description Red Bones Overview
Red Bones is a 2009 crime novel by Ann Cleeves and the third installment in her Shetland series featuring detective Jimmy Perez. Set principally on Whalsay, it begins when a woman is shot during an archaeological excavation and develops around local families, wartime history, and remains uncovered at the dig. Perez must determine whether the death was accidental or connected to older secrets within the close-knit island community.
insights Ranking position
Red Bones ranks #129 of 183 in the Detective Novel ranking, behind Payment in Blood, ahead of A Caribbean Mystery.
help Red Bones FAQ
Why is the shooting in Red Bones initially treated as an accident?
Mima Wilson is shot at night by a neighbor who says he mistook her for an intruder. Jimmy Perez investigates whether the death was truly accidental as tensions around a nearby archaeological excavation intensify.
Where in Shetland is Red Bones set?
Most of the novel takes place on Whalsay, an island east of Shetland's Mainland. The confined community and its interwoven families make local history central to the case.
What does the archaeological dig uncover in Red Bones?
The excavation is expected to explore an old merchant's house, but discoveries connect the site to more recent wartime history. Ann Cleeves uses the dig to expose secrets extending beyond the original shooting.
Which Jimmy Perez novel comes before Red Bones?
Red Bones is the third Shetland novel, following Raven Black and White Nights. It is followed by Blue Lightning, which takes Perez to Fair Isle.
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