At the beginning of 2023, A Winter Grave was published. It went to number 3 in the list of UK hardback bestsellers and number 1 in audiobooks!
I keep insisting that I am going to retire from writing books in order to pursue other things, but as my friend, New York fashion designer Joseph Abboud said to me recently, “You can retire from what you do, but you can’t retire from who you are.” It seems that’s true.
The last thing on my mind was writing a book, but the moment I turned down a contract from my publisher, and was free from the weight of expectation on my shoulders, an idea began percolating away. I couldn’t get it out of my mind. I began researching – my favourite thing – gathering material, reading, watching video documentaries. And in the end, I couldn’t stop myself… before long, I knew that there was a story I had to write.
So yes, in 2024 there will be a new book.
It will be published next September by Quercus’s riverrun imprint as usual. It’s called The Black Loch and perhaps the most exciting thing for long time readers of my work, it heralds the return of Fin Macleod, the main character in the Lewis Trilogy (The Blackhouse, The Lewis Man and The Chessmen).
So now the Lewis Trilogy has become a tetralogy!
The Black Loch
A MURDER
The body of eighteen-year-old TV personality Kathleen is found abandoned on a remote beach at the head of An Loch Dubh – the Black Loch – on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis. A swimmer and canoeist, it is inconceivable that she could have drowned.
A SECRET
Fin Macleod left the island ten years earlier to escape its memories. When he learns that his married son Fionnlagh had been having a clandestine affair with the dead girl and is suspected of her murder, he and Marsaili return to try and clear his name.
A TRAP
But nothing is as it seems, and the truth of the murder lies in a past that Fin would rather forget, and a tragedy at the cages of a salmon farm on East Loch Roag, where the tense climax of the story finds its resolution.
Look out for
Look out for
The Black Loch
in September 2024
Ot better still, pre-order your copy here…
Peter May Author 
Great to hear I look forward to it, although as I said before I would love to read another book from your China series. Just saying 😆
Tim his is wonderful news!!!
Peter- Looking forward to seeing you & signing “The Black Loch” at the “Bloody Scotland “ book festival in September at Stirling! Thank you for staying with your readers & giving us yet another great book..Macgregor Hay
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Hoped you would write another book!! Looking forward to reading it. 💞
YAY!!!
Great news, Peter. Thank you xx
Really enjoyed a winters tale and looking forward to the return of Fin in the Black Lock.
I am ever hopeful that you might return to France and give Enzo another outing!!!
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I’ve read all your books and was so inspired by your Lewis Trilogy that I visited the Outer Hebrides last May 2025. I do travel writing, so I wrote about my travels on Lewis and Harris. Here is the link to read my travel story on the Outer Hebrides that mentions you as my inspiration! https://oldottawasouth.ca/oscar-archives/2025/10/01/october-2025-old-ottawa-south-community-association-review/ scroll down to page 34 and 35 for the story on the Outer Hebrides.
I will be posting this story soon on my blog elainekenny.wordpress.com
Delighted you enjoyed your visit to the islands, Elaine. If you don’t already know, I’ve written a sequel to the trilogy, which takes place 12 years after. It’s called “The Black Loch” and has just won me the Grand Prix Littérature de Policière in France, which is the country’s most prestigious crime writing prize.
That’s fantastic news about the award in France 🇫🇷. Well done Peter, a great series and great book.
I have already read it! I believe I’ve read every one of your books. Please keep writing, so i can look forward to your upcoming novel!
I read your book Entry Island, and interestingly encountered Duke the dog, that you mentioned in the book. I also wrote an article on entry island and mentioned you and your book in it. I even have a photo of Duke in that article. Here it is:https://elainekenney.wordpress.com/2024/03/25/why-would-anyone-want-to-live-on-entry-island/
I loved the trilogy and am now reading The Black Loch. I’m confused, however, because in Chapter 18, Fin meets up with Jamie. Jamie doesn’t recognize Fin, although I seem to recall that Fin worked for Jamie in the final book of the trilogy. Yes, it’s been 10 years, but they only chat about their knowing one another as children. Am I missing something, or simply confused?
Fin didn’t work for Jamie in the Chessmen, Sharon. He knew him from when they were kids.
Ah, I thought he was head of security on Jamie’s estate, hired to catch poachers.
Different Jamie 🤣
Thanks for clarifying!