This is the 3rd book in the Lewis Trilogy. Ex-detective Fin Macleod has a new job as head of security on a large sporting estate in the west of Lewis, which has been having problems with poachers. He is reunited with an old school friend Whistler Macaskill, who is one of the estate's tenants. One night they are out together when they witness a rare bog burst and all the water in a small loch suddenly drains away to reveal a light aircraft with the body of a man inside it. The plane belonged to their mutual friend musician Roddy Mackenzie, who disappeared 17 years earlier. Whistler reacts to the find in a very odd way and on closer examination it turns out that the man was not killed in the plane crash but was murdered.
While it isn't necessary to have read the 2 previous novels in the series to understand the main plot of this book, some of the many subplots make more sense if you have read the other books. In common with the other 2 books, this one has an exciting conclusion and blends real locations and historic events (e.g. the sinking of the Iolaire in 1919 off Stornoway) with fiction very well. The book has maps of the islands making up the Outer Hebrides showing the location of events in all 3 books inside the front and back covers of the book. Such maps always warrant and extra mark in my opinion! 8/10
Islands covered - Lewis and North Uist
The Bridge to Nowhere, North Tolsta, Lewis
This bridge features in The Chessmen as the scene of an accident following a motorbike time trial between Roddy and fellow band member Strings to decide the new name for their band. Years later Fin remembers something about that day, which is crucial to him solving the mystery.
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