Entry Island

Detective Sami Mackenzie travels to Entry Island off the coast of Quebec to investigate a murder. Despite being exhausted and dealing with a recent divorce, he must solve the case on this remote island where everyone knows each other. While conducting interviews with the victim's widow, Mackenzie experiences an inexplicable sense of connection to her. This leads him to uncover historical documents and family records that suggest a link between their ancestors during the Highland Clearances of Scotland in the 1800s. The narrative moves between the present-day murder investigation and the historical account of Mackenzie's ancestor in Scotland. Both timelines follow characters facing isolation, displacement, and difficult choices in harsh landscapes. Through parallel stories separated by generations, Entry Island explores themes of identity, inherited memory, and the lasting impact of historical trauma. The book examines how past events continue to influence present circumstances, while questioning the nature of justice across time.

Readers praise the detailed historical elements and the dual timeline structure, particularly the segments about 19th century Scottish immigration. Many highlight May's vivid descriptions of both Entry Island and Scotland's Hebrides. The police procedural aspects receive positive mentions for their authenticity. Common criticisms focus on the pacing, with several readers noting the story moves slowly in the middle sections. Some found the connection between the two timelines forced or implausible. A portion of readers struggled with keeping track of characters across both storylines. "The historical sections outshine the modern murder mystery," notes one Amazon reviewer. Another states: "The Scottish immigrant narrative could have been its own book." Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (11,000+ ratings) Amazon UK: 4.4/5 (3,800+ ratings) Amazon US: 4.3/5 (1,200+ ratings) The book ranks among May's top-rated works on both platforms, though below his Lewis Trilogy in overall reader scores.

The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths A forensic archaeologist investigates murders in Norfolk while uncovering connections to ancient ritual sites and historical mysteries that echo in the present.

The Lewis Man by Peter May A detective's investigation of a body in a peat bog on the Isle of Lewis reveals secrets from Scotland's past and forces characters to confront their own family histories.

Still Life by Louise Penny A murder investigation in a Quebec village combines contemporary crime with historical elements and deep connections to Canadian culture.

The Blackhouse by Peter May A detective returns to his childhood home in the Outer Hebrides to solve a murder that connects to both ancient island traditions and his own past.

The Sea Detective by Mark Douglas-Home An oceanographer uses his knowledge of tides and currents to solve crimes while exploring Scottish coastal communities and their historical connections to the sea.

🌊 Entry Island sits in Quebec's Gulf of St. Lawrence and was historically a major quarantine station for immigrants arriving in Canada during the 1800s. 📚 Peter May conducted extensive research into the Highland Clearances—the forced displacement of Scottish tenant farmers in the 18th-19th centuries—which forms a crucial historical backdrop for the novel. 🏆 The book won the Deanston Scottish Crime Book of the Year Award in 2014, adding to May's impressive collection of literary honors. 🔍 May weaves two parallel narratives set 200 years apart, connecting modern-day Quebec with 19th-century Scotland through ancestral memories and a family heirloom brooch. 🗺️ Though Entry Island is a work of fiction, the murder investigation at its core was inspired by May's experiences while filming a documentary about isolated island communities in Quebec.