Chapter summaries The Killing Stones Ann Cleeves

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Alibis and Hidden Pasts

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Ellie reports to Perez that Professor Johnson’s credit card was used at the Archive cafe in Kirkwall on the day of the carol service, with a recorded payment time of 1:41 PM. The bartender, Gordon, remembers Johnson dining alone. Perez links this to a witness who saw George Riley parking at Tormiston Mill between 1:00 and 1:45 PM, suggesting the timeline could allow Barbara Johnson to have committed the murder while her husband established an alibi. Perez later visits the cafe himself. Gordon confirms Johnson was rude and overly demanding, behavior that Perez interprets as a deliberate performance to be remembered. Gordon also shares the story of Nat Wilkinson’s father, who drowned when Nat was a boy; rumors that Nat pushed him led to the nickname “Murd” and persistent bullying at school, which George Riley tried to stop. Perez reconsiders Nat despite his earlier alibi on Westray. At home that evening, Perez discusses the case with Willow. They weigh the possibility that Barbara Johnson, who runs a community arts centre, could have the physical strength and dramatic flair to have killed Riley. Willow decides to take a day trip to North Ronaldsay to investigate Nat’s background.

Key Events

  • Ellie shows Perez that Johnson’s credit card was used at the Archive cafe at 1:41 PM, alone.
  • Perez notes that Riley’s car was seen at Tormiston Mill between 1:00 and 1:45 PM, creating a possible timeline for Barbara to act.
  • Gordon describes Johnson as a rude customer who complained and drew attention to himself.
  • Gordon reveals that Nat Wilkinson’s father drowned in a probable alcohol-related accident; Nat was suspected of pushing him.
  • The nickname “Murd” and school bullying followed, with George Riley stepping in to defend Nat.
  • Perez begins to suspect Nat Wilkinson might have been involved, despite not being on the ferry that day.
  • At home, Perez and Willow discuss Barbara Johnson’s potential as the killer, noting her fitness and theatrical background.
  • Willow decides to fly to North Ronaldsay to look into Nat’s history.

Character Development

  • Jimmy Perez demonstrates his preference for paper-and-pencil thinking and his willingness to revisit dismissed suspects. His personal life is shown through the video call with Cassie and the ease of his relationship with Willow.
  • Ellie is thorough and resourceful, tracking Johnson’s credit card record and checking ferry terminals. She enjoys the intellectual challenge of the investigation.
  • Gordon (the bartender) provides key insights: he is sharp, observant, and carries local knowledge about North Ronaldsay and Nat’s past.
  • Nat Wilkinson (through backstory) emerges as a tragic figure: a child suspected of patricide, bullied, and protected by George Riley. His addiction is now linked to childhood trauma.
  • Barbara Johnson is re-evaluated as a possible perpetrator. Willow admits she underestimated her because of gender assumptions.
  • Willow is supportive and analytical, questioning Perez’s theories but willing to act on a loose end by travelling to North Ronaldsay.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Performance and Alibi: Johnson’s loud, demanding behaviour in the cafe is presented as a deliberate act to be remembered—a performance parallel to Barbara’s theatre work. The chapter explores how people manipulate public perception.
  • Hidden Pasts and Island Secrets: Gordon’s story about Nat’s father illustrates how islands harbour secrets that everyone knows but few discuss. The drowning, nickname, and bullying represent a wound that never healed.
  • The Power of Oral History: Both the story of the Churchill Barriers (passed down through generations) and the rumour about Nat’s father show how stories shape Orcadian identity and can either protect or destroy individuals.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter redirects the investigation in two significant ways. First, it elevates Barbara Johnson from a background figure to a plausible killer, challenging assumptions about gender and strength. Second, it resurrects Nat Wilkinson as a suspect by revealing his motive: George Riley knew about Nat’s past and had protected him, but Nat might have felt endangered rather than grateful. The chapter also deepens the novel’s exploration of how childhood trauma and community gossip can lead to violence.

Study Questions and Answers

1. What evidence suggests that Professor Johnson was alone at the Archive cafe on the day of the carol service?
The credit card record shows a payment for one cover, and the bartender Gordon confirms that Johnson ate a full meal by himself. Gordon also remembers Johnson’s rude behaviour and says he did not see anyone with him.

2. How does Gordon’s story about Nat Wilkinson’s father complicate the murder investigation?
Gordon reveals that Nat was rumoured to have pushed his father into the sea during a fishing accident, leading to the nickname “Murd” and years of bullying. George Riley tried to stop the bullying. This gives Nat a potential motive: if Riley knew the truth about the drowning, Nat might have wanted to silence him.

3. Why does Willow decide to travel to North Ronaldsay despite the weak evidence against Nat?
Willow considers Nat a “loose end” because his past connection to Riley was overlooked, and she wants to investigate whether the drowning story is true. She believes small-plane travel is safe and wants to resolve the mystery, showing her determination to follow every lead.

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