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  • The Chessmen

  • By: Peter May
  • Narrated by: Peter Forbes
  • Length: 10 hrs and 20 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (3,093 ratings)
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The Chessmen cover art

The Chessmen

By: Peter May
Narrated by: Peter Forbes
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Summary

The nail-biting final chapter in The Lewis Trilogy, from the Sunday Times best-selling author of Coffin Road.

The new start.

Fin Macleod, now head of security on a privately owned Lewis estate, is charged with investigating a spate of illegal game-hunting taking place on the island. 

The old friend.

This mission reunites him with Whistler Macaskill - a local poacher, Fin's teenage intimate, and possessor of a long-buried secret. 

The final chapter.

But when this reunion takes a violent, sinister turn and Fin puts together the fractured pieces of the past, he realises that revealing the truth could destroy the future.

©2013 