THE KILLING STONES Jimmy Perez and Willow Reeves, Book 1; Shetland, Book 9

Kenny Blyth's warm Scottish accent and facility with creating characters make him the ideal narrator for Ann Cleeves's new series featuring Detective Jimmy Perez and his partner, Willow Reeves. They're now living on the Orkney Islands after moving from the Shetlands. Perez's best friend is found beaten to death with an ancient stone during an archaeological dig on Westray. Then a popular teacher is found stuffed into the Maeshowe tomb on Orkney, having been beaten with a matching stone. Blyth fully inhabits these windswept islands steeped in ancient history, now filled with bartenders, artists, and academics. He slightly softens his voice for Willow, adopts a buttoned-up tone for the teacher's very proper lover, and adds an entitled edge for visiting archaeologists who may have plagiarized local knowledge. A.B. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2025]