The Blackhouse: Book One of the Lewis Trilogy
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Review
'vivid ... fascinating' Literary Review.
Review
'vivid ... fascinating' Literary Review. 'excellent plotting with some beautiful descriptions of the Isle of Lewis ... The story is wonderful' crime pieces.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
100 of 101 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
The novel is set on the remote island of Lewis far off the coast of northern Scotland. This is an area that the author will know well since he spent several years there producing and filming the Gaelic language TV series, Machair. This gives an authenticity to the very strong descriptions of this remote, rugged, weather-beaten corner of the British Isles. In particular, May's description of the annual guga (gannet) hunt is fascinating both in its detail and in the light it sheds on the island community's strong attachment to its ancient traditions.
DS Fin Macleod is sent back to Lewis to investigate a murder that resembles one that took place earlier in his Edinburgh patch. Returning home after 20 years away, Fin is thrown into remembering and re-assessing his difficult childhood and adolescence. The book alternates between the present day and Fin's past and it gradually emerges that the shadow of that past may be involved in the current investigation.
At first, I found the alternation between the present and the past irritating as it seemed to break the flow of the story. However, as the links between the two became clearer, the tension gradually mounted and came finally to an unexpected and dramatic climax. Along the way, May describes a community more inclined to deal with problems internally rather than involving the authorities, a place where the young people are beginning to challenge the traditions and strict religious observances of their elders and where dark secrets can sometimes come back to haunt.
Not a traditional whodunit crime novel, this is more an examination of the why of the mystery and is ultimately perhaps more satisfying for that.
DS Fin Macleod is sent back to Lewis to investigate a murder that resembles one that took place earlier in his Edinburgh patch. Returning home after 20 years away, Fin is thrown into remembering and re-assessing his difficult childhood and adolescence. The book alternates between the present day and Fin's past and it gradually emerges that the shadow of that past may be involved in the current investigation.
At first, I found the alternation between the present and the past irritating as it seemed to break the flow of the story. However, as the links between the two became clearer, the tension gradually mounted and came finally to an unexpected and dramatic climax. Along the way, May describes a community more inclined to deal with problems internally rather than involving the authorities, a place where the young people are beginning to challenge the traditions and strict religious observances of their elders and where dark secrets can sometimes come back to haunt.
Not a traditional whodunit crime novel, this is more an examination of the why of the mystery and is ultimately perhaps more satisfying for that.
47 of 48 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I've read several of the authors' previous works (from his two crime series The China Thrillers and the Enzo Files) so knew the kind of things to expect - or so I thought. But The Blackhouse is even better.
Peter May's great storytelling soon drags you in to a number of strands. On the face of it, The Blackhouse starts as a relatively simple murder mystery. But it soon becomes much more than that, a tale of rediscovery and childhood memories interspersed with some great descriptions of the harsh landscape and unique way of life of the islands. And the way the author handles the same character in the both present and the past is excellent. I don't usually like childhood growing up stories, but this one kept me gripped.
Typically, the plot is compelling. Right up until almost the last page, you are kept guessing - and wanting to know what will happen next. I read the book over 4 nights and on each the light didn't go out until after 1am. This book is very hard to put down!
Like the previous reviewer said, once it's over and the last page has been turned, you do keep on revisiting the story in your head. And wishing there was a bit more... because it's addictive. I've not actually been to the Outer Hebrides, but I certainly feel like I know the place now.
I understand there's likely to be a second book in the pipeline, so hopefully won't have to wait too long for my next fix.
Peter May's great storytelling soon drags you in to a number of strands. On the face of it, The Blackhouse starts as a relatively simple murder mystery. But it soon becomes much more than that, a tale of rediscovery and childhood memories interspersed with some great descriptions of the harsh landscape and unique way of life of the islands. And the way the author handles the same character in the both present and the past is excellent. I don't usually like childhood growing up stories, but this one kept me gripped.
Typically, the plot is compelling. Right up until almost the last page, you are kept guessing - and wanting to know what will happen next. I read the book over 4 nights and on each the light didn't go out until after 1am. This book is very hard to put down!
Like the previous reviewer said, once it's over and the last page has been turned, you do keep on revisiting the story in your head. And wishing there was a bit more... because it's addictive. I've not actually been to the Outer Hebrides, but I certainly feel like I know the place now.
I understand there's likely to be a second book in the pipeline, so hopefully won't have to wait too long for my next fix.
28 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I wasn't going to buy this book. The cover and its blurb 'evil lies within' were putting me off as I thought it'd be a Stephen King lookalike. Thank goodness I changed my mind as I haven't enjoyed a book so much in ages. It's not a crime novel [although at least one crime takes place] in the normal sense and is better for that as the police issues aren't handled that well in my opinion. I certainly think the character of the top cop Smith is overdone. So what it is is a going-back-to-my-roots, a facing up to childhood ghosts and as such is done with huge success. No, I haven't been to Lewis either but quite honestly, if you come from any tightly-knit society, you'll recognise the people here and many of the problems. I certainly did and if you're of a certain age, the memories of teenage angst which this book evoke are almost painful. Very well written - the switch between past and present is no problem at all. If you want an idea of the bleakness of the road north out of Stornaway towards the north of the island where much of the story takes place, try going to Google Streetview. Quite an eye-opener! Highly recommended book - I certainly will be getting the next one.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A bit gloomy, but I liked it!
There's loads of things that I liked about this book - the nightmare sequences of the man with the long limbs, and the bits about catching the birds and getting them prepared; and... Read more
Published 8 hours ago by Ed Sweeney
Bleak and haunting, warm and beguiling
Very rarely do I give a 5* book review, but then very rarely do I come across a book where the sense of location, and the author's clear affinity for that location, provide such a... Read more
Published 19 hours ago by dark energy
A great read
A brilliant, absorbing read, with enough twists to keep the reader on tenterhooks until the very last last page. I look forward to reading the second in the series.
Published 1 day ago by 1489
Just not believable
My two main issues with this book is the ridiculous dialogue that is supposed to be coming from a 5 year old, and also the fact that the main character (police officer) seems to be... Read more
Published 6 days ago by Alison
Black house
This is a very good book. It took a little getting into but once on board it makes a very good read. Read more
Published 7 days ago by Castel Lady
Cause and Effect amongst the Gannets
Only weeks after the death of his young son, Detective Inspector Fin Macleod is sent to Lewis, the Hebridean island of his birth to use his local knowledge to check out the... Read more
Published 7 days ago by Antenna
Rich and satisfying
Detective stories do not get much better than this. Recently bereaved, DI Fin Macleod is sent over to the Isle of Lewis (where he spent his childhood) to help in the investigation... Read more
Published 10 days ago by Clive A. H. Still
LOVED IT
Really loved this book. Couldn't put it down and immediately ordered the Lewis man. Very easy to read and he develops really strong characters that stay with you. Read more
Published 22 days ago by M. Ferguson
Good murder mystery with a twist
It took a little while to get into but I really enjoyed this book and in particular the way it has raised my interest in the Isle of Lewis. Read more
Published 23 days ago by Mrs. M. K. Weaver
Enjoyable
My wife's review:
I got this book because I normally read crime thrillers, and so thought that was what I was buying. Read more
I got this book because I normally read crime thrillers, and so thought that was what I was buying. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mr. S. N. Pattison
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