A master story teller.KIRKUS REVIEWTwo deaths within a fortnight disrupt a Shetland Island archeological dig.First Ronald Clouston, mistaking old Mima for a rabbit in the foggy Shetland night, accidentally shoots her. Then Hattie James, the emotionally fragile Ph.D. candidate in charge of the 15th-century excavation on Whalsay, slits her veins and lies down to die in one of the site trenches. Mima?s grandson Sandy Wilson, who disappointed his family by disdaining crofting and fishing in favor of police work, is ready to write off the deaths as a terrible accident and a suicide. But Inspector Jimmy Perez (White Nights, 2008, etc.), a man who delves into past relationships as quietly but deeply as any psychiatrist, suspects foul play. Given a week to prove his hunches, he uncovers a toxic one-night stand between Hattie and an archeology professor; a World War II liaison between Mima and a Norwegian sailor who was later branded a traitor; the greed and jealousy coloring the relationship between Sandy and Ronald?s mums; and the possibility that the bones found at the dig might belong not to a Hanseatic merchant but to someone considerably more contemporary. A denouement at Mima?s house draws out the truth while spawning new gossip, innuendo and myth that islanders will pass down for generations.Cleeves is expert at depicting hardscrabble island life, parental expectations and disappointments and emotionally charged silences. Thoughtful readers should give Perez a try.Pub Date: Sept. 1st, 2009ISBN: 978-0-312-38434-0Page count: 336ppPublisher: Minotaur

(2009) Jimmy Perez must try to determine if 2 suspicious deaths were accidental/suicidal or were murders. They both are related to an archeological dig on a remote Shetland island. Another very good mystery with the location being a character in the story. KIRKUS REVIEWTwo deaths within a fortnight disrupt a Shetland Island archeological dig.First Ronald Clouston, mistaking old Mima for a rabbit in the foggy Shetland night, accidentally shoots her. Then Hattie James, the emotionally fragile Ph.D. candidate in charge of the 15th-century excavation on Whalsay, slits her veins and lies down to die in one of the site trenches. Mima's grandson Sandy Wilson, who disappointed his family by disdaining crofting and fishing in favor of police work, is ready to write off the deaths as a terrible accident and a suicide. But Inspector Jimmy Perez (White Nights, 2008, etc.), a man who delves into past relationships as quietly but deeply as any psychiatrist, suspects foul play. Given a week to prove his hunches, he uncovers a toxic one-night stand between Hattie and an archeology professor; a World War II liaison between Mima and a Norwegian sailor who was later branded a traitor; the greed and jealousy coloring the relationship between Sandy and Ronald's mums; and the possibility that the bones found at the dig might belong not to a Hanseatic merchant but to someone considerably more contemporary. A denouement at Mima's house draws out the truth while spawning new gossip, innuendo and myth that islanders will pass down for generations.Cleeves is expert at depicting hardscrabble island life, parental expectations and disappointments and emotionally charged silences. Thoughtful readers should give Perez a try.Pub Date: Sept. 1st, 2009ISBN: 978-0-312-38434-0Page count: 336ppPublisher: MinotaurReview Posted Online: May 20th, 2010Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15th, 2009

Lives up to the other books in the series -- well-paced, 3-dimensional characters, a final reveal that's not predictable, but makes sense in retrospect. There's a recurring contrast between how capable and wise the main inspector is in the eyes of his colleagues, versus his own insecurities, giving him an interesting added layer. ( )

A middling Shetland novel. Not as good as the first two.

Mima, Sandy's grandmother, is found shot to death. The only suspect is Mima's other grandson, Ronald who was out shooting rabbits on a very foggy night. The death is ruled accidental but Jimmy Pererz has different ideas. Something just doesn't seem right.

In addition there is an archeological dig underway on Miima's property and old bones were found. Could her death be related to the dig?

An OK read but nothing compelling. ( )

Always enjoyable. ( )