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A review by wintersavenger
The Blackhouse by Peter May
3.0
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.