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purplefish101's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
hollyxbeth's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
dzsossz's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
nurtu's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
jaredwill_'s review against another edition
5.0
May's sequel to The Black House, follows former DI Fin McLeod as he uncovers a 50-year-old mystery that will have consequences in the present. If you love British detective shows you will love this.
All of May's books seem to have a dual narrative spread across time but, in this the past is remembered by a man with senile dementia. It's both beautiful and heartbreaking.
All of May's books seem to have a dual narrative spread across time but, in this the past is remembered by a man with senile dementia. It's both beautiful and heartbreaking.
tigerknitting's review against another edition
4.0
Who doesn't like a good mystery? I'm particularly drawn to psychological mysteries, so when a book has both a murder and a psychological twist, so much the better.
Peter Mays' book The Black House takes place on the Isle of Lewis, the northern most island in the Hebrides, off Scotland. Fin MacLeod grew up there, but moved to the mainland after high school, to attend college and escape. He became a police officer, so when someone on the island is murdered, and the m.o. is similar to a murder that he is investigating, he is naturally sent to help the investigation. As it turns out, he knew the victim, having grown up with him.
The book is told in the third person when describing current events, but in Fin's voice when he is remembering the past. We get glimpses into his childhood and the reasons behind his desire to leave the island. His knowledge of the people in some ways helps him narrow the search for the killer down, but in some ways leads him astray.
The Isle of Lewis is so well described it is a character in its own right.
I enjoyed this book very much. The twists and turns were very satisfying, and learning about such a foreign landscape was very interesting. There are two more books in the series, The Lewis Man and The Chessmen (which has not yet been published in the US.)
Peter Mays' book The Black House takes place on the Isle of Lewis, the northern most island in the Hebrides, off Scotland. Fin MacLeod grew up there, but moved to the mainland after high school, to attend college and escape. He became a police officer, so when someone on the island is murdered, and the m.o. is similar to a murder that he is investigating, he is naturally sent to help the investigation. As it turns out, he knew the victim, having grown up with him.
The book is told in the third person when describing current events, but in Fin's voice when he is remembering the past. We get glimpses into his childhood and the reasons behind his desire to leave the island. His knowledge of the people in some ways helps him narrow the search for the killer down, but in some ways leads him astray.
The Isle of Lewis is so well described it is a character in its own right.
I enjoyed this book very much. The twists and turns were very satisfying, and learning about such a foreign landscape was very interesting. There are two more books in the series, The Lewis Man and The Chessmen (which has not yet been published in the US.)
valerie87's review against another edition
5.0
“When you are young a year is a big part of your life and seems to last forever. When you are old, there have been too many of them gone before and they pass all too fast. We move so slowly away from birth, and rush so quickly to death.”
Peter May writes an excellent mystery. And listening to it narrated by Peter Forbes makes the story come to life.
A murdered body that was buried 50 years earlier is found on the Isle of Lewis. The local police department are able to match his DNA with that of Marsaili’s father. Unfortunately, her father is suffering from dementia and can not help to identify the body. Fin Macleod, who has recently quit his job with the Edinburgh Police Department, now lives on the Island. He is determined to help Marsaili prove her father’s innocence before the police from Inverness fly in.
I felt this was a heartbreaking story reading about her father’s dementia and difficult childhood. That said, I still loved it just as much as the first book. Peter May is great at making readers feel like they are on the islands and experiencing the hard lives of the residents there.
I look forward to the final book in the trilogy.
Peter May writes an excellent mystery. And listening to it narrated by Peter Forbes makes the story come to life.
A murdered body that was buried 50 years earlier is found on the Isle of Lewis. The local police department are able to match his DNA with that of Marsaili’s father. Unfortunately, her father is suffering from dementia and can not help to identify the body. Fin Macleod, who has recently quit his job with the Edinburgh Police Department, now lives on the Island. He is determined to help Marsaili prove her father’s innocence before the police from Inverness fly in.
I felt this was a heartbreaking story reading about her father’s dementia and difficult childhood. That said, I still loved it just as much as the first book. Peter May is great at making readers feel like they are on the islands and experiencing the hard lives of the residents there.
I look forward to the final book in the trilogy.
gaylebn's review against another edition
4.0
What a sweet and sad story, complete with a compelling mystery. I loved it.
snance's review against another edition
5.0
Better than the first. Literally could not put it down and finished at 3 am. Waiting impatiently for book 3 from the library. Not my usual fare, but I've been to some of the Western Isles, and Harris and Lewis are on my bucket list.