The third novel in Ann Cleeves' award-winning Shetland quartet
Red Bones (Shetland Quartet 3)
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Amazon Review
When Ann Cleeves bagged the prestigious CWA Dagger Award for Raven Black, the first book in her Shetland series, attention was paid to a crime writer of no mean gifts. With a deft sense of place and plotting that demonstrated unshowy but authoritative skill, Cleeves proved that she was a novelist to reckon with. As Red Bones, the third book in her acclaimed series, once again shows. It’s perhaps not as immediately striking as Raven Black, but just as sure-footed.
At an archaeological dig at Whalsay, a grim discovery is made: a set of human remains. The discovery intrigues the islanders – is this a body from the distant past, or one of more recent provenance? Subsequently, a shooting accident takes the life of an elderly woman, and Ann Cleeves’s doughty copper, Jimmy Perez, is called in to investigate by the woman's grandson. As Jimmy begins to dig into the circumstances surrounding the death, he finds evidence of a massive, bitter dispute between two families: a dispute whose mean-spiritedness and greed has riven the whole community on Whalsay. Another death occurs, and Jimmy finds himself struggling -- both with recalcitrant islanders who offer him little help, and with his own deeper unfamiliarity with his surroundings. The answer, of course, lies in the past...
Ann Cleeves’ fellow crime fiction practitioners (from Colin Dexter to Peter Robinson) have been lining up to sing her praises, and it’s unlikely that there will be any blip in that chorus of praise on the evidence of Red Bones, which is quite as assured and entertaining as its predecessors. --Barry Forshaw
Review
'Atmospheric and interesting.'
-- The Literary Review
'Intensely satisfying and well-constructed story
with sympathetic and attractive characters.'
-- crimesquad.com
-- The Literary Review
'Intensely satisfying and well-constructed story
with sympathetic and attractive characters.'
-- crimesquad.com
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 27 people found the following review helpful
By Ian Paterson
Format:Hardcover
This is number three in a planned quartet of books. I'm suprised these haven't broken through in the best sellers list Once again Inspector Perez is called upon to gently quiz a tight knit community this time there is a body but it looks like a tragic accident an old lady shot whilst one of the locals is out shooting rabbits
the victim the grandmother of his sidekick Sandy
perez's gut feeling is nagging him was this just simply an accident just when it looks like he is willing to accept this conclusion another body is found this time it looks like suicide but the two deaths are linked and Perez not only has bone in his mouth but an archeologist dig has uncovered human bones that might not be as old as first thought
This is a real page turner and once again Ann Cleeves manages to pull the Shetland wool over your eyes right to the very last page
The location is key the islands of Scotland where secrets and lies are buried deep in this case quite literally
I for one hope that the author changes her mind and extends this series from a quartet
but will definately be Reading the 4th book and hopefully more people will have discovered the first three by that time
the victim the grandmother of his sidekick Sandy
perez's gut feeling is nagging him was this just simply an accident just when it looks like he is willing to accept this conclusion another body is found this time it looks like suicide but the two deaths are linked and Perez not only has bone in his mouth but an archeologist dig has uncovered human bones that might not be as old as first thought
This is a real page turner and once again Ann Cleeves manages to pull the Shetland wool over your eyes right to the very last page
The location is key the islands of Scotland where secrets and lies are buried deep in this case quite literally
I for one hope that the author changes her mind and extends this series from a quartet
but will definately be Reading the 4th book and hopefully more people will have discovered the first three by that time
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Blue in Washington
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
I really liked this book. Ann Cleeves is a terrific writer who has so much skill at evoking a sense of place and its living breathing atmosphere.
"Red Bones" is part of the Inspector Jimmy Perez series set in the Shetland Islands, where "insular" takes on definitive meaning. "Red..." opens with the shooting of a feisty old woman, the owner of a archeological site that is being excavated by a PhD student and her assistant. The killing appears to be accidental, although how it could have occurred is unclear, even to the man who has confessed to the shooting. The incident is laid to rest by the authorities despite some misgivings by Inspector Perez. Shortly thereafter, a second death occurs and Perez isn't buying the theory that it is a suicide. The mystery is slowly revealed and concluded with an intelligent spin that the author has kept up her sleeve throughout the story.
So, excellent mystery story and clever ending. But better--much better--is the finely crafted evocation of this small northern place and how it feels to live there. The author must be more than a little bit of a naturalist as she describes with real feeling how the sea, fields, sky, etc. look, feel and smell. She includes details like the specific names of local birds and how they relate to the weather, season or even the foretelling of events. Also enjoyable in "Red..." is the wonderful collection of characters included and how they think, react and interact as families and individuals. Cleeves convincingly argues that the islands' social history dictates the dynamics of relationships in the present and that past tragedies always carry forward in those small places. So, if your grandmother did my grandmother wrong, you share responsibility for the alleged deed.
