It's almost Christmas when Jimmy's long-time friend, Archie Stout, goes missing on the Orkney Island of Westray, and Jimmy finds his body. It is obvious that it was a premeditated murder, and with the weather holding back the help from Scotland's mainland, it's up to Jimmy and Willow to solve the murder. As they dig deeper into Archie's life, they find multiple suspects and one apparent motive. Following the leads, Jimmy and Willow narrow the suspect pool and close in on who they think murdered Archie.
Switching action between Jimmy and Willow, Cleeves does an excellent job of weaving suspects and motives together into a gripping novel. Once again, Cleeves makes the dramatic setting a feature that is every bit as interesting as the plot. I've never been disappointed by an Ann Cleeves novel. Her characters are always interesting, and her love for Scotland and its inhabitants is apparent. Her writing and pacing are second to none.
5/5 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 30, 2025.
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