Like many fans of Ann Cleeves novels, particularly her Shetland series, I am very excited that the BBC TV programme is returning for its 10th run. When the first show was broadcast, its star was Douglas Henshall playing the man character Jimmy Perez. He’s a brilliant actor, and even though he’s blond not dark like the Jimmy in the book, he was great in the rôle. However, much as most fans adored him, he moved on to other things, and there was gloom – how could we survive winter without a Shetland series to watch?! Fortunately a new lead was brought in and another character was promoted and last year there was the next series. I had a few quibbles with the new casting – not the actor or her acting, but for me it didn’t work as well.
However! There is the new series about to begin on November 5th so all is well. I had an interesting discussion on social media with a friend, about the series and the books – because Ann Cleeve has just published the latest in her Shetland tale, ‘The Killing Stones’. I’ve come to the conclusion that although the TV series is based on the novels, in fact in many ways they are quite different. A TV series which stuck completely to the plot as written would be dozens of episodes long, and all the little subplots which are so important when you read something, can’t all be included for the same reason. The character of Perez is different from the TV detective, but it’s the puzzle and mystery of the plot which grips both versions.
I don’t want to say too much about ‘The Killing Stones’ except I was gripped and stayed up way too late reading it. I think I can say that Perez’s personal situation has changed greatly – and if you have read the previous Shetland novel, ‘Wild Fire’, you might guess to some extent in what way! I will be interested to hear what my friends say about ‘The Killing Stones’ because although I enjoyed it, I did feel it could have been a little slimmed down (brave of me to make a comment like this on a writer like Ann!) and I did find some aspects a little forced (even more brave of me!) I will read it again and at less of a gallop to find the answer to the mysteries, and see if my comments are more to do with my reading than Ann’s writing!
Lois Elsden 