When in the Outer Hebrides what can you do but read a book
set in the Outer Hebrides? This one is and I purchased it from a fabulous
independent book shop in Ullapool called Ceilidh Place. Such a remote town yet
it has two independent bookshops and two nearby (particularly good is
Hillbillies in Gairloch where the linked Mountain Coffee Shop sells the most
amazing mountain scones). I digress.
Anyway we had just arrived fresh off the boat from Harris and
Lewis and I was eager to read how such remote places could carry a murder hunt.
The book started off really well, I liked the main character
of Neal Maclean and thought the amnesia aspect was really interesting. I really
enjoyed reading how he observed himself in the mirror for the first time, how
he questioned whether he was quick tempered, clever, selfish and how he
remembered somethings such as his dogs name but yet not others. This was different
to other books I had read involving people suffering from amnesia following
trauma where the amnesia was total. It was also interesting how he didn’t immediately
think 'I need to go to the hospital' or 'I need to come clean to these people
and tell them I have no idea who I am'. Some basic instinct must have kicked in
to just try to ride it out. I'm not sure what I would do in similar
circumstances.
I also enjoyed reading about him discovering his life (or
lack of), I was intrigued when he thought he could have committed the murder
and wanted to know why he didn’t have a driving licence and he wasn’t writing a
book. P.S. did you spot the Hebrides book referenced that was also written by
May?
I loved how the book name checked all the places I had just
been to although Outer Hebridean virgins can almost get as much pleasure out of
the vivid descriptions of Harris that May provided.
I liked the 'Coffin Road' which I won't give away and I also
really liked the science behind the bees – who knew!
The book then changed to focus on Neal's daughter Karen. I thought
May portrayed her teenage angst/inner guilt/turmoil particularly well reflected
in the scenes with her mother and the boyfriend. It was also interesting to
read how differently children view their parents as opposed to spouses or work
colleagues.
Those were the pluses on the downside whilst I did like
George Gunn (the policeman) he was almost a character too many. It wasn’t your
typical police investigation book and so in the end his pages seemed pointless
apart from the sudden end appearance of the police in a sea rescue helicopter.
I think the book tapered towards the end, why was the mole
not revealed until Skye, the whole journey seemed pointless? By the way I also
went to Skye so name check there! I also thought the Facebook part a bit
obvious and seemed quite a silly thing for Neal to do and the last few chapters
in general seemed rushed and didn’t hold me as the start of the book did.
It didn’t fall at the last hurdle entirely however and I
think both Neal and Karen came out as better people. I will keep it on my shelf
as any book that mentions the Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh railway deserves
to.
At the same time as purchasing Coffin Road I also bought The Blackhouse by May which is the first of a trilogy also set in the Outer
Hebrides, I'm looking forward to reading it being the supposedly more
successful of my two May purchases.
As a side note it was really nice to see how the local author
was being supported locally, we randomly found a poster for The Blackhouse in Port
of Ness in Lewis, the books were in all the bookshops and even The Co-Op seemed
to stock books by May albeit his, more recent, book based in France. You just
don't get that in Cramlington, yes I know we don’t have a May equivalent but
what a fabulous idea for all local supermarkets to support local authors. It's
maybe a good thing Cramlington doesn’t have an independent bookshop, with the
amount I would spend I simply don’t earn enough!
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