English Mysteries Club discussion

Here is the thread to discuss our group read for October, the more contemporary English Mystery Raven Black by Ann Cleeves. This is the first in her "Shetland Island" mysteries (so here's another series for us to go at!) and won the Duncan Lawrie Dagger Award.

Raven Black won our poll with double the votes of the runner-up! Who's in for this one?

Bionic Jean wrote: "Here is the thread to discuss our group read for October, the more contemporary English Mystery Raven Black by Ann Cleeves. This is the first in her "Shetland Island" m..."

Whatever the choice, I’m in for it!

Great!

I placed a hold on it from my library. I hope to get to it at some point in October!

I'm in the same position Kelly - not sure when I'll get to it!

I have the ebook on hold from the library and should get it soonish.

Placed a hold for the book at my local library. Hopefully I will get it in October. Happy reading everyone.

I now have the ebook from the local library and have started early.
I am defiantly in for this one as the first chapter already has me hooked!

My copy came in. I'm looking forward to starting this after what you said, Bill!

I got it from library, but have to finish the fiction I am currently reading first. Looking forward to it!

We officially begin this read today!

I am starting tonight! I found this fun raven dot art :-)
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I am really looking forward to this book. I absolutely love the "Shetland" series on britbox.

I'm through Chapter 10. I'm listening in the car as well as reading the paperback. It's certainly creepy!

I won't read your spoiler since I'm only on chapter 9 but wow, this story really has sucked me in.

Kelly wrote: "I'm through Chapter 10. I'm listening in the car as well as reading the paperback. It's certainly creepy! I just read [spoilers removed]"

Kelly, I just realized you are doing both print and audio book and I have done that in the past with great enjoyment. I'll bet the dialog with accents is awesome.

It's sucked me in as well! I'm on Chapter 34 now and in the home stretch.

Yes, Jackie! The accents used for the audiobook are very good. I love going back and forth this way.

I just finished and WOW that was a good book. At what point is it OK to post spoilers?

I've got a copy from my local library.
I haven't read anything written by Ann Cleeves until now, I must say. Raven Black sounds extremely interesting so far...

I am almost done! I'm at work right now and I'm itching to get in the car and continue. I'm at a very climactic moment!

I wasn't able to get to any of this all day yesterday and it was killing me, lol. I forgot my physical copy at work and didn't have a chance to listen.

Jackie wrote: "I just finished and WOW that was a good book. At what point is it OK to post spoilers?"

Post whenever you like Jackie, but if it is a plot spoiler please use the spoiler tags (click on some html is ok top right, to see how).

Sorry not to see this yesterday Jackie- it is so tricky to deal with things straightaway without an email alert 🥹

Jackie wrote: "I just finished and WOW that was a good book. At what point is it OK to post spoilers?"

I thought it was very good, too, Jackie! Let's discuss!

Of course I have to start with the ending. I did not see that coming! What about you?

I was very surprised by the ending!

Bionic Jean, I'm on a short vacation and so posting from my phone which makes everything harder, but yes it's too bad about the changes here at Goodreads

This start to this story is VERY creepy but it is hard to believe that the old man is to blame for everything. As I get further along I am starting to lose track of all the characters and their motivations.

I just started and am on chapter three. Definitely giving the creepy vibes.

Bill wrote: "This start to this story is VERY creepy but it is hard to believe that the old man is to blame for everything. As I get further along I am starting to lose track of all the characters and their mot..."

Bill, I think it was partly for this reason that I began to suspect every character!

I read this book 4 years ago. Here is my non spoiler review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I recommend it, and the series, also the tv series.

Kelly wrote: "Bill wrote: "This start to this story is VERY creepy but it is hard to believe that the old man is to blame for everything. As I get further along I am starting to lose track of all the characters ..."
Kelly, As I got closer to the end I felt that several characters had better motives than the actual killer! The ending sure surprised me.

Jackie, or anyone, if you'd like to discuss the ending and are not sure how to do spoilers I explain it in more detail here https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Hope that helps 😊

I'll repeat what I said in my review: I thought this was well-written and will certainly read more of the series. We get a good sense of life in this unique community and of the various characters and their motivations.

