Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

The Blackhouse by Peter May

5 reviews

silkmoth's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I first read this years ago, but had bought the audiobook in a sale. The narrator was excellent and really brought the island voices to life, and added a layer of depth to the story that isn't accessible when reading a book. 

The story is told through a blend of present day action with extensive flashbacks to the protagonist's childhood and adolescence on the Isle of Lewis. I'm surprised to see reviews saying that the story is sluggish. I found it fast paced and absorbing. I'm looking forward to re-reading the rest of the trilogy.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Sexual content

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Car accident, Alcohol, Cursing, Suicide, and Death of parent

phoebemagdalena's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide and Child abuse

Minor: Death of parent

quixoposto's review

dark emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

I read this book shortly after visiting the Isle of Lewis.  The descriptions of weather and landscape reinforced my recent visit and added more context.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death

Moderate: Pedophilia, Death of parent, Child abuse, Bullying, and Toxic friendship

ochutchinson's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

The An Sgier stuff was really wonderfully done although the rest of the prose didn't do it for me. A good grizzled-cop-comes-home-to-small-town-to-investigate-murder, digs-up-old-ghosts tropey read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death, Death of parent, and Animal death

Moderate: Alcoholism, Vomit, Violence, and Medical content

Minor: Child abuse and Sexual assault

crouteurpro's review against another edition

adventurous tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Car accident, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Medical content, and Murder

Moderate: Drug use, Rape, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Excrement, Vomit, Bullying, and Cursing