Chapter Thirty-One: Stenness and the Shift

⚠️ 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

Perez spends the morning at the Stenness stone circle, where Tony Johnson’s body has been discovered. He initially imagines the scene as an ancient human sacrifice, but the forensic team’s presence makes that idea seem fanciful. Barbara Johnson and the couple’s car are missing, and Perez prioritizes finding her. Feeling isolated and frustrated by the lack of flights from the mainland, he phones archaeologist Paul Rutherford for expert advice. Rutherford points out that all three crime sites—Stenness, Maeshowe, and Noltland—were featured in Johnson’s television series, suggesting Johnson may have been the intended target all along, not the killer. This revelation shifts Perez’s theory. Perez then walks to the nearby Ring of Brodgar, hoping to find Barbara, but finds nothing. He returns to the main scene, disappointed yet resolved to continue the investigation.

Key Events

Perez spends hours at the Stenness crime scene, convinced the killer is sending a message through archaeological sites.
He calls Paul Rutherford to help make sense of the pattern.
Rutherford reveals that all three sites (Stenness, Noltland, Maeshowe) appeared in Tony Johnson’s TV series, implying Johnson was the primary target.
Perez re-evaluates his earlier belief that Johnson killed Archie and George to protect his reputation.
He walks alone to the Ring of Brodgar, searching for Barbara Johnson, but finds no trace of her.
He returns to Stenness, feeling both guilty for hoping to find a body and more determined to solve the case.

Character Development

Perez shows growing self-doubt and isolation. He acknowledges his arrogance in thinking he could run the investigation alone, and internally commits to training Ellie more thoroughly after the case. His willingness to call Rutherford for help marks a shift toward trusting others.
Paul Rutherford provides a crucial outsider perspective, challenging Perez’s assumptions about Johnson and the crime scenes. His calm, practical presence contrasts with Perez’s tension.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Sacred vs. Profane: Perez’s initial image of a human sacrifice gives way to the mundane reality of a crime scene tent and suited officers, blurring the line between ancient ritual and modern murder.
Archaeological Obsession: The connection between the killings and prominent Orkney sites reinforces the motif of obsession—both the killer’s possible fixation on Johnson’s TV work and Perez’s own fixation on finding meaning in the locations.
Isolation and Trust: Perez’s loneliness on Christmas Eve, his inability to reach colleagues, and his eventual decision to lean on Rutherford highlight a theme of professional isolation and the importance of collaboration.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter Thirty-One pivots the investigation away from the idea that Johnson was the killer and toward the possibility that he was a deliberate victim. Rutherford’s observation about the TV series reshapes the entire case, opening questions about motive and misdirection. The chapter also deepens Perez’s character by showing his vulnerability and his recognition that he must rely on his team. The atmospheric walk to Brodgar underscores the novel’s brooding sense of place and the futility Perez sometimes feels.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Perez call Paul Rutherford to the crime scene?
Perez feels isolated and overwhelmed, with no flights from the mainland and his team busy. He needs a sounding board to test his theories about the archaeological connections between the murder sites.
How does Rutherford’s information change Perez’s theory of the case?
Rutherford points out that all three locations (Stenness, Maeshowe, Noltland) appeared in Johnson’s television series. This suggests Johnson may have been the intended target from the start, rather than the killer trying to protect his reputation, forcing Perez to reconsider the motives for the earlier deaths.
What is the outcome of Perez’s walk to the Ring of Brodgar?
Perez finds no body and no evidence that Barbara Johnson was there. He feels a guilty disappointment that his theory was wrong, but the walk allows him to clear his mind and refocus on the investigation.