Beautiful descriptions of nature and island life. I loved the Scottish names! Peter May has written a well crafted and thoroughly enthralling story. I would thoroughly recommend

I absolutely loved reading this book. The characters in this book are from Peter Mays The Lewis Trilogy. This can easily be read as a stand alone novel though without you feeling you have missed something. What I loved about this book is how the author managed to incorporate some important ecological things into a murder mystery story. Everything slotted in brilliantly, adding more layers to the story.

Fin MacLeod and his wife Marsaili are back in the Outer Hebrides, on the Isle of Lewis. Not a place they wish to return to after moving away ten years earlier. But when their son Fionnlagh is arrested accused or murdering an 18 year old student of his, they return to try and help prove that their son is innocent. But is he?

The problem is when they have a couple of short visits with their son he doesn’t say much to make them believe he is innocent, except that he was in love with the murdered girl, and despite being her teacher, as well as being married and having a young daughter he had been having an affair with her. Fin is no longer a police officer, even if he was he wouldn’t be able to investigate his own son.

As the plot unfolds, Fin’s past comes back, as we learn of past relationships, along with things Fin and his friends got upto, and there are some things that he has never shared with anyone. Could the past somehow be linked to the present?

Along with the mystery part of the story, the author raises issues on Salmon farms, how the fish are kept cramped in cages, and some die and end up with sea lice, then they are treated with toxic chemicals. The other issue raised is that of whales how things used to be when whales were killed, but within this story a pod of whales become stranded, this is based on something that actually happened in 2023. The way these issues are mentioned blend with the story, it’s not like reading a non fiction book on ecological things. It all blends and adds to the strands of the story bringing it together nicely.

Peter May has done a great job with this story, covering a mystery as well as touching on some of the ecological problems that he has clearly researched. The characters are all relatable, believable and three dimensional. The setting is well described, making you picture each place that they go to on the island.

An engaging, engrossing read from start to finish. Thank you to #Netgalley and @QuercusBooks for an eARC of this book all opinions are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

Another great instalment to this series, a body found at the Black Loch and in suspicious circumstances as Caitlin is an excellent swimmer and canoeist. Fin Macloud and Marsaili come back to the island after 10 years away when he learns his married son Fionnlagh has been having an affair with Caitlin and a suspect for her murder.
Things are not as they seem and for Fin lots of memories are brought back, look forward to a roller coaster of a ride that will keep the pages turning into the early hours. Another excellent read from this awesome author.
My thanks as always to NetGalley, Publisher Quercus Books ,riverrun for the chance of this early read.

If you're familiar with May's previous three books in this series then you'll find yourself on familiar territory here with new ground covered also. One of May's strengths from previous books is his ability to describe locations in a way that makes the reader feel they know places they've never been. While this works as a standalone with plenty of references to the previous books, I'd personally recommend reading the previous books first. That said if you dive straight in here you won't be disappointed. It is dark in places but perhaps that goes with the territory and the ending is both satisfactory and surprising. It will leave you wondering if there's more to come and if there will be such a long wait this time? Only the author will know!

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is part of a series but can be read standalone with no issues as plenty of context is given. I enjoyed some aspects of this book but struggled with others.

As always with May's books, The Black Loch is a beautifully descriptive novel, well paced with an intriguing plot and plenty of wonderful characters. Having read the original Lewis trilogy years ago and forgetting a lot of what happened, I thought this might make The Black Loch a slightly confusing read as I tried to remember previous plots, however it holds its own as a stand alone novel with no prior reading necessary. That being said, there are plenty of subtle reminders to catch the reader up.

May always makes the location a key point of the plot which really transports the reader into the story. Initially starting off with a rather slow pace, by the time the story reached its unexpected conclusion, I couldn't put it down!

If you're a Peter May fan, you'll love this one!

Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books | riverrun for the ARC.

