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.

The latest Perez novel from Ann Cleeves, I love all of the Perez books but this was a little bit slow for me, a classic who did it novel set across 2 islands, a man found dead with a head wound and a historical artefact as the weapon, who had a motive and why the stone. I guessed quite early where it was going to skipped a few pages here and there

A return to the Scottish Islands is always welcome and this story of mysterious deaths and ancient artefacts does not disappoint. As always, the atmosphere of the remote and windy isles is cleverly evoked, along with the sense that everyone knows everyone else and what they've been up to. A very satisfactory read.

Jimmy Perez is a DI in the Orkney Isles and when his best friend goes missing a few days before Christmas he goes to the neighbouring island to look for him. He is not prepared for finding his friend's dead body - who could have killed him, he was well liked by everyone!

This is the first Jimmy Perez novel that I have read and I found it totally gripping.

A bit slow and pedantic for me as Perez seemed to stumble his way to a detection with his pregnant partner/senior officer getting heavily involved. Not as good as the author's previous books but a good read as always with Ann Cleave.
My thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for this arc in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Excellent twisty storyline.
Keeps you guessing right to the end.
Thoroughly enjoyable.
Thanks for the opportunity to read and review

Ann Cleeves is a brilliant writer and I do believe there is snobbery around genre fiction or she’d be winning major awards with every book. Her scene setting, descriptions, characters, plotting, and empathy with her stories is first class.

Here we have Jimmy Perez living with Willow on Orkney. He is horrified to find out his oldest friend Archie Stout has been brutally murdered. Despite Willow ~ as his boss ~ telling him he needs to be at arms length given the relationship between him and Archie, this soon becomes academic as other deaths occur.

We are in the lead up to Christmas, the stormy weather is affecting travel and forensics, and Jimmy is tiptoeing around his feelings and his anxiety and need to save everyone.

Ann Cleeves is very clever in putting you in the pub, in the rainy field, in the living room while Willow and Jimmy relax. Their love is clear without words being needed. A master class in show don’t tell.

I’m already looking forward to the next one.

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley

I think it is good to write a finite book series - as was the case with Anne Cleeves and Shetland. The story finally ended on a splendidly positive note, where Perez - with his somewhat gloomy and reticent nature - was looking firmly forward. Not only ready to leave Shetland, but to take a leap into the unknown with his personal life. Everything was perfectly rounded off.
But... How much we wanted to know what happened next.
And here, we find out: family life is going well for Perez with Willow as his life partner and boss, (which makes a nice change from the roller coaster personal lives that many fictional detectives seem to be plagued with). A suitable amount of time has elapsed since the last book, and Cleeves has been able to exploit a fresh approach with her new characters. Perez is well supported when he has to deal with the murder of a family friend, and the consequent and unsurprising return of the glooms.
I need hardly mention that the plot and the mystery are excellent. We are still on an island - Cleeves' forte of course - and the setting is beautifully described - as usual making me want to visit the Northern Isles and the archaeological sites referenced. [In some ways a good thing that they are not trivially easy to reach - plus she is describing the fairly inhospitable climate over the Christmas period - otherwise they would be always inundated with hopeless tourists like me.]
So... lovely to revisit our old friend, and hopefully, after the appropriate time gap, we can take another peek into his life to see how he is getting on.

I’m a big lover of Shetland the TV series and of Ann Cleese’s Shetland books so I knew I was going to enjoy this and it didn’t disappoint.

DI Jimmy Perez had grown up in Shetland and had lots of close links and ties with the Island. He received a call from his best friend Archie Stout’s wife to say Archie had gone missing. Jimmy went to Shetland straight away to help look for Archie.

Unfortunately Archie’s body was discovered near an ancient burial site and a local artefact was found with his body. The artefact was usually housed in the islands museum. Jimmy was devastated but had to find out who had killed his best friend.

Jimmy’s partner Willow was the senior officer and she joined the investigation. There had been rumours that Archie was besotted with a newcomer to the island so they started their investigation interviewing her and also Archie’s wife.

A great read and one I would definitely recommend. Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.