The Black House

The Black House Cover
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Peter May

A brutal killing has taken place on Lewis, Scotland’s most remote island. Detective Fin Macleod, at home in Edinburgh on compassionate leave, is sent to investigate. For Lewis-born Macleod, the case represents a journey both home and into his past, as he attempts to rediscover the life and people he left behind eighteen years earlier. But something lurks beneath the close-knit, God-fearing façade of the Lewis community, something primal. As Fin investigates, old secrets are unearthed, and he, the hunter, becomes the hunted.

The Blackhouse is a crime novel of rare power and vision. Peter May has crafted a page-turning murder mystery that explores the darkness in our soul, and just how difficult it is to escape the past.

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Judy

There’s more than a touch of The Wicker Man in this terrific story: a policeman sent to a distant Scottish island to investigate a crime; ancient beliefs and customs still holding sway with the islanders; hints of a conspiracy of silence and a cover up. But unlike Edward Woodward’s character in the film, Fin Mcleod is no naive outsider. He grew up on Lewis: he knows its people by creed, culture, and their very names. If anyone can find out who hanged and eviscerated local bully Angel Macritchie, it should be him.

And yet, and yet... something is out of joint. Angel’s murder and the earlier one in Edinburgh are superficially similar but forensics quickly establish curious differences. Try as he may, Fin struggles to establish a clear motive out of many possible leads.

As Richard writes here, Lewis itself is marvellously described: the island might almost be a character in its own right with its dramatic scenery, savage coastline and ever-changing Atlantic weather. And May’s description of a centuries-old ritual of sailing to a spike of rock miles out to sea, there to cull seabirds for a rare island delicacy, is gruesomely and powerfully done.

The Black House finishes with a twist I didn’t see coming at all. A cracker from start to finish.

Richard

The Black House really ticks all the boxes for a cop-led murder mystery – a gruesome crime (two, actually), a corkscrew plot, a fabulous sense of place, and a thoroughly believable police detective trying to keep his balance as his personal life implodes and his professional one threatens to blow up in his face.

Fin Macleod is an Edinburgh-based policeman who is sent to the remote Scottish island of Lewis. There’s been a bizarre murder there, and the killer’s methods seem to replicate a recent slaying in Edinburgh. As Fin was born and grew up on Lewis, his superiors think he might have an edge and break the case.

But almost as soon as Fin arrives, secrets from his past begin to catch at his heels. The murdered man is well known to him from childhood – he was the school bully, and carried a bully’s reputation to the day he was brutally killed and mutilated. Finn is also inexorably drawn to an ancient island ritual that is about to make its annual appearance; a ritual he himself took part in as a boy and which convulsed his life after a harrowing accident.

Peter May has drawn a gutsy, likeable character in Fin Macleod and the good news is that this is the first in a trilogy to feature him. Keep them coming, Mr May.

Reviews & Comments

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  • A WONDERFUL read - I could not put it down- SO much detail - so well researched. Can't wait for his next book.

    Mary Alex Kirkpatrick-Alex Kirkpatrick

  • A totally gripping read. Beautifully descriptive. Would make a fantastic film!!!

    Mave McCulloch

  • I am not a big reader but took a fancy to this book and i have to say i thought it was a real page turner could NOT put it down :)

    Would definitely recommend this book!

    Josie

  • could not put this book down, the level of detale and understanding took my breath away. A very good read.

    christine howe

  • what a tremendous book. It is v atmospheric and takes you easily into the wilds of Lewis and beyond. The descriptions of the men from Ness out on the remote Atlantic island were absolutely fabulous. Highly recommended. Look forward to the next two...

    kirsteen scott

  • A descriptive novel about a close-knit community - very well written, a clever intricate plot, and some frightening moments. Superb.

    Kris S

  • This was unputdownable!! Very unexpected twist towards the end. Can't wait for his next book!

    Bridget

  • I really enjoyed this book, the descriptions of life on Lewis were fascinating, the plot was great and the characters interesting, thought the ending was a little predictable though.

    H Macleod

  • It is so refreshing to read something different; especially the location and the fascinating true story of the Guga woven into the plot. Loved it...when is the next book?

    Avy

  • Thank you for making me aware of this book! I recently returned from my own soul searching trip to Lewis and Harris, where I regained my concentration for reading and have found the book to be gripping. So many rainbows, a beautiful place and super friendly people well worth the long journey, even looked at some houses, maybe just maybe .....

    sally-ann froude

  • Fantastic book, couldn't put it down. The twist at the end makes it worth getting to the end for. Cannot wait for the second book!!!

