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writings_of_a_reader's review against another edition
4.0
It’s midsummer in the Shetland Islands, the time of the white nights, when birds sing at midnight and the sun never sets. Artist Bella Sinclair throws an elaborate party to launch an exhibition of her work at The Herring House, a gallery on the beach.
The party ends in farce when one the guests, a mysterious Englishman, bursts into tears and claims not to know who he is or where he’s come from. The following day the Englishman is found hanging from a rafter, and Detective Jimmy Perez is convinced that the man has been murdered.
This is the second book in the Shetland Island series, and I enjoyed it just as much as the first one, although this one took a little bit longer to pull me into the story. There's something about the bleakness of the islands as the backdrop of the mystery that I really like about this series. The characters are ok, but it has taken me a little longer to feel attached to them, than I would normally have liked. I do like the main character, and that we are getting to peel back details of his past little by little, but I'm not as fond of the woman he is dating as I would like to be. That being said, the most important thing, is that the mystery keeps me intrigued, and so far that has been the case in both books. I'm hoping the next book is just as good.
Review also posted at Writings of a Reader
The party ends in farce when one the guests, a mysterious Englishman, bursts into tears and claims not to know who he is or where he’s come from. The following day the Englishman is found hanging from a rafter, and Detective Jimmy Perez is convinced that the man has been murdered.
This is the second book in the Shetland Island series, and I enjoyed it just as much as the first one, although this one took a little bit longer to pull me into the story. There's something about the bleakness of the islands as the backdrop of the mystery that I really like about this series. The characters are ok, but it has taken me a little longer to feel attached to them, than I would normally have liked. I do like the main character, and that we are getting to peel back details of his past little by little, but I'm not as fond of the woman he is dating as I would like to be. That being said, the most important thing, is that the mystery keeps me intrigued, and so far that has been the case in both books. I'm hoping the next book is just as good.
Review also posted at Writings of a Reader
sonjalinden's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
hkburke2's review against another edition
3.5
I liked this one better than the first in the series! Really building the place up as it's own character in a better way, for me. Still very slow, but I guess that's the vibe here.
kerry2727's review against another edition
2.0
I just couldn’t get hooked on this one! There’s so much unnecessary dialogue from small characters which makes it dull… the plot had potential but by the end I didn’t really care who the culprit was!
lambsears's review against another edition
4.0
I'm catching up on the early Shetland novels by Ann Cleeves and this was perfect airplane reading on the long haul to London, on my way to the Outer Hebrides, where a different series of mysteries was set.
Loved it.
Loved it.
helgamharb's review against another edition
2.0
i didn't get how the detective came to the conclusion who the culprit was
askatknits's review against another edition
4.0
Great book! So much better than book one of this series! I had clues as to who it might be early in the book and Ann Cleeves did not disappoint! Great character development also! I would recommend this book and plan to continue with the series.
bristlecone's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5