A totally enjoyable read and recommended.
"Red Bones" is part of the Inspector Jimmy Perez series set in the Shetland Islands, where "insular" takes on definitive meaning. "Red..." opens with the shooting of a feisty old woman, the owner of a archeological site that is being excavated by a PhD student and her assistant. The killing appears to be accidental, although how it could have occurred is unclear, even to the man who has confessed to the shooting. The incident is laid to rest by the authorities despite some misgivings by Inspector Perez. Shortly thereafter, a second death occurs and Perez isn't buying the theory that it is a suicide. The mystery is slowly revealed and concluded with an intelligent spin that the author has kept up her sleeve throughout the story.
So, excellent mystery story and clever ending. But better--much better--is the finely crafted evocation of this small northern place and how it feels to live there. The author must be more than a little bit of a naturalist as she describes with real feeling how the sea, fields, sky, etc. look, feel and smell. She includes details like the specific names of local birds and how they relate to the weather, season or even the foretelling of events. Also enjoyable in "Red..." is the wonderful collection of characters included and how they think, react and interact as families and individuals. Cleeves convincingly argues that the islands' social history dictates the dynamics of relationships in the present and that past tragedies always carry forward in those small places. So, if your grandmother did my grandmother wrong, you share responsibility for the alleged deed.
A totally enjoyable read and recommended.
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By Lars Rydgren
Format:Hardcover
I've just finished reading "Red bones". Once again I must congratulate Ann to another excellent crime story, and I couldn't but smile every time she mentions the name of the village "Lindby"! It really fits in. (She wrote five chapters of the book in our cottage in Lindby, Southern Öland, Sweden, May 2007).
The last 120 pages I just had to read non-stop and finished quite astonished by the solution. As always! Wonderful characterization of people with quite few words. Brilliantly written as usual, and I also love the birds mentioned by their species names, not just "diver", "thrush" etc, which gives even more authenticity to the scenery. I really have to go to Shetland some time!
Ann Cleeves also has a wonderful ability to let the reader leave the book in relief and with a big smile by the last sentence, so even here. I just love it!
Now waiting for the Swedish translation in May. And of course the fourth book!
The last 120 pages I just had to read non-stop and finished quite astonished by the solution. As always! Wonderful characterization of people with quite few words. Brilliantly written as usual, and I also love the birds mentioned by their species names, not just "diver", "thrush" etc, which gives even more authenticity to the scenery. I really have to go to Shetland some time!
Ann Cleeves also has a wonderful ability to let the reader leave the book in relief and with a big smile by the last sentence, so even here. I just love it!
Now waiting for the Swedish translation in May. And of course the fourth book!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Engrossing !
I am really enjoying this series and am now reading the last of them. Very addictive indeed ! The sort of reading I love to indulge in at the end of a busy day.
Published 5 days ago by thesongbird
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fab
I really love the way Ann Cleeves pulls you into the book and you can't put it down till you find out who did it... Read more
Published 10 days ago by M. Joan Mclean
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good read
I read this book after watching the programme on TV and was a bit surprised at the difference but not to bad. It basically follows the series but hey ho the book came first
Published 14 days ago by Christopher GODDARD
4.0 out of 5 stars
I liked it
so far the less impressive of the books, the islands are less important and the content is more focus on the characters. Is the victim a real victim or a visionary? Read more
Published 18 days ago by Luca S.
4.0 out of 5 stars
very atmospheric
This is the first book I've read by Anne Cleeves,( except for a Vera Stanhope novel) and I was captivated by the description of the Shetland lifestyle and the book gave an... Read more
Published 18 days ago by jac
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent.
Superb read. Now for number 4 in the series. Makes Shetland sound wonderful and worth visiting.Hopefully they will film the other 3 books.
Published 22 days ago by HIBBY SCOTT. wn
5.0 out of 5 stars
Red Bones Ann Cleeves
Again, this is a brilliant book and again I am up until the early hours reading. I love books by this author.
Published 23 days ago by C. Keys
3.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable, but doesn't stand out
Those who have enjoyed White Nights and Raven Black will already know Sandy Wilson as Jimmy Perez's bumbling young sidekick, clumsy and a little careless. Read more
Published 23 days ago by Marie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absorbing as ever
The title says it all.
I'm new to Anne Cleeves and haven't seen any of the TV program based on this quartet but I have to say this is a really good series of whodunits that... Read more
I'm new to Anne Cleeves and haven't seen any of the TV program based on this quartet but I have to say this is a really good series of whodunits that... Read more
Published 24 days ago by Liber Vermis
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good read
All 4 of the Shetland quartet tell tales of misdeeds which disturb the normally peaceful culture of Shetland. Gripping writing keeps you guessing right up to the final chapters.
Published 1 month ago by Andrew
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