    Rachel Ashton

  • I too couldn't put the book down. It immediately draws you in. The author is very descriptive and found in places too much so. I did enjoy the location and customs of the island. And the twist at the end was good. I was expecting the book to be more a thriller instead of a novel.

    Kris

  • I reallly enjoyed this book, a great read which i have recommended to lots of my friends. I have it on kindle, so its a shame that I can't pass it on to everyone to share. The descriptions of life and growing up on the island are reallly good, and lots of twists and turns along the way.

    Ali

  • This book has every thing, good story,a feeling of being part of each day as the dawn breaks to the sun setting started the book and finish reading in two days, more please

    JUNE A PHILLIPS

  • I thought this book was ok...and thats all really. I thought the plot was a little predictable...yes it did have some good turn pages moment but I found them to be far and few between. Got bored on many occasions and will not be passing this book on as a good read.

    Michelle Keene

  • I enjoyed this book once I had skimmed over the overly detailed murder scene. Looking forward to the next 2 books in the series.

    Áine

  • I found this book to be far to descriptive of the geography of the area in which it was set and not necessary to the story. I was really disappointed in the book overall, the story line was good and did have you wondering to the end, however, it was decidedly average.

    Karen L S

  • My first book by this author and wont be my last. I loved the way he narrated to us about his life, I really felt like I was their by his side, feeling and experiencing things with him.

    I did find it odd as another previous comment did, that there was flirting going on in the class by 6yr olds and the scene in the barn. I have a 6yr old boy and he certainly doesn't carry on like that. Also to be wandering around the Island on their own at that age didn't seem right either..

    The descriptions about the Isle of Lewis where very vivid to me and I could feel the cold, dark nights when they went to sea.

    Very different from any crime novel Ive read and found it very refreshing. Cannot wait to read the second installment "Lewis Man" out in Feb 2012 .....

    Julie Humphreys

  • I couldn't even finish the book. I don't think it was very well written for a start. I grew up in Ness and the author has been lazy enough to use the exact island locations as they are, which may not be a bad thing as it is a bonny place. However his laziness also overspills into the way in which he describes it - ie, rather than setting the scene of the location, he even gives directions to the Police station, miles on the moor road to Barvas etc. And having such a factual background to the book, you might expect the way of life on the island to depict the way in which it was growing up in the 80's. Sure the swings were tied up on a Sunday and youngsters were back home by midnight on a Saturday night, but we weren't oppressed by the Church, nor was their hatred between the various Church denominations. That may seem like a trivial remark, but the author cannot help but focus on the hellish influence of the Church on every page, which becomes overbearing and almost the main focus of the book, were it not that some mildly mysterious plot were unfolding. No wonder he had to go to France to get it Published - well done Britain.

    Stuart

  • By far the best book I have read for ages, I couldn't put it down!

    Tina

  • it's well written book, I truly enjoyed reading it, and knowing the slow progression of life in a remote island, with the turn of events.

    Adel

  • I agree with Karen L S - far too many detailed descriptive passages which bordered on pomposity. I found Fin to be an emotionally immature character. The plot was good and I liked the way the reader had a number of suspects to consider. I guessed the murderer around pg 310 but for completely the wrong motive. I agree with other reviewers that the twist at the end was good. It certainly wasn't a book which I couldn't put down but I did want to finish it.

    Jeannie

  • I quite enjoyed the book and probably enjoyed the second half more. I prefer Ann Cleeves books, some of which are set in a similar Scottish Island environment. I found I didnt like the main character, Fin - I found him unpleasant and self pitying. I see someone else has described him as emotionally immature. Maybe that is deliberate but still I didnt like him or the way he treated the women in the book. He certainly only thought of himself and not of others - except maybe unil the very last few pages ! - which I would say became slightly ridiculous.

    J Wilson

  • I also live on the Isle of Lewis and I found the description of the island very accurate. Especially the landscape, the weather and the oppressive and joyless religion which thankfully is now starting to lose its hold over the place. I also disagree with a previous comment. Yes six year olds can have innocent and harmless crushes on each other and yes we did wander the island freely at that age coming and going from our neighbours houses as we pleased.

    Alex

  • Amazing book, loads of chores not done at home, due to not being able to leave the book alone - sheer brilliance.....

    Cheryl

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