Internationally renowned author Peter May, whose writing will “always be associated with the Isle of Lewis and the Hebrides”, has died. He was 74.

He wrote the hugely popular Lewis Trilogy, among other works, and was a journalist and a scriptwriter and producer on Take the High Road and Machair earlier in his career.

The news was shared on social media today by his wife, Janice Hally, who included a tribute from the writer’s long-term publisher and friend, Jon Riley.

She said: It’s Peter May’s wife, Janice. I have to convey the most awful news. Peter has died. I have no words to express the loss, so I enclose here the statement from his long term publisher and dear friend, Jon Riley, who pays tribute.”

Paying tribute to his friend, Jon Riley said: “Riverrun, an imprint of the John Murray Group, has announced the sad news of the death of the Sunday Times bestselling Scottish crime writer Peter May, on Friday night at his holiday home in the south of France.

“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. The novel which he had announced would be his last, Island of the Dead, is to be published in January 2027.

“May began his career as a journalist in Scotland, winning Young Journalist of the Year aged 21, and published his first novel, The Reporter in 1976, at the age of 26.

“After it was adapted as a BBC drama series, he quit journalism for television, and in the 15 years that followed he became a successful scriptwriter and producer on two seminal series, Take the High Road and the Gaelic-language, Isle of Lewis-set Machair. It was while working on location on Machair, that his love for the Hebrides, which informed and influenced so much of his writing was formed.

“He returned to fiction with a series of China-set thrillers, which was followed by the French-set Enzo Files, both of which featured characters who reflected his growing interest in forensic science. However, it was the publication of the Lewis-set thriller The Blackhouse in 2011, that brought international fame, and bestselling success, and resulted in The Lewis Trilogy. He published a bestseller almost every year between The Blackhouse and his last book, The Black Loch in 2024. His writing will always be associated with the Isle of Lewis, and the Hebrides.

“Peter published 26 books with Quercus, and his work was hugely successful in his adopted homeland of France, where his work garlanded many prestigious literary awards.”

Jon Riley added: “Peter was a talented musician, and in 2025 he released a CD,‘Towards the Light’, which reflected in song many of his interests as a novelist.

"Although he had announced his retirement, which he was looking forward to sharing with his beloved wife, the writer Janice Hally, May found there was one more novel in him, and he delivered Island of the Dead in July this year. He was preparing for a farewell tour of Scotland and Lewis to coincide with publication in January 2027.

“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."

Picture from the Facebook page of Peter May - author