When a woman's body is discovered at the renowned Fair Isle's bird observatory, with feathers threaded through her hair, the islanders react with fear and anger. With no support from the mainland and only his fiancae to help him, Shetland Detective Jimmy Perez soon realizes that this is no crime of passion--but a murder of cold and calculated intention.

Detective Kara Quinn is back in Los Angeles to testify against a notorious human trafficker, finally moving past the case that upended her life. But when the accused is shot in broad daylight, the chaotic scene of the crime turns up few reliable bystanders. And one witness, a whistleblower who might be the key to everything, has disappeared. After another person close to the case is killed, it's clear that anyone who knows too much is in danger, and...