After having watched several episodes of “Shetland” on PBS, I have now had the opportunity to read what is the final book in Ann Cleeves Shetland series featuring Jimmy Perez. While I have read books in the Vera series, this is, somewhat ironically, my first of the Shetland. Jimmy Perez, the lynchpin in both media settings, is depicted in both as the compassionate, thoughtful man of the islands and people. The land and sea, nature itself, are characters and affect people’s lives on many levels. The descriptions are so often just right. This is from two people taking a walk.

The land here was very low, separated from the shore by
dunes and irregular fields where sheep grazed; there was a
series of freshwater lochans, with iris and marsh marigolds at
the fringes, everywhere the call of lapwings and oystercatchers.
A breeze blew the flowers and nothing seemed fixed.
Everything was moving: feather, reed, water. Helena felt as if
she’d stepped into an Impressionist painting of blurred lines
and splashes of colour. (loc 1259)

And then a much more succinct, but equally descriptive comment later in the book:

Lerwick was a grey town at the best of times, and the
mist had sucked the colour out of it. (loc 1983)

The story itself involves the death of a young woman who cares for the children of the island’s doctor. The backstory makes her death harder for all in the community. Daniel and Helena Fleming from London, have purchased an old farm lost by a local man, Dennis Gear, to foreclosure. They have restored and revived it as a home for themselves and their two children. They are resented by locals because Dennis Gear was their friend. Then the Fleming family became greater objects of gossip after Gear hanged himself in their barn.

Now Emma Shearer, nanny to a neighbor family, is found hanging in the same place. But there are many questions. Was this actually murder? Who was Emma really and who knew her? And then there is a sub-plot, an interpersonal story involving Perez and his superior from the mainland, Willow.

Everything moves along with all of the police, Perez, Willow and Sandy, acting separately and together to piece together the parts that will finally bring peace to the island. As the closing episode to a series, Wild Fire does offer some aspects of closure while also leaving open futures. All in all, a good read and recommended. This book can also be read and enjoyed as a stand-alone novel.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Helena, her husband Daniel, and their two children didn't have the easiest start in their new house on Shetland. After they moved in the previous owner hanged himself in the barn, and the local community is not so welcoming. Helena has started to receive small drawings of a gallows with a hanged man. Then, their son makes a horrifying discovery out in the barn

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I would like to thank Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for an advance copy of Wild Fire, the eighth and final novel in the Shetland series featuring DI Jimmy Perez.

I enjoyed this book immensely and will def look for more by this author. I encourage anyone who has not read this series to go out and get them you will not regret it one bit!!

I have read some, but not all, of the books in the Shetland series. There are strands carried forward from books I hadn’t read, but it was easy to get up to speed. This book works fine as a stand alone.

The Flemings have recently moved to the island and their arrival has upset the locals. The prior owner hung himself in the byre and for some reason, they are blamed. I loved Cleve’s points about the herd mentality and how gossip spreads through the island like wildfire. Then, a nanny for another family is found hanged in the same byre.

This is a straightforward, well told police procedural. No fancy gimmicks here. Each character is well developed and fleshed out. I can’t say I really understood Jimmy’s reaction to Willow’s news, but that might be because I’ve missed the more recent books. I have to admit to not having a single clue as to who the murderer was.

I will be making sure to go back and read the few I’ve missed.

My thanks to netgalley and Minotaur Books for an advance copy of this book.

Bittersweet, this one is. If you’ve been following the fortunes of Ann Cleeves, you know that “Wild Fire” is the final book in the Jimmy Perez/Shetland series. Jimmy has decisions to make in this one, once Willow Reeves, the woman he’s been seeing, reveals some secrets of her own.

In the meantime, he’s got a murder investigation (and then another) to undertake. The first is that of a young nanny found hanged in a barn where an earlier hanging has taken place. Jimmy soon learns that she was the caregiver for a family of unlikable children, and the parents aren’t much better, pretty much giving up all pretense of parenting to Emma, the murdered girl. Pair that with another family that’s being targeted as “incomers” and that includes an autistic boy, and you have a lot of trouble on your hands.

Ms. Cleeves knits all this together in her usual credible fashion, devising clues, red herrings and plausible and implausible conclusions. Jimmy has to get this all figured out while his personal life looms large. Will he be able to get past the “ghost” of his lost love, Fran, long enough to build a new life with Willow? Does he even want to? Questions are raised within and without, until the stunning conclusion of the murder investigation, and the completion of Jimmy’s story.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy in advance of publication, in exchange for this review.

