From the Bookshelf of English Mysteries Club…

Raven Black (Shetland, #1)

Ann Cleeves

Start date: October 1, 2024

Finish date: October 31, 2024

Discussion: General Archive - current

Why we're reading this: Group read for October 2024
[close] Group read for October 2024

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General Archive - current

* English Mysteries Club Relaunch
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What Members Thought

Jan 03, 2021 Leslie rated it really liked it

Compelling and well written, Raven Black is as dark and enjoyable as the Ann Cleeves Vera Stanhope novels that I’ve read; however, the primary character of this series—Inspector Jimmy Perez—is much more sympathetic than Vera, whom I like but who has—shall we say—an edge.

The Shetland Islands setting was what drew me to this series, and I wasn’t disappointed; Cleeves again captures atmospheric details that offer a true sense of place and introduces some terrific characters that I only hope appear ...more

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Nov 02, 2019 Ann rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-2019, kindle, kindle-library, kindle-read, group-read

Shetland Island is an isolated, cold place and that atmosphere permeates the mysteries of a missing and a murdered girl. I will read more of the series and research the geography; I found myself lost at times and intrigued by the area and customs.

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Sep 19, 2020 Carol/Bonadie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I’ve long wanted to read the first in this series about DI Jimmy Perez in a remote hamlet in the Shetland Islands in Scotland (and the basis of the BBC series Shetland). A resident finds the body of a young girl, and suspicion falls on a mentally simple man who lives alone nearby. But of course it’s more complicated than it appears, and I enjoyed the development of the characters and the denouement. The storytelling reminded me of Elizabeth George’s Thomas Lynley series, which is a supreme compl ...more

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Apr 12, 2014 Lillian rated it liked it

Shelves: mystery-modern-cozy

3.5 stars - A good read but the ending left me a little disappointed. The characters were well written. But the overall plot was a little dry. I like a few more twists or red herrings. The main character has potential and I will give the second in the series a try.

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