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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
Not my usual fare, but friends gave rave reviews so I tried it. It was a bit on the grisly side to start, with a horrific murder, and excruciatingly detailed post mortem, and I almost gave up. I'm glad I pushed through, though. Really good story with twists and turns.
Good start to this trilogy
Full review here
http://0651frombrighton.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/the-blackhouse-peter-may.html
Full review here
http://0651frombrighton.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/the-blackhouse-peter-may.html
While this is a novel which features a crime to be solved, it is as much a novel of place, where the geographic setting is as important as the characters or the basic plot to the development of the story. May masterfully creates a sense of place and the importance of home and the past with a narrative structure that alternates between the present day and the past on the Isle of Lewis. The solving of the crime doesn't dominate other elements of the story, as is typical of most crime novels. It's really more a novel that includes a murder than a murder mystery. I loved it, have finished the second in the series and am looking forward to more by this author.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Deftly plotted and gripping with deeply drawn characters. Also captures the bleak but beautiful setting of the Scottish Isles.
Murder on the Isle of Lewis. But of course, it's much more than that, including the annual guga hunt on Sula Sgeir, repressed childhood memories, mistake identities, and a Lewis detective who escaped but finds himself drawn to investigate the death of the island bully. Much to learn about this windblown Scots isle where isolation breeds contempt.
I just loved this book! Enough description, but not over done; interesting lead character; learning about a part of Scotland and their traditions of which I had no idea - always good. Complicated characters and plot, left me guessing until the end. I’m starting the sequal right away - Lewis Man.
An in-depth character driven murder mystery set on the bleak Isle of Lewis. I am looking forward to the other two books in the trilogy.
The setting of the story is the best thing about the book, the story is somehow not very interesting.