It was really good to get a glimpse of Jimmy Perez's new lifestyle now that he's turned over the bulk of his day-to-day Shetland policing duties to the more than able Tosh, a young mother of two who came up through the ranks under Jimmy's guiding hand.
The basic premise of this eight-page short story is that an English author has come to Shetland to do some research for his next project and he has suddenly gone missing. Tosh asks Jimmy to fly in so that she can discuss the missing persons case with him, and so that they can look over the man's rented cottage together. Jimmy, of course, knows everyone on the island, including their history, so a little brainstorming with Jimmy Perez goes a long way toward solving any crime there.
So why am I not thrilled by this short story (you can get a copy free for yourself just by signing up for "The Best of Pan Macmillan" newsletter at this link). I suppose my "blah" feeling about the story comes from the author having crammed too much plot into such a short piece. I can see how good this plot could have been if fleshed out a little into a novella, or even given the full-novel treatment by Cleeves. So while it was wonderful to see Jimmy and Tosh together again, the way the story ends in one sudden summation of all that has happened in the dark of the background left me feeling way less than satisfied with the reading. Sadly, I have to give "Missing in the Snow" only two of five stars.
I usually enjoy thrillers set in snowy, out of the way landscapes, especially when I am warm and snug at home. Too bad this was not one you enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteJust thought it tried to do way too much in such a short story. I honestly believe that it's more difficult to write a really good short story than it is to write a good novel. Sometimes, I think novelists should stick to what form they do best, and I'm afraid that's the case here.
DeleteBummer that this short story didn't float your boat. I've enjoyed the few books I've read by Cleeves, but I'm waaayyy behind in all of her series. I need to catch up.
ReplyDeleteI love the woman's novels, and I've completed the Shetland series...and just started book 5 in the Vera series yesterday. But this story just has a rushed feel to it, and ending it with a summary of what really happened with no real build-up to any of that was just kind of sad from someone with her talent. I don't remember reading any other short stories by her, so maybe this is not a good reflection on her shorter form style. I can only hope.
DeleteI sometimes think it's harder to write a really taut and compelling short story than it is to write a novel. And not every author can do it.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree, Lark. Two very different genres, in my opinion.
DeleteI seldom read short stories but I might make an exception for one featuring Jimmy Perez. Perhaps not this one though as I see it did not live up to your standards.
ReplyDeleteI only have one pet peeve when it comes to writing styles, Dorothy, but it's one that really bothers me. It's "show me what happened, don't recap it all for me at the end of the book/story." I just can't get past that feeling even when it comes to my favorites.
DeleteI really love reading short fiction when it's done right. That love only came to me a decade or so ago after I stumbled upon two or three really good short story anthologies within a month.
We're just now watching the latest series of Shetland which, believe it or not, we recorded back last September. I believe it was Dougie Henshall's last series but am not certain, I must check that. I know they're filming a new one but he will be missed if he's not in it.
ReplyDeleteIt was a good season, Cath...despite being kind of a sad ending for Henshall. In this story, he's a short airplane ride from the island, so I wonder if he'll make a couple of brief appearances in the new series you are speaking of...let's hope so.
DeleteEnjoying it a 'lot', Sam. I was right in that it was Henshall's last season. A woman is taking over his role as DI in the station in Lerwick. And I just saw that the BBC is doing another Agatha Christie dramatisation, I forget which book now, but he's in it, so he moved on quickly! Cath
DeleteI suspect that Henshall can write his own ticket now. He was so good as Jimmy Perez that I'll have a hard time seeing him in another role for the first time since Shetland...but that's on me, not him. I hope he really does well in his new ventures.
DeleteThe previous comment was me, 'Cath', having trouble signing in with Google today for some reason, and now using a tablet. I love technology.
ReplyDeleteLOL...a little touch of Cath's sarcastic side here.
DeleteHow disappointing! I haven't read it yet, but I'm sure I'll get around to it. I liked how she got the inspiration for the story from losing her laptop while she was in Shetland last winter.
ReplyDeleteAt first I was just so happy to see Perez and Tosh back together that I didn't much care where the story was going. Then the last four pages or so, and that's fully one-half the whole thing, just didn't feel "right" to me anymore. I liked the way in the story that all the Shetland Islanders were so much into enjoying the rare snowfall event in which all of this was happening.
DeleteI agree with you, I found it so disappointing. I thought it might also be the first person narrator, but it felt like there was almost too much show not tell. It felt like an assignment for a course rather than a good read.
ReplyDeleteVery true, It feels like an outline that was just fleshed out enough to be the start of a second week's work on a novel, a rubber stamped story that was thrown together on spec by someone in a big hurry to move on to the next project.
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