THE KILLING STONES

The eagerly awaited return of Ann Cleeves' beloved detectives from the Shetland series, and a gripping new investigation with a stunning new setting, from New York Times bestselling author and creator of three thriving book and TV series: Shetland, Vera, and
The Long Call.

It's been several years since Detective Jimmy Perez left Shetland. He has settled into his new home in Orkney, the islands just off the northern coast of Scotland, with his partner Willow Reeve and their growing family. One stormy winter day, his oldest and closest friend, Archie Stout, goes missing. Ever the detective, Perez catches a boat to investigate at the nearby island of Westray, where Archie worked as a farmer and lived with his wife and children.

But when he arrives he finds a shocking scene: Archie's body, on an archaeological dig site and an ancient Westray story stone with precise spirals carved into it beside him, the clear murder weapon. The artifact, taken from a nearby museum, seems to suggest a premediated murder.

But with Perez so close to the case, he struggles to maintain an objective distance from the potential suspects he now must interview, in his newfound community. He finds it difficult to question Archie's wife, whom he's known for years. Rumors swirl about a young woman Archie was having an affair with, which Perez knew nothing about. With each new lead, the case becomes more twisted and Perez wonders if he will ever find out what happened in his friend's final days.

Ann Cleeves writes two series of traditional mysteries, both of which have been turned into hit TV series. The Vera Stanhope books have been made into the hit series "Vera" starring Brenda Blethyn and is available in the U.S. through Hulu, Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, and Acorn TV. Ann was presented the Lee Child Dead Good Readers' Award for Best Loner or Detective for Vera, and last year she was The International Guest of Honor at Left Coast Crime. Ann Cleeves lives in England.