A wonderful addition to the Lewis trilogy with the return of Fin McLeod to the island after his son is accused of murder. Full of raw emotion with flashbacks to previous episodes this is storytelling of the highest calibre. Details of salmon farming maybe rather unsettling but as part of the narrative it works brilliantly. It all builds to a violent climax that may well deserve more from these super characters.

Peter May’s latest book is a compelling atmospheric mystery rooted deep in the events of the past. This is the fourth book in his series set on the island of Lewis but it’s many years since I read the previous books and The Black Loch stands up well as a stand alone read.
Fin MacCleod and his wife Marsaili left the island ten years ago but their lives have become increasingly unhappy. When their son, Fionnlagh is accused of murdering an 18 year old girl, they return to Lewis to try and help him and his family.
Although Fin is no longer with the police, he immediately starts trying to find out what has happened. It quickly becomes clear that his son was having an affair with the murdered girl but Fionnlagh refuses to give any more details and the police are happy that they have found their murderer.
As Fin investigates, he becomes increasingly reminded of events in the past when he was a teenager. Many of his friends are still on the island and the memories of the Summer before they all left for university on the mainland form a big part of this story. The further he delves into his son’s relationship with the murdered girl, the more he realises that the past is still influencing the present.
The Black Loch is quite dark in tone. Despite the beauty of the island and the brilliant but unusual sunshine, the feel is definitely gloomy with many of the characters damaged by either the events of the past or the present. I’ve never visited any of the Scottish Isles but Peter May evokes a real sense of place such that I almost feel that I have been there. He obviously has strong views on modern salmon farming too and the details of that industry are so graphic that it has put me off eating salmon for the foreseeable future.
Despite the darkness of tone and subject matter, the book isn’t depressing and the conclusion, which I didn’t see coming, does leave you with a feeling of optimism for the characters.
This was a great read which I didn’t want to put down and brilliantly combines an intriguing murder mystery with serious ecological issues.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers, Quercus Books, for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Fin Mc Leod is back with a bang! An excellent book 4 in the Lewis trilogy, which I can highly recommend. Peter May weaves a fine tale of island life, nature and it's people, all beautifully described. An atmospheric read, filed with tension, surprises and a beautiful unexpected ending. I do recommend reading the previous books for background information, you won't be disappointed! Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Back on the Outer Isles again with Peter May! There's a dead body of an 18 year old on a beach. She's a swimmer and a canoeist so the death could be suspicious. George Gunn is called to the case initially. Fairly quickly it is established that she was having an affair with Fionnlagh who is Fin Macleod's married son. Fin left Lewis ten years earlier to get away from memories however his job in Glasgow is anything but satisfying so he and his wife, Marsaili, return to support him and try and find out what is going on.

Twists and turns are as natural as breathing to Peter May and there is a strong environmental slant to this at times in common with some of his other recent books. Fin - not a policeman any more but well known in the area - starts looking at the circumstances that have led to his son's arrest. He and his wife stay with their daughter-in-law and granddaughter both of whom are very upset. Some of the chapters in this are in the first person. These are Fin recalling events from his past life. Can you fully understand the present if you have no real knowledge of the past…?

I am a fan of Peter May's books generally and the Lewis trilogy in particular (of which this is the fourth book). I do like Fin as a character and George Gunn too (though his part here is quite small). The writing about the islands, places and people, is very evocative and effective for me. People that Fin knew in his teens are a part of this and there is reference to previous books. I think this could be read standalone (it's a while since I read the previous books) however starting at the beginning of the series might be good.

