It creates a situation whereby the narrative, the crime and any twists feel almost secondary to the central character driven storytelling. Jimmy helps Sandy grow into his manhood during this investigation, and this makes the book far richer than we'd have any right to expect from a simple thriller. A murder that involves one of Perez's colleagues that we get to know a little better and has a bigger part in this investigation. Perhaps that's why Red Bones was chosen as the basis for Shetland, a new two-part crime drama set in Scotland and starring Douglas Henshall. Very disappointing, as I love the BBC "Vera" series based on her books (haven't seen their Shetland Islands series, also based on Cleeves' books).

Shetland Island Series by Ann Cleeves - Goodreads Shetland Island Series by Ann Cleeves - Goodreads

I had wanted to create a crime series set in the north of Scotland for many years so saw this as an opportunity to do that. Survival drives great passions and jealousy which can either lead to a calm acceptance of heritage and place.Maybe we watch too much CSI and maybe small villages in Scotland don't have access to the kind of forensics in big cities. MY THOUGHTS: In her own beautiful style, Cleeves takes a handful of unrelated threads: an archeology dig, the birth of a baby, the discovery of a skull, family feuds, and weaves them into a tapestry of intrigue.

Ann Cleeves: Red Bones, the third book in the Shetland Quartet

This series is growing in maturity; RED BONES seems to me to have an added depth in portrayal of the characters (familiar from previous books as well as new to this volume) and their environment, as well as a more confident plot. I loved it when I could hire a car and spend days driving from one insanely beautiful spot to another. She leaves behind no memories worth keeping: her husband is dead, her boss has made no bones about disliking her, and she’s looking forward to new responsibilities and the higher salary underwritten by North Dakota’s sudden oil boom. The uncovering of a history where during the war a Norwegian resistance fighter disappeared mysteriously.Two young students are conducting an archaeological dig on a small croft owned by Mima Wilson, Sandy's widowed grandmother.