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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
This was recommended to me by my Mum who had read it and loved it. She absolutely adores Scotland and that's why she loved this book so much. I went in with an open mind, I (mostly) trust her judgement. There were parts of this book that I loved. The murder mystery itself was brilliant, victim that you love and hate and a lead character with a great deal of history.
Learning all about Fin McLeod and his childhood is really interesting and is definitely different to your regular murder mystery. Very rarely do you know so much about a main character and his relationship to the victim. In fact, Fin's life story is probably more interesting than the murder mystery.
I did think there were some parts of the story that were a bit bogged down. At one stage Peter May did describe a whole sequence to repairing a computer which was completely unnecessary!
But really, it's the island that Fin is from that gives this book character and intrigue and the soap fan in me loves a scandal. I read until the end partly to find out who the murderer was and partly to find out who was the father of young Fin!
Learning all about Fin McLeod and his childhood is really interesting and is definitely different to your regular murder mystery. Very rarely do you know so much about a main character and his relationship to the victim. In fact, Fin's life story is probably more interesting than the murder mystery.
I did think there were some parts of the story that were a bit bogged down. At one stage Peter May did describe a whole sequence to repairing a computer which was completely unnecessary!
But really, it's the island that Fin is from that gives this book character and intrigue and the soap fan in me loves a scandal. I read until the end partly to find out who the murderer was and partly to find out who was the father of young Fin!
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read this book whilst on holiday on the Isle of Lewis - reading a book set on the island whilst actually spending time here seemed absolutely perfect, and as luck would have it the novel was nestled on the bookcase of the cottage we’re staying in! When I realised it was book 1 of the Lewis trilogy I knew I had to pick it up and hopefully read it over the short time I was here!
This is the first in a trilogy about policeman Fin MacLeod, a Lewis native. He comes back to the island to investigate the brutal murder of an acquaintance and has to face old friends and May old ghosts to rest.
I really enjoyed the fast pace of this book but also the vivid descriptions of the island. Having now spent time here I can really picture the places the author describes and I really enjoyed the way he wrote about Lewis.
I read this book quickly and will absolutely read the other parts of the trilogy.
This is the first in a trilogy about policeman Fin MacLeod, a Lewis native. He comes back to the island to investigate the brutal murder of an acquaintance and has to face old friends and May old ghosts to rest.
I really enjoyed the fast pace of this book but also the vivid descriptions of the island. Having now spent time here I can really picture the places the author describes and I really enjoyed the way he wrote about Lewis.
I read this book quickly and will absolutely read the other parts of the trilogy.
I never have been one for crime novels, but having grown up on the remote Isle of Lewis? It was hard to avoid the hype around a bestseller mystery crime novel set in a place so familiar.
But I managed.
I persevered through years of being told to read this book because 'it's right in your own back garden!' And my god, those years were not nearly as long as the slog it was to get through this book.
Yes, it has only taken 16 days to get through, but that was a 16 day battle to try and feel something more for the protagonist than an urgency to get through his investigation to crack the case. That may be more to do with my usual dislike of crime novels, but I couldn't help but struggle to relate to the character of Fin Macleod - the only character of note in this novel. Very few others are given any depth or attention beyond glimpses in Fin's memories.
Again, having read few crime books out of a general interest in more fantasy/sci-fi, the twists felt as though they came a little out of nowhere.
I'd give the book a solid 2.5/5, and this is mostly down to the fact that despite annoyance at the encouragement to read this book? It was nice to see my home put to paper (cough phone screen) in a new light.
But I managed.
I persevered through years of being told to read this book because 'it's right in your own back garden!' And my god, those years were not nearly as long as the slog it was to get through this book.
Yes, it has only taken 16 days to get through, but that was a 16 day battle to try and feel something more for the protagonist than an urgency to get through his investigation to crack the case. That may be more to do with my usual dislike of crime novels, but I couldn't help but struggle to relate to the character of Fin Macleod - the only character of note in this novel. Very few others are given any depth or attention beyond glimpses in Fin's memories.
Again, having read few crime books out of a general interest in more fantasy/sci-fi, the twists felt as though they came a little out of nowhere.
I'd give the book a solid 2.5/5, and this is mostly down to the fact that despite annoyance at the encouragement to read this book? It was nice to see my home put to paper (cough phone screen) in a new light.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Exciting crime investigation in the Hebrides. Lovely descriptions of the landscape and sudden changes in the plot, combining past and present, merge in an addictive story.
FIRST LINE REVIEW: "They are just kids." Such a simple sentence to begin this brilliant mystery set on the rugged, desolate Isle of Lewis in Scotland. And the crimes committed against "kids" is at the heart of this beautiful mystery, the first of a trilogy. This is far more than your typical mystery novel. It's a work of stunning beauty, poignancy, pain and redemption. I didn't want it to end...and fortunately, I've got two more books in the series and many more by Peter May, to sustain me. Can't recommend this one highly enough!
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated