A review by theteaisaddictive
The Blackhouse by Peter May

adventurous challenging emotional tense slow-paced

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

3.5

I enjoyed this book — it was a Christmas present from my sister, and not a genre I normally read at all. The unravelling of the mystery in the last hundred or so pages was extremely gripping to read, and childhood flashbacks which began as annoying and distracting soon became repositories of dramatic irony and tension. Just as interesting to read is the unpacking of masculinity and boyhood regarding the experiences of Lewismen of my parents’ generation — sometimes a toxic masculinity, sometimes an ode to the strength of the bonds that tie these communities together. Likewise, the role of the church: from the Revival of the 60s and 70s to the more relaxed attitude of the early 2000s (when I presume, based on the scant context clues, that this book is set). Very rarely do I get to read books set in my own country, so this was an especial treat for me. A solid 3-star read. Added 1/2 point on Storygraph for my personal enjoyment. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Fatphobia, Murder, Alcohol, and Classism

Moderate: Child abuse

In the last fifty or so pages, it is revealed that Fin and Artair were abused by Artair’s father for several years, beginning in childhood and extending to their teenage years. The precise nature of the abuse is never revealed, as Fin blocked out all memory of it as a trauma response, but it is strongly implied to be sexual in nature.