perhaps not quite credible for the character (no spoilers!) but overall this was a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Mu thanks to Net galley and the Publisher for this ARC

Ann Cleeves has crafted a masterpiece with the return of DI Jimmy Perez. It's an excellent read and a pleasure to review.

Story snapshot
Perez is back, but this time it's personal. When a childhood friend is killed in cold blood, Jimmy has to solve the murder and manage his emotions.

A Shetland fan?
For fans of the Shetland series, which includes me, this is a welcome return for DI Jimmy Perez.

The Killing Stones has all the crucial elements that make these stories compelling - an empathetic detective, a small community of well-rounded characters, a riveting plot and a unique setting.

It has a familiar feel to earlier tales of island life. Only this time, it's the Orkney Islands rather than Shetland.

A Perez first-timer?
For first-time readers, the story is a great introduction to DI Jimmy Perez, the way he works and his relationships with his team and the islanders.

Even without knowing Jimmy's history, you'll still be absorbed by the Killing Stones and want to read more of these stories.

What's the writing like?
You're immersed in the Orkney setting as the remote communities are brought to life.

The story introduces you to the islands, their history and the people living there. You also learn about the differences between Orcadians and Shetlanders, from traditions to local foods.

Alongside the investigation, we experience the latest chapter in Jimmy's life with his family. It's carefully woven into the story with enough context for first-time readers.

Each scene is so vivid that you feel you're there - listening to the conversations, watching what happens, noticing the silences and remembering the questions the suspects didn't answer.

The pressure builds on Jimmy to solve the case as Christmas approaches, from his bosses, colleagues and the victim's family. But the story remains tense right to the end, with some final edge-of-your-seat moments.

In a nutshell
Ultimately, it's a story about people and their secrets. It's more than crime fiction though - it's also a history lesson, an insight into human behaviour and a reflection of the darker side of life today.

Thanks to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions are my own.

Absolutely brilliant, kept me guessing till the end! Such great characters and story telling. I’m going to go back to the start of the Shetland series and enjoy the books all over again! Masterful

I love Ann Cleeves books and a new Shetland novel was very welcome.

Jimmy and Willow are settled in to their new life on Orkney but are soon faced with several murders to solve in the tight knit community.

An engrossing exploration of island inhabitants and how they are affected by tragedies that relate back to secrets old and new.

A must read for fans of crime fiction.

Hello again, Jimmy Perez...

But he's living on Orkney, not Shetland.

After a nasty storm, the body of one of Jimmy's childhood friends is found with a very unusual murder weapon nearby.

Here he goes again...

Excellent

It had been a while waiting on Jimmy Perez to return to the reading matter, but it was well worth the wait. Ann Cleeves never disappoints and this was as good a read as any had gone before.it actually makes you want to visit the islands if you had never been before.

Another wonderful read from an Ann Cleeves. She evokes the spirit of the Orkney islands very well. We meet again detective Jimmy Perez but this story has an equal focus on his partner Willow who is his titular boss and I enjoyed this new focus.

This story is about history, family, Islanders, and is full of interesting minor portraits of characters. I had no idea who had committed the murders, not even at the end. It was a big surprise to me which is quite rare as I read a lot of detective stories.

I thoroughly recommend this book. I read an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publishers. A well-deserved five stars.

It is great to see Jimmy Perez back and this latest in the series doesn't disappoint. All the usual detective novel tropes are here - the relatively small set of suspects, the multiple red herrings, some good solid police procedure, the private lives of the detectives playing a part - and Ann Cleeves shows her superb skills in this genre.

Much of the focus is on Willow, Jimmy's partner and mother of his son, here she is in the late stages of a second pregnancy but takes a lead on this case, particularly as the murder victim is a close friend of Perez.

I certainly didn't see the ending coming - but equally it left me wondering if it was just a bit too left field to be believable, but no spoilers and I did very much enjoy this book.

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a review copy.

Absolutely loved this! A big fan of the Shetland TV series, I had somehow never read the books. I was excited to find that Perez has moved to the Orkeneys (hoping this too will be picked up by TV) & continues to sleuth!

A typically intricate tale of murders from Ann Cleeves. I did not suspect the culprit one iota until just before they were revealed. I love how real her writing is, I could see every scene and character & the beauties setting. Hoping for lots more! Thank you NG.

Thanks to Netgalley.co.uk and Panmacmillan for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Ann Cleeves is one of the best crime writers I have ever come across. Having enjoyed the Vera series on TV, I was pleased to learn that she was the mastermind behind the Shetland series, too.
I haven't watched that tv series, and I was interested in reading the stories before I did. So when this book appeared on my feed, I was itching to get started.

