Scottish bestselling crime writer Peter May visits Inverness to launch his new book

Internationally successful crime writer Peter May will be visiting Inverness at the end of the month to talk about his forthcoming new book.

In The Black Loch, described as “a gripping story of murder, mystery and imprisonment,” the hero of May's bestselling Lewis trilogy, Fin Macleod, returns to the Hebrides to clear his son's name.

The book is due to be published on September 12th, and the author will then embark on a tour of Scotland, during which he will also visit the Eden Court Theatre on September 18th.

Following his lecture at the La Scala Theater, he will also sign copies of the book.

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May, who has sold over 16 million copies of his books in 37 languages, was born and raised in Scotland. He was named Journalist of the Year at 21 and was publishing novels by 26.

When his first book was adapted into a major drama series for the BBC, he gave up journalism and became one of Scotland's most successful television dramatists. His works included the popular series Take the High Road.

He then decided to leave television to return to his first love, writing novels.

He has won several literary awards internationally, including the CWA Body in the Library Award in the UK for Best Complete Work in 2021.

He had previously received the US Barry Award for The Blackhouse, while Entry Island won both Scottish Crime Novel of the Year and a CWA Dagger for ITV Crime Thriller Book Club's Best Read of the Year.

He lives with his wife, the writer Janice Hally, in the southwest of France.

In writing The Black Loch he drew extensively on his connection to the Outer Hebrides, where the couple had previously spent several years.

In his research, he delved deeply into the complex history of whaling in the Hebrides.

The tragic stranding of over 50 pilot whales on the island of Lewis in the novel, which actually occurred in 2023, serves as a poignant backdrop and reflects the historic battle for the whales.

As part of his research, he interviewed the veterinarian who had to care for the stranded whales that could not be returned to the water.

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