Welcome to Litsy!

Twenty past one in the morning on New Year‘s Day.
#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

Since I'm doing the #CaPBuddyread (although it seems to have become a solo project) and Crime & Punishment should count as Crime In Translation, I figured I might as well join @RaeLovesToRead in her #ChristmasCrimeChallenge. I'm using the tagged book for Seasonal. (Murder takes place shortly after Hogmanay). I have an Agatha Christie and a Supernatural lined up, so if I can get a Recommendation I'll manage max no. of books without a Tic-Tac-Toe 😂

This kept me entertained during several early morning wakeups—hello 3am, I see you…again…and again (fortunately not back to back to back). The case of a missing girl presumed dead resurfaces when another one is found murdered—fantastic setting and likable characters make up for the occasionally clunky writing. The first in a series, I liked this one enough I‘ll probably continue with the series in the future.

Trust jet lag to give you a little extra reading time while on vacation…tagged book is keeping me company after a fun day of touring Norway. It‘s our first time here and the scenery is something else!

Long weekend read!

I loved the Shetland series by BBC and have always wanted to read the series.
After a lot of cooking today, I finally deserve some rest! 😇

Great book! Can't wait to continue with the series and maybe catch the TV show. The author kept you guessing.

📸 from NorthLink Ferries

This book was SO good! It kept me guessing right up until the last chapter. Every time I thought I had figured it out, something happened to make me think again.
Thank you, @TheAromaofBooks , for selecting it as one of my #TrappedOnAnIsland choices! @aperfectmjk
#UKRoadTrip (Shetland) @jenniferw88 #BigFabBeatles (Band on the Run) @CSeydel

A young woman's body is found in a field in Shetland near where a young girl went missing 8 years ago. Jimmy Perez is the local lead detective.

I realised early on who it wasn't but really didn't see the ending coming and who the real culprit was.

Twenty past one in the morning on New Year‘s Day.

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

Finally get to start #scarathlon2022 #black day 1 prompt pick. I read four short stories & a chapter today during the #readathon my time is limited bc of children but I‘m out here trying! #20in4 @Andrew65

My #TBR for #Scarathlon2022 👻let‘s go #teammonstermash 😈 I‘m not sure I‘ll get to all of them but I intend to! #bujo #earlybirdpoints

#alphabetgame #letterR

My first physical book in awhile, did a book haul at our library sale this one caught my eye
A mystery set in the Shetland Islands,getting used to the dialect took a little bit to get used to but I enjoyed the atmosphere and culture and I thought it was well written.

Thought I‘d try a new crime author as I always seem to stick with the same ones I like. Unfortunately I found this rather slow paced and boring plus I didn‘t feel the characters were very well written. It started out well but then I found myself unable to ficus at times. I did manage to finish it so it wasn‘t dreadful but won‘t be in a hurry to pick up any more from this author

Bailed on this one. It was just slow as molasses. I'm all for atmosphere - love Tana French and Dervla McTiernan and a good Gothic mystery. But I truly do not need to know about the size and shape of every single blade of grass in the entire Shetlands. Also, I could not stop rolling my eyes at the fact that there were siblings called Magnus and Agnes. Even if there was a plot twist there later, I just couldn't. Magnus and Agnes. Good grief.

This was the year we were supposed to go to Shetland. I purposely made Raven Black my pick for my January Books and Brews because I knew I would want to reread the Series before we went. And because it's a great choice for January as it takes place starting at New Years and going through Up Helly Aa. We've decided to postpone our trip so instead I will be traveling to Shetland via Book. ⬇️

#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView @Eggs Thanks for the tag!

Usually I like fast moving plots but I like what the author Ann Cleeves does. Her killer is hard to guess because she releases plot twists throughout the book which are mostly red herrings then the last plot twist discloses the killer which is a big surprise. So hard to guess the killer in her books 📚

The first book in her Shetland series is Black Raven.

"Outside it was completely silent. There was no sound of wind. In Shetland, when there was no wind it was shocking. People strained their ears and wondered what was missing."

Perfect day for by the fire my #irlbookclub January Read for the Theme of Cold Book by a Warm Fire. I binged read this series about 4 years ago. Looking forward to reread.

Fun Fact it's warmer in Shetland 45 F/7C than Oklahoma today 28F /-2C
???????????

The placeness of the Shetland Islands in the first book of this series is well-written and also has a large impact on how characters interact or trust one another, or don't. So when a local young woman's dead body is found, many of the locals can't help but connect it to a child's disappearance that was never solved. Everyone assumes the local loner is the culprit but that might be too easy.

First book in the excellent Shetlands Series by Ann Cleeves. I totally recommend this series.

#Raven #Haunted

https://youtu.be/9uee_VeS5pE

Last review for the morning and since I just finished this one last night I think I am as caught up as I am going to worry about haha I have been meaning to read this series forever and the first book did not disappoint! I loved the pacing, the setting, and the characters, and felt like the red herrings were well laid. I felt so sorry for Magnus tho! Definitely looking forward to reading the rest!!

#SeriesRead2021 @TheSpineView
#BookSpinBingo

So I wasn‘t crazy about this book. It felt like I couldn‘t get to know the characters, kind of like they fell a little flat. It also felt like some of the story was rushed and other parts drug out without it really benefiting it. I‘ll definitely give the rest of the series a shot though! 3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

It‘s been a long week with little enthusiasm to read. I‘m glad it‘s the weekend and hoping to finish this soon!😁

Chemo cycle 6!!! And prayerfully the last one!!! 😀 I‘m going to spend the day in Shetland! #20in4

New series on day 2 of #20in4 I‘m finally getting around to reading this book after owning it for 4 years! 🤦‍♀️

A intriguing mystery. 3.75/5 Read for the February #buzzwordathon - colours

Loved the suspense, the characters and the setting! Can‘t wait to watch the series!

