Book Description
Ann Cleeves is back with the sixth book in her Shetland series featuring Inspector Jimmy Perez, whom readers will remember from Raven Black, White Nights, Red Bones, Blue Lightning, and Dead Water.
A group of old university friends leave the bright lights of London and travel to Shetland to celebrate the marriage of one of their friends. But, one of them, Eleanor, disappearsapparently into thin air. It's mid-summer, a time of light nights and unexpected mists. And then Eleanor's body is discovered lying in a small loch close to the cliff edge.
Detectives Jimmy Perez and Willow Reeves are dispatched to investigate. Before she went missing, Eleanor claimed to have seen the ghost of a local child who drowned in the 1920s. Her interest in the ghost had seemed unhealthyobsessive, evento her friends: an indication of a troubled mind. But Jimmy and Willow are convinced that there is more to Eleanor's death than they first thought.
Is there a secret that lies behind the myth? One so shocking that someone would killmany years laterto protect?
Ann Cleeves' striking new novel is a quintessential whodunit with surprises at every turn.
My Review:
I enjoyed being back on the Shetland Islands with Jimmy Perez. He is one of my favorite Inspectors from a great series which I enjoy very much. As this is the last book in the series, I hope it won't be a long time until I meet up with these unique characters again. I suggest you read these books in order as the stories build one upon another.
Ann Cleeves is back with the sixth book in her Shetland series featuring Inspector Jimmy Perez, whom readers will remember from Raven Black, White Nights, Red Bones, Blue Lightning, and Dead Water.
A group of old university friends leave the bright lights of London and travel to Shetland to celebrate the marriage of one of their friends. But, one of them, Eleanor, disappearsapparently into thin air. It's mid-summer, a time of light nights and unexpected mists. And then Eleanor's body is discovered lying in a small loch close to the cliff edge.
Detectives Jimmy Perez and Willow Reeves are dispatched to investigate. Before she went missing, Eleanor claimed to have seen the ghost of a local child who drowned in the 1920s. Her interest in the ghost had seemed unhealthyobsessive, evento her friends: an indication of a troubled mind. But Jimmy and Willow are convinced that there is more to Eleanor's death than they first thought.
Is there a secret that lies behind the myth? One so shocking that someone would killmany years laterto protect?
Ann Cleeves' striking new novel is a quintessential whodunit with surprises at every turn.
My Review:
I enjoyed being back on the Shetland Islands with Jimmy Perez. He is one of my favorite Inspectors from a great series which I enjoy very much. As this is the last book in the series, I hope it won't be a long time until I meet up with these unique characters again. I suggest you read these books in order as the stories build one upon another.
Author Ann Cleeves always sheds light on some facet of Shetland life. In Thin Air it's hamefarin or homecoming-- a time for expatriates return home to celebrate their roots. What better thing to do than bring a group of outsiders to Shetland who don't necessarily get along with each other? And who better to investigate the disappearance of one of them than Detective Jimmy Perez?
Although Jimmy is still in mourning for his wife, fellow detective Willow Reeves is attracted to him, and it's interesting to watch her emotions play out throughout the book. Jimmy is his usual (rather) enigmatic self, getting the job done with a minimum of fuss or even notice. Perez is so unobtrusive about what he does that he leaves people wondering how he's made them all so dependent on him.
While we're dealing with Shetland's fog which is affecting the ferry and plane schedules (and making us feel claustrophobic), Perez does his job. Endless rounds of going to people and listening to what they say, how they say it, and what they don't say. Few fictional detectives can listen to the degree that Jimmy Perez can. And few fictional detectives have the other characters wondering "how [Perez] managed to win people over. Perhaps it was something as simple as kindness."
Indeed, it is kindness. Thin Air is a very quiet mystery, muffled in fog and shrouded in secrecy. It's as quiet and deceptive as Jimmy Perez himself-- and every bit as satisfying. If you have yet to read one of Ann Cleeve's Shetland novels, I urge you to begin at the beginning with Raven Black. If you're well acquainted with Jimmy Perez, I have good news. This is another excellent addition to the series. Dig in.
Although Jimmy is still in mourning for his wife, fellow detective Willow Reeves is attracted to him, and it's interesting to watch her emotions play out throughout the book. Jimmy is his usual (rather) enigmatic self, getting the job done with a minimum of fuss or even notice. Perez is so unobtrusive about what he does that he leaves people wondering how he's made them all so dependent on him.
While we're dealing with Shetland's fog which is affecting the ferry and plane schedules (and making us feel claustrophobic), Perez does his job. Endless rounds of going to people and listening to what they say, how they say it, and what they don't say. Few fictional detectives can listen to the degree that Jimmy Perez can. And few fictional detectives have the other characters wondering "how [Perez] managed to win people over. Perhaps it was something as simple as kindness."
Indeed, it is kindness. Thin Air is a very quiet mystery, muffled in fog and shrouded in secrecy. It's as quiet and deceptive as Jimmy Perez himself-- and every bit as satisfying. If you have yet to read one of Ann Cleeve's Shetland novels, I urge you to begin at the beginning with Raven Black. If you're well acquainted with Jimmy Perez, I have good news. This is another excellent addition to the series. Dig in.