Wild Fire by Ann Cleeves is another sterling Shetland series story. The sadness over the fact it's the last entry in the series gives way to the enjoyment we've come to expect. It's a wholly satisfying finale by a wonderful writer. While it's goodbye to Shetland, I hope the sun will rise again on Jimmy Perez. #WildFire #NetGalley

Have watched the show Shetland on my TV but this is the first book I've read. Loved it! Great story, great characters and great writing. Love Jimmy Perez as the detective. Would highly recommend this book and author.

As is often true in small communities, "incomers" can find it difficult to fit in. When Helena and Daniel Fleming move to the island, they were hoping for a quieter, more peaceful life than they had in London. However, their acceptance in the community is not what they hoped, and after the suicide of the former owner of their home, things quickly become worse.

When a young nanny is found hanging in the same barn in which the previous owner hanged himself, Jimmy Perez and Sandie Wilson are called in. The young woman was found by the Fleming's autistic eleven-year-old son which puts even more stress on the family. Emma Shearer, the young woman found murdered in the barn, had been a the nanny for the Moncrief family since she was seventeen.

When Chief Inspector Willow Reeves arrives on the island, she and Jimmy have some personal business that keeps them from working together as easily as they have in the past.

Ann Cleeves has a way of seeming to let the various characters create themselves. The Flemings, the Moncriefs, the Riddells all develop in an organic and believable manner. Perez, Willow Reeves, and Sandy Wilson need less introduction, but are all in the process of their personal transitions even as they work the case.

Emma Shearer, the very private nanny, doesn't come fully into view until the conclusion. Cleeves works hard to keep from revealing who was responsible for Emma's death, and I bounced back and forth between a couple of suspects.

Troubled families, complex characters, and an excellent procedural! Recommended.

Blog review scheduled for Sept. 4

NetGalley/St. Martin's Press
Police Procedural. Sept. 4, 2018. Print length: 416 pages.

A nanny is found hanged in a barn where a local man hung himself severals years ago. This time, it’s not suicide but murder. Several dysfunctional families appear to be involved, and the list of suspects grows. As Jimmy and Willow race to find the killer, they must face their inner demons or risk being torn apart forever. This is the final installment in the Shetland series. I will miss the cases, but most of all I will miss the characters I’ve grown to love.

As the last work of the acclaimed Shetland series of books, WILD FIRE does not disappoint. Ann Cleeves has woven an intricate and compelling tale of family dysfunction, outsiders seeking homes in a new community, and personal relationships into a page-turning mystery that takes her readers on yet another fascinating journey into the beauty of the Shetland Islands, the culture of their people, and issues of life in a close-knit small community.
The book has several interesting twists and turns and the ending may come as a surprise to many both as to the solution for the crime and the future of Shetland detective Jimmy Perez. Hopefully, readers can continue to follow these stories on the Netflix series, SHETLAND, Perez, Sandy, and Willow will be missed but Ann Cleeves, no doubt, has something coming in the future for us to enjoy. An excellent book from an award-winning writer.

#NetGalley #WildFire #AnnCleeves
Wow. Ann Cleeves is a rock star among mystery writers. Wild Fire delivers a finality to the Shetland Island series while keeping it fresh and clever. I can't wait to see what she brings next to readers. Thank you for a great last book!

A satisfying ending to one of my favorite mystery series. Made me want to go back and reread the whole lot!

A very satisfying end to a very satisfying series! Oh, you hadn't heard? Well I'm not guilty of telling tales. Ann Cleeves has made it clear that this is the final story in the Shetland series, but I feel certain we'll be hearing more from Jimmy Perez before too long, so don't fret. In the meantime, he gets a grand send off in this fine finale! Thanks to the publishers and to NetGalley for the fun read! #WildFire #NetGalley

Thanks to the publisher and Net galley for allowing me to read. This book.
I’m sad this is the last Shetland book.
I love the characters of Jimmy Perez and the Shetland’s.
Ann Cleeves is a master. At mystery like Agatha Christie and Louise penny
I loved this book

Really an emotional ride both for the reader of the Shetland series and for the characters in the book. I, for one, will miss the Shetland books and do feel that the ending for Perez and his family was a plausible one.
All the characters in this book including Perez and Willow had to confront their emotions and actions. The families, both the firmly established and the new incomer ones, had to endure jealousy and malicious gossip that was generated by the Shetlanders’ nosiness.

