A TOP 5 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER IN BOTH HARDBACK AND PAPERBACK 'Fantastic. Ann Cleeves is a stone cold genius' - Marian Keyes, Sunday Times bestselling author of My Favorite Mistake 'Everything Ann Cleeves writes is incredible' - Richard Osman, No. 1 bestselling author of The Thursday Murder Club For the first time since the beloved Shetland series, Detective Jimmy Perez is back. He's traded the stark beauty of Shetland for the wild isolation of Orkney, but the darkness of human nature follows him everywhere. When a ferocious storm rages across the islands, it leaves behind more than just damage: it uncovers the body of Archie Stout, a popular, larger-than-life member of the community. The murder weapon? A Neolithic stone, bearing cryptic, ancient inscriptions. Now living in Orkney with his partner, Willow, and their young son, Perez is drawn into a case that is chillingly personal-Archie was a friend from his own childhood. And the island is full of familiar faces, all of whom are potential suspects in the killing. Perez must immerse himself in the lives of the islanders, separating truth from local legend before a desperate killer can strike again . . . and threaten the new life he's desperately trying to build. 'Expertly plotted and mesmerizing' - Mick Herron, author of Slow Horses 'Bold and dramatic, with a restless love of landscape' - Val McDermid, author of Past Lying 'Like snuggling up with dear friends . . . a complex mystery with vivid setting and beloved characters' - Tess Gerritsen, author of The Summer Guests 'A masterpiece in character and location. Welcome back, Jimmy Perez!' - M. W. Craven, author of Nobody's Hero 'Unmatched elegance, ingenious plots, and deep characters. Worth every minute' - David Baldacci, author of The 6:20 Man 'Jimmy Perez is a fine creation' - Peter Robinson, author of the DCI Banks series The Killing Stones by Ann Cleeves sees the return of Detective Jimmy Perez

Ann Cleeves is the author of more than thirty-five critically acclaimed novels, and in 2017 was awarded the highest accolade in crime writing, the CWA Diamond Dagger. She is the creator of popular detectives Vera Stanhope, Jimmy Perez and Matthew Venn, who can be found on television in ITV's Vera, BBC One's Shetland and ITV's The Long Call respectively. The TV series and the books they are based on have become international sensations, capturing the minds of millions worldwide. Ann worked as a probation officer, bird observatory cook and auxiliary coastguard before she started writing. She is a member of 'Murder Squad', working with other British northern writers to promote crime fiction. Ann also spends her time advocating for reading to improve health and wellbeing and supporting access to books. In 2021, her Reading for Wellbeing project launched with local authorities across the North East. She lives in Northumberland, where the Vera books are set.