The Blackhouse by Peter May

Peter May has set this story, the first in a trilogy, on the remote and rocky isle in the Orkneys where the Lewis chessmen were found. Made in Trondheim in the 12th century, these remarkable artifacts were likely buried beneath the Lewis peat by Norse traders on their way to Ireland. A brief reference to this find is one well-chosen detail in this layered and atmospheric tale.

As a young man, Fin Macleod escapes this harsh land with its suffocatingly rigid society, only to find himself back two decades later, once more at a crossroads in his life. Skillful use of sensory images evokes the remote isle of Lewis. Passing harled walls and pebbledash buildings hunched against the weather, we follow Fin into the suffocating primal room to gaze on the cracked ceiling and the gannet-shaped stain on the oft-painted anaglyptic wallpaper.

We catch the "old-fashioned" smell of Brut on the fawn suit jacket of the arrogant police inspector, and when May describes the guga hunt, find ourselves in the midst of a semi-secret ritual of male endurance and group identity that reaches back to the Middle Ages. Glimpses of mysterious cairns from WWII hint at the ultimate unknowability of history.

Tankers keep passing on the horizon, suggesting the changes that have shaken even this remote community on the wild North Atlantic, which is nevertheless deeply defined by ancient traditions. We learn that even now, after a funeral, "only men go to the burial place." We learn of the decline of the former industries due to the reduced numbers of wild salmon, as well as the fading fashion of the Harris tweed that was once the backbone of the island's economy. We also discover that Jardine, Matheson and Company financed the purchase of an entire Scottish island with the proceeds of the 19th century China opium trade.

We think we know the character of the ironically named "Angel" Macritchie; a sudden glimpse of his other side is both surprising and inevitable. Above all, May takes us deep into the mind of Fin Macleod, revealing the peaks and valleys, joys and regrets of this Glasgow detective's life. We hold our breath in hope and terrified anticipation as the author brings Fin face to face with cold realities that, as a younger man, he unsuccessfully tried to flee. This is a book about society, about history, and about individual psychology. May's skillful use of language makes it even more stunningly impressive.