Wild Fire is the last in Ann Cleeves's Shetland Series. A new glamorous family has moved to the area - an architect husband and a fashion designer wife who uses Shetland wool and designs to create stunningly expensive pieces. The designer seeks out Jimmy Perez calling a favor as one of Fran's old friends. Jimmy is asked to investigate strange "hangman" notes that they have received in their home. The previous owner of their cottages had killed himself on the premises after he had lost most of his assets so "hangman" notes are disturbing.

The following day a young nanny is murdered and left hanging in the same spot on the artist's property. Jimmy calls in his boss and love interest Willow to assist. When Willow informs Jimmy that she is carrying his child, Jimmy freaks out, pushes back and acts cold. As Jimmy and Willow investigate the murder but have difficulty dealing with each other. Until somehow, things come together and Willow and Jimmy rediscover their ties as partners.

Ann Cleeves delivers a satisfying conclusion to beloved series.

#WildFire#NetGalley#
The final Shetland Island mystery does not disappoint. A riveting Jimmy Perez story. The Shetland Islands off Scotland's northeast coast are remote and sparsely populated. When incomers move to the islands they're often viewed with suspicion and reserve. Such is the case when the succesful Fleming family purchase a choice foreclosed property.
It doesn't help matters that the Fleming's eleven year old son is functionality autistic and fascinated with fires.
Tragedy strikes when the former owner of the Fleming property hangs himself in their barn. Later a young woman is found murdered, again hanging from a beam in the same barn. The aura of mistrust against this family intensifies. Perez and his able officers are baffled but determined to bring the killer to justice.
When the town gossipy busybody is found strangled near the Fleming property tensions flare.
The author skillfully weaves in backstory and character depth. The murderer is discovered in dramatic fashion bringing closure to this close-knit community.

5 stars

I am so sad that this is the last Jimmy Perez novel.

Daniel and Helena Fleming have recently moved to the Shetland Islands. They have bought a place that was foreclosed upon and remodeled it. It belonged to a farmer Dennis Gear who fell on rough times and lost the home. Daniel has been depressed since he discovered the body of the former owner hanging in one of the outbuildings just recently. But there is more to the story than that. Helena is the mother of an autistic eleven-year old son and a nine-year old daughter. The boy is thought to be weird and is teased by the other children at school. Helena feels that the Islanders hate her and her family and feels shut out of the community. She has been receiving small drawings of a hanged man.

When the body of a young woman is found hanging in the same place as the former owner by Helena and Daniel’s son, the agony starts all over. Jimmy Perez and Sandy Wilson respond to the scene. The young woman was a nanny for a doctor’s family who have four children. She lived there for seven years. Her name was Emma Shearer.

Jimmy’s on and off girlfriend and boss, Chief Inspector Willow Reeves, also shows up at the scene to assist in the investigation. She drops a bomb on Jimmy and he reacts with anger and confusion. He knows he handled the situation badly.

When another death occurs, the investigation’s pace is increased. The dead woman is Margaret Riddell the mother of Magnie who was besotted with Emma. She was a vicious gossip and generally had nothing good to say about anyone.

The investigation drags on and following little clues here and there, the team finally brings the case together. I was surprised at the identity of the killer, who revealed a great deal more about Emma and the reason she was murdered. Margaret was almost an afterthought. The reader was left wondering if Margaret hadn’t been such a snoop…

Sandy Wilson, Jimmy Perez’ partner, is clearly coming in to his own. His interview strategy has improved and he is doing a great job. He still seems rather timid at times though. Perez and Willow are getting along fine after Jimmy’s apology. I really like this series and am very sad to see it end. I kept thinking about it throughout the book. Maybe Ms. Cleeves will come up with another character to add to her Vera Stanhope/Jimmy Perez series. I sure hope so. I love her writing and I hope she keeps them coming!

I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for forwarding to me a copy of this great book to read, enjoy ad review.

If you haven’t read any of Cleeves’s Shetland series you’ve been missing out. DI Jimmy Perez is only part of the appeal, the other is the incredible sense of place, the beauty and majesty of Scotland. You don’t need to read the other books in this series for this book to make sense, but I readers will want to