Peter May, the Scottish crime writer and television screenwriter best known for The Blackhouse and the Lewis Trilogy, has died at age 74. His publisher, riverrun, announced that he died at his holiday home in the south of France. This article covers his life, his books, and what has been reported about his death.
Name check: Other people named Peter May have obituaries online, including men in Newcastle, Newlyn in Cornwall, Wakefield in Massachusetts, and Blagdon in Somerset. They are different people, and I did not use their details.
Latest Update: October 5, 2026
As of October 5, 2026, his death is confirmed by his publisher and reported by The Bookseller and The Scotsman. The Bookseller says he died on Friday night, which was September 25, 2026, and the news was made public on Monday, September 28. No cause of death has been reported, and I found no funeral or memorial announcement. His final novel, Island of the Dead, is due to be published in January 2027. Though he had announced his retirement, he finished the book in July 2026, according to The Bookseller.
Who Was Peter May?
Peter May was a Scottish journalist, television writer, and novelist. According to his publisher, his books sold about 15 million copies worldwide, while Wikipedia gives a lower figure of more than 12 million. He was especially successful in France, where he lived for many years and won several literary awards.
Background / Early Life
He was born on December 20, 1951, in Glasgow, Scotland. He began his career as a journalist in Scotland and was named Young Journalist of the Year at age 21, The Bookseller reports. His parents, siblings, and early family life are not described in the reliable sources I found.
Career Path
Journalism and Television
His first novel, The Reporter, was published in 1976, when he was 26. The BBC adapted it as a prime-time 13-part series, and May then moved into television as a scriptwriter and producer, working on the long-running series Take the High Road and the Gaelic-language drama Machair. Wikipedia says he earned more than 1,000 TV credits over about fifteen years.
Crime Novels
After leaving television he wrote the six China Thrillers, researched on annual trips to China, and later novels set in France. His best-known work is the Lewis Trilogy, which begins with The Blackhouse and is set in the Outer Hebrides. His publisher says he published 26 books with Quercus.
Awards
He received the Prix Cezam Literature Award in Strasbourg in 2011 and, in 2025, France’s Grand Prix de Littérature Policière, according to Wikipedia. In 2007 he was the only non-French author on a major French shortlist.
Peter May Age
He was born on December 20, 1951, and died at 74. He would have turned 75 on December 20, 2026.
Family, Education, Religion, Net Worth
I did not find reliable details on his spouse, children, schooling, or religion. His net worth has not been publicly verified. I am not including unconfirmed personal details.
Tributes
His long-time publisher and friend Jon Riley said May was one of the most popular and loved crime writers of his generation, and that he “inspired enormous affection” in his readers. First Minister John Swinney praised his descriptions of Scottish landscapes as “stunning.” Festival Bloody Scotland said he was a “generous and gracious presence.” The Scotsman reports that he had planned a farewell tour of Scotland and Lewis to coincide with his final book’s publication.
Quick Table
| Full Name | Peter May |
|---|---|
| Born | December 20, 1951, Glasgow, Scotland |
| Died | Night of Friday, September 25, 2026, south of France |
| Age at Death | 74 |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Occupation | Crime writer, novelist, screenwriter, journalist |
| Known For | The Blackhouse and the Lewis Trilogy; the China Thrillers; Take the High Road |
| Books Sold | About 15 million (publisher’s figure) |
| Final Novel | Island of the Dead (due January 2027) |
| Cause of Death | Not disclosed |
Reader Questions
Did Peter May die?
Yes. His publisher, riverrun, announced that the Scottish crime writer died at his holiday home in the south of France on the night of Friday, September 25, 2026.
How old was Peter May?
He was 74. He was born on December 20, 1951.
What was Peter May best known for?
He is best known for The Blackhouse, the first novel of the Lewis Trilogy set in the Outer Hebrides.
What was Peter May’s cause of death?
No cause has been reported.
Will there be another Peter May book?
Yes. His final novel, Island of the Dead, is due to be published in January 2027.
Where did Peter May live?
He lived in France for many years and died at his holiday home in the south of France.
Wrap-Up
May moved from journalism to television to novels, and his Hebridean books made Lewis familiar to readers around the world. Readers in France and Britain both claimed him, and the praise from his publisher, festival organizers, and Scotland’s First Minister suggests how widely.
As of October 5, 2026, Peter May is deceased, no cause has been disclosed, and his final novel is scheduled for January 2027.
Disclaimer
This article is based on his publisher’s announcement and news reports checked on October 5, 2026. Differences between sources, such as the number of books sold, are noted. Please respect his family’s privacy.
