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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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)
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)
A long winding drama, with the murder mystery, concluded in the final chapters.
I enjoyed the story and enjoyed the history lessons, but I have a feeling Peter May doesn't like women all that much. He has a habit of degrading all of his characters, in particular female ones, with faults and makes his protagonist shine like a saint in comparison.
Fin McLeod isn't an overly likeable character, but his story is an interesting one.
I'll read the second in the series to see if my opinions can be swayed.
I enjoyed the story and enjoyed the history lessons, but I have a feeling Peter May doesn't like women all that much. He has a habit of degrading all of his characters, in particular female ones, with faults and makes his protagonist shine like a saint in comparison.
Fin McLeod isn't an overly likeable character, but his story is an interesting one.
I'll read the second in the series to see if my opinions can be swayed.
What a vivid and depressing setting lol— but it certainly made this book stick with me and made the mystery all the more consuming.
I love mysteries that delve into more than just the case, but the detective as well, and Fin certainly had a lot to delve into. The final revelations still somehow took me by surprise and kept me glued to the page.
I love mysteries that delve into more than just the case, but the detective as well, and Fin certainly had a lot to delve into. The final revelations still somehow took me by surprise and kept me glued to the page.
I like the descriptions but here's why I stopped reading at around halfway - I don't buy the whole six year olds flirting thing. I get those sections are Fin's memories, but still, just ick. Not my cuppa. Furthermore, quite frankly, certain things seem really heavy handed. .
Spoiler
Fin has lost his son. He blames his wife. It is unclear from the half I read if the wife is truly at fault. But the marriage was one of love or anything like that. Just happened. He then discovers that he has a child by the woman he should have married. You know, the one he had has been lusting after since he was six
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
This is a classic murder mystery yet you'll be guessing who done it right to the end.
There's the requisite tarnished detective, the not-so-friendly community, the "usual suspects" and the history and secrets that influence who says what and when. The components that make this a great read are the setting - the Hebrides Islands of Scotland - and the Gaelic culture influences every move the characters make. This is a story that could happen only in these islands and that makes the mystery even more intriguing.
I highly recommend listening to this book as the narrator, Peter Forbes is a native Scot and Gaelic speaker. This adds immensely to taking the reader to the time and place of the events of this mystery. The Blackhouse is the first of a trilogy. I can't wait to read the rest!
There's the requisite tarnished detective, the not-so-friendly community, the "usual suspects" and the history and secrets that influence who says what and when. The components that make this a great read are the setting - the Hebrides Islands of Scotland - and the Gaelic culture influences every move the characters make. This is a story that could happen only in these islands and that makes the mystery even more intriguing.
I highly recommend listening to this book as the narrator, Peter Forbes is a native Scot and Gaelic speaker. This adds immensely to taking the reader to the time and place of the events of this mystery. The Blackhouse is the first of a trilogy. I can't wait to read the rest!
Fin Macleod left the Isle of Lewis and his small Gaelic village when he went to university, and he never wanted to go back. Almost 20 years later, he's sent back on police business when a murder in his village resembles an earlier one he investigated in Edinburgh. Don't let this fool you, though — this is barely a detective mystery at all. Instead, it's Fin's story, from his boyhood up to the time he left, and in the telling, the author takes us into many nooks and crannies of the largest island of the sparsely populated Outer Hebrides, which I find fascinating.
It's compulsive reading, and I think the author's background as a TV scriptwriter accounts for how visual it is. I'm not one for detailed descriptions of scenery, but May plays it well, not too much and yet enough to evoke the wind, the southern mountains, the beaches, the cliffs, and the sea. It might have helped my enjoyment that I've recently returned from a vacation that included three days on the Isle of Lewis and a day touring Harris, on the southern end — but I don't at all think you'd need to know anything about the place to get caught up in this story.
There's an unforgettable account of the guga hunt, a traditional annual killing of 2,000 seabirds on a dangerous piece of rock 50 miles off the coast. It's a pivotal part of the story and quite visceral.
There's also an unnecessarily detailed police autopsy near the start of the book, but that's the only time human remains or body parts figure in the story at all.
There are two more novels in this series, and I fully intend to read them too.
It's compulsive reading, and I think the author's background as a TV scriptwriter accounts for how visual it is. I'm not one for detailed descriptions of scenery, but May plays it well, not too much and yet enough to evoke the wind, the southern mountains, the beaches, the cliffs, and the sea. It might have helped my enjoyment that I've recently returned from a vacation that included three days on the Isle of Lewis and a day touring Harris, on the southern end — but I don't at all think you'd need to know anything about the place to get caught up in this story.
There's an unforgettable account of the guga hunt, a traditional annual killing of 2,000 seabirds on a dangerous piece of rock 50 miles off the coast. It's a pivotal part of the story and quite visceral.
There's also an unnecessarily detailed police autopsy near the start of the book, but that's the only time human remains or body parts figure in the story at all.
There are two more novels in this series, and I fully intend to read them too.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault
The audiobook of this story is expertly read with authentic accents which adds a whole extra level to this already compelling story and set of characters.
The setting is a location totally foreign to me. I was totally dependent on the imagery and descriptions to see the scenes and the author succeeded.
The plot is all at once mysterious and surprising, keeping me emotionally invested in the revelations throughout, even until the last page.
The main character, as revealed in the scenes taking place in the present, as well as the scenes set in his past, is both the point of view character and protagonist, and also the character I feel heartache and compassion for.
Add these elements together and I judge this novel to be a highly satisfying and balanced literary equation.
Mathematics aside, this novel was a departure for me. No spaceships! 🚀
But, still, I very much enjoyed it. Recommended for mature audiences due to excessive language and adult (but not overly explicit) adult situations.
The setting is a location totally foreign to me. I was totally dependent on the imagery and descriptions to see the scenes and the author succeeded.
The plot is all at once mysterious and surprising, keeping me emotionally invested in the revelations throughout, even until the last page.
The main character, as revealed in the scenes taking place in the present, as well as the scenes set in his past, is both the point of view character and protagonist, and also the character I feel heartache and compassion for.
Add these elements together and I judge this novel to be a highly satisfying and balanced literary equation.
Mathematics aside, this novel was a departure for me. No spaceships! 🚀
But, still, I very much enjoyed it. Recommended for mature audiences due to excessive language and adult (but not overly explicit) adult situations.
Beautiful language and descriptions of the Isle of Lewis, rich with complex character memories and emotions. I loved how the murder mystery was constructed through memory and emotion. Really looking forward to the next installment.