This book is a gem

This is not an easy listen. Yes, there is a crime to be solved and it is central to this strong storyline, where the characters are clearly written and the past and present collide. The insularity of the islanders is both their strength and their weakness; where even if issues are never spoken of, memories are long. This is not the homecoming Finn had planned on.
It is is a long book but the the background information is necessary to takes us to the present events and my interest never waned.
Peter Forbes narration is excellent. The characters voices are distinct and even English ones are accurate.
This is my first Peter May book. have the next book downloaded.

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36 people found this helpful

Enjoyable and entertaining

I picked this up as an easy listen and it was! I enjoyed the characters and learning more about the Hebridean life. Peter Forbes is really pleasant to listen to.

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4 people found this helpful

Well this was a lovely surprise

I listen to my books whilst walking the dog or doing housework. I normally listen to Grisham/Childs/Connolly/Baldacci etc. I thought this sounded ok from the reviews but I didn't have high expectations. I've walked in Skye which gave me a very basic knowledge of the environment. Anyway.... I thought it would be a bit slow. I mean what can really happen on a small island ? Well...
What it lacked in action in more than made up for in brilliant character development; fantastic descriptions of the landscape and a cracking storyline. The use of past and present was exceptional. If you value depth over 100mph action, gratuitous use of violence and sex to keep you entertained then give this a go. I doubt you'll regret it

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Totally Immersive

From the start this book evokes the place, drenching you in the rain and buffeting you in the stinging wind of the Isle of Lewis. The murder is almost forgotten in the telling of the lives of the people who live in an inhospitable part of the Scottish highlands, with their superstitions, religion and inhibitions. The evocation of a childho0od robbed of warmth and ruled by harsh adults and the natural cruelty of children is exquisite. Secrets are revealed in perfect pace and pitch, never signalled, so the shocks are genuine. As the complexity of these lives is revealed there is compassion and poignancy but this never slips into sentimentality. Each character is fully formed and alive, and we can never be complacent about what we think we know. Rivetting throughout and satisfying at the end. The narration is perfect. A thoroughly good book and highly recommended. I hope there are more like it. And perhaps I will take a trip to Lewis...

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A brilliant start to this Lewis Trilogy

You just have to read the books in sequence to understand this wonderfully woven story. The reading by Peter Forbes with his spoken Gaelic pronunciations was wonderful and draws you right in and you have to keep going.

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Dark but compelling

the descriptions of the scenes are so fantastic even when I was walking in the sunshine listening I shivered

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An excellent listen

I really enjoyed The Black House, and had downloaded the next book, The Lewis Men, before I'd finished it.
It was easy to follow the numerous characters, and had plenty of twists and turns. If I had to criticise, I'd say it was very occasionally a bit heavy on adjective scene descriptions, but it was still thoroughly enjoyable and kept me hooked.
I worked on Lewis and Harris about 11 years ago, so it transported me back frequently with the local descriptions.

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Great Story, Well Narrated

It took a couple of chapters to really grip me but it was worth the patience. Peter Forbes reads this wonderfully and I can’t wait to discover more Peter May novels. Would recommend.

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A bit plodding on occasions

A great plot which felt a bit dragged out but a nail biting unexpected end.

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Wow!

Such a great listen. I love the way it was written in the first person for the past and third person the the present day. A murder mystery but with great back story for all of the main characters. I can't wait to listen to the next book in the trilogy.

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