My previous awareness of Peter May as a crime novelist rested solely on having read 'The Blackhouse' (the first of his trilogy set on the island of Lewis and Harris) and then run aground on its successor, 'The Lewis Man' (though that was more a consequence of alarming personal resonances within the plot than any reflection on its standing as a novel).He had, however, written a clutch of other novels including the series known as 'The China Thriilers' and a sequence featuring retired forensic expert Enzo Macleod. This particular book is the third of the Enzo Macleod novels, and it soon became evident that it followed on fairly closely from its predecessors, though this didn't pose any problem.As the novel opens, we met Enzo Macleod on his way to an appointment with an oncological expert, from whom he receives a particularly gave prognosis. Almost immediately after this blow he learns that someone has attempted to murder his daughter. As if his week is not going poorly enough already, he soon finds himself arrested as prime suspect in the murder of a female acquaintance.This may all sound rather implausible, but May carries it all off superbly. The novel fairly fizzes along, and the reader's attention never wanes. He doesn't expend much energy on developing his characters' personalities, but they are all perfectly credible.I shall definitely be going back to read the earlier episodes in the sequence. I've read the first five of the Enzo series (actually listened to Nos. 3-4 on audio). In my opinion, No. 2 is the worst of the series. The debut book is next weakest. The best, I think, are Nos. 3-5. I very much liked all three of those. Peter May is an outstanding writer, and I'm glad I stumbled onto him a few months back. I'm just getting into the Lewis trilogy, and it might be even better than Enzo -- edgier. Why May isn't more popular, I have no idea. His books aren't even in the Barnes & Noble where I'm at.
What do You think about Blacklight Blue (2008)?
i love Peter May ...these books are so goog
—jvallet
