3.5 stars
Jimmy Perez #9

Jimmy lives in Orkney with his partner and ‘ kind of boss’ Willow Reeves, who is pregnant with their second child. He receives a call that his close friend Archie Stout is missing. Jimmy makes his way to. Westray and sadly, finds Archie’s body and it’s clear he’s been murdered. His body lies close to a former archaeological dig and an ancient Westray Story Stone, stolen from a nearby heritage centre, is the murder weapon. Therefore, it’s clear that Archie’s murder has been an act of pre-meditation. Who hated Archie enough to kill him? Jimmy learns things about his old pal but he maybe didn’t know and he’s clearly stepped into a storm for which the Northern Isles are famed. Although close to her due date, Willow takes a full part in the subsequent and ever deepening investigation.

This is one of those “plus and minus“ reads for me. First of all, it’s absolutely brilliant to be on Orkney and as it’s heading towards Christmas with hit and miss weather, it enables the author to create a good atmosphere. I like the inclusion of Orkney’s tremendous heritage and traditions in the storytelling, the Story Stones and so on and much as I am interested in it, it seems that Ann Cleeves is trying to cram it all in and it does get repetitive. I need stamina to wade through it all and in my opinion it slows the pace down. In addition, there are a lot of characters to get your head around and that does get a bit confusing.

However, it does improve as it goes along, reigniting my interest and there are inevitably plenty of twists, turns and red herrings is for which the author is well known. I really enjoy the Jimmy/Willow dynamics. Despite being a somewhat dour chap, Jimmy is a favourite character of mine and with Willow in #9 seeming to take the edge off his tendency to the bleak.

There’s another however to come!!However, then we get to the big reveal of the identity of the perpetrator and that seems to me to be very left field, coming out of nowhere. Although there’s a decent explanation in the police interview, I still think a hint or two would’ve been much appreciated.

Of course, I’ll read anything that Ann Cleeves writes but this isn’t a favourite of mine.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Pan Macmillan for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.

I'm one of those who has seen and loved the Shetland TV series but not read all the books (except the first one some time ago). I was aware that there are quite a few significant differences between book and screen from Jimmy's looks to his family life but it was easy to get up to speed with the book version of his life.

So in The Killing Stones, Jimmy has relocated to Orkney with his partner Willow and son James. We meet them at Christmas time whilst Willow is heavily pregnant with their second child.

Perez finds the body of his lifelong friend Archie Stout after he goes missing, its quite obvious he has been murdered. Everyone seems to know everyone on the Orkney islands but who would want him dead?

We meet various characters and learn lots about the islands throughout the book, we get an insight to the history and way of life/traditions of the islanders. The writing is very well done and easy to follow, you can picture the Islands and easily keep up with all the characters. Ann Cleeves is a very skilled author!

Unfortunately the big reveal is a bit of a let down, the themes at the end of the story are very relevant of life today and it would have paid off better if these issues were mentioned throughout the whole story rather than the final chapters. There was no real sense of working out whodunit which was disappointing.

Ideally I'd give this book 3.5 stars but I'm going to round up to 4 as it's a joy to catch up with Jimmy Perez and enjoy the authors well researched, wonderful writing.

This is a story about the history of Orkney, family and community. During a violent storm Jimmy Perez goes to search for his friend, Archie Stout, and finds his body. Archie has been bludgeoned by one of the Westray story stones. A Neolithic artefact found on the island of Westray at an archaeological dig where the body is found.
Although Willow Reeves, Perez's partner and boss, is supposed to be in maternity leave she quickly becomes involved in the investigation to apprehend the killer.
Perhaps Perez is too close, but he seems unable to see the situation clearly and has too many theories but no suspect.
There are lots of twists and turns, as you would expect from Ann Cleeves, making this a gripping tale.

Ann Cleeves delivers another atmospheric and intricately plotted mystery in The Killing Stones, set against the hauntingly beautiful backdrop of Orkney. The setting is a true standout—windswept, wild, and richly layered with history. From archaeological intrigue to local folklore, Cleeves weaves cultural detail into the story in a way that feels immersive and authentic.

Jimmy Perez and Willow are compelling leads, both familiar and evolving, and it's a pleasure to watch them navigate not just the investigation, but also their life together and their connection to the island community. The emotional stakes feel grounded, especially as the case becomes personal for Perez, following the murder of his old friend Archie Stout.

