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The Killing Stones

Shetland, Book 9

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The Killing Stones

By: Ann Cleeves
Narrated by: Kenny Blyth
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A TOP 5 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER IN BOTH HARDBACK AND PAPERBACK

The Killing Stones by Ann Cleeves sees the return of Detective Jimmy Perez.
Narrated by Kenny Blyth, reader of the original Shetland series.

'Fantastic. Ann Cleeves is a stone cold genius' - Marian Keyes, Sunday Times bestselling author of My Favorite Mistake

For the first time since the beloved Shetland series, Detective Jimmy Perez is back. He's traded the stark beauty of Shetland for the wild isolation of Orkney, but the darkness of human nature follows him everywhere.

When a ferocious storm rages across the islands, it leaves behind more than just damage: it uncovers the body of Archie Stout, a popular, larger-than-life member of the community.

The murder weapon? A Neolithic stone, bearing cryptic, ancient inscriptions.

Now living in Orkney with his partner, Willow, and their young son, Perez is drawn into a case that is chillingly personal—Archie was a friend from his own childhood. And the island is full of familiar faces, all of whom are potential suspects in the killing.

Perez must immerse himself in the lives of the islanders, separating truth from local legend before a desperate killer can strike again. . . and threaten the new life he's desperately trying to build.

'Expertly plotted and mesmerizing" - Mick Herron, author of Slow Horses

'Bold and dramatic, with a restless love of landscape' - Val McDermid, author of Past Lying

'Like snuggling up with dear friends . . . a complex mystery with vivid setting and beloved characters' - Tess Gerritsen, author of The Summer Guests

'A masterpiece in character and location. Welcome back, Jimmy Perez!' - M. W. Craven, author of Nobody's Hero

'Unmatched elegance, ingenious plots, and deep characters. Worth every minute' - David Baldacci, author of The 6:20 Man

'Jimmy Perez is a fine creation' - Peter Robinson, author of the DCI Banks series

The Killing Stones by Ann Cleeves sees the return of Detective Jimmy Perez

Crime Thrillers Genre Fiction Mystery Police Procedurals Small Town & Rural Thriller & Suspense Exciting Detective
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Critic reviews

Ann Cleeves is a stone cold genius (Marian Keyes, Sunday Times bestselling author of My Favorite Mistake)
It’s a new island and a new chapter for Perez and his family, but in the extraordinary hands of Ann Cleeves — surely one of our greatest ever crime writers? – the result is predictably brilliant. It’s new but familiar. Exciting but comforting. It's a masterpiece in character and location — welcome back Jimmy Perez! (M. W. Craven, bestselling author of Nobody's Hero)
Kenny Blyth's warm Scottish accent and facility with creating characters make him the ideal narrator for Ann Cleeves's new series featuring Detective Jimmy Perez and his partner, Willow Reeves . . . Blyth fully inhabits these windswept islands steeped in ancient history, now filled with bartenders, artists, and academics.
Ann Cleeves’ restless love of landscape and story brings us a bold and dramatic high stakes return for Jimmy Perez (Val McDermid, bestselling author of Past Lying)
Ann Cleeves’s elegance as a wordsmith, the ingenuity of her plots, and the depth of her characters can be matched by few writers. In The Killing Stones she brings back the beloved Jimmy Perez in a tale that highlights the entire spectrum of her formidable talents. I was instantly caught up in the sparkling world of her imagination and propelled through several hundred pages of great storytelling on the lonely isle of Orkney, where bodies keep turning up. This novel is more than worth every minute you spend with it (David Baldacci, bestselling author of To Die For)
Reading a new Jimmy Perez novel is like snuggling up with dear friends around a crackling fire. The Killing Stones is classic Ann Cleeves: a complex mystery, beloved characters, and a setting so vivid you can feel the chill of wind and rain on your face (Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author of The Summer Guests)
A writer at the very top of her game and what a bonus to have Jimmy Perez in my beloved Orkney. I loved this book and not just because it’s set in Orkney and features the charismatic Jimmy Perez - but also it’s an utterly compelling read from a top storyteller (Lorraine Kelly, presenter and host of ITV's Lorraine)
Like Rendell and James before her, like McDermid and Rankin today, Ann Cleeves is one of our secret chroniclers, charting – under cover of a series of expertly plotted and mesmerizing crime novels – how we live now (Mick Herron, bestselling author of Slow Horses on The Dark Wives)
Jimmy Perez is a fine creation (Peter Robinson, author of the DCI Banks series)
Ann Cleeves is one of my favorite mystery writers! (Louise Penny, bestselling author of The Grey Wolf)
All stars
Most relevant
Another well crafted atmospheric tale from the Northern Isles . Absolutely loved it . Looking forward to the next.

Great to have JP back!

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This was just a beautifully crafted Island crime novel. As I have read everything by my favourite authors, I have to bide my time between instalments, by trying out new crime writers. They so often disappoint! Then when I return to my favourites, like the Jimmy Perez series, it's like coming home to something that feels just right. I love the setting and there are plenty of twists and red herrings. I didn't guess the ending at all. The narrator is also brilliant.

Perfect

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I am a big fan of Ann Cleeves and read most of her books and I love most of them. This one did not meet my expectations. The plot was very straight forward and lacked the usual twists and turns. There was not enough suspense, suspects or red herrings. I found myself getting bored as it plodded on. It was nice to have a story set in Orkney for a change. But it felt like the book was trying to cram in the tourist destinations in an attempt to promote tourism. Cleeves usually is brilliant at describing landscapes and settings really bringing them to life but I felt that was missing this time which was disappointing. There were several murders in rather quick succession which I felt was unbelievable. What still worked well was the variety of characters in the story.

Orkney

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I guessed the result quite early in the story but didn't guess the reason it happened.

Good to be back with Jimmy Perez!

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This novel was atmospheric. I really felt I was experiencing the stormy weather there. Great plot - I didn’t manage to identify the killer until almost the end.
Thanks Ann, from Marilyn here in windy Brugge.

Another wonderful novel by Ann Cleeves

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