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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Red Bones by Ann Cleeves

 

In this third book in the Shetland Island series, Cleeves sets it on a smaller island with the same atmospheric environment and interesting characters as her previous novels.

Bones are discovered on an archeological dig on Mima Wilson's land. Mima, who is Perez's assistant Sandy Wilson's grandmother, is then found shot to death in what appears to be an accidental shooting. As Jimmy begins his investigation, he begins to doubt that the shooting is accidental. Mima didn't have many friends on the small island, and her personality created some enemies. The islanders hold secrets, and it's up to Perez and Sandy to find the truth.

I enjoyed the portrayal of life on the small island and the tension between the islanders. Their desire to keep the past hidden created a challenge for Perez. The past and present combine to create an excellent whodunit that kept me turning pages. Cleeves does a fantastic job of keeping the identity of the killer a secret right up to the end. 

4.5/5 stars.

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The Good Liar by Denise Mina

 I like Denise Mina; I can always count on her for an intriguing plot and interesting characters. The Good Liar has both of these, plus a moral dilemma that challenges moral compasses.

Claudia O'Sheil has developed a blood spatter model that has been relied upon as forensic evidence in trials for years; however, it is now being challenged. If the model proves to have inaccuracies, it will reopen cases dating back years and end her career. As she begins to doubt her work, she is called to a ruthless murder of a wealthy man and his fiancée, only to find the man's son is being framed for the murder based on her forensic model. With her career and her son's future in jeopardy, she must decide whether to speak up or let a murderer go free. 

This is a thought-provoking book. Switching back and forth in time, the book follows Claudia on her moral journey from the time of the murder to a speech where she can either keep quiet or commit professional suicide. Mina holds the tension throughout and produces a provocative novel as well as a good murder mystery. 

4/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Mulholland Books, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is July 29, 2025.

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