Ann Cleeves is perhaps best known for her Vera Stanhope novels, such as “The Dark Wives”. Her latest novel “The Killing Stones,” features a different ongoing character but offers the same kind of twisty mystery and empathetic investigation.
Detective Jimmy Perez is literally the first on the scene when Archie Stout is killed; he finds the body. Archie was a childhood friend, so Jimmy not only feels the murder deeply, but he must walk a very careful line in the investigation. His partner, Willow, takes the lead in the investigation and is forced to relegate Jimmy to the edge of the investigation to protect any future prosecution.
Archie was murdered with a Neolithic stone bearing ancient carvings, an odd weapon if ever Jimmy’s seen one. It also confuses the investigation, as Jimmy explores whether the choice of murder weapon is significant.
This is part of the Jimmy Perez series – and this is the first I’d read from that series. It is very easy to follow for new readers. The main plot is complete in this novel, and it’s evidently Jimmy’s personal life that carries most strongly from novel to novel. There was enough recapping for me to know what was going on, and I suspect enough forward movement to please ongoing readers.
The plot is indeed twisty, and I was genuinely shocked by the solution. I did not see it coming. Interestingly, after the reveal, I could see that Cleeves was writing a story that is in part about the things you unconsciously tell people. This is well-seeded throughout the novel, and I found it quite impactful to look back on it. It’s something that I think will stay with me for a while.
Cleeves shows a lot of sympathy for her victim, and a strength of the novel is the way it shows the impact of Archie’s murder on his family, friends, and the wider community. This is not just an investigative puzzle; it is a human story.
There were some minor inconsistencies in how Willow and Jimmy dealt with the protocols for investigation where there is a personal connection to the victim. However, this served to highlight the challenges of policing in small, more remote communities, so it didn’t bother me much. Similarly, while I sometimes felt Jimmy was a little emotionally remote, this could be due to his need to pull back so he could be objective.
Overall, this is a strong procedural crime novel which will be enjoyed by both Cleeves’ fans and new readers. It’s well plotted, well paced, and well populated with strong characters.
A selection of our Beauty and Lace Club Members are reading The Killing Stones by Ann Cleeves. You can read their comments below, or add your own review.
I’ve loved books for as long as I can remember, and I love sharing that joy.
I’ve been an avid reader for as long as I can remember, across all genres. There’s not much I won’t at least try. I’ve been an enthusiastic book reviewer for years. I particularly enjoy discovering writers new to me, and sharing good writing with others.
My career has included time spent writing and editing technical documents, but it’s fiction that really moves me. I’ve reviewed for a number of different outlets over the years, and have been a judge in literary competitions.
I’m now raising little bookworms of my own, which brings a whole new kind of joy to sharing books.
More of my reviews can be found on my review blog www.otherdreamsotherlives.home.blog .
Thank you Beauty and Lace for the opportunity to read The Killing Stones by Ann Cleeves.
This is my first Ann Cleeves book and it won’t be my last.
I absolutely loved this murder mystery.
Great characters, awesome story line and an easy read murder mystery.
I was surprised who the killer was. This book will keep you turning those pages to see who the killer is and why they did it.Everyone has their secrets.
Highly recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ann Cleeves’ book The Killing Stones follows the investigation of a murder on the Scottish isles. Ann captures the scenery, history and atmosphere of the islands beautifully. Her description of the characters and the way she moves the story forward is done well.
As secrets are revealed throughout the investigation, the reader is left guessing as to who the killer is. Sharing the culture and history of the islands was also fascinating.
While I haven’t read any other Ann Cleeves stories, or books within this series, Ann wrote in a manner that this wasn’t important and the reader could read this story as a stand alone story, or as part of the series.
I’m looking forward to reading more from Ann Cleeves. Thank you Beauty and Lace for the opportunity to read The Killing Stones.
The Killing Stones by Ann Cleeves.
When a violent storm hits the wild Orkney Islands the body of local man Archie Stout is found beside a mysterious ancient stone carved with ancient symbols. Perez, now living on the islands with his partner Willow and their son, finds himself drawn into a case that’s both professional and deeply personal , Archie was a childhood friend.
I found the story moves at a steady pace.
I loved visuallizing the wild, haunting wind and the beauty of the islands.
The mystery unfolds gently but cleverly, as Perez digs deeper to uncover dark secrets buried deep in this close knit community.
If you enjoy crime stories with history, and a touch of mystery this is a wonderful read.
It’s a captivating story about friendship, loss, and the pull of home.
Thankyou beauty and lace
For a chance to read another great crime story with a mysterious ending .
I picked up The Killing Stones expecting a solid mystery, and Ann Cleeves delivered exactly that, plus a moody atmospheric punch. Nobody captures bleak landscapes and simmering tension quite like she does, and this one had me suspecting every character while mentally reaching for a heavier coat.
The story moves with that signature slow-burn unease. One minute you’re settling in, the next you’re ten chapters deep with your tea gone cold and no intention of stopping. The characters are layered, the secrets are tangled, and the ending lands with a quiet, lingering hit.
I’ve read enough crime fiction to spot a cheap twist coming, so I appreciated how this one kept me guessing without feeling gimmicky. It’s clever, grounded, and confident in its storytelling.
Definitely worth the read!
The Killing Stones is a deeply atmospheric, emotionally resonant murder mystery that reintroduces longtime protagonist Jimmy Perez — now settled with his partner and child on the remote islands of Orkney. When his childhood friend is found brutally murdered — the weapon a carved Neolithic “story stone” stolen from a local museum — Jimmy is drawn into an investigation laced with secrets, old grudges and hidden relationships.
What stands out most is Cleeves’s gift for place: the wind-tossed cliffs, the solitary islands, and the ancient history of Orkney are almost characters themselves — shaping mood, motives and community dynamics.
The tension builds slowly, with red herrings and shifting loyalties keeping you guessing until a final reveal that, for many readers, hits hard.
At its core, the novel explores how close-knit island communities protect their own — even when that means burying dark truths. Jimmy’s personal grief and conflicted loyalties add emotional weight, making the mystery more than a puzzle to solve.
If you enjoy crime novels where setting and character matter as much as the plot — and where the past casts long shadows over the present — The Killing Stones is a haunting, satisfying read.
Thank you so much to Beauty and Lace and Pan Macmillan for my copy of The Killing Stones.
Island life should be peaceful but when a local man, Archie, is found murdered on a sacred site, detective Jimmy Perez is forced to investigate, with the help of his partner, Willow.
Archie is a childhood friend of Perez so this is also very personal.
This book is a great who done it. It keeps you really guessing until the end. I had no idea as it really could have been anyone.
I enjoyed the characters in this book and the settings really set the mood along the way.
It covers friendships, families and of course murders.
Highly recommend and would love to read more by Ann Cleeves.