If anything this becomes more powerful as it progresses. Like a wave moving towards the shore this story builds as it approaches the end. There is a darkness coming as the wave starts to break… I would say that overall this is at least as good as the previous books and at times even better for me. If I am being honest the ending - if pacey and tense - was not the best part of this to me. That said this was far better reading than many books I've read. A very good fourth book in a very good series. 4.5/5

I have read quite a few books by Peter May but I have not read any in the Lewis Trilogy so I wondered if this would have an impact om my enjoyment of the newest book in the series The Black Loch, and I am glad to say that it didn’t which to me is always the sign of a good writer. Yes, they would love you to read everything in that given series but if you can pick it up at any point as still enjoy it then you can always go back and catch up on what went before, something I fully intend to do.
When Fin MacLeod returns to the place he grew up, he is not returning as a former police officer, but as a father determined to get to the truth of whether his sone is responsible for the murder of Caitlin who is one of his students and someone he had been having an affair with. The evidence is certainly stacked against him and even Fin is not sure if he did it or not.
Fin is a man with flaws. Stuck in a job he hates since leaving the force, he is still dealing with the worst in society, and it is sucking the life out of him so when his son needs him the threat of losing his job doesn’t have any impact on him whatsoever. He is not keen on returning to the place he grew up as it holds very few good memories for him, memories that are revealed throughout the book. There is a strain in the relationship between Fin and his son, one which may be disastrous in his quest to prove his son’s innocence.
There is quite a lot going on in this book as past friendships are explored and ultimately implode as the connections between what happened in childhood and the victim and suspect are explored. All of this is done expertly and just add layers to the story. You do get the feeling that the more you learn about Fin’s past all his actions and decisions leading to this point are a way of him trying to forget yet also atone for what happened.
In all his books Peter May manages to make the location an integral part of the story, harsh locations and the reality of the life it supports are woven into the story, always transporting the reader into the heart of the community. The growing tension and the sense of urgency keep you hooked right to the unexpected conclusion where you are left with the feeling that there is hope for those that have been left behind that they can pick up the pieces of their lives and move forward. If you love Peter May then you won’t be disappointed.

This was almost beautiful. The amazing Scottish landscapes, the wind and the sea and waves. And yet there is nastiness and cruelty and murder that permeates through the island and into the lives of the community. This is a well crafted and emotional tale with family loyalty put to the test in numerous ways. There are a lot of relationships that are unpicked, and the many links between the community members are looked at again and again. This is a sometimes uncomfortable read, but an excellent one looking at what tears families apart but also what puts them back together,

A very descriptive novel set in Lewis. Read the trilogy a long time ago and this book brought back the way of life there. Good storyline. Great characterisation. Plenty of twists to keep me guessing. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

I received this ebook from Quercus Books on NetGalley - thank you!

It is the first book by this author that I have read. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I quickly realized that it was one of those books that stay with you for a long time.

The beautiful writing style and the topics it touches upon make it so much more than just another mystery. It’s a story about the importance of family and friendship, about sacrifice and how far we would go for our loved ones, about how our relationships change over time and how secrets from the past can shape our lives - but we still get to decide what to do with this baggage.

I would say the mood of the book is mostly sad and tense, but also hopeful. The landscape and the weather on the island create an eerie atmosphere which made me want to visit the Hebrides. As a language geek I also enjoyed the usage of Gaelic words and names (to the point that I started studying Gaelic on Duolingo…).

Usually I’m not the biggest fan of time jumps, but here they were executed perfectly and they really added to the story. I loved that we got to know the background stories of many characters and that they all intertwined in surprising ways.

The only thing that didn’t sit well with me was that one of the characters decided to go and confront another character (twice…) instead of going to the police. I understand they were acting on their emotions, but I still expected more common sense from that person. Also, the whales metaphor seemed a little too in-your-face. Speaking of whales, I wouldn’t recommend this book to people who get triggered by animal death and suffering, because it’s described in detail and it was difficult for me to push through certain chapters. But I realize that it serves a purpose and it’s not there just for shock value.

I will definitely read other books by this author.

It's over 10 years since Peter May's Lewis Trilogy was published. This is part 4 and it's just as compelling a read. As usual the descriptions of the island way of life, the sights, smells, people and their language really make the story come alive. Fin and Marsaili return to Lewis as their son is arrested for the murder of an 18 year old schoolgirl. Old secrets, friendships and relationships are brought to the surface in this exciting up to date novel. Highly recommend. Thank you to the publisher, author and Netgalley for an early copy.

Peter May's Lewis Trilogy has become recognised as a classic and iconic series that set new standards in British Crime writing.. Set on the remote and bleak Island of Scotland's most remote island the trio of books accurately portrayed both it's beautiful but harsh environment and the unique culture and close-knit society of it's inhabitants ; a place where there is so much open space but one can feel claustrophobic with everyone knowing everyone else's business.

The Black Loch sees Fin MaCloud reluctantly returning to the island 10 years after the traumatic events detailed in the Trilogy when his son is accused of the murder of a local woman, a young woman he was having a very unwise affair with.
Drawn once again into the insular community he'd tried hard to leave behind,Fin finds people and events in his past that he'd hoped were long buried coming back to haunt him.
This is a lot more than "just a crime novel" as May not only paints a picture of the rugged beauty of Lewis but digs deep into the minds of his ,often highly complex and sometimes damaged, cast of characters. Much of the writing is not just good,it's beautiful and often very powerful,
This isn't a light read.most of the characters appear to be carrying personal traumas around their necks and there's a scene on a beach that won't brighten anyone's day.
I'd guess that as sales of this book rise,sales of Salmon will fall, but you'll have to read the book to find out why.

An outstanding book best read if you've previously enjoyed the Lewis Trilogy but that's not essential.

Stunning through and through from the backdrop and exquisitely described landscape of Lewis to the carefully entangled tale with its twists and turns. I have friends in Lewis and feel the spirit of the place is captured beautifully from the beauty and wildness of the landscape to the fact that it’s so sparse in population that everyone knows everyone and there is a strong sense of of loyalties and that everyone pulls together against adversity but if anyone puts a step wrong then it sends ripples through the entire community. The names and Gaelic element made me feel fully immersed and part of the action myself rather than looking on as an outsider. I loved that personal loyalties were tested to the max, not least that a retired cop was suddenly facing the other side of the investigation when his son was the accused and the wrenching emotions this caused whilst trying to keep open minded under extreme time pressures. As usual old secrets rise to the surface and threaten to bubble over and opening old wounds is never going to go well. I didn’t guess the ending and there was a real frenzy of action towards the end which was totally exhilarating. Top notch writing and not one to be missed in my humble opinion.

I have read the others in this series but a long time ago. The story is centred on the communities of the Hebrides. They are insular, suspicious and everyone knows everyone. Families have a shared history even though they leave for the mainland and return as adults. In the story, the islands are characters in themselves. The police make an arrest and sit back as they believe they have an open and shut case. The father of the accused thinks otherwise and as an ex police officer he investigates on his own. The pace of the book is slow much like the islands, pondering and weighing up every nuance. Not sure what the whales really added to the story but I will be more careful when choosing salmon! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ebook ARC

‘The Black Loch’,by Peter May,(Lewis Series,#4).,makes for an atmospheric investigative journey to a remote and majestic but sometimes unforgiving part of Scotland,namely the Outer Hebrides.There is a realistic sense of the rugged landscape and a vivid portrayal of the scenery underlying this fraught journey for the lead characters.In this story Fin and Marsaili return somewhat reluctantly to Lewis to face the traumatic circumstances which led to the arrest of their son,and make for difficult encounters with friends,family,and old foes.
In a sense this slow burning tale matches the somewhat sombre stillness, silence, and at times harsh beauty of the western isles.
This is a relatively measured paced tale that weaves in timeline between the relationships of some people in the past and the present.Misdeeds of their younger years are revealed that bind them in uneasy silent truces requiring compromise rather than honest revelations.

I was super excited to get this review Peter May is a favourite of mine

I was hooked from the first page to the last. Def a 5 star for me