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  • The Blackhouse

  • The Lewis Trilogy, Book 1
  • By: Peter May
  • Narrated by: Peter Forbes
  • Length: 12 hrs and 26 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (2,015 ratings)
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The Blackhouse cover art

The Blackhouse

By: Peter May
Narrated by: Peter Forbes
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Summary

A Sunday Times and Richard and Judy best seller and the first instalment in Peter May's sensational, million-selling Lewis trilogy.

A brutal killing takes place on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland: a land of harsh beauty and inhabitants of deep-rooted faith.

A Murder
Detective Inspector Fin Macleod is sent from Edinburgh to investigate. For Lewis-born Macleod, the case represents a journey both home and into his past.

A Secret
Something lurks within the close-knit island community. Something sinister.

A Trap
As Fin investigates, old skeletons begin to surface, and soon he, the hunter, becomes the hunted.

©2011 Editions de Rouergue (P)2018 Quercus Editions Limited

What listeners say about The Blackhouse

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

An Utterly Compelling Atmosphere of Desolation

If ever a book has exceeded my expectations then it is this one. While yes it is a murder mystery, it's also so much more. Few books that I've read have ever evoked a stronger identity of locale and atmosphere. The people and places on this Scottish Island are beautifully described and take top billing over the mystery. May delivers a master class in building his story and the coming of age of his lead Fin Macleod is revealed as a beautifully human story. All the time the atmosphere and vision of the isolated and desolately beautiful island literally breathe through the text. Rarely have I felt so completely transported to a place.

The odd thing is that one of the first books I ever listened to using Audible was the third book in this series, Chessmen. I can see now that I really didn't get it and need to read the trilogy in order . . . which I will do.

Peter Forbes is an excellent choice of narrator and plays his full part in the authentic success of this production. His stylish Scottish burr brings May's characters and descriptions to genuine life.

Maybe some will feel that the murder seems to be almost forgotten at times but the whole thing comes together beautifully at the end in a darkly-thrilling wind-swept conclusion that is made all the more exciting by the care with which the characters have been built and the depth they have been imbued with.

In short, I would say this is as good as almost anything in the genre.

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88 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

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

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • AB
  • 12-06-18

Brilliant, in every way...

For some strange reason i've completed the Lewis Trilogy in a back-to-front order, but that hasn't detracted in any way the sheer brilliance of the three books.
The Blackhouse is the first in the trilogy, and is a superb example of what a compelling murder/mystery should be. The plot line is gripping, and the characters are described superbly well. The sense of isolation and desolation in the Outer Hebrides is truly magical. Since listening to these books I've put it at the top of my list of places I really must visit. The scenery, barren land and sense of remoteness is described like no other.
Superbly narrated by Peter Forbes once again. I can think of no other better suited to such a uniquely absorbing story.
I cannot recommend the Lewis Trilogy enough. The best I've had the pleasure to enjoy...

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20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A wonderful listening experience

I've read a couple of Peter May's other books and found them just okay then The Blackhouse popped up on sale and I dithered. After buying it I left it in my library for a while and listened to some mediocre books which I sent back to Audible before I finally started to listen to it. What a fool I was. This book is simply wonderful. Peter May took me to The Isle of Lewis and I felt the wind in my face, smelt the peat bogs and the fires. The screech of the gannets swirled in my head...oh how I wished I'd stumbled across the gem of a book ages ago.

Yes it's a murder mystery but it's so much more than that ...the murder is a tiny part of the book. It's the beautiful narrative by Peter Forbes that brings this book alive. All I can say is just buy it...it's everything an audio book should be.

I've downloaded the next two books.

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20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

So slow

I listened up to Chapter 5 and this is the worst book I have listened to thus far and I have listened to many. I can’t even be bothered to carry on and waste my time. It’s a murder drama yet the main character has spent most of what I listened to waffling on about his childhood.
The narrator is fine it’s the book that is poor.
My apologies to the author, as my mother used to say, if you can’t say anything nice then don’t say anything at all. I felt impelled on this occasion. A waste of one credit.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Boring

I couldn't get into this book at all. I found it bleak and boring, with unnecessary long descriptions that didn't add anything to the story. I gave up after a few chapters.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Pleasant But Unsatisfying

If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?

Good for those who like an old fashioned, unchallenging story and style

What was most disappointing about Peter May’s story?

90% of the mystery was extremely obvious from very early in the book and worst of all the big twist that the book centers around comes out of nowhere with no logic.

What aspect of Peter Forbes’s performance might you have changed?

The audio performance was warm and engaging

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

I was disappointed that after the good reviews I had read about the black house that I was left thinking I has waisted 10hrs on young teens book.

Any additional comments?

This is a very lightweight story with little subtlety but nicely narrated

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

twisting Scottish drama

Took a while for me to get into this but boy was it worth sticking with! A haunting crime novel like nothing I have read before. written based on Lewis and read in a gentle Scottish accent. cracking ending. off to find another one!

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great book

A very interesting detailed book with many surprises, a felt part of the story. Great narration.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Totally recommended.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to end; gripping story, well told and narrated superbly.

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5 people found this helpful