A review by annevoi
Blue Lightning by Ann Cleeves

3.0

I read the first of the Shetland Islands quartet shortly after returning from a trip to that beguiling place, and very much enjoyed it. Recently I was bookless before a transatlantic flight, and there was Blue Lightning, so I picked it up. I found it rather slow going, and perhaps because I hadn't read the second and third books, I didn't feel especially attached to the couple of Jimmy and Fran. They were interesting enough as characters, but seemed not all that well developed. I didn't understand why the POV kept shifting, either--from Jane to Dougie and back to Jimmy. Nor did I understand exactly why the last woman was killed. To finish off the series is not a good enough reason, and by then the jig was certainly up, so killing her served no purpose of self-protection. And to say the murderer was just crazy is a cop-out. So... not entirely satisfied. But I will go back and read the second and third books as well, because I do enjoy the Shetland theme.