The literary world is mourning the death of Scottish crime writer Peter May, whose passing was announced by his wife, Janice Hally, and confirmed by his longtime publisher and friend, Jon Riley of riverrun, an imprint of the John Murray Group.
May died Friday night at his holiday home in the south of France. He was widely celebrated as one of the most popular Scottish crime writers of his generation, with his books selling around 15 million copies worldwide.
His final novel, Island of the Dead, is scheduled for publication in January 2027. Although May had announced his retirement and had been looking forward to spending more time with his beloved wife, Janice, he discovered that he still had one more novel to write and delivered the manuscript in July 2026.
May began his career as a journalist in Scotland and was named Young Journalist of the Year at just 21. His first novel, The Reporter, was published in 1976. After the book was adapted into a BBC drama series, May moved into television, becoming a successful writer and producer on Take the High Road and the Gaelic-language series Machair.
His years working on Machair helped inspire his lifelong connection with the Hebrides, particularly the Isle of Lewis, which became central to his fiction.
International recognition followed the publication of The Blackhouse in 2011, the first novel in his acclaimed Lewis Trilogy. He continued publishing bestselling fiction for years, including The Black Loch in 2024.
May published 26 books with Quercus, while his work also achieved considerable success in France, where he received several prestigious literary honors. Beyond writing, he was a talented musician and released the 2025 album Towards the Light, drawing on themes that had influenced his novels.
Riley described May as not only an exceptional crime writer but also a person who inspired enormous affection. His kindness, generosity, loyalty, warmth, and engagement with life made him deeply loved by readers and colleagues alike.
Tributes have also come from literary festivals, readers, and admirers of his work. One tribute remembered his evocative descriptions of the Hebrides and the beauty of the landscapes that featured so prominently in his novels.
Peter May leaves behind an enduring literary legacy and millions of readers around the world. His work brought the landscapes, communities, and atmosphere of the Hebrides to an international audience.
He is survived by his beloved wife, writer Janice Hally, along with family and loved ones who are now mourning his passing.
Peter May will be deeply missed by his family, friends, fellow writers, publishers, and countless readers whose lives were touched by his stories.