(view spoiler)[ From the beginning I hoped Magnus was not guilty since he is a heart-breaking character. The fact that his mother committed the first murder was a total surprise as was the second murderer. (hide spoiler)]

Suspense builds right to the end!

Thanks!

Bionic Jean wrote: "Jackie, or anyone, if you'd like to discuss the ending and are not sure how to do spoilers I explain it in more detail here https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/......"

This is really helpful, Jean. Thanks. It certainly wasn't obvious to me. I'm past the age when anything IT is obvious!

Jackie wrote: "I'll repeat what I said in my review: I thought this was well-written and will certainly read more of the series. We get a good sense of life in this unique community and of the various characters ..."

I agree with you, Jackie. I'm definitely going to read more of this series!

I, too, was completely surprised by the ending and by (view spoiler)[Magnus's mother's guilt. That one didn't take me *quite* as by surprise. I knew she was guilty of *something*, as Magnus kept remembering her telling him to keep quiet. I truly didn't think he had killed anyone, so I wondered what she could be talking about. It didn't occur to me that she was talking about her own act, though! (hide spoiler)]

Me too Mike 😆 I just share what bits I know.

This was the first book I’ve read by Ann Cleves. I enjoyed all the contrasts, like between the small town and big city, the popular kids and the outsiders, even the contemporary detectives and the bully one in the past that beat up Magnus Tait. I got immersed into the setting, the characters and the story very easily. The only thing I did not like is how the guilty party and whole explanation is given at the very end in the last few chapters. I felt I had a shallow understanding of the why, for one thing, after having invested so much in the rest of the story. It was a good book. But, I’m sorry, not one of my favorites.

Bionic Jean wrote: "Jackie, or anyone, if you'd like to discuss the ending and are not sure how to do spoilers I explain it in more detail here https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/......"

Hey, that is super helpful! Thank you very much.

You're welcome Rebecca! Sometimes it's more necessary with a whodunnit than any other book isn't it? 😆

Rebecca wrote: "This was the first book I’ve read by Ann Cleves. I enjoyed all the contrasts, like between the small town and big city, the popular kids and the outsiders, even the contemporary detectives and the ..."

That's interesting Rebecca - thank you. Perhaps she got better at balancing it?

Rebecca wrote: "This was the first book I’ve read by Ann Cleves. I enjoyed all the contrasts, like between the small town and big city, the popular kids and the outsiders, even the contemporary detectives and the ..."

I agree with you that the understanding of the why was a bit shallow. That's a good way to put it! I didn't have a feeling of "ohhhhh, yes, I see!" but rather, "Wait, really? Huh."

Bionic Jean wrote: "Rebecca wrote: "This was the first book I’ve read by Ann Cleves. I enjoyed all the contrasts, like between the small town and big city, the popular kids and the outsiders, even the contemporary det..."

She must have. The contrasts were not casual, they struck me as ones she’d thought about.

Kelly wrote: "Rebecca wrote: "This was the first book I’ve read by Ann Cleves. I enjoyed all the contrasts, like between the small town and big city, the popular kids and the outsiders, even the contemporary det..."

Yes, Kelly! Exactly. That’s exactly how I felt too.

I’ve just started chapter 26. I’m halfway there. I’m very intrigued by the mystery and am very eager to see what the ending will be.

Zain

I finished the book earlier, very good, I liked it. I tried to work out whodunit from the beginning, I had a guess. But I was wrong, it was an unexpected end...I love books that surprise me with a murderer that I did’t expect. Also I enjoyed the Shetland Islands setting, the atmosphere and the characters’ live stories. Good story, easy to read, well done.

I just finished “Raven Black” and I have to say I enjoyed it.

Being upended by the author to my theories as I reading I appreciated.

Also, any book set in Scotland and Islands is a huge bonus.

A small detail about Perez I was applauding the author because it is rarely mentioned in any of the books I have read in my lifetime and had me connecting to him because of my own experience. I know that is not something many mystery readers focus on or probably care for.

It looks I have another series to read thanks to the monthly books from this group.

Great! Thanks for telling us, Nikita 😊

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