Quite a little ripper of a murder mystery, set in the Shetland Islands. The body of a young women is found in the snow, eight years after another young local girl went missing. This time, as before, suspicion falls on local recluse Magnus, who seems to know more than he’s telling. Cleeves cleverly constructs the claustrophobic atmosphere of a small, freezing community on the outskirts of the world: it seems no one takes a step in Shetland without someone else witnessing it, and passing judgement. This 2006 novel won the Gold dagger award; it is quietly gripping and every character well fledged out. If you like it, there’s plenty more in the Shetland Island series. A real gem.
