Scottish crime writer Peter May, best known for The Lewis Trilogy, has died aged 74. He has been remembered as “irreplaceable” and “one of the best writers of crime fiction”.
May died on Friday night at his holiday home in the south of France, according to a statement on social media. His widow, fellow author Janice Hally, announced the “awful news” in a post on his Facebook page on Monday, saying she had “no words to express the loss”.
Career from journalism to bestsellers
May began his career in journalism in Scotland in his early 20s and published his first novel, The Reporter, in 1976. The book was later adapted into a BBC drama series, prompting him to quit his job.
Over the following 15 years, he became a successful scriptwriter and producer on two series, Take The High Road and the Gaelic-language, Isle of Lewis-set Machair. It was while working on Machair that his love for the Hebrides, which informed much of his writing, was formed.
Publisher's tribute
May’s “long-term publisher and dear friend” Jon Riley paid tribute in a statement. “Peter May was one of the most popular, and loved writers of crime fiction of his generation, and his books have sold around 15 million copies around the world,” it said.
The statement added: “The novel which he had announced would be his last, Island Of The Dead, is to be published in January 2027.”
Legacy and final works
May was renowned for novels set against the landscapes of Scotland, as well as in China and France. His bestseller The Blackhouse, set on the remote Isle of Lewis, brought him fame after its 2011 release. Riley said: “He published a bestseller almost every year between The Blackhouse and his last book, The Black Loch, in 2024.”
The statement also described May as “a talented musician”, recalling his 2025 album Towards The Light, which “reflected in song many of his interests as a novelist” across 11 tracks. May had announced his retirement and was preparing for a farewell tour of Scotland and Lewis to coincide with the publication of his final novel.
Riley added: “Peter May was not only one of the best writers of crime fiction we had, but he inspired enormous affection in his readers and in those lucky enough to work with him. His kindness, generosity and largeness of spirit, loyalty, engagement with life, and the world, made him a much-loved, as well as much-admired figure. He is irreplaceable.”
Political tributes
First Minister John Swinney was among those paying tribute, sharing a message on X: “Very sorry to hear this news. I have hugely enjoyed Peter May’s evocative books set in the Hebrides. His description of events in some of the most precious places in our landscape was so stunning. I extend my sympathy to his family.”
