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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
Been very weird watching the TV series simultaneously with reading these books in order, because they are similar, but some of the stories are completely different from the books that they're based on... But this book KILLED me, I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING. :D
I learned ahead of time that Fran would die in this book, and still, it shook me. I liked her very much, and I must identify quite a bit with Jimmy (a person whose biography shares absolutely nothing with mine), because all I could think of at the end of the book was how could he possibly go on.
Reviewing a book after a shock like that is next to impossible. I try to imagine what I would have thought of the book if she had survived. I think this is what I would have said:
In this book, we learn a lot more about Jimmy, his family, and where he is coming from literally and figuratively. We learn a bit about birding as an obsessive pursuit, and a bit about lighthouse keeping, and a bit about cooking. DC Sandy Wilson continues to come into his own. Contrariwise, Jimmy Perez is losing some of the uncomplicated empathy that makes him so endearing and so frustrating to those who love him. And I thought it was the wife, not the husband, who was going to end up being the murderer, because anyone who could live with a flawed man like Fowler might have killed to protect him, deluding herself that it was all those women's fault--but I was wrong, and he was a wrong'un.
I wonder if [a:Ann Cleeves|56067|Ann Cleeves|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1262915904p2/56067.jpg] meant the series to end here, originally. I also wonder if she realizes the similarities between Jimmy Perez and Matthew Venn.
Reviewing a book after a shock like that is next to impossible. I try to imagine what I would have thought of the book if she had survived. I think this is what I would have said:
In this book, we learn a lot more about Jimmy, his family, and where he is coming from literally and figuratively. We learn a bit about birding as an obsessive pursuit, and a bit about lighthouse keeping, and a bit about cooking. DC Sandy Wilson continues to come into his own. Contrariwise, Jimmy Perez is losing some of the uncomplicated empathy that makes him so endearing and so frustrating to those who love him. And I thought it was the wife, not the husband, who was going to end up being the murderer, because anyone who could live with a flawed man like Fowler might have killed to protect him, deluding herself that it was all those women's fault--but I was wrong, and he was a wrong'un.
I wonder if [a:Ann Cleeves|56067|Ann Cleeves|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1262915904p2/56067.jpg] meant the series to end here, originally. I also wonder if she realizes the similarities between Jimmy Perez and Matthew Venn.
I don't know what to say. I have only been in this situation with Elizabeth George and I ended up just giving up on her series. I don't know if I will finish this series. I don't see the point. I am honestly so aggravated. Probably because the mystery/flow in this one was so good. And I loved the characters of Jimmy and Fran. Jimmy taking Fran to visit his mother and father and to have a celebration of their upcoming wedding was an interesting backdrop. And then the book went totally to [swear word] with like 10 percent to go. I almost didn't finish at that point. And don't get me started on the farcical ending. Too bad this book came out before How I Met Your Mother, because Cleeves in essence pulled a Ted Mobsy and I am just trying very hard to not punch a wall.
The good things were that we got to see more of where Jimmy came from. His parents, the island. And the bird watching portions of the book seem very well done. You have Jimmy feeling like this case is getting away from him (and it is). I think having him on the island with no help outside of Fran was a shame. Cleeves missed a great opportunity to have the character of Jane become Jimmy's Watson in this one. It would have been better than what she did instead with that character.
Yep, going to be mad for a while. Turning to romance reads for a bit.
The good things were that we got to see more of where Jimmy came from. His parents, the island. And the bird watching portions of the book seem very well done. You have Jimmy feeling like this case is getting away from him (and it is). I think having him on the island with no help outside of Fran was a shame. Cleeves missed a great opportunity to have the character of Jane become Jimmy's Watson in this one. It would have been better than what she did instead with that character.
Yep, going to be mad for a while. Turning to romance reads for a bit.
Another great book by Ann Cleeves. She never disappoints. I don´t know how she can keep coming up with great books.
Detective Jimmie Perez is taking his fiancé home to meet his parents on Fair Isle when a woman is found murdered. Jimmie is the only one there to investigate the murder and with a wild storm raging there is no way to get any help in. He has to do things the old fashioned way without his team and forensics. The woman murdered was a scientist working in the lighthouse that had been converted into a conservatory for studying birds. The door had been locked so the murdered had to be one of the people inside. Jimmie sets himself to the difficult task of interviewing everyone and gathering evidence on his own when he finds another woman murdered. Thankfully the weather lets up so he can get his team in to help with the case.
Detective Jimmie Perez is taking his fiancé home to meet his parents on Fair Isle when a woman is found murdered. Jimmie is the only one there to investigate the murder and with a wild storm raging there is no way to get any help in. He has to do things the old fashioned way without his team and forensics. The woman murdered was a scientist working in the lighthouse that had been converted into a conservatory for studying birds. The door had been locked so the murdered had to be one of the people inside. Jimmie sets himself to the difficult task of interviewing everyone and gathering evidence on his own when he finds another woman murdered. Thankfully the weather lets up so he can get his team in to help with the case.
Anne Cleeves you bitch.
*spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers*
Why oh why did she kill Fran? What a pointless and entirely avoidable death. Ack I'm so mad! It would have been much more interesting if John had killed Sarah and Fran had helped apprehend him.
Also I'm so annoyed she wrote about Jimmy sitting in on the interview with Hugh Shaw and then just had him tell the entire story to the fiscal. What was the point of repeating part of the story?
I've been enjoying these books, they're a slow burn and the writing is engaging but I'm so vexed that I won't be continuing the series for a while.
*spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers*
Why oh why did she kill Fran? What a pointless and entirely avoidable death. Ack I'm so mad! It would have been much more interesting if John had killed Sarah and Fran had helped apprehend him.
Also I'm so annoyed she wrote about Jimmy sitting in on the interview with Hugh Shaw and then just had him tell the entire story to the fiscal. What was the point of repeating part of the story?
I've been enjoying these books, they're a slow burn and the writing is engaging but I'm so vexed that I won't be continuing the series for a while.
Another classic Shetland mystery! The story almost takes a backseat to the landscape, Ann Cleeves has a gift for describing the wild islands that makes the reader feel as if they’re there, braving the wind and the cold!
Jimmy Perez is an outstanding character, flawed in the best ways, and pure in his obsession with putting things right.
Jimmy Perez is an outstanding character, flawed in the best ways, and pure in his obsession with putting things right.
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes