BookBingeShetland Books in Order
The short answer
Ann Cleeves · 9 books
- How many books?
- There are 9 books in the Shetland series, published 2006–2025.
- Is it finished?
- No — it's ongoing, but the next book doesn't have a release date yet.
- Where to start
- Start with Raven Black (2006).
About 3,500 pages — roughly 60 hours of reading
A thoughtful island detective investigates murders in a Shetland community where everyone knows everyone, and secrets run deep.
Here is the complete Shetland reading order — all 9 books by Ann Cleeves, in the order you should read them:
Reading order
- Raven BlackDetective Jimmy Perez investigates the murder of a teenage girl found in the Shetland snow on New Year's Day.2006380 pages
- White NightsDuring the long light of a Shetland summer, Perez investigates a mysterious death connected to a stranger with no memory of his past.2008400 pages
- Red BonesAn archaeological dig on Shetland uncovers old bones and older secrets when an elderly woman is shot.2009396 pages
- Blue LightningPerez returns to his home island of Fair Isle, where a visiting scientist is murdered amid a fierce storm.2010368 pages
- Dead WaterThe murder of a journalist investigating oil wealth and corruption on Shetland draws Perez into a tangled case.2013400 pages
- Thin AirA hen party on Unst turns dark when a young woman vanishes and an old ghost story seems to come true.2014400 pages
- Cold EarthA landslide at a funeral uncovers a body that shouldn't be there, launching Perez into a new investigation.2016400 pages
- Wild FireShetland's tight-knit community is rattled by a nanny's murder amid rising suspicion of outsiders.2018415 pages
- The Killing StonesA new case set on the Shetland islands brings fresh danger and long-buried secrets to light.2025382 pages
Good news: for this series, reading order and publication order are the same — just read straight down the list.
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Get BookBingeFrequently asked questions
How many Shetland books are there?
There are 9 books in the Shetland series by Ann Cleeves, from Raven Black (2006) to The Killing Stones (2025). Together they run to about 3,500 pages.
Is the Shetland series finished?
No, it's ongoing. The most recent book is The Killing Stones (2025), and Ann Cleeves hasn't dated the next one yet.
What is the first Shetland book?
Raven Black (2006) is book one, at 380 pages. Detective Jimmy Perez investigates the murder of a teenage girl found in the Shetland snow on New Year's Day.
Should I read the Shetland series in publication order?
Yes. For the Shetland series, reading order and publication order are the same — Raven Black (2006) through The Killing Stones (2025).
How long does it take to read all Shetland books?
About 3,500 pages across 9 books — roughly 60 hours at a page a minute. The longest is Wild Fire (415 pages); the shortest is Blue Lightning (368 pages).