Red Bones by Ann Cleeves -- a review

3. Red Bones Shetland Series Book 3 by Ann Cleeves

An old woman, Sandy Wilson’s grandmother Mima Wilson, stepped outside her house one night. She is shot and killed. It looks like a hunting accident.

Two young women have been conducting an archeological dig on her land. The discovery of old bones, combined with the memories of the islanders, help solve the mysterious murder but not before another killing increases grief and paranoia.

This is book three in the Shetland Islands series. It’s set on the off island of Walsay, which is home to Sandy Wilson, assistant to DI Jimmy Perez whose romantic partner, Fran Hunter, and her daughter Cassie are in London for most of the story. Also, English DI Roy Taylor from the Inverness office is not with the Shetland team during this investigation.

As usual with Ann Cleeves storytelling, the background story of the characters and the Island history enrich the mystery. We learn more about Sandy Wilson’s family and the story of the famous Shetland Bus, which was a special operations group of Norwegians who escaped during the Nazi takeover of Norway in 1940. You can learn more of the history at the Scalloway Museum on the main island.

I have a paperback version as part of a box set and recommend this volume to those who enjoy slow and thoughtful styles of British crime mysteries and appreciate learning new words that add to the texture of Shetland culture.

Buy Red Bones Paperback also an Audiobook

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You may find the book, Mind the Gap, interesting.

Mind the Gap…Between British and American Language & Culture

Available on AMAZON as a Paperback or Kindle Book

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