Jimmy Perez and Willow Reeves Books in Order

This reading order guide provides the complete list of Jimmy Perez and Willow Reeves books in order, from the very first to the latest, so you won’t miss anything!

About the Jimmy Perez and Willow Reeves Series

Ann Cleeves – a crime author who is very well thought of – wrote the Jimmy Perez and Willow Reeves novels; the series goes back to the beautiful, untamed north of Scotland, but this time it begins again in the Orkney Islands. Many of the author’s readers will have first come across Jimmy Perez in her famous Shetland books, but in these books we see a new part of his life – which is both near to, and deeply affecting.

The series starts with Perez and Willow Reeves leaving Shetland and moving to Orkney: a remote group of islands just off the north coast of Scotland. The move isn’t only about where they are, though; it’s about change, family, and the pair of them building something fresh. Whilst waiting for their home to be ready, they rent a small cottage from an old farmer, Davie Tait. What starts as a calm, short arrangement slowly becomes much more interesting. When an unusual woman, Gloria, turns up in Davie’s life, Willow comes to the conclusion that things are not as they seem. Her senses – sharp and pressing – tell her that hidden truths lie beneath polite conversation and the islands’ hospitality. This brief, yet compelling, opening story sets the tone for the rest – controlled tension, emotional depth, and mysteries that grow naturally from tight-knit communities.

The second book, The Killing Stones, offers an even darker, and more unusual, investigation. Some years on from leaving Shetland, Perez is now in Orkney with Willow and their growing family. Life looks more settled, but the past isn’t far away. On a stormy winter night, his oldest friend, Archie Stout, disappears. Perez travels to Westray – one of the smaller Orkney islands – and discovers a disturbing scene of the crime. Archie’s body is next to an old, carved stone which had been taken from a local museum, showing careful planning and cold-blooded purpose. This case is very personal, and that emotional weight makes the story especially powerful. Perez must balance sadness with duty, whilst questioning people he’s known for years. Rumour, secrets, and island loyalty complicate every step of the inquiry.

What makes the Jimmy Perez and Willow Reeves novels so good isn’t just the clever plots, but the strong feeling of place. Orkney’s windy landscapes, history of archaeology, and close communities create a bleak and lasting background. At the same time, the relationship between Perez and Willow provides warmth and humanity. They aren’t merely detectives solving crimes; they are partners creating a life for themselves as they face up to evil.

For anyone wanting atmospheric British crime, detective stories with a lot of emotion, and memorable Scottish island settings, the Jimmy Perez and Willow Reeves series is a must-read. These novels mix suspense with emotion, and stay with you for a long time after you’ve finished.