katdid's review against another edition
3.0
This felt like a really low-key entry in the series, like all the violence and drama was held at arm’s length.
Spoiler
Even Willow and Jimmy have v little interaction, and things are left fairly ambiguously.lazygal's review against another edition
4.0
This can't be the last Shetland book?! Sigh. At least it's ending on a good note, with enough left open should the author revisit the series. As far as mystery goes, there are parts that were easy to predict (like whodunnit and why) but the characters are so well drawn that it didn't matter.
If you've watched the tv version, you may (like me) be surprised by Cassie being much younger in the books than on tv. That doesn't actually matter to the book in terms of plot, except where Duncan is concerned, but it's one more reminder of how things changed between the two.
If you've watched the tv version, you may (like me) be surprised by Cassie being much younger in the books than on tv. That doesn't actually matter to the book in terms of plot, except where Duncan is concerned, but it's one more reminder of how things changed between the two.
anetq's review against another edition
4.0
Ann Cleeves finished off the Shetland series with another hit. As always does a great job of writing so it's readable as a standalone, but giving enough details to catch up with the characters - also for those of us who just forgot the details since reading the last one. Jimmi Perez is our man on the job to sort out the doctor's nanny hanged in the knitwear designers barn...
thebooktrail88's review against another edition
4.0
What a fitting tribute and farewell to Jimmy Perez. Having followed him and his cases since book one, this is the last in the series and there’s a very fitting ending although it’s a new start for many characters.
As for the case before that though. An interesting one. A woman comes to see Perez at home as she knew his wife, knows Cassie and has a problem. She moved to the village recently and now lives in a house where a man was previously murdered. Now that barn, the scene of the crime is the scene of something more and a case involving regret, despair and...well to tell you anything else is to give the game away and you have to say farewell to Jimmy yourself.
As ever, the setting of Lerwick and Shetland with a visit to Orkney is aptly and nicely done. The author loves this part of the world and it shows. Nearby islands are referred to, historical sites, local landmarks yes but also the names of birds, the type of food, sayings particular to the area, and in this novel, the Summer Solstice and the Helly Aa festival.
A roaring fire and fitting ending of a novel. Bye Jimmy, we’ll miss you!
As for the case before that though. An interesting one. A woman comes to see Perez at home as she knew his wife, knows Cassie and has a problem. She moved to the village recently and now lives in a house where a man was previously murdered. Now that barn, the scene of the crime is the scene of something more and a case involving regret, despair and...well to tell you anything else is to give the game away and you have to say farewell to Jimmy yourself.
As ever, the setting of Lerwick and Shetland with a visit to Orkney is aptly and nicely done. The author loves this part of the world and it shows. Nearby islands are referred to, historical sites, local landmarks yes but also the names of birds, the type of food, sayings particular to the area, and in this novel, the Summer Solstice and the Helly Aa festival.
A roaring fire and fitting ending of a novel. Bye Jimmy, we’ll miss you!
bgg616's review against another edition
4.0
I love this series, and was glad to get back to one of the books. Shetland, as it is called by who live there, refers to the entire archipelago and includes 16 inhabited islands. The TV series is wonderful but the details about Jimmy Perez, the police inspector who works out of Lerwick on the main island, are quite different in the books. The personality is very much the same - taciturn, self contained, compassionate, lonely, and a very good police inspector. But the details of his personal life, his early life, his looks (blond on TV, dark good looks that go with the name Perez in the books) are quite different.
In this final installment of the Shetland series, which began as a quartet and became a series of eight, there is a suicide, a murder, and then a second murder in a tiny community in the northern part of the main island. Inspector Willow Reeves comes from the mainland to assist in the investigation after the first murder. She and Jimmy have connected before so we wonder through the novel what will become of their "relationship". Sandy Wilson is ever stalwart and has a girlfriend.
This was 4 to 4 1/2 stars to me. I resisted the temptation to rate it 5 stars because I love Shetland and I love the series. It was a good story, but it took its time to get there. Goodbye Jimmy. But I am happy to know that the TV series is continuing. In fact, as I write this, a new series is being filmed in Shetland : )
In this final installment of the Shetland series, which began as a quartet and became a series of eight, there is a suicide, a murder, and then a second murder in a tiny community in the northern part of the main island. Inspector Willow Reeves comes from the mainland to assist in the investigation after the first murder. She and Jimmy have connected before so we wonder through the novel what will become of their "relationship". Sandy Wilson is ever stalwart and has a girlfriend.
This was 4 to 4 1/2 stars to me. I resisted the temptation to rate it 5 stars because I love Shetland and I love the series. It was a good story, but it took its time to get there. Goodbye Jimmy. But I am happy to know that the TV series is continuing. In fact, as I write this, a new series is being filmed in Shetland : )
beccamonster44's review against another edition
4.0
I’m so sad that this is the end of this series. The characters are too good to leave behind.
bryanfarmer's review against another edition
5.0
Can't believe I'm done with the series! Lovely ending (I liked all the symbolism to fire in the book), and I really enjoyed all the character development. So good!
wonderstories's review against another edition
mysterious
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
4.0