The mystery itself is packed with misdirection and a steady drip of clues, keeping me guessing throughout. That said, the final twist felt slightly abrupt—less like a puzzle piece clicking into place and more like a sudden swerve. While it didn't entirely undermine the narrative, it did leave the resolution feeling a touch disconnected from the carefully laid groundwork.

Still, Cleeves’ mastery of mood, character, and place makes this a satisfying and evocative read. The Killing Stones may not have the most seamless ending, but it more than makes up for it with its atmosphere, character depth, and the promise of more to come. Looking forward to the next installment.

I think this far into an authors career, there is very little to say, unless they produce a dud....

Ann Cleeves delivers on everything we've come to expect and more. It's a continuation of the Perez series and we see him further on in his life with Willow.

A murder, in fact a lot of murders, occur and we follow the police in their hunt for justice.

Despite having watched many episodes of Shetland on the television I have never actually read one of the books upon which the series is based. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and found the book easy to read. This will not be the last Ann Cleeves ’ book that I will pick up.

Another Jimmy Perez story from Anne Cleeves. However Jimmy is now living on Orkney rather than Shetland and furthermore is living with Willow - who is a chief inspector and therefore his boss. Whilst Willow is officially on maternity leave, being pregnant with their second child, she still gets involved in hunting down the murderer of Archie Stout. Perez really struggles with this murder as he and Archie were very close friends and so leans heavily on Willow and his police colleagues to help him eventually solve it.
Two further murders, lots of vivid descriptions of Westray and it's iconic tourist sites follow the somewhat formulaic nature of Cleeves' novels but the pace of her novel and the numerous red herrings shall undoubtedly leave "Perez" fans well satisfied.
As a reviewer I find the murder headcount - especially for such a remote setting- just overstretches belief. Maybe more plot and a lower body count would make for a better balance. For that reason, 3 stars.

I have always loved both the Vera and Perez series of novels by Ann Cleeves so I was delighted to return to what I expected to be a reliably great read. And I was not disappointed. Perez is no longer living on Shetland but has moved to Westray in the Orkneys. I enjoyed finding a map of the location to ground myself in the geography and I was so happy for Jimmy that he has finally found happiness with his own family in this new location. Of course the peace of the island is dramatically broken by the death of Jimmy’s boyhood friend Archie and he must try to keep a professional lid on his emotions. Ann Cleeves is such a master of the narrative that the multitude of characters are woven seamlessly into the story and I had no difficulty (as so often I do) in remembering who is who. Her atmospheric descriptions of the remote island made me feel I was involved in a beautiful travelogue, the sights and sounds reverberating in my mind. I enjoyed every minute - an easy 5 stars from me.

Another murder for Jimmy Perez to solve. This time it’s the killing of his boyhood friend with a neolithic carved stone. As ever Ann Cleeves characters are sympathetically drawn each with their little secret to keep or backstory to tell. Sadly I have finished reading this book before it’s even published and am desperate to read the next one. I hope it’s soon.

Another master piece of a book from Ann Cleeves. Her writing is simply the best. You can feel the emotions of the characters, feel the temperature drop and the wind against your skin. All from the comfort of my reading place. Brilliant!

The body of Archie Stout, an old friend of Jimmy's is found dead after a heavy storm. A Neolithic stone bearing ancient inscriptions, is found nearby, and it is discovered that this is the weapon used to kill Archie. Jimmy & his partner Willow set out to find the person who commited this terrible crime. Things are made a little difficult because Christmas is only a few days away so there are many visitors to the islands, and the police are wanting to be with their families.
Jimmy feels that he is out of his depth, and when a second murder occurs he realises that he is no closer to find the person who did this.
Another fantastic Jimmy Perez story by Ann Cleeves.

In her latest Jimmy Perez novel by Ann Cleeves, Jimmy discovers the murdered body of an old friend and he and Willow set out to find his killer. More bodies follow, as Christmas approaches and the couple race to solve the crimes before Christmas day. I have read virtually every novel by Cleeves and eagerly awaited this new story. However, I found the plot far too slow - not typical of her usual skill in building suspense. I felt as though I was staggering to the end, rather than being swept along by the desire to solve the crime. When the answer was revealed, I as deeply disappointed as there had been no clues to lead me to the correct conclusion and I felt rather cheated. The whole book feels like a hastily constructed Christmas outing for Perez and is clearly aimed at the buying for Xmas market. Definitely not my favourite by this author.

