I’ll start by saying this was my very first Ann Cleeves novel, so I came to The Killing Stones without any prior knowledge of Jimmy Perez or Willow Reeves. What a discovery it turned out to be. I was immediately struck by the sense of place; Cleeves has a gift for atmosphere, and the Orkney Islands came alive on the page with their history, traditions, and storm-lashed landscapes.
The story begins with Jimmy’s oldest friend, Archie Stout, going missing on Westray just before Christmas. Jimmy, now living on Orkney, joins the search and is the one to find Archie’s body at an archaeological dig site. The murder weapon? A rune stone, steeped in local history and symbolism. It’s a brutal discovery, made all the more difficult because of Jimmy’s closeness to Archie and his wife. Willow, though officially on maternity leave, steps in to lead the investigation, and together they navigate a case that grows darker and more complex with each chapter.
What really impressed me was the way Cleeves balances the crime plot with the personal lives of her detectives. Jimmy and Willow are both well-drawn characters, and we’re given plenty of insight into their thoughts and emotions. Jimmy’s grief and conflicted loyalties add weight to the narrative, while Willow’s determination and pragmatism keep the investigation moving forward. Their dynamic is fascinating: sometimes supportive, sometimes tense, and it adds another layer to the story.
Thematically, The Killing Stones explores friendship, loyalty, and the dangers of secrets buried too deep. There’s also a timely thread about extremism and the seeds of destructive behaviour, handled with subtlety rather than heavy-handedness. Cleeves doesn’t preach; she lets the reader see the connections for themselves, which makes the social commentary all the more effective.
As for the mystery itself, it’s a slow burn, filled with red herrings and misdirection. I’ll admit the pacing felt uneven in the opening third, but once the pieces began to slot together, the tension ramped up beautifully. The final showdown was nerve-wracking, and the reveal of the culprit genuinely shocked me; I didn’t see it coming at all. If anything, I wished there had been a few more breadcrumbs along the way, so that moment of revelation might have carried the satisfaction of “Of course!” rather than pure surprise. Still, the payoff was strong, and the resolution felt earned.
What worked best for me was the atmosphere. The islands themselves are almost characters in the book: moody, isolated, and steeped in history. Cleeves captures the claustrophobia of small communities where everyone knows everyone else, and as Jimmy reflects, “in the islands, everything was too close to home.” That line stayed with me.
Who would enjoy this book? Fans of atmospheric police procedurals will find plenty to love here. If you enjoy slow-burn mysteries with strong characterisation, complex relationships, and a vivid sense of place, The Killing Stones is well worth picking up. Even though it’s the ninth in the series, it works perfectly as a stand-alone, so newcomers like me won’t feel lost.
The Killing Stones is a finely crafted, character-driven mystery that blends atmosphere, history, and suspense. It’s not just about solving a crime—it’s about the people, the community, and the weight of the past pressing in on the present. For me, it was an excellent introduction to Ann Cleeves’ writing, and I’ll definitely be continuing with Jimmy and Willow’s stories. A rewarding read, impossible to put down, and a promising start to what feels like a new chapter in the series.
Thank you to Exclusive Books for the chance to read this book.
