The Killing Stones Synopsis
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 was a popular, larger-than-life character, and his death is a shocking blow to the community.
Detective Jimmy Perez, no stranger to the complexity of human nature and the darkness it can harbour, is soon on the scene. He counted Archie as a childhood friend, so this case is more personal than most. Now living in Orkney with his partner, Willow, and their son, Perez is soon drawn into the lives of the islanders, many of whom hold secrets. Dark secrets, which could have led to the man's murder.
Here, in these ancient lands where history runs deep, Perez must discern the truth from legend before a desperate killer strikes again . . .
About This Edition
Ann Cleeves Press Reviews
'Fantastic. Ann Cleeves is a stone cold genius' Marian Keyes
'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
About Ann Cleeves
A letter from Ann Cleeves to our readers.....
Dear Lovereading members,
I first came to Shetland when I was nineteen. I'd dropped out of university and was offered, quite by chance, the job of assistant cook in the bird observatory on Fair Isle, the most southerly island of the archipelago. It's thirteen hours by ferry from Aberdeen to Shetland mainland and then another three hours in a horrible little boat to Fair Isle. I thought I'd come to the end of the world. But I arrived in spring when the lowlands were covered in flowers and the seabirds were nesting on the cliffs and I fell in love with the place. I've been visiting ever since. In Shetland I learned to cook, to clip sheep and even to knit. I met my husband on Fair Isle and some of my best friends live in the islands. Shetland is bleak and bare, with a magic all of its own. I hope these books give a flavour of the place and of the preoccupations of its people. Besides telling a story that you won't want to put down...
Best wishes, Ann Cleeve
Ann Cleeves worked as a probation officer, bird observatory cook and auxiliary coastguard before she started writing. She is a member of 'Murder Squad', working with other northern writers to promote crime fiction. In 2006 Ann was awarded the Duncan Lawrie Dagger for Best Crime Novel for Raven Black. Her Vera Stanhope series is now a major ITV drama starring Brenda Blethyn. Ann lives in North Tyneside.
In 2017 Ann Cleeves was awarded the CWA Diamond Dagger - the highest honour in British crime writing. The Dagger award recognises authors whose crime writing careers have been marked by sustained excellence, and who have made a significant contribution to the genre.
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