The story was fast moving, quickly setting the scene and throwing up mystery surrounding the murder. The fact that Detective Jimmy Perez was a close friend of the victim gave it an added layer of intrigue and a determination to solve the case.
But typical of this writer, as shown by the Vera series, there was more mystery to be uncovered before any sense could be made of the situation and the crime scene. Many characters could have carried out the killing, each having a strong enough motive and others having the means. The one I had convinced myself was the murderer, met a sticky end shortly afterwards, so I was again thrown back into rethinking the clues. This was brilliant writing, and I was more than a bit annoyed with myself for getting swept along the wrong path - very clever Ms Cleeves!
I'm keen to read this series from the beginning, so look out for more of my reviews on the Detective Perez books in the future.

I really enjoyed this latest instalment of the Shetland series. Jimmy Perez is now living and working in Orkney with his partner, Willow and son, James.

One stormy night just prior to Christmas his oldest friend, Archie Stout, goes missing. Perez catches a boat to Westray where Archie farmed with his wife and two sons to investigate. His body is found at an archaeological dig with an ancient story stone beside him. The circumstances suggest premeditated murder. Being so close to the family it is hard for him to investigate.

Two further murders increase the complexity of the case and strain the resources of the island police force. By working together Willow and Jimmy bring a conclusion to the case - to a perpetrator I never suspected!

The investigation of the crime takes place alongside Perez’s home life and island celebrations. Again the rich island setting adds to the atmosphere of the novel.

A gripping and thoughtful novel.

Another intriguing and fascinating story featuring Jimmy Perez Lots of twists and turns and a surprising conclusion.

Anytime there's a new Ann Cleeves slated for release, I get so excited! While Vera is my absolute favourite, I was intrigued that we were going back to Shetland for this year's story.

The Shetland series has always been a mixed bag for me. I love the sense of place, and the mysteries in the claustrophobic communities, but I've never fully warmed to Jimmy Perez as a character. This book was intriguing because it's set several years after the 'last' Shetland book, and, while Perez is still a MC, we spend equal time with Willow! Willow is definitely my preferred of the two: she's smart, quick, and offers a less whiny and insecure POV than Perez. I was glad to spend time with her and get to know her a bit better! I'm still not feeling a genuine connection between these two. I didn't like how much Willow was constantly adjusting to his moods, emotions, and feelings. I felt like she had to water herself down a lot so as to not upset him and I hated that. Willow deserves better than mothering a grown man.

As always, the sense of place was fantastic in this book. We trade our usual Shetland for Orkney, which was a cool change of geography and community.

The mystery was solid. Annoyingly, I guessed the perp right after they were interviewed for the first time; but, there were enough twists and turns to keep me entertained.

If you enjoyed the Shetland series, give this a whirl.

Solid 3.5

Excellent, well-written instalment in the new Jimmy Perez series set on Orkney; but it could also be regarded as a 'stand-alone' read. The characters are well-rounded and believable, the locations are instantly 'in one's mind eye'. 'The Killing Stones' covers Orkney's geography, archaeology, history, but never veers too far from the story-telling. Grips the reader from Page One to the end.

With many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan for an ARC.

Life away from Shetland is a hit! 4*

Full disclaimer: I'm a HUGE fan of the BBC Shetland series and I have previously read the other eight in the Jimmy Perez series - but don't worry if you haven't. There's not much background knowledge you need in this story to understand it. Anything you do need, Cleves explains it succinctly as to not detract from the story.

This is Perez's first outing since he moved to Orkney 7 years ago, and he has not changed. He is still determined and like a dog with a bone, itching to find the right answers. He's accompanied by his heavily pregnant girlfriend/partner Willow and together they solve the works of an eventual serial killer.

It turns out I didn't miss Shetland because what made this series will always be Jimmy Perez and he naturally draws characters in. I think Jimmy Perez can be best summarised from a quote earlier in the series. Apologies if this is not perfect. Jimmy Perez understands people: he is like David Attenborough watching animals and studying their every move.

Be warned. Keep your wits about you. This book throws red herrings left, right and centre. I also wanted to add (spoiler free, of course) that I think the ending and the killer reveal was incredibly important. If you were ever worried if Ann Cleves was going to keep up with the 2020s, this reveal proves that she understands the UK more than a lot of politicians and middle aged people.

Finally, I LOVED the shoutout to Teesside Uni. I'm always convinced Ann Cleves is from the north east - probably due to Vera - and then I'm shocked because she truly understands the places she sets her stories in.

If there's a Jimmy Perez #10, sign me up!

I was so pleased to hear that a new Jimmy Perez' s investigation was due!!! I like his character: not the strong macho type, but a man who dares cry ... I love the series (I read all books), also because of the setting. It is like being there, feeling the weather in your bones, smelling the sea. I loved reading about the traditions still present nowadays and about the archeological founds and their meaning.
The plot is hooking from the (powerful and dark) beginning of the novel. Knowing that Archie was a friend of Jimmy's involved the readers ' eagerness to find out the culprit! The well structured plot let me wondering about the suspects all through the storyline and the conclusion was convincing... A great novel!
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.