Raven Black by Ann Cleeves was first published in 2006. This is the first book by Cleeves that I’ve read, and when I started to read it I realised that it is one that I had seen on TV years ago, but I didn’t remember the ins and outs of it – so carried on reading. I’m glad that I did because there are so many details in the book that you don’t get on TV.
It’s January in Shetland, so it’s freezing and snowy, but the Up Helly Aa celebrations are something to look forward to, even if a lot of the locals see it as being a bit embarrassing, something for the tourists really.
But when Fran Hunter discovers that the splash of red that catches her eye in the distance turns out to be a scarf which has been tightened around the neck of her teenage neighbour Catherine, and the local ravens had already discovered her, the island is gripped with fear.
A young girl had disappeared some years ago and her body had never been found, the locals are suspicious of the man who had been under suspicion back then, but Jimmy Perez isn’t so sure. The mainland police have come over to Shetland to help with the investigation, which Perez doesn’t mind at all, in fact he’s not even sure if he wants to give up his career in the police and go back to his home of Fair Isle where a family croft is now available for him.
I’ll continue with this series as I enjoyed being in the company of Jimmy Perez and his team.
Fran was my favorite character in this series but for many readers the Shetland Islands are a character as well! Cleves’ series are all very different but all absorbing. I am glad you enjoyed this.
I am about to start the Susanna Kearsley so I did not peek at your review – which took great stength. It has been snowing since last night so I can’t go out but my niece and nephew were supposed to come stay with me for two days while their parents are away so it might not be quiet enough for reading if they magically appear (it is less than a mile).
Constance,
It sounds like you are the sort of aunt that I could have been doing with back in the day! I really didn’t want the Kearsley book to finish, that’s how much I enjoyed it.
I’ve been watching a lot of Vera on TV recently so I don’t know if I’ll read the books too although I’m sure I would get mor eout of the books – well not the scenery I suppose. It’s nice to recognise places, they use locations in the Scottish Borders, not only the north east of England.