Peter May: The Lewis man (2013, Windsor)
English language
Published Sept. 8, 2013 by Windsor.
The male Caucasian corpse - marked by several horrific stab wounds - is initially believed by its finders to be over two-thousand years old. Until they spot the Elvis tattoo on his right arm. The body, it transpires, is not evidence of an ancient ritual killing, but of a murder committed during the latter half of the twentieth century. Meanwhile, Fin Macleod has returned to the island of his birth. Having left his wife, his life in Edinburgh and his career in the police force, the former Detective Inspector is intent on repairing past relationships and restoring his parents' derelict croft. But when DNA tests flag a familial match between the bog body and the father of Fin's childhood sweetheart, Marsaili Macdonald, Fin finds his homecoming more turbulent than expected. Tormod Macdonald, now an elderly man in the grip of dementia, had always claimed to be an only child without …
The male Caucasian corpse - marked by several horrific stab wounds - is initially believed by its finders to be over two-thousand years old. Until they spot the Elvis tattoo on his right arm. The body, it transpires, is not evidence of an ancient ritual killing, but of a murder committed during the latter half of the twentieth century. Meanwhile, Fin Macleod has returned to the island of his birth. Having left his wife, his life in Edinburgh and his career in the police force, the former Detective Inspector is intent on repairing past relationships and restoring his parents' derelict croft. But when DNA tests flag a familial match between the bog body and the father of Fin's childhood sweetheart, Marsaili Macdonald, Fin finds his homecoming more turbulent than expected. Tormod Macdonald, now an elderly man in the grip of dementia, had always claimed to be an only child without close family. A lie that, Fin will soon discover, Tormod has had very good reason to hide behind.
Fin as a plod, is a bit lacking, often didn't ask the questions that I would have asked. A few times I was saying out loud - why didn't you ask them about this/that/so and so/who/where/when? But anywhoo I enjoyed the story, and have just started #3 in the series.
I read this in one sitting and really enjoyed it. It's less grim than the first book in the series (Blackhouse) - which seems a strange thing to say in light of the story, but it lacks Blackhouse's overwhelming oppressiveness. That said, without the first one, this would make little sense. I'm definitely going to read the third book.
A superb recommendation this. Very well written and amazingly atmospheric. At one point I thought it was losing its focus but it all worked out true to the very complex plot in the end. Very different to anything else in its field.
