If you are one of the many who loved The Blackhouse (post here), then I think it's safe to say that volume 2 of Peter May's Lewis trilogy, The Lewis Man
, will not disappoint!
All of us who have been eagerly awaiting the sequel to that very dramatic first book will have been wondering whether the author would pull off a second story with the aplomb shown in the earlier one; I'm so glad to tell you that he does.
The novel begins with the discovery of a body in a peat bog on the Hebridean island, but contrary to first expectations the corpse has not been there for thousands of years - this is a comparatively recent death, a murder, and DNA evidence links the remains to an elderly islander who is suffering from dementia. Detective Fin Macleod is back on Lewis having left the police force and his Edinburgh life behind him. What he cannot jettison, though, are his memories, those of recent tragic events, and other painful ones from further back, ones peopled by the very friends and neighbours he has returned to in his small community in the north of the island.
When Fin is called in in an unofficial capacity to help ascertain the identity of the murder victim and that of his living near-relation who cannot now be who he seems, his interest in the case will turn out to be more than just professional. As the mystery is unravelled, so old scores will be settled, and here's where Peter May shows his skill with an intricate plot and with the unfolding narrative, for as the action moves back and fore from the present day islands to the Edinburgh of the 1950s (click here for more on the locations), it's a neat tale he tells and one which will have you on the very edge of your seat.
Roll on volume 3, say I, and if you go to the publisher's website and sign up you'll get an extract of that book, The Chess Men, ahead of its autumn release. I'm at the head of the queue.
I'm not going to post here to say for the umpteenth time that I enjoyed the Black House immensely and The Lewis Man is on my shelves just looking smug at the moment, knowing I'm just trying not to rush my current book just to get to it.
Oops.. somehow it slipped out
Posted by: Sandy | 17 January 2012 at 06:15 PM
I almost pulled this book from Cornflower's hands, such was my impatience; and like her I was not disappointed. I read it in 24 hours and am looking round greedily for the next course. Autumn? I can't wait!
Posted by: Mr Cornflower | 17 January 2012 at 07:11 PM
Marvellous that the first book had such a grip on all of us that we can't wait for more!
Posted by: Cornflower | 17 January 2012 at 08:22 PM
I was hoping to pick up Blackhouse but got Blowback. This is going to be my last read in Melbourne. Thank you for the recommendations. It has given me such a lot of good reading whilst here in Melbourne where access to books is good.
Posted by: Mystica | 18 January 2012 at 08:35 PM
Glad to hear that, Mystica, thankyou.
Posted by: Cornflower | 18 January 2012 at 09:24 PM
After waiting for months, The Blackhouse has finally arrived at the library with my name on it and I am waiting impatiently until I can get there on Saturday to collect it.
I have almost finished the most recent Greek Detective novel by Anne Zouroudi and am happy to say that it is every bit as good as the others! I hope that you get to read them soon, Cornflower as I think you will enjoy them. Reading them in order isn't absolutely necessary but I've found it does help.
Posted by: LizF | 19 January 2012 at 12:45 PM
After that long wait for The Blackhouse I do so hope you'll enjoy it, Liz.
Posted by: Cornflower | 19 January 2012 at 02:08 PM
Finally I could not wait any longer and I interrupted my latest Robin Hobb trilogy to read The Lewis Man. As before, I enjoyed Perter May's writing and I was held by the story - unable to put it down.
The social history that is the foundation of this tale was unknown to me and I know that this book will stay in my memory a long time, such is the emotional reaction to it.
As before, the interweaving of different threads (this time different voices) seems effortless and not at all intrusive. It would give away too much of the plot to say much more ... so I wont!
Recommended!
Posted by: Sandy | 23 January 2012 at 11:42 PM
Effortless is the word! So glad you enjoyed it, too, Sandy.
Posted by: Cornflower | 24 January 2012 at 09:02 PM
Just finished The Blackhouse, and yes, Cornflower you were right! I read the last third in a sitting when I should have been doing something for work because it was impossible to put down.
I've read crime novels set on Shetland (Ann Cleeves' Jimmy Perez novels)before but it was fascinating to contrast them with life on Lewis especially the bits about the guga harvest, which both fascinated and repelled me!
The first couple of chapters of The Lewis Man were included at the back of the book and I now desperately want to get my hands on that too to find out what happens next for Fin Macleod.
Posted by: LizF | 27 January 2012 at 05:56 PM
Excellent!
Re. the guga, I read an interview with Peter May in which he said that the current leader of the guga hunters got in touch with him about the book. He was worried that he was in for criticism, but the man said that he and his team had all read The Blackhouse and loved it. From what PM said, that reaction to the book is typical of what he's had on Lewis, which must be very gratifying for him.
Hope you manage to get hold of The Lewis Man soon as it's a very worthy follow-up.
Posted by: Cornflower | 27 January 2012 at 07:26 PM