From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

Raven Black (Shetland, #1)

Ann Cleeves

Start date: April 15, 2025

Finish date: May 7, 2025

Discussion: Buddy reads

Why we're reading this: First book in an acclaimed series
[close] First book in an acclaimed series

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Buddy reads

* Starting/joining in with buddy reads
By Judy · 1342 posts · 372 views

last updated 4 hours, 12 min ago

* White Nights by Ann Cleeves (Shetland #2) (August/Sept 25)
By Susan · 29 posts · 12 views

last updated Sep 04, 2025 12:17PM

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What Members Thought

May 19, 2020 John rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: cwa-gold-dagger-winners, cleeves

I can understand why this novel won the Duncan Lawrie Dagger award for best crime novel. The ending is superb and I did not see coming. Catherine Ross is found murdered, strangled while the ravens peck out her eyes by Fran. The obvious suspect is Magnus Tait an elderly loner ostracized by the community and suspected of a little girl’s disappearance and murder.

Sally is Catherine’s best friend who lives with her scary teacher mum. Jimmy Perez the detective investigating the case is not prejudging ...more

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May 27, 2013 AngryGreyCat rated it really liked it

Raven Black is set in the Shetlands and is a moody atmospheric type thriller, which I really like. The characters are interesting and well fleshed out. The sense of place is done really well and you feel both the isolation of the location and the claustrophobic closeness of everyone knowing each other and their families for generations. I had read this years ago but reread it now because it is the monthly read at the Kindle English Mystery Book Club on Goodreads. If you haven’t read anything by ...more

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