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bookdragon_1978 's review for:
The Blackhouse
by Peter May
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
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:
Complicated
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I read this as the January Book of the Month with Scotland Book Club.
A small-town crime and mystery novel based on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland follows the return of Finn Macleod, now a DI with Edinburgh police, to his hometown and the ghosts of his past, to investigate a murder of a larger than life childhood bully.
This novel is filled with fact, ways of life on Lewis, and historical interest references. I found myself making copious notes on points of interest and then Googling information surrounding mentions in this book, from the actual Isle of Lewis, Blackhouses, Lews Castle, the Brahan Seer and the Lewis Chessmen through to the reality of the Guga Hunt and images of Leith Walk. This book brought a remote area of Scotland to life for me.
Even though this was a crime and mystery novel, there are so many layers within the story which do not fail to surprise and add extra depth and strength to the characters and the plot. Very well developed in all aspects.
I will make time to read the next 2 books in this trilogy. Thank you Scotland Book Club for introducing me to this author.
My favourite lines with beautiful words from the novel:
‘And for once it is warm, like breath on the skin, caressing and seductive.’
‘The sea breathes gently upon the shore, phosphorescent foam bursting silver bubbles over gold.’
‘And all the regrets of his life rose up inside him like water in a spring, and he knelt beside the boat and wept.’
‘A blink of moonlight splashed a pool of broken silver on the ocean beyond.’
‘Real sleep. The kind that wraps all thoughts in black and lowers them gently to the bottom of a deep, dark well.’
A small-town crime and mystery novel based on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland follows the return of Finn Macleod, now a DI with Edinburgh police, to his hometown and the ghosts of his past, to investigate a murder of a larger than life childhood bully.
This novel is filled with fact, ways of life on Lewis, and historical interest references. I found myself making copious notes on points of interest and then Googling information surrounding mentions in this book, from the actual Isle of Lewis, Blackhouses, Lews Castle, the Brahan Seer and the Lewis Chessmen through to the reality of the Guga Hunt and images of Leith Walk. This book brought a remote area of Scotland to life for me.
Even though this was a crime and mystery novel, there are so many layers within the story which do not fail to surprise and add extra depth and strength to the characters and the plot. Very well developed in all aspects.
I will make time to read the next 2 books in this trilogy. Thank you Scotland Book Club for introducing me to this author.
My favourite lines with beautiful words from the novel:
‘And for once it is warm, like breath on the skin, caressing and seductive.’
‘The sea breathes gently upon the shore, phosphorescent foam bursting silver bubbles over gold.’
‘And all the regrets of his life rose up inside him like water in a spring, and he knelt beside the boat and wept.’
‘A blink of moonlight splashed a pool of broken silver on the ocean beyond.’
‘Real sleep. The kind that wraps all thoughts in black and lowers them gently to the bottom of a deep, dark well.’