Raven Black
As seen:
By Ann Cleeves
avg rating
2 reviews
From the bestselling author of the Vera Stanhope series.
Introducing Inspector Jimmy Perez. Raven Black is the first book in Ann Cleeves’s bestselling Shetland series – now a major BBC One drama starring Douglas Henshall.
A remote community with a killer in their midst . . .
On New Year’s Day, 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. As Fran opens her mouth to scream, the ravens continue their deadly dance . . .
The body is found close to the home of a lonely outcast and local suspicion falls firmly on him. But when Inspector Jimmy Perez insists on broadening the search for suspects, a veil of distrust and fear is thrown over the entire community. As the case develops, Perez finds himself peering deeper into the past of the Shetland Islands than anyone wants to go.
The case files of Jimmy Perez continue in White Nights, the thrilling second Shetland novel.
Praise for the gripping and atmospheric Shetland series:
‘Cleeves’ setting is beautifully evoked . . . this is as finely crafted and satisfying as a well-made piece of furniture – just look at the workmanship’ – The Times
‘Like a smoky Shetland peat fire, this elegantly written, slow-burning intrigue shrouds you in mystery and crackles with inner heat’ – Peter James, author of the bestselling Roy Grace series
‘A most satisfying mystery set in an isolated and intriguing location. Jimmy Perez is a fine creation’ – Peter Robinson, author of the DCI Banks series
TweetReviews
Loved the tv series and the book was even better.
I first discovered the Shetland series featuring Jimmy Perez through the television series, and then got hooked on the books. But I’d never read this one before, which is Book 1, so it was the ‘missing link’ that filled in Jimmy’s backstory and provided lots of extra detail. And I loved it! Fran Hunter discovers the body of her teenage neighbour, Catherine, who has been strangled. Jimmy is considered too inexperienced to manage a murder inquiry on his own, so a senior policeman is sent across from Inverness. The locals strongly believe the murderer to be a young man called Magnus Tait but it’s not long before suspicions appear about others. I found this story interesting and complex, and the murderer came as a complete surprise to me. 4-Stars.
(Review by Oxo, at Oundle Crime)
