Thin Air

By: Ann Cleeves

Narrated by: Kenny Blyth

Length: 10 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's Summary

Ann Cleeves is back with the sixth book in her Shetland series featuring Inspector Jimmy Perez, whom listeners will remember from Raven Black, White Nights, Red Bones, Blue Lightning, and Dead Water.

A group of old university friends leave the bright lights of London and travel to Shetland to celebrate the marriage of one of their friends. But one of them, Eleanor, disappears - apparently into thin air. It's midsummer, a time of light nights and unexpected mists. And then Eleanor's body is discovered lying in a small loch close to the cliff edge.

Detectives Jimmy Perez and Willow Reeves are dispatched to investigate. Before she went missing, Eleanor claimed to have seen the ghost of a local child who drowned in the 1920s. Her interest in the ghost had seemed unhealthy - obsessive, even - to her friends: an indication of a troubled mind. But Jimmy and Willow are convinced that there is more to Eleanor's death than they first thought. Is there a secret that lies behind the myth? One so shocking that someone would kill - many years later - to protect it?

Ann Cleeves' striking new novel is a quintessential whodunit with surprises at every turn.

©2014 Ann Cleeves (P)2014 Isis Publishing Ltd

Best in the series.

What did you love best about Thin Air?

The descriptions of life on the Shetland Islands and the wonderful voice of the narrator.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

The plot was engaging, but to be honest, I listened more for the back stories than the plot.

Which character – as performed by Kenny Blyth – was your favorite?

Probably Jimmy Perez, but I also found Willow very interesting.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, absolutely. It ended too quickly for me, again, in part because of the great narrator.

Any additional comments?

I can't praise Kenny Blyth enough!

10 people found this helpful

weird pauses throughout

weird pauses throughout book...production could have been much improved. the book content was awesome but the pauses kinda ruined it for me

17 people found this helpful

Best Shetland Mystery Yet

Ann Cleeves kept me guessing 'til the end. Jimmy is appealing, dark, quiet, brooding, yet vulnerable and kind. All characters were interesting. Narration was great.

7 people found this helpful

Shetland Island Intrigue!

Another great Shetland Island mystery. Great characters and good plot. Ann Cleeves never disappoints! Anxiously waiting for next book!

6 people found this helpful

Good story- poor editing

Gaps and pauses. Unusual as it was happening in the middle of chapters. Very irritating.

6 people found this helpful

Suspenseful novel that gains power

When I started this book I enjoyed the exotic setting but found the story slow going. Before too long the characters took on lives, particularly the detectives. By them I was committed to the book and had to find out what happened...who did it! I was surprised at the ending!

5 people found this helpful

Worst in the series

Didn’t care for this one. I get the impression the first four books were supposed to comprise the full series, and maybe Cleeves had to extend it because of the TV series? The plot is overly tortured and convoluted, and the ending goes on and on trying to explain how the murderer could be the person it was, given the motive was flimsy and the killings out of character. Even the interesting new detective, Willow Reeves, was given nothing to do but stare longingly and kick herself for not being a stronger woman. Blech. Bechdel test: Pass. Grade: B-

I thought I didn't like the new narrator as much as the one for the first four books, but he's grown on me. He's just as good and maybe better. Totally seamless to the narrative.

3 people found this helpful

Superb!

I listened to the first two books in this series and loved them. This book was just as good as the first two.

The descriptions of Shetland and the characters are excellent. As I listen I feel I am transported to the place and experiencing the story. I have seen the TV series and I'm sure that helps me get a sense of the place. But I believe the writing has as much, or more, to do with my involvement.

The pace of the story is steady. This is not a fast moving, action packed book (that's a good thing as far as I'm concerned). Crimes have been committed, but there is no explicit violence.

The first two books I listened to were narrated by Gordon Griffin. I loved his work and was a little concerned about a new narrator. As if turned out Kenny Blyth is every bit as good - maybe even a little better. He has distinct voices for each character, and transitions into new voices very smoothly. The differences in the voices are subtle, but distinct.

These are stories I will listen to again. Highly recommended.

2 people found this helpful

The pauses are irritating

Decent story. Good narration except for the random really long pauses in weird places. Otherwise the performance was solid. I loved the narrator's accent and found it easy to follow.

5 people found this helpful

Another great Shetland Mystery

If you have read the previous books in the series, you will not be disappointed with this one. It's another wonderful trip to Shetland and another wonderful Jimmy Perez mystery. If you enjoy a great mystery with awesome character development in an exotic setting, you have come to the right place.

2 people found this helpful

A good listen

Really enjoy this book , Kenny Blyth is a great reader for this series.
Although the I saw the series on t.v. The book is much better read

3 people found this helpful

Great Listening

This story kept you guessing to the end. The description of both the island and people were really good but not overdone so as to loose the thread of the story. A good murder mystery.