Ann Cleeves Shetland Series Collection 7 Books Set

I've just finished this set and liked them very much. The use of the island setting is great, the 'good guys' are actually very good people (and their characters well drawn), but at the end of the series, I'm wondering how the reader is supposed to feel about their work as police officers. They are rather lackadaisical, spend lots of time driving around the islands and chatting (or being chilly with each other, as the subplots demand), but they take days and days to focus on the most obvious suspects. Lots of tea is drunk, biscuits eaten, secret lives of the neighbors unearthed, but in almost every story, one person extra is killed because the most obvious questions aren't asked early. (An example from the last book: a nanny is killed, and only days and days later are the teenagers in her charge questioned at all.) If I were the supervisor of this crew, I'd say "think more and use less gas." In this world, I would hate to have a loved one be the victim of violence -- I suppose the perpetrator is caught eventually, but if as a community member I observed this desultory mode of investigation, I'd know a lot of unnecessary pain was caused to the families of the victims. The author is very skillful, so I'm left wondering what she intended.

Wife read it all. Love it.

I use the books as entertainment. Cleeves makes reading exciting, you never know who committed the crime until very end although she gives you multiple suspects. I enjoy every last word.

Of the eight-book package...I started on "Raben Black" of the Shetland series. The story line grabbed and kept my attention! I was whisked to a different place and time! Really enjoyed the book and look forward to reading the other seven in the package. Thx

I just finished reading Ann Cleeves' Shetland series, and it's one of the most satisfying book series that I've ever read. For me, the fact that they are engrossing mysteries is not even the main appeal of these books. Instead, these books have become profoundly important to me because of the love I've developed for the characters and for Shetland itself. I have printed out maps and and enjoyed looking up all those unfamiliar Shetland words (I am an American living in Florida, so Shetland is a whole other world for me!) Ann Cleeves has a magical way of creating totally convincing characters, and the land, the sea, the mists, the fogs, are characters in their own right. Because of my age and health issues, I will probably never be able to actually travel to Shetland, but through Cleeves books, I've been there!

Wanted a light summer read and this was a great fit. Sadly, they are kind of like a party-size bag of chips, when you think, "This will last me," and before you know it there aren't even crumbs left.

I decided to read the Ann Cleeves series after viewing. I enjoyed the first novel. The books arrived, shrink wrapped, in perfect condition. My 65 year old eyes were fine with the type size, with and without my bifocals. I'll purchase her next series.

Disliked what happened to the character Fran

Unlike some other reviewers, I did receive WILDFIRE, the final book in the set. The price is incredible value, especially as it included shipping from the UK. Couldn't be happier.

Brilliant series

I enjoyed these, easy reading.

I love Anne Cleeves writing and looked forward to reading the whole set. I'd had this a month before starting on book 1 Raven Black which was excellent. Only then discovering book 2 White Nights is missing. To late to return and reorder but very disappointed

Love everything by Anne Cleeves. A favourite author. Books are so well researched and written. Each book can be read independently but I have to read in sequence.