I first discovered Peter May back in 2006 when I read The Firemaker, the first book in his China Thriller series. While I didn’t continue that series at the time, years later I picked up The Blackhouse from the library — and I’ve been a Peter May fan ever since. The Lewis Trilogy was a standout, and since then I’ve also enjoyed several of his standalones, including Entry Island, Coffin Road, and Runaway. His mix of strong characters, atmospheric settings, and compelling mysteries keeps me coming back for more.
Peter May’s Award since 2010
2010 Prix Ancres Noires (France) L’Île des chasseurs d’oiseaux (The Blackhouse) winner of the Prix des Lecteurs at the Les Ancres Noires book festival, Le Havre 2011 Cezam Prix Littéraire Inter CE (France) L’Île des chasseurs d’oiseaux (The Blackhouse) winner of the CEZAM Prix Litteraire Inter CE national French Literature Prize. 2012 Prix Ancres Noires (France) L’Homme de Lewis (The Lewis Man) winner of the Prix des Lecteurs at the Les Ancres Noires book festival, Le Havre 2012 Grand Prix des Lecteurs du Télégramme (France) L’Homme de Lewis (The Lewis Man) winner of the Prix des Lecteurs du Télégramme, 10,000 Euro Readers’ Prize of French daily newspaper. 2012 Prix International, Cognac Festival (France) L’Homme de Lewis won the Prix International at the Cognac Festival. 2013 Macavity Award for Best Mystery Novel (USA) The Blackhouse shortlisted 2013 Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award (UK) The Lewis Man shortlisted 2013 Barry Award for Best Crime Novel (USA) The Blackhouse won the Barry Award for Best Novel of the Year at a ceremony at Bouchercon, Albany NY. 2014 Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award (UK) The Chessmen shortlisted 2014 Deanstons Scottish Crime Book of the Year (UK) Entry Island won the Deanstons Scottish Crime Book of the Year Award at the Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival in Stirling September 2014. 2014 Specsavers ITV Crime Thriller Book Club Best Read of the Year. (UK) Entry Island won the Crime Thriller Book Club Best Read of the Year Award at the Specsavers Crime Thriller Awards ceremony in London, October 2014. 2015 Dagger in the Library (UK) Crime Writers’ Association award for an author’s body of work in British libraries shortlisted. 2015 Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award (UK) Entry Island shortlisted 2015 Trophée 813 (France) Entry Island (L’Île du Serment) won the Trophée 813 for “Best Foreign Crime Novel” awarded by the French magazine Review 813. 2021 CWA Dagger in the Library. (UK)Peter was winner of this award which recognises the popularity of an author’s body of work with readers and users of libraries. 2024 The Palle Rosenkrantz Prize (Denmark) The award for best crime book of the year in Denmark was awarded to the Lewis Trilogy.
