The Killing Stones

The Killing Stones by Ann Cleeves sees the return of Detective Jimmy Perez

When a violent storm descends upon Orkney, the body of Archie Stout is left in its wake. An unusual murder weapon, a Neolithic stone bearing ancient inscriptions, is found discarded nearby. Archie was a popular, larger-than-life character, and his death is a shocking blow to the community.

Detective Jimmy Perez, no stranger to the complexity of human nature and the darkness it can harbour, is soon on the scene. He counted Archie as a childhood friend, so this case is more personal than most. Now living in Orkney with his partner, Willow, and their son, Perez is soon drawn into the lives of the islanders, many of whom hold secrets. Dark secrets, which could have led to the man’s murder.

Here, in these ancient lands where history runs deep, Perez must discern the truth from legend before a desperate killer strikes again . . .

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‘Ann Cleeves is one of our secret chroniclers, charting – under cover of a series of expertly plotted and mesmerizing crime novels’ – Mick Herron, bestselling author of Slow Horses

‘Reading a new Jimmy Perez novel is like snuggling up with dear friends around a crackling fire . . . a complex mystery, beloved characters, and a setting so vivid you can feel the chill of wind and rain on your face’ – Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author of The Summer Guests

‘It’s a new island and a new chapter for Perez and his family, but in the extraordinary hands of Ann Cleeves – surely one of our greatest ever crime writers? . . . It’s a masterpiece in character and location – welcome back Jimmy Perez!’ – M. W. Craven, bestselling author of Nobody’s Hero

‘Ann Cleeves’s elegance as a wordsmith, the ingenuity of her plots, and the depth of her characters can be matched by few writers . . . This novel is more than worth every minute you spend with it – David Baldacci, bestselling author of To Die For

‘Jimmy Perez is a fine creation’ – Peter Robinson, author of the DCI Banks series

Author Biography

Ann Cleeves is the author of more than thirty-five critically acclaimed novels, and in 2017 was awarded the highest accolade in crime writing, the CWA Diamond Dagger. She is the creator of popular detectives Vera Stanhope, Jimmy Perez and Matthew Venn, who can be found on television in ITV’s Vera, BBC One’s Shetland and ITV’s The Long Call respectively. The TV series and the books they are based on have become international sensations, capturing the minds of millions worldwide.

Ann worked as a probation officer, bird observatory cook and auxiliary coastguard before she started writing. She is a member of ‘Murder Squad’, working with other British northern writers to promote crime fiction. Ann also spends her time advocating for reading to improve health and wellbeing and supporting access to books. In 2021, her Reading for Wellbeing project launched with local authorities across the North East. She lives in Northumberland where the Vera books are set.