Blue Lightning by Ann Cleeves
Blue Lightning is the fourth book in the Shetland series. Discover how Jimmy Perez deals with a murder when he's stranded on Fair Isle with his fiancée.
Blue Lightning is the fourth book in the Shetland series and the last of the Four Seasons Quartet.
Jimmy Perez and his fiancée Fran visit Jimmy's childhood home of Fair Isle. But his personal trip is interrupted by a murder at the bird centre. With raging storms, the island is cut off and it's down to Jimmy to investigate and track down the killer by himself.
One of the enjoyable parts of returning to a series like Shetland is the blend of familiar elements like the lead character, along with something new in each book.
Ann Cleeves does this through the use of multiple points of view. As well as Jimmy's PoV, there are also PoVs from a couple of other characters, which bring new perspectives into the story and keep it fresh.
Blue Lightning also introduces us to the world of bird watching and the avid behaviour of people who travel hundreds of miles to spot a particular bird.
Having read some of the author's early books, the insights into birdwatching serve as a subtle callback to her first published novel, A Bird in the Hand. However, Blue Lightning is a far superior book that reflects the decades the author has spent honing her writing craft.
If you've read any of the other Shetland stories, you'll know how the suspense continues to build throughout the book. Blue Lightning is no different. The storm, the small Fair Isle community and the even smaller group of people at the bird observatory create an oppressive tension that runs through to the end.
As you know, there are no spoilers on Mostly Murder, but what I will say is the story has an emotional ending that cements this book as a 5-star read.
