Customer Reviews

Blue Lightning

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In her first book in this series, Raven Black: Book One of the Shetland Island Quartet, Ann Cleeves convinced me that she could combine wonderful character studies, a gripping mystery and a sense of place to produce one of the best new murder mysteries I had read in a while. In this book, her quartet of novels set in Britain's remote Shetland Islands ends with a wallop that left me reeling.

Jimmy Perez takes his fiancee, artist Fran Hunter, to Fair Isle -- the most remote inhabited island in all of Scotland -- to meet his parents. They land, only to be promptly cut off from the rest of the world by storms. On this isolated island, a murder takes place within an even more isolated community: that of a nature preserve and the bird enthusiasts and their family members and hangers on, who inhabit a renovated lighthouse. Without access to forensics or other assistance from the outside world, Perez must solve the murder, one which threatens to come far too close to home for his own comfort.

It's hard to review this without delivering a massive spoiler about the outcome. I'll note that I found Cleeves' birdcrumb trail leading to the culprit to be convincing and the motive for the crime both chilling and compelling. Perez's struggle to deal with his conflicting loyalties -- could his father know something about the crime? how can he keep Fran out of the investigation when she is fretting about being confined to his family home with nothing to do except talk to his mother? -- with his professional responsibilities.

The ending was so dramatic that I ended up watching several hours of the Olympics before I could face going to bed; I was actually afraid I'd end up with nightmares.

Recommended to fans of well-written, character-driven mysteries. Cleeves has much in common with Val McDermid, although her books aren't nearly as gritty or violent as McDermid's; she could be compared to the better Colin Dexter "Morse" books or even to P.D. James, in some ways. It only takes her a few sentences to give the reader an understanding and sympathy for one of the characters, and by this book, I had a real mental picture of both Perez and Fran Hunter.

If you're starting on this series, however, do NOT start with this book. Read them in order -- after Raven Black comes White Nights: A Thriller (Shetland Island Quartet) and then Red Bones (Shetland Quartet 3). I'll be sad to say good buy to Jimmy and Fran, but it's hard to see where she could take the series next; I'll just have to seek out more of her other books, of which there do seem to be many in the UK.

I am a big Ann Cleeves fan to begin with and the latest book - and sadly last - in her Shetland Quartet series proves again what an amazing writer she is. It is important to reiterate what another reviewer noted and that is: you must read the books in order. Do not start with Blue Lightning or you will cheat yourself out of three other superb mysteries, not to mention the critical backstories and character development that takes place over each of them.

It's difficult not to give too much away but suffice to say, this book was a stunner. Set in Fair Isle (an isolated island off Scotland, near Shetland) Cleeves masterfully weaves the stark and unforgiving locale into the story so well, it practically becomes a character unto itself.

For those readers new to the series, Detective Jimmy Perez, a native to Fair Isle, returns for a brief visit to introduce his fiancee Fran to his family. When a murder takes place, Jimmy is forced to pursue the investigation as travel to/from the island is impossible due to severe storm conditions. The tension and suspense are palpable as the storm's intensity mounts, along with the tempers and fears of the people stuck on the island.

Jimmy's hunt for the killer as another murder occurs only rachets up the sense of urgency and concern for Fran, his family and friends. The ending is dramatic, chilling and will stay with you long after you finish the book. Do yourself a big favor and read the book!

This is #4 in Cleeves' Shetland series
1. Raven Black (2006) my rating 4.6
2. White Nights (2008) my rating 4.5
3. Red Bones (2009) my rating 4.7
4. Blue Lightning (2010)
and it really is a case where you MUST read them in order to get the most out of the threads that run through them. But as you can see I have given all of them a very high rating, so it really will be a pleasure rather than a chore.

Even as Fran arrives on Fair Isle to meet Jimmy's family, the weather closes in. The island becomes isolated. Planes and helicopters can't get in, and neither is there access for boats. Those on the island must stay and no-one can come in. This gives Ann Cleeves the perfect "locked room" scenario, and the perfect setting for the inevitable murder. But no-one expected Angela, warden of the island's research centre, scientist, bird authority, and TV star to be murdered.

Cleeves intensifies the locks so to speak by ensuring that the lighthouse where Angela is murdered has also been locked so that the murderer has to be one of those inside at the time, not a member of the wider island community.

The cutting off of the island by the weather allows the author to explore how suitable Fran, essentially a city girl, will be as Jimmy Perez' wife. Fran gets a chance to see Jimmy work at first hand and to understand that his isn't a 9 to 5 job. The isolation of Fair Isle also puts pressure on Jimmy to complete his investigation before the weather improves and the island is again open to incomers and twitchers. Things are complicated by a second murder, that of the housekeeper/cook.

I thoroughly enjoyed BLUE LIGHTNING. Cleeves does an excellent job of depicting characters, building tension, laying red herrings. I found myself going over plot points and trying to work out what I had missed. To be caught up in a novel to that extent is quite unusual for me and a tribute to Ann Cleeves' skill.

I am more impressed with this writer than with any new writer I have sampled in several years. Blue Lightning is the final book of her quartet that takes place in the Shetland Islands of Scotland (the northernmost point, located about halfway between Scotland and Denmark, in the North Sea). Ms. Cleeves gives a picture and a feel for the area without long paragraphs of description. The characters are well developed and interesting. The plot (and sub-plots) are compelling. A mystery, yes, but more than a mystery. Fascinating reading--I couldn't put it down. Though each book in the quartet can be read seperately, I'd suggest starting with the first (Raven Black) to get the full impact.

I've not read this last book of the Shetland Islands Quartet but I've found the first three books to be utterly enjoyable and they've cast the Islands as an enticing travel destination. Based on the almost "travelogue" descriptions of the place and the people I'm planning a visit there Summer 2011 and I'd say that's great credit to Ann Cleeves.
If you can write about horrific crimes and still have the locale seem so appealing that also says a good deal about the series.