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The Blackhouse (Lewis Trilogy, #1)

Peter May

Start date: January 1, 2025

Finish date: January 13, 2025

Discussion: Book Discussions

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What Members Thought

Apr 28, 2013 Stephen rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Really enjoyed this "murder with a difference" novel.
The crime itself became secondary to the description of island life and the clever switching between the detective's childhood on the island and the present day. All brought together very cleverly in the end with a very satisfactory ending that I hadn't predicted. Will definitely read the rest of this trilogy and in fact already have the second book. Recommended and almost a 5 star read for me. ...more

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Feb 28, 2025 Bill rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-british, 2025-challenges, police

The Blackhouse is the 1st book in Scottish author Peter May's Lewis trilogy (+1) and also my first attempt at his work. I've also got the first book in the Enzo Files sitting on my book shelf. I'm afraid I let myself get a bit intimidated by the size of this book and kept setting it aside for the past few years. I'm glad I finally decided to try it.

Edinburgh detective Fin McLeod, who grew up on the Isle of Lewis, is sent to look into a murder on the Isle because there are strong similarities to The Blackhouse is the 1st book in Scottish author Peter May's Lewis trilogy (+1) and also my first attempt at his work. I've also got the first book in the Enzo Files sitting on my book shelf. I'm afraid I let myself get a bit intimidated by the size of this book and kept setting it aside for the past few years. I'm glad I finally decided to try it.

Edinburgh detective Fin McLeod, who grew up on the Isle of Lewis, is sent to look into a murder on the Isle because there are strong similarities to one that he is investigating on his home turf. The lead detective on the Lewis case, one from Glasgow doesn't appreciate Fin being there, but lets him look into the case.

The murder brings back painful memories of his growing up on Lewis. The murder victim was an old bully, one who, along with his brother, tormented the other kids in their home town of Stornoway. He had been accused of raping a young girl and was found murdered. Fin investigates the murder with the assistance of local cop, DS Gordon Gunn. But he is also investigating his past life, the events that affected his growing up, the traumas and relationships he experienced while a young boy / man on Lewis.

It's a beautifully written story and wonderfully describes the setting and life on this harsh island off the north coast of Scotland. I've never visited but in my travels did spend a night on Shetland, which is a bit further north so it was interesting to try and compare. Anyway, the story moves from the past to the present smoothly and presents the characters that impacted on Fin's life and who he affected as well. I can't say that Fin is all that sympathetic as he did negatively affect others that he left behind when he went to the mainland, but he is an interesting character.

The story is rugged, the lives were / are rugged. I especially found the annual trip by group of men to the even more remote island of An Sgeir fascinating. It's a trip by 12 men from Stornoway to cull 2,000 young gulls from the island as a 'treat' for their families and folks back home. The trip that Fin and his best friend Artair take part in affects both of their lives until the true story of the events come out much later in the future.

So, the people are interesting and well-crafted, the story flows easily between past events and the current case and the ultimate conclusion, with more dramatic events on wind-blown An Sgeir, make for an excellent mystery & novel. Now to move on to the Lewis Man (4.0 stars) ...more

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Jul 16, 2013 Icy-Cobwebs-In-Space rated it it was amazing

Shelves: a1-i-own-books, armchair-scotland, 2014_reads, march-2014_reads, a1-edelweiss-reviewed

A solid reader's hook, attention-grabbing as a punch to the jaw, leads into a solid backdrop of real-life issues and tribulations. An Edinburgh police detective, who had recently lost his young son and whose marriage is subsequently likely to crumble, is sent to his childhood locale, the Isle of Lewis, off the coast of Scotland. A brutal murder has been committed there, nearly matching an earlier murder in Edinburgh.

Author Peter May neatly balances the present-day investigation against Fin Macle ...more

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Feb 01, 2016 Patricia rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: library-book, mystery, nook

This is the first of three mysteries. I read the second first because it was a book group read, but really recommend reading them in order. As far as the mystery goes, it doesn't matter, but these are character driven books and their stories are told in layers and always pertain the mysteries. Highly recommend. ...more

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