The stunning new crime novel from master storyteller Ann Cleeves
Raven Black (Shetland Quartet 1)
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Review
'In the tradition of the small community murder mystery, but done
with depth that infuses this genre with new realism'
-- The Independent
with depth that infuses this genre with new realism'
-- The Independent
Book Description
It is a cold January morning and Shetland lies buried beneath a deep layer of snow. Trudging home, Fran Hunter’s eye is drawn to a vivid splash of colour on the white ground, ravens circling above. It is the strangled body of her teenage neighbour Catherine Ross. As Fran opens her mouth to scream, the ravens continue their deadly dance . . . The locals on the quiet island stubbornly focus their gaze on one man – loner and simpleton Magnus Tait. But when police insist on opening out the investigation a veil of suspicion and fear is thrown over the entire community. For the first time in years, Catherine’s neighbours nervously lock their doors, whilst a killer lives on in their midst. Raven Black is a haunting, beautifully crafted crime story, and establishes Ann Cleeves as a rising talent in psychological crime writing . . . 'A riveting read. Ann Cleeves probes beneath the surface of a community to reveal the darkness that can fester when everyone thinks they know each other's secrets' VAL MCDERMID
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
159 of 161 people found the following review helpful
By Paul Curd
Format:Paperback
This novel won the Crime Writers' Association Duncan Lawrie Dagger for 2006. It is the first Ann Cleeves book I've read, and it won't be the last. It's a neatly constructed crime novel, perfectly paced and beautifully written - the psychological crime novel meets the old-fashioned whodunit.
The novel begins at New Year in the Shetland home of elderly Magnus Tait. A few days later an incomer to the island, Fran Hunter, discovers the body of teenager Catherine Ross in the snow not far from the old man's house. The islanders believe Tait had murdered a young schoolgirl, Catriona Bruce, eight years before and are all certain who must have murdered Catherine. Thrown into this psychological mix is Jimmy Perez, the lonely detective assigned to the case. Jimmy is `emotional incontinent', and you would think he would have trouble suspecting anyone of murder. And yet, slowly but surely, he uncovers the strained relationships and hidden secrets that lead him to the killer.
The sense of place is tremendous - the cold and the isolation are tangible. And the author has captured perfectly the sense of a community seemingly united but with tensions and divisions just below the surface. There are echoes of the cult movie The Wicker Man, with the outsider policeman coming to Shetland to solve the murder against the background of the forthcoming Up Helly Aa fire festival.
There is a fairly large cast of characters, and therefore many suspects, but Ann Cleeves draws each of them well, giving them unique voices of their own. There are clues and red herrings, and I enjoyed trying to solve the mystery before Perez finally discovers the identity of the murderer. And despite my amateur sleuthing, I was completely wrong and satisfyingly surprised when the killer was revealed. The identity of Catriona's killer is also uncovered (I got that wrong, too!) as the novel reaches its satisfying climax.
There are three more novels promised in this series, and I'm eagerly looking forward to reading the next one.
The novel begins at New Year in the Shetland home of elderly Magnus Tait. A few days later an incomer to the island, Fran Hunter, discovers the body of teenager Catherine Ross in the snow not far from the old man's house. The islanders believe Tait had murdered a young schoolgirl, Catriona Bruce, eight years before and are all certain who must have murdered Catherine. Thrown into this psychological mix is Jimmy Perez, the lonely detective assigned to the case. Jimmy is `emotional incontinent', and you would think he would have trouble suspecting anyone of murder. And yet, slowly but surely, he uncovers the strained relationships and hidden secrets that lead him to the killer.
The sense of place is tremendous - the cold and the isolation are tangible. And the author has captured perfectly the sense of a community seemingly united but with tensions and divisions just below the surface. There are echoes of the cult movie The Wicker Man, with the outsider policeman coming to Shetland to solve the murder against the background of the forthcoming Up Helly Aa fire festival.
There is a fairly large cast of characters, and therefore many suspects, but Ann Cleeves draws each of them well, giving them unique voices of their own. There are clues and red herrings, and I enjoyed trying to solve the mystery before Perez finally discovers the identity of the murderer. And despite my amateur sleuthing, I was completely wrong and satisfyingly surprised when the killer was revealed. The identity of Catriona's killer is also uncovered (I got that wrong, too!) as the novel reaches its satisfying climax.
There are three more novels promised in this series, and I'm eagerly looking forward to reading the next one.
28 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
'Twenty past one in the morning on New Year's Day. Magnus knew the time because of the fat clock, his mother's clock, which squatted on the shelf over the fire.'
The opening lines introduce a Shetland islander waiting to be first footed on New Year's Eve, even though nobody has visited him for years. The novel quickly sets up both the mystery aspects and the psychological thriller aspects of this story. Magnus has been isolated from the rest of this small island community for years. The novel is partly an exploration of the history of this and whether it is justified. As readers, Cleeves places us like the camera that one of the girl victims held up to this island community - we see the pieces and try to fit them together to solve the mystery. The sense of place is excellent and Jimmy Perez is an intriguing detective that we want more of - so I'm not surprised that this will be the first in a series. Perez is descended from a Spaniard wrecked on the Fair Isles and the novel deals with the themes of heredity and inheritance as well as exclusion.
I found this novel because it won the 2006 Duncan Lawrie Dagger for best crime novel and will now read more Cleeves.
