The Lewis Man

Marilyn Stasio in The New York Times raved: “Peter May is a writer I’d follow to the ends of the earth.” Among the many honors received, The Blackhouse, the first novel in May’s acclaimed Lewis trilogy, won the Barry and Crime Thriller Hound awards.

In The Lewis Man, the second book of the trilogy, Fin Macleod has returned to the Isle of Lewis, the storm-tossed, wind-scoured outer Hebridean island where he was born and raised. Having left behind his adult life in Edinburgh–including his wife and his career in the police force–the former Detective Inspector is intent on repairing past relationships and restoring his parents’ derelict cottage. His plans are interrupted when an unidentified corpse is recovered from a Lewis peat bog. The only clue to its identity is a DNA match to a local farmer, the now-senile Tormod Macdonald–the father of Fin’s childhood sweetheart, Marsaili–a man who has claimed throughout his life to be an only child, practically an orphan. Reluctantly drawn into the investigation, Fin uncovers deep family secrets even as he draws closer to the killer who wishes to keep them hidden.

Already an international bestseller and winner of numerous awards, including France’s Prix des Lecteurs du Telegramme, The Lewis Man has the lyrical verve of Ian Rankin and the gutsy risk-taking of Benjamin Black. As fascinating and forbidding as the Hebridean landscape, the book (according to The Times) “throbs with past and present passions, jealousies, suspicions and regrets; the emotional secrets of the bleak island are even deeper than its peat bog.”

“As good as its superb predecessor… not only a good mystery, but also a moving and evocative portrayal of a place where the unforgiving weather is matched only by the church’s harsh patronage.”—Laura Wilson, The Guardian

“Every bit as excellent as The Blackhouse… Peter May weaves his wonderful magic and the story unfolds before you in vivid detail.”—Amanda C M Gillies, Eurocrime

“In mood and texture, Peter May’s novels, set on the Isle of Lewis, are essentially Nordic, and he bears comparison with some of the best writers from those cold desolate climes… the plot throbs with past and present passions, jealousies, suspicions and regrets; the emotional secrets of the bleak island are even deeper than its peat bog.”—Marcel Berlins, The Times

“The strength and beauty of this book lies in the exploration of the relationships between people. The characters are beautifully drawn and so true to life… The plot is intricate and cleverly fitted together… I absolutely loved this second book in the series and can safely state that May is currently unveiling a cracking series.”—CrimeSquad

“May is a masterful story-teller. He skillfully combines pathos and the themes of identity, lost love and family ties to create an exciting, page-turning thriller.”—Laura Wurzal, The Irish Examiner

“Spell-binding… the book’s a delight: bringing people and place alive in equal measure.”—Jim Kelly, ShotsMag

“The depiction of the island atmosphere is as impressive as the action.”—Julia Handford, The Sunday Telegraph

“Like all the best crime fiction its interest is not restricted to the investigation… the scenes set in the orphanage in the Dean Village are moving… crime novels may be primarily entertainments, but the best ones always offer something more. Fin’s investigation of this long-buried crime forces him to make a reassessment of his own life.”—Allan Massie, The Scotsman