Detective Jimmy Perez, a complicated and compelling character, previously appeared in eight of Ann Cleeves's Shetland novels. After a personal tragedy upended his life, Jimmy has finally found happiness again: he and Willow Reeves have a son and a baby on the way. Willow and Jimmy, both police officers, left Shetland to raise their children on the Orkney Islands, off the northern coast of Scotland. The Killing Stones is the first novel in a series following them both.
A few days before Christmas, the body of Jimmy's oldest friend, Archie Stout, is found on the island of Westray. Archie was hit over the head with one of the Westray story stones, ancient artifacts excavated on the island some years before. With help from Willow, who is essentially his boss but currently is on family leave, Jimmy reluctantly interrogates friends and family members as he investigates Archie's murder. Intense winter storms disrupt travel between Westray and the main island, preventing the arrival of backup officers from Glasgow and leaving the whole investigation to Jimmy and Willow. The case becomes even grimmer when another victim is struck at a different archeological site.
Perfect for fans of Louise Penny and Donna Leon, The Killing Stones sharply contrasts its gloomy aspects with the cheer of Christmas, leading to tension for Jimmy and Willow as they alternate between gift-shopping for their son and questioning suspects. This atmospheric and introspective novel proves once again that Cleeves (The Long Call; The Dark Wives) is a superb mystery writer. --Jessica Howard, former bookseller, freelance book reviewer