A thriller? Ooookay. I‘m so bored and the writing is so bland. #unpopularopinion

Another new series for me!

5 🌟

Book 33 #murder2020 @Tove_Reads

337pts #teamreadnosedreindeer #tbrbook #wintergames2020 @StayCurious

#bookreport week 19/12/20 @Cinfhen

Started top 2
Continued In These Times
Finished bottom 3

245pts #teamreadnosedreindeer #wintergames2020 @StayCurious

I think I‘ll read more of this author.

Fair Isle in Shetland gave its name to the unique knitting designs on the islands‘ most famous woollen #sweater s. The knitwear gained popularity when the Prince of Wales wore one in public in 1921. Det. Jimmy Perez from the Shetland series hails from Fair Isle. These pics were taken by photographer Chris Morphet where he documented the lives of Shetland islanders & the distinctive designs which are still influencing fashion today.
#wordsofoctober

I tried reading this a year ago or so and could not get into it. BUT! I started listening to it yesterday while cleaning and I didn‘t want to stop. Damn, what a twisty story!

Just finished this first book in the Shetland series and I loved it. I love the Vera series but had no idea that Ann Cleeves is not only the author of those books but of this series as well until someone here turned me to it. I am very grateful that happened because I loved the writing and the mystery, it kept me guessing til the very end.

Day 1 of #20Series20Days #Top20Series

Shetland will always be one of my favourite series. Love the atmospheric feel of them being set in the Shetlands. Love the characters and the island feels like a character too. As for the shock in Blue Lightning! 😱 Anne Cleeves does know how to write a great detective series but does keep her cards very close to her chest. Keeps you guessing until the reveal. Love Jimmy Perez!

#ManicMonday #LetterR

Raven Black
Richard Bachman (see what I did there!)
Rear Window
REO Speedwagon
Radio GaGa

Thanks for the tag @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 💕💕💕

Just starting the Shetland Island series and I loved this! I was sure I new who was responsible for the recent murders. Boy was I wrong; great twist!

Jimmy Perez is investigating the strangulation of a young “incoming” woman. Many of the islanders are quick to blame an older, mentally challenged man, who they believe escaped prosecution in the past for the murder of a young girl.

Great sense of place, great characters.

Excellent mystery! I really enjoyed this and look forward to reading more books in this series. The only time I‘ve seen ravens was at the Tower of London, and my attempts at pictures weren‘t very good. So I‘m using a picture from inside the White Tower.

Decisions, decisions! I‘m well into Nefertiti, I started the Prime first reads book I chose, and now this, which I‘ve had on hold for a couple weeks, came up via Cloud Library. I rarely have more than one novel going at a time, and I don‘t think I‘ve ever done three. This may be a first😄

Fast-paced mystery/thriller novel about a girl who was murdered and everyone (including the police) believes it‘s the outcasted old man in town. However, the detective on the case has doubts. My #booked2020 pick for #TartanNoir

I don‘t usually consider mysteries as a genre I enjoy but lately I have been reading more of them. Set in Shetland when a young girl‘s murdered body is discovered everyone jumps to the conclusion that the old man they have shunned for years is the killer. Inspector Perez doesn‘t like easy answers, he likes concrete proof. I didn‘t love the ending but I am already eyeing the next book in the series. #tartannoir #booked2020

This is a fabulous introduction to the Shetland Island series featuring DI Jimmy Perez in the remote archipelago of Scotland, where the community is close, and deep in their culture. What stand out are the fantastic setting, and characterisation, especially of DI Perez. The slow pace may not be for everyone, but it‘s very atmospheric, and I find it compelling.

#Booked2020 #tartannoir
#mandmchallenge2020 #faraway

‘Fair Isle in Shetland gave its name to the unique, multi-coloured knitting designs on the islands‘ famous woollen sweaters. It is claimed that these designs were copied from the clothing worn by shipwrecked Spanish sailors from the Armada and the patterns are different from the Norwegian knitting patterns.‘
I don‘t know anything about knitting but for those who knit, you‘ll probably know the difference. Tagging @Lindy as I know you knit a lot!😊

A great start to a series and perfect accompaniment to chores. Set in Devonshire, where everyone knows or thinks they know everyone‘s business, a cold case and a new murder prove that assumption wrong. Can‘t wait to see where this series goes, a lot of good character development set up for future books.

This book starts with one of the saddest paragraphs I have ever read then goes on to introduce the reader to a range of interesting characters and a location that is a character in its own right. The reveals of what exactly happened to the various missing and dead girls was very well set up so even though I didn't really see them coming (⬇️) both reveals made perfect sense. I really liked Jimmy and Fran. I expect I'll be continuing this series.

Laundry*, NFL playoffs, a good book... Sunday, you're my favorite. (*To be clear, I strongly dislike doing laundry but I enjoy the feeling of satisfaction when it's done)

#bookandbedandtea #happyplace

I‘m cheating a little with this. While it‘s not entirely #setonnewyearsday it does start on New Year‘s Eve (Hogmanay) and continues through January to Up Helly Aa and the burning of a Viking boat.

I was hoping to get back to Scotland on the way to #readingretreat2020 but the logistics of that were making my head explode. So instead I‘ll start this series and also keep watching the show.

#AuldLangReads

Recently even in winter it was full of strangers and cars. In the summer it was worse. Then there were tourists. They cam odd the overnight ferry from Aberdeen, blinking and staring, as if they‘d arrived at a #zoo or different planet, maybe, turning their heads from one direction to another looking all around them. #QuotsyDec19

#GratefulReads #blackinthetitle
This is the first in the Shetland Island series. Ann Cleeves also wrote the Vera Stanhope series; both of which have been adapted to TV series.