When a violent storm descends upon Orkney, the body of Archie Stout is left in its wake. An unusual murder weapon, a Neolithic stone bearing ancient inscriptions, is found discarded nearby. Archie was a popular, larger-than-life character, and his death is a shocking blow to the community.

Detective Jimmy Perez, no stranger to the complexity of human nature and the darkness it can harbour, is soon on the scene. He counted Archie as a childhood friend, so this case is more personal than most. Now living in Orkney with his partner, Willow, and their son, Perez is soon drawn into the lives of the islanders, many of whom hold secrets. Dark secrets, which could have led to the man’s murder.

Here, in these ancient lands where history runs deep, Perez must discern the truth from legend before a desperate killer strikes again . . .

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'Ann Cleeves is one of our secret chroniclers, charting – under cover of a series of expertly plotted and mesmerizing crime novels' - Mick Herron, bestselling author of Slow Horses

'Reading a new Jimmy Perez novel is like snuggling up with dear friends around a crackling fire . . . a complex mystery, beloved characters, and a setting so vivid you can feel the chill of wind and rain on your face' - Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author of The Summer Guests

'It’s a new island and a new chapter for Perez and his family, but in the extraordinary hands of Ann Cleeves — surely one of our greatest ever crime writers? . . . It's a masterpiece in character and location — welcome back Jimmy Perez!' - M. W. Craven, bestselling author of Nobody's Hero

'Ann Cleeves’s elegance as a wordsmith, the ingenuity of her plots, and the depth of her characters can be matched by few writers . . . This novel is more than worth every minute you spend with it' - David Baldacci, bestselling author of To Die For

'Jimmy Perez is a fine creation’ – Peter Robinson, author of the DCI Banks series