A Jimmy Perez story set with neolithic stones and sights that link the crime neatly together. A fab read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book.

Jimmy Perez is back! Back on Orkney and back in action, working with new wife and police Scotland partner Willow t0 solve the mystery of the murder of an old friend. He's been killed by an ancient artefact at an ancient site, and as the story progresses you may start to wonder if it is safe to visit any of Orkney's ancient sites!
But was it a local or an outsider who committed the ghastly deed? Jimmy is hoping for the latter - but at Christmas time there are not that many visitors to the islands.
Meticulously plotted, with a host of interesting characters - some familiar, some new - this is Ann Cleeves at her best. She is skilled at portraying the best and worst in people, never forgetting that no-one is wholly evil or good, and that nothing is black and white.
And her descriptions of Orkney in all its wild beauty are spot on, as always, with the added air of mystery that comes from standing at the ancient sites, and recalling Orkney's neolithic past. She brings it all to life, just as she has brought Jimmy Perez back to life. He's still quiet, still a little troubled, but still one of my favourite detectives,

Comment: This is the first book by Anne Cleeves that I have read. Neither have I ever watched the TV series Vera, so she’s a completely new author to me. A murder mystery set in Orkney. The story develops with lots of references to the history of Orkney and how the islanders view it, while focussing on relationships between the islanders themselves and with outsiders, be they newcomers to the island or regular visitors. If you are a fan of Anne Cleeves, I’m sure this is exactly what you are looking for in her books. I’m not so sure, from my point of view a few too many references to the wind, rain and fog to try to conjure up an eerie setting for the story to progress.. And if you want to know the time of a ferry between the islands this is the book for you.
My thanks to Net Galley and the author for an ARC.

Full disclosure, I’m a huge fan of Ann Cleeves & of her Shetland books in particular. This story is a personal one for Jimmy Perez, the much loved protagonist of the series as it involves the murder of one of his oldest friends. Set on Orkney predominately, I confess to getting a bit muddled with the to-ing and fro-ing of the characters between the islands, however, things eventually settled down with a couple more murders before the reveal of who did it. I confess to not seeing that one coming, as there were so many suspects & a huge number of red herrings. Fans of the books & tv series will love the continuation of Jimmy’s story. With huge thanks to NetGalley for an early copy.

As a fan of Detective Jimmy Perez in both the novels and the wonderful tv adaptations I was looking forward to this latest installment and it didn't disappoint. Gripping, exciting and enjoyable, a must read for any Ann Cleeves and Jimmy Perez fan!

Another fabulous read in the Shetland series. Murders aplenty. Kept me guessing. Very well written and kept me gripped throughout. I felt it was a tragic ending. Highly recommended. I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy and leave this review willingly.

I thought that Ann Cleeves had said she was no longer going to write any more in the “Shetland” series ….so was delighted to see her new book featured the much loved Detective Jimmy Perez. However, The Killing Stones is set in the Orkney Islands, rather than Shetland so perhaps this is the start of a new series? Let’s hope so! What the reader does learn is that Orkney Islands are very different from the Shetland Isles, or so the Orcadians think. Orkney is less rugged, more fertile and with more trees. Farming is more prevelant leading to a wonderful saying that Orcadians were farmers with a boat and Shetlanders are Fishermen with a Croft.
This is the backdrop to an investigation of the murder of one of Perez’s oldest friends occurring on Westray Island where even fellow Orcadians from Kirkwall (mainland) are viewed as outsiders. Perez is based in Kirkwall and living with the mother of his child, pregnant with another one and also happens to be a Police detective with a wider brief so technically outranks Perez. This is a different dynamic but has the same introspective Perez struggling with his past history and traditions of the islands. Ann Cleeves masterfully weaves together an intriguing murder mystery with the local colour and introducing fascinating characters. As with her past books, the Islands geographic beauty is wonderfully described and I am sure it will help boost tourism to the Orkneys much as she has done to the Shetland Islands. As with all of Ann Cleeves books, including Vera, the plot is cunning and the suspects numerous. The books is very enjoyable, packed with excitement and , as ever, the Murderer turns out to be the one you least suspected!
Many thanks to Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for pre publication access to this book.

Never disappointed with an Ann Cleeves novel. I’ve read most series by her and was really happy to find that she was returning to Perez. Looking forward to many more novels based in Orkney.