The Black Loch
By Peter May
Review by Louise Cannon
Today is my turn on the blog tour, thanks to Ransom PR for the latest twisty, atmospheric book by Peter May who returns with his detective Fin MacLeod. Find out more in the blurb and then my review below. Peter May is also appearing at Bloody Scotland, 2024 in Stirling.
Blurb
Set against the brooding landscape of the Hebrides, Peter May returns to the territory of his bestselling Lewis Trilogy, and his much-loved detective, Fin Macleod.
When the lifeless body of eighteen-year-old Caitlin is discovered on a desolate beach by the Black Loch, questions of murder and secrecy shroud the tight-knit community. It soon emerges that the young woman was in an illicit relationship with Fionnlagh Macleod, a married teacher at the Nicholson Institute where she was a student. Her lover becomes the prime suspect in the murder investigation. He is also Fin’s son.
Despite leaving the island a decade earlier to escape the haunting memories of his past, Fin is compelled to return to Lewis in a desperate attempt, despite the evidence, to clear his troubled son’s name. He will discover that the crime is connected to his own teenage years, in a tragic salmon fishing accident that had led to two deaths, and in the growth of a multi-billion pound industry on the island.
The Black Loch takes us on a journey through family ties, hidden relationships and unforgiving landscapes, where suspense, violent revenge and revelation converge in the shadow of the Black Loch.
Review
Black Loch, set in the Hebrides is darkly atmospheric. The location building of the atmosphere is skilful and truly becomes integral to the enveloping readers into the story. There’s also a lovely map of Lewis too.
Fin MacLeod is no longer in the police force and has returned to his home town, not for happy reasons, but more for something rather more disturbing as a crime is connected to his son, but did he commit a murder?
It’s interesting to explore how this affects both Fin and his son in family relations terms. The book has many layers like this to explore that all weave together. It’s also interesting to explore the fact that Fin is not happy in his work. In a world where many people aren’t finding happiness in their work, it’s a interesting subject to explore a bit in the realms of this character.
There’s also the challenges of salmon fishing that’s explored, which makes valid points, but the most fascinating part is the mystery itself and character and scenery building.
There are plenty of characters to get your head around, a bit of extra concentration is required for the Gaelic names and words. In someways a challenging book to read due to the Gaelic, which slows it down a bit, but thankfully there is a glossary at the back that helps tremendously along the way, it could be worth photographing it if you’re a reader of a few pages at a time to keep the momentum of the pacing going. Don’t let this put you off reading it though as the story is a cracking read and there is some authenticity to adding in a bit of Gaelic as some people way, way up north still use it and certain terms still creep into the mix of today’s more common language.
Peter May creates tension rather well in a story that builds and builds as it progresses onwards to the end in a manner that grips throughout.
Bookmarks and Stages by Lou 
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