It's mid summer in Shetland, the time of the white nights, when birds sing at midnight and the sun never sets. Artist Bella Sinclair throws a party to launch an exhibition of her work and to introduce the paintings of Fran Hunter. The Herring House, the gallery where the exhibition is held, is on the beach at Biddista, in the remote north west of the island. When a mysterious Englishman bursts into tears and claims not to know who he is or where he's come from, the evening ends in farce. The following day the Englishman is found hanging from a rafter in a boathouse on the jetty, a clown's mask on his face. Detective Jimmy Perez is convinced that this is a local murder. He is reinforced in this belief when Roddy, Bella's musician nephew is murdered too. But the detective's relationship with Fran Hunter clouds his judgement. And this is a crazy time of the year when night blurs into day and nothing is quite as it seems.

Taking to Scotland to read & release. Will review here.....

Edit:
I always enjoy Ann Cleeves' books & am intriuged to see DI Vera Stanthope is coming to the small screen - though undoubtedly will be unrecognisable from the books! Anyhow that's by the by as this book is one of the Shetalnd Quartet & reacquaints us with Jimmy Perez ( a good o'l Scottish name if ever there was one -lol!) & Fran Hunter from "Raven Black" (another excellent read)

A quote from the front of the book says "Cleeves deftly paints in the personalities & their relationships, as the police inquiries disrupt the close-knit community. It's a good character-led mystery which displays the art of story telling without recourse to slash & grab" & in particular I agree with the comment..."powerful at conveying a way of life that has almost vanished;the daily routine of work & leisure; & the love & commitment that the islanders have for the land". Without going overboard on details of scenary etc the atmosphere of life on the island is so easy to visualise - very evocative....& a good mystery as well!

Look forward the the next in the series "The Red Bones"

Released as part of the 2010 ULTIMATE CHALLENGE &
the SEPTEMBER SAPPHIRE Challenge (#32)


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