The opening lines introduce a Shetland islander waiting to be first footed on New Year's Eve, even though nobody has visited him for years. The novel quickly sets up both the mystery aspects and the psychological thriller aspects of this story. Magnus has been isolated from the rest of this small island community for years. The novel is partly an exploration of the history of this and whether it is justified. As readers, Cleeves places us like the camera that one of the girl victims held up to this island community - we see the pieces and try to fit them together to solve the mystery. The sense of place is excellent and Jimmy Perez is an intriguing detective that we want more of - so I'm not surprised that this will be the first in a series. Perez is descended from a Spaniard wrecked on the Fair Isles and the novel deals with the themes of heredity and inheritance as well as exclusion.
I found this novel because it won the 2006 Duncan Lawrie Dagger for best crime novel and will now read more Cleeves.
30 of 31 people found the following review helpful
By Ian Paterson
Format:Paperback
Easy to see why this novel won the 2006 Dagger award for best crime novel.
The body of young schoolgirl Catherine Ross ios discovered one morning immediately the close knit community suspect local man Magnus Tait a simpleton who was previously suspected of having killed another girl who disappeared years before on this normally quiet island of Shetland.
Ann Cleeves perfectly paints the picture of the small island where everyone seems to know everyone else's business, the job of solving the murder falls to local detective Jimmy Perez whose hardest job seems to be convincing his team not to jump to conclusions like the locals is perfect any other author and you want bet Perez would be from the city and struggling to deal with this closed community but instead Perez comes from an even smaller more remote island.
There are characters galore and therefore plenty of suspects, I really can't see anyone reading this and guessing the murderer of either of the girls. Is it the same person or someone different ? There aren't that many similarities between the two victims or are there ? Yet when the motives are explained it was entirely plausible.
One other reviewer mentioned The Wicker man and I agree it was something I thought of frequently whilst reading this as much is written on the build on to the Up Helly Aa celebration which seems very similar to the pagan festival in Wicker Man. I think though the book benefitted from not having the outside policeman sent to investigate but instead having Perez already based there.
I note with interest that the author plans to write a Shetland Quartet of novels featuring Inspector Perez with the next White Nights due 4th April 2008. I will certainly by reading that as this was a gripping thriller brilliantly written.
A big story set on a small island
The body of young schoolgirl Catherine Ross ios discovered one morning immediately the close knit community suspect local man Magnus Tait a simpleton who was previously suspected of having killed another girl who disappeared years before on this normally quiet island of Shetland.
Ann Cleeves perfectly paints the picture of the small island where everyone seems to know everyone else's business, the job of solving the murder falls to local detective Jimmy Perez whose hardest job seems to be convincing his team not to jump to conclusions like the locals is perfect any other author and you want bet Perez would be from the city and struggling to deal with this closed community but instead Perez comes from an even smaller more remote island.
There are characters galore and therefore plenty of suspects, I really can't see anyone reading this and guessing the murderer of either of the girls. Is it the same person or someone different ? There aren't that many similarities between the two victims or are there ? Yet when the motives are explained it was entirely plausible.
One other reviewer mentioned The Wicker man and I agree it was something I thought of frequently whilst reading this as much is written on the build on to the Up Helly Aa celebration which seems very similar to the pagan festival in Wicker Man. I think though the book benefitted from not having the outside policeman sent to investigate but instead having Perez already based there.
I note with interest that the author plans to write a Shetland Quartet of novels featuring Inspector Perez with the next White Nights due 4th April 2008. I will certainly by reading that as this was a gripping thriller brilliantly written.
A big story set on a small island
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Raven Black ~ by Ann Cleeves
I'm very glad to have found another good author! This book keep me hooked from start to finish, and the big PLUS for me, was there was no unnecessary swearing or explicit sex. Read more
Published 4 days ago by P Harris
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fantastic read
I really enjoyed this story,it captured me from the start . I will be reading more of Ann Cleeves books for sure.
Published 8 days ago by Red head
5.0 out of 5 stars
Murder mystery masterpiece
Great read,with some interesting twists and turns. A real whodunit .
Very enjoyable and gripping read. Pick up a copy
Very enjoyable and gripping read. Pick up a copy
Published 10 days ago by CameronMac
5.0 out of 5 stars
There's been a murrrrder
A good read. Not just a murder but good human emotions depicted. It didn't make me want to visit The Shetland Isles though!
Published 10 days ago by Maggoo
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love this author
This is the first of the Shetland books I have read and I enjoyed it tremendously. Having read Peter Maye's books set in Lewis (fantastic) I thought this book would be similar. Read more
Published 12 days ago by JudyB
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exciting and interesting!
Very interesting plot - difficult to suspect any one person. And all the background on the Shetland Islands was just as interesting to me. Read more
Published 14 days ago by Dizzylizzard
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great murder mystery from Ann Cleeves
Thoroughly enjoyable read. Couldnt put the book down. Kept me guessing right to the end.
Will certainly be purchasing the next 4.
Will certainly be purchasing the next 4.
Published 17 days ago by Janice Diamond
5.0 out of 5 stars
First book from Ann Cleeves that I have read
Having been to the Shetlands this book was recommended to me by a friend and found it to be an excellent read
Published 17 days ago by Mrs. Margaret Etheridge
4.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyed
Nice easy read. Will definitely read the the rest of the books in the series. Would recommend to others who like crime writers.
Published 21 days ago by Eileen Johnson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Didn't expect the ending
The story was brill, I had some suspicions of who the killer was but I was completely wrong,I never saw the ending coming, has you gripped from the start. a fantastic read
Published 22 days ago by Helen Croxen
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