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A review by tracey_stewart
Raven Black by Ann Cleeves
4.0
Well, I sure didn't see THAT coming. The ending of this is almost enough to make me go back and listen to the whole thing again, with the ending in mind, to see if I pick up on any hints or clues. Because I sure as sure didn't pick up a single one the first time around. (It's a bit comforting to see others' reviews stating that they were thrown for a loop too.)
I love the tv series Shetland, which is why I gave this book a second chance after it didn't click with me the first time I tried listening, and why I bought it in the first place. I love Jimmy Perez - at least Douglas Henshall plays the character right, as far as I can tell, even though he looks absolutely nothing like the character description. (It is weird - I don't think his last name is ever explained in the series.) I'm very glad I did give it the second chance, because now I have a new author I can turn to when I want something just solid and good.
One of my only reasons for not giving this five stars - and I say this with full recognition that it may be all my own fault - is that I kept getting thoroughly confused about how old characters were - one minute Catherine is described as a schoolgirl and was treated as such, the next she comes off as a worldly and sophisticated adult, and was apparently treated as such. I had to keep reminding myself that she was 16. I thought Robert was about 18, then thought - wait, he sounds like he's in his 30's, or older? I have no idea. (That one was in part due to point of view - Sally certainly saw him as a full adult - but not entirely, I don't think.) Even the little one, Cassie, seemed like barely more than a toddler for a time, and then started presenting like a thirteen year old.
That aside, though, the characters were well-written and engaging. It was easy to both dislike and feel for the murdered girl, and to empathize with poor Fran (I hope she catches some breaks soon), and both empathize and become deeply annoyed by Catherine's and Cassie's fathers. I enjoyed the writing. And I still really like Jimmy Perez. Can't wait for more.
I love the tv series Shetland, which is why I gave this book a second chance after it didn't click with me the first time I tried listening, and why I bought it in the first place. I love Jimmy Perez - at least Douglas Henshall plays the character right, as far as I can tell, even though he looks absolutely nothing like the character description. (It is weird - I don't think his last name is ever explained in the series.) I'm very glad I did give it the second chance, because now I have a new author I can turn to when I want something just solid and good.
One of my only reasons for not giving this five stars - and I say this with full recognition that it may be all my own fault - is that I kept getting thoroughly confused about how old characters were - one minute Catherine is described as a schoolgirl and was treated as such, the next she comes off as a worldly and sophisticated adult, and was apparently treated as such. I had to keep reminding myself that she was 16. I thought Robert was about 18, then thought - wait, he sounds like he's in his 30's, or older? I have no idea. (That one was in part due to point of view - Sally certainly saw him as a full adult - but not entirely, I don't think.) Even the little one, Cassie, seemed like barely more than a toddler for a time, and then started presenting like a thirteen year old.
That aside, though, the characters were well-written and engaging. It was easy to both dislike and feel for the murdered girl, and to empathize with poor Fran (I hope she catches some breaks soon), and both empathize and become deeply annoyed by Catherine's and Cassie's fathers. I enjoyed the writing. And I still really like Jimmy Perez. Can't wait for more.