This is the third of Cleeves’ Shetland
series of detective fiction featuring Jimmy Perry, native of the islands
despite his Spanish sounding name, which is a relic of the shipwrecked Armada.
This time the action takes place on the
island of Whalsay, home of Perez’s sidekick sergeant Sandy Wilson, where a
couple of archaeology students are conducting a dig at his grandmother’s croft.
Human bones are found; they seem old but their discovery is rapidly followed by
a death – accident or murder?
Perez investigates and has to unravel
current relationships and hidden secrets within the Wilson family history.
Another death occurs; again there is uncertainty as to whether it is suicide or
murder, but two bodies and some old bones on a small island look more like enemy
action than coincidence.
Perez’s personal life takes a back seat in
this book (girlfriend Fran is shipped off to London) but Sandy’s fills the void
to maintain the usual balance between human interest and police procedure.
Cleeves is a fine writer of the genre and
the story rattles along nicely with its usual sprinkling of Shetland landscape
and weather to give an authentic feel to the location.
I have enjoyed all three books read so far,
and the series continues, but whether I will return to Shetland for further
instalments is unsure. So many books, so little time!
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