The Blackhouse

By: Peter May

Narrated by: Peter Forbes

Length: 6 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

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

Something lurks within the close-knit island community.

Something sinister.

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

©2011 Quercus Publishing PLC (P)2011 Quercus Editions Ltd

Great listen and learn

What did you love best about The Blackhouse?

I really liked the narrator. He captured the darkness of the story. The mystery/crime to be sOlved was not coMpletely unpredictable, but this book has some twists and turns. I really liked Fin, the main character and really liked learning about island life.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Maybe not the edge...in the way the dragon tattoo series does...but I could not stop listening! I actually did extra laundry just to listen longer.

What about Peter Forbes’s performance did you like?

Excellent narration- great accents, dark, captured female voices without sounding strange or whiny.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Scottish tale of murder on a remote island

Any additional comments?

I immediately bought the Lewis Man and can't wait for the third book.

Good read...I mean listen

Would you listen to The Blackhouse again? Why?

I don't re-listen. But I will definitely seek out other books by this author!

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Blackhouse?

I enjoyed the description of the hunting trip: The concept was so foreign to me, but the author made it very real & imaginable.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Just when you thought it was safe to return to the outer Hebrides... (jk)

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed it!

Five Stars Plus

I purchased this book because I am hooked on Scottish detective/crime fiction. Having not previously read anything by Peter May (but I am a fan of Stuart MacBride and Ian Rankin) I took the chance. I'm SO GLAD I did! What a terrific story! The main character goes back to his home town on the Isle of Lewis to solve a murder similar to one he worked in Edinburgh. Long story short, he ends up discovering unknown skeletons in his own closet; turning his life inside out. There is a personal element to this story that makes the ending truly powerful. "The Blackhouse" is much more than the typical detective novel. The author frequently switches back and forth between past and present, but this doesn't take away from the story at all, IMHO. It adds a lot to character development and helps to invest the reader/listener into the lives of the main characters.
The narrator, Peter Forbes, is another reason I purchased this book. He has a wonderful voice and can portray characters from all over the UK. His ability to change the pitch and tone of his voice quickly (along with his uncanny ability to mimic different dialects) really makes for an enjoyable listen. Mr. Forbes is one of my favorite readers and I will always seriously consider purchasing any audiobook he narrates.

Overall, I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

Brought me right back to Lewis and the MacLeods

Where does The Blackhouse rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The reading and the story are outstanding and authentic. The sense of growing danger and the need for Fin MacLeod to solve the crime against all of his inner hesitation is compelling. A great symphony of a tale.

What other book might you compare The Blackhouse to and why?

Far deeper than Lewis and more introspective than Frost.

What does Peter Forbes bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Peter Forbes brings a sense of being among the island characters and their mutual need to stay on the island and get away.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I listened as I drove using my GPS system so it was happily part of my drive.

Any additional comments?

I have been to Lewis as a MacLeod and felt many of the sensations described in the book - the wind, the desolation, the cliffs, the waves, the weather, the religious control (we were asked not to drive on Sunday), the characters and those who wanted to hear about life in Canada, in fact life anywhere else.

I liked it!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I would recommend it to anyone interested in small town life and crime in great combination.

What about Peter Forbes’s performance did you like?

His storytelling skills are great.

Excellent series--listen to them all--IN ORDER!

I have now listened to all three books in the series (to include The Lewis Man and The Chessmen) and each are excellent. I think it helps to listen to them in order because the relationships grow with each book.

I didn't realize this was an abridged version. I would recommend listening to the entire book because it's that good.

Great story

I really enjoyed this book and have already purchased the second of the series. Characters you care about and want to visit again. The narration is excellent and very much adds to the enjoyment.

Story & voice drew me in & kept me there

What did you love best about The Blackhouse?

The location of the book was what drew me in as I've visited some of the islands of the Hebrides. I loved reading about the island of Lewis and the culture there. The mystery was a great story on top of all that.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Not the plot per se, but what I couldn't wait to get in the car and listen to was the weaving of murder and mystery with family, traditions, culture, and a coming of age tale.

What does Peter Forbes bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

By providing the voices of the characters, not just their accents but the cadence of their speech, I could "see" the characters much better. I was amazed at the number of accents in which Mr. Forbes read.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The description of the islanders' taking of the guga was completely fascinating and horrifying in and of itself. It was made even more so when told through the eyes of the main character looking back on his first trip.

What a story!

What made the experience of listening to The Blackhouse the most enjoyable?

This writer paints pictures with his words. I felt as if I was on the Island of Lewis having this experience with Finn. The story twisted and turned giving me lots to think about.

Who was your favorite character and why?

All of the characters were interesting, but, of course, it's Finn's story and he's a marvelous character.

Did Peter Forbes do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Peter Forbes did a fairly good job on all the various Scottish accents but it got in the way a bit (for an American listener). It seemed he was caught in making the accents work and didn't do much else to differentiate the voices.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book swept me up. I loved following Finn through his childhood, seeing what life on a small Gaelic island would have been like.

Any additional comments?

I strongly recommend this audio book and this author. It's a good

Wow

What made the experience of listening to The Blackhouse the most enjoyable?

The combination of the narrator, interesting fleshed-out characters, and the unique setting made this book a cut above the rest.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Interesting mystery, intriguing setting; and the motivations of the characters

What about Peter Forbes???s performance did you like?

Okay well I love Irish accents. But Forbes did a great job of telling the story without distracting from it. That makes a narrator stand out.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It was melancholy throughout, but not too much so. The ending was quite satisfying.

Any additional comments?

Wish I could have given it 5 stars. But I save 5 stars for the tip-top cream of the crop -- such as The Help.