Infinite Books

“The Killing Stones” is the new mystery by Ann Cleeves featuring DI Jimmy Perez and his partner Willow Reeve. They moved to Orkney, off the northern coast of Scotland, hoping to have more time and peace of mind to raise their son, James. Willow is pregnant with their second child and on maternity leave. She used to be Perez’s boss, and even though she should be more relaxed now, she is very driven and can’t help but get involved in the latest case Perez tries to solve. His childhood friend, Archie, was found murdered, with a mystical stone, going back to the Viking times. The stone has a meaningful inscription, and when another murder is committed, with another twin mystical stone used as a weapon, the quaint village life is suddenly disturbed. People start locking their doors, rumors circulate, and the outsiders are looked upon with suspicion.

As in Ann Cleeves’ mysteries, the description of the beauty of nature around gives a specific mood to the story. It’s dark, the air smells like winter, and everybody can’t wait till Christmas. Preparations have already begun, and nobody is particularly eager to speak with Perez about the murders. Well, even Perez himself starts feeling uneasy with the cruelty of the second murder, and it might not be the end of it!

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this excellent audiobook, read by Kenny Blyth. I’m always more interested in the background and character development in mystery novels than in the actual mystery and discovering the killer.  The novel features many interesting and distinct characters, each portrayed with great detail and nuance.  And I must admit, I was surprised at the end, when the killer’s identity was revealed. Another great read by one of my favorite mystery writers.

THE KILLING STONES by Ann Cleeves, MacMillan Publishers, Minotaur Books, 2025