Author: Peter May
Narrated by Peter Forbes
Published by riverrun and released on Audible in September 2024
Category: Thriller, Contemporary Fiction, Crime, Mystery
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A MURDER
The body of eighteen-year-old TV personality Caitlin is found abandoned on a remote beach at the head of An Loch Dubh – the Black Loch – on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis. A swimmer and canoeist, it is inconceivable that she could have drowned.
A SECRET
Fin Macleod left the island ten years earlier to escape its memories. When he learns that his married son Fionnlagh had been having a clandestine affair with the dead girl and is suspected of her murder, he and Marsaili return to try and clear his name.
A TRAP
But nothing is as it seems, and the truth of the murder lies in a past that Fin would rather forget, and a tragedy at the cages of a salmon farm on East Loch Roag, where the tense climax of the story finds its resolution.
The Black Loch is a compelling and tense murder mystery set against the beautiful and atmospherically described Isle of Lewis. Finn Macleod and his wife return to the island they left years ago when they learn their son, Fionnlagh is a suspected murderer. The body of TV personality Caitlin Black has been discovered on the beach at A Loch Dubh. Caitlin and Fionnlagh, who was married, have been in a relationship.
Out along the clifftops they run, oblivious to the phosphorescence of salt water breaking white against the rocks thirty feet beneath them, the sound of it masking the shouted words exchanged. Until he reaches her with longer strides and catches her arm, turning her towards him. Then the shrillness of her voice rises into the night. Words lost, but meaning clear.
Caitlin’s death is a shock, not only to those who knew her personally and wondered how such a proficient swimmer could have drowned in the loch, but also to the wider community who knew her through her TV programmes. Things don’t look good for Fionnlagh and Fin needs to question what he thought he knew, and analyse past events and friendships to make sense of the present. Nothing is straightforward however, and Fionnlagh doesn’t help matters by refusing to deny anything or defend himself.
The characters are complex, the setting wonderfully observed as always. Several threads relating to past and present characters are examined as the tension increases as incidents and tragedies from the past resurface.
As I’ve mentioned in previous reviews it’s obvious Peter May is very familiar with the Isle of Lewis. His writing evokes the feel of the place and the people who live there extremely well, the small communities, complex and complicated characters and the scenery.
I loved the Lewis Trilogy and was delighted to catch up with many of the characters in this fourth book. Peter Forbes has done a great job with the narration of the series. The plot is full of intrigue, secrets, danger and scheming and also some shocking fish farming practices which the author has witnessed himself and incorporated into the story. Whether or not I’ll eat salmon again remains to be seen…
Peter May’s books have sold several million copies worldwide and have won awards in the UK, the USA, and France.
He has also had a successful career as a television writer, creator, and producer.
One of Scotland’s most prolific and successful television dramatists, he garnered more than 1000 credits in 15 years as scriptwriter and script editor on prime-time British television drama.
He is the creator of three major television drama series and presided over two of the high- est-rated drama serials in his homeland before quitting television to return to his first love, writing novels.
Born and raised in Scotland he lives in France.
