Cold Earth by Ann Cleeves

 

This is the penultimate book in the Shetland Island series, and I'd be sorry to see it end if not for Cleeves continuing the saga of Jimmy Perez, but this time on the Orkney Islands (The Killing Stones, publishing September 30, 2025).

A funeral for an old friend of Jimmy Perez is interrupted when a landslide sweeps through the cemetery and destroys a house in its path. An unidentified woman's body is found in the debris of the house, and, upon investigation, Jimmy discovers the woman has been murdered. Chief Inspector Willow Reeves is called in to head the investigation, teaming with Jimmy and Sandy Wilson to find the woman's identity and who killed her. What they find are secrets not only from the woman's past, but also connections to prominent Shetland citizens and possible murder motives.

Once again, the setting for the book takes center stage. It's winter, the weather is cold and rainy, and with the shortened daylight hours, both contribute to a hostile atmosphere. This book is solidly plotted, and the developing relationship between Jimmy and Willow adds a hint of romance to the storyline. Although I did figure out who killed the woman, Cleeves hid the motives until the very last, which kept me second-guessing myself. 

4/5 stars.

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The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer by Ragnar Jonasson

 

I usually enjoy Ragnar Jonasson's books. He's dark, and his settings are atmospheric. I especially liked Reykjavik and Death at the Sanatorium, both of which had interesting characters and excellent plots. This book, which brings back a character from Death at the Sanatorium, billed as a standalone, ends so abruptly that I wondered if this isn't meant to be a series.

Helgi Reykdal is enjoying a break from his police duties among his beloved vintage crime novels when he is asked to look into the disappearance of popular crime writer Elin Jonsdottir. None of her friends or associates has heard from her, so Helgi has little to go on. On top of that, he is under pressure to find Elin before the press breaks the story. The more Helgi digs into Elin's life, the more secrets he uncovers, leading him to believe there are multiple reasons for her disappearance. 

The story shifts focus from Helgi's investigation, set in 2012,  to another disappearance, that of a police detective, years earlier, and the case of a bank robbery that she was investigating. Jonasson does a good job of weaving the subplots together, but the reader is left hanging about the solution of one of the storylines. Additionally, the ending was so abrupt that I wondered if some pages were left out. 

The pacing is good, and the plots are intriguing, so I was caught up in the book from the start. I wish it hadn't ended on a cliffhanger with an unresolved plot line. 

3/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Minotaur Books, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is September 9, 2025. 

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The Frozen People by Elly Griffiths

I was disappointed when Griffiths wrapped up her Ruth Galloway series, but after reading this start to a new series, I'm happy once again. I love time travel and detective books, and the combination makes me a happy camper. 

The cold case department, which employs Ali Dawson and a handful of specialists, has a secret to solving their cases that are so cold, they are frozen: they can time travel to collect evidence. It's still an experimental program when a member of parliament requests Ali to travel to 1850s London to clear the name of his grandfather, who may have killed a woman to gain entry into a secret group called The Collectors. This is farther back than the team has previously ventured, but Ali is excited at the prospect. 

Ali is not off to a promising start when she arrives to find a murdered woman. She then finds herself trapped in time, so she determines to solve the woman's murder. Meanwhile, in present-day London, Ali's son faces serious accusations, and the cold case team works to find a way to get Ali back. 

I enjoyed the premise of traveling back in time to research a cold case. I particularly enjoyed the historical sections of 1850s London, where Ali struggled to adapt to her new environment. With Griffiths' trademark humor, excellent characters, and intriguing plots, this series is off to a promising start. 

4.5/5 stars.

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Watching You by Helen Fields

 

One of the things I like about a Helen Fields novel is that no character is safe. She doesn't hesitate to kill off characters, even if they have played a significant role in a series. In this, her latest in the Connie Woolwine series, she has paired her with characters from her DI Callanach series, and it's anybody's guess which characters will survive.

With two of the lead detectives out of the picture, forensic profiler Connie Woolwine and her associate, Brodie Baarda, are called to Edinburgh to help with an investigation. As the body count mounts, Connie is convinced there is a serial killer on the loose. With little forensic evidence or a pattern to go on, she works with DS Lively to try to track down the killer. Lively is developing a relationship with surgeon Beth Waterfall, who is still recovering from the death of her daughter, and who may be the killer's next victim. It's up to Connie and her team to catch the killer before they strike again.

This book is quintessentially Helen Fields: dark and twisty, with every character in danger of being killed. Fields does an excellent job of keeping the tension going from beginning to end. This is a good test for Connie's skills and expertise in yet another gripping psychological thriller. 

4/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Avon, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is August 28, 2025.

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Thin Air by Ann Cleeves

Set on yet another island in the Shetland archipelago, this sixth book in the Shetland Island series is a good one. Just when I thought I had it figured out, another twist appeared and kept me guessing.

When a group of old university friends travels from London to the farthest north of the Shetland Islands to celebrate the marriage of one of their friends, one of them, Elanor, is murdered. Jimmy Perez, Sandy Wilson, and Willow Reeves are sent to investigate. Elanor, a filmmaker, was exploring the folklore tale of the ghost of a child who drowned in the 1920s, but what the investigating team discovers is Elanor's unhealthy obsession with the story. As they work to find the killer, the team uncovers secrets about the myth with links that some want to keep hidden. 

I liked the relationship that is developing between Jimmy and Willow. Jimmy is emerging from the depression that dominated the last book, Dead Water, and is much more interesting. Sandy is gaining confidence in his abilities and is a good supporting character. The plot was twisty and compelling, and the character development added to my overall enjoyment. 

4/5 stars.

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Dead Water by Ann Cleeves

In this fifth book in the series, Cleeves again makes the atmospheric location another character.

When the body of a journalist is found on Shetland by Jimmy's boss, he is put in a precarious position. As the team, with Jimmy on the periphery, begins investigating, they find that the journalist has a sordid past and numerous islanders aren't sorry to see him dead. 

The murder is framed around an unsympathetic character, with many wishing him dead. This book also introduced a new cast member, DI Willow Reeves, whose relationship with Jimmy was interesting; I can see her taking on a larger role in his life. This book had a complex and engrossing plot, and although I wanted to shake Jimmy out of his lethargy, I know he'll bounce back soon. 

3.5/5 stars.

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Artificial Wisdom by Thomas R. Weaver

 

This is a good science fiction novel set in a dystopian near-future world. It pits AI against humans and throws in a good murder mystery for good measure.

Marcus Tully, an investigative journalist, is given the story of his life: The two candidates vying for world leader of a climate-endangered Earth are an Artificial intelligence named Solomon and former US President Lockwood. Tully may have dirt on Lockwood that could sway the election, but when Solomon's creator is murdered, Tully suspects a broader conspiracy. As Tully begins investigating both the murder and possible corruption, he faces moral and ethical dilemmas in his quest for the truth, as well as a threat to his life.

Numerous subplots made the story hard to follow at times, but for the most part, this is a well-paced, engaging novel. I enjoyed Tully's quest for the truth and the hurdles he faced obtaining it. I especially liked pitting an AI against a human to see who is best at navigating the ecological quagmire that is Earth. I found the ending rather abrupt, but it laid the groundwork for a possible series, which I look forward to. 

4/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Del Ray, for an a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

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We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter

 I like Karin Slaughter's Will Trent series, and We Are All Guilty Here promises to be the start of another good series with complex characters and an interesting setting. 

North Falls is a small southern town where everyone knows each other and their secrets. The Clifton family, comprising both wealthy and less affluent members, is prominent. Sheriff Gerald Clifton and his daughter, Officer Emmy Clifton, are called when two teenage girls go missing at the Fourth of July celebrations. Emmy feels guilty for turning away one of the girls who seemed distressed. With the clock ticking and few clues, law enforcement combs the area looking for the girls. During their investigation into the girls' lives, they uncover disturbing information that points to a dangerous lifestyle and, perhaps, those willing to kill to keep their secrets. 

This is a dynamite start to a new series. Emmy is a strong woman competing in a male-dominated world, and whose personal life is a mess. Combine this with an intricate plot and fast-paced action, and you'll get a page-turner that begs for more books featuring the Clifton family. I can't wait for the next in the series. 

4.5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is August 12, 2025.

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Blue Lightning by Ann Cleeves

 

This series is just getting better and better. With four books left before Jimmy Perez shows up in the Orkney Islands, and the start of a new series, I look forward to seeing how Cleeves will wrap up this series.

Jimmy returns to his roots on Fair Isle with his fiancée, Fran, to meet his parents. What he hoped would be some time well-spent with his loved ones ends when a famous woman is murdered at the local bird watching center. As Perez begins his investigation, he uncovers secrets in the woman's past and motives galore from the local inhabitants. A storm has isolated the island, so Perez is initially on his own as he tries to solve the murder. He enlists Fran and his father to help him, but in doing so, endangers them as he races to find the killer.

Although I've never visited the Shetland Islands, these books are giving me a good sense of their bleak and wild environment. Add well-drawn characters and suspenseful plots, and it adds up to a series that is hard to put down. Blue Lightning is a riveting, excellently written addition to the series. 

4.5/5 stars.

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