Red Bones: A Thriller

by Ann Cleeves

Book Overview

Red Bones marks the third in a stellar suspense series set on the Shetland Islands from bestselling author Ann Cleeves--the basis for the hit BBC show Shetland, starring Douglas Henshall.

When a young archaeologist discovers a set of human remains, the locals are intrigued. Is it an ancient find--or a more contemporary mystery? Then an elderly woman is fatally shot and Ann Cleeves's popular series detective Jimmy Perez...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312384432
• ISBN13: 9780312384432
• Release Date: September 2010
• Publisher: Minotaur Books
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.3" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

Red Bones

Another terrific Shetland read from Ann Cleeves! Superior characterization, concise but effective description, and best of all, an intriguing plot that keeps the reader puzzling until the end. Please hurry with the next one!

Marvelous!

I am now a reader of all things Ann Cleeves. Red Bones carries us on to another case in the Shetlands to which Jimmy Perez applies his persistent calm to get it sorted out. We see good character development with Perez's somewhat inexperienced and immature colleague, Sandy Wilson, who plays a significant role in the story and refreshingly experiences some growth in maturity as well. After Sandy's grandmother and lifetime resident of the islands, and a young archaeologist student, an outsider, are found dead within days of one another, Jimmy Perez and Sandy Wilson suspect they might be connected. The islanders are a tightly knit group and they may be withholding information that would help solve not only these cases, but perhaps an older one as well. The book meanders through the daily lives of the different characters and one is always aware of the steadily congealing plot, confident in the knowledge that Perez will solve the case. Cleeves sets the backdrop of the Shetland Islands in such a realistic way, you can almost feel the moistness of the fog, the mist on your face, hear the lament of the distant foghorn, and experience the brace of the northern breeze that can slice right through a person. I had never had the desire to venture farther North than Inverness, but her descriptions of the starkly barren but beautiful scenery as she describes the different Shetland villages in her book, have convinced me I need to experience this place. I highly recommend this author and this book and I look forward, albeit impatiently, to her next one.

Red Bones by Ann Cleaves

The third in the Shetland Islands series, and this one certainly continues the wonderful suspense of the first two. We learn more about the Shetlands and the people as well as enjoy the excellent detective, Jimmy Perez.

RED BONES A MYSTERY

Red Bones a book that is more than a mystery, it is an atmospheric and loving trip to the Shetland Islands, I can't wait for a new book by this author. I have never read a book where I feel I've experienced the rain, wind and sunshine that she portrays so well on these islands!!!!

super police procedural

Shetland Islands Inspector Jimmy Perez investigates the murder of Mima Wilson, who was shot to death. The case is somewhat personal as Mima was the grandma of the police detective's subordinate Sandy Wilson. The locals on Whalsay Island believe Mima's grandson Ronald accidentally shot and killed her, but Perez has doubts about the theory. Instead he wonders if the homicide might be linked to an archeological dig on Mima's land. Ph.D. candidate student Hattie James recently dug up a skeleton that might date back to the fifteenth century or earlier. A second body is found at the excavation location; that person apparently committed suicide leading the detective to assume the bones are contemporary. Perez with Sandy's surprisingly somewhat competent but reluctant help begins to unravel Wilson secrets that date back to WWII and the resistance. The third Shetland Island police procedural (see RAVEN BLACK and WHITE NIGHTS) is a super whodunit. Jimmy is terrific as he battles the islanders who know Ronald accidentally killed his grandma and thus believe an investigation is a waste of time and money. Fans will enjoy Jimmy's efforts to uncover what really happened on Whalsay Island with no one, not even Sandy who is pulled between family and work loyalties, fully cooperating. Harriet Klausner