Ann Cleeves' bestselling series of crime novels, featuring Detective Jimmy Perez, and now also adapted for a major BBC television series, draw their inspiration from the place in which they take place: Shetland. An archipelago of more than a hundred islands, it is the one of the most remote places in the United Kingdom. Its fifteen hundred miles of shore mean that wherever one stands, there is a view of the sea. It has sheltered voes and beaches and dramatically exposed cliffs, lush meadows full of wild flowers in the summer and bleak hilltops where only the hardiest of plants will grow. It is a place where traditions are valued and celebrated, but new technologies and ways of working are also embraced. In this gloriously illustrated companion to her novels, Ann Cleeves takes readers through a year on Shetland, learning about its past, meeting its people, celebrating its festivals and seeing how the flora and fauna of the islands changes with the seasons. Whether it is the drama of the Viking fire festival of Up Helly Aa in winter, or the piercing blue and hot pink of spring flowers on the clifftops, the long, white nights of midsummer or the fierce gales and high tides of autumn, Shetland is vividly captured in all its bleak and special beauty.
Ann Cleeves
Ann Cleeves is a British author known for her crime fiction novels, particularly the Vera Stanhope and Shetland series. Her works are characterized by intricate plots, well-developed characters, and vivid descriptions of the natural landscapes of Northumberland and the Shetland Islands. Cleeves has made significant contributions to the genre of British detective fiction, drawing praise for her ability to create compelling mysteries that keep readers guessing until the very end. Her most famous work is "The Crow Trap," the first book in the Vera Stanhope series, which was later adapted into a popular television series. Cleeves' writing has garnered critical acclaim and a dedicated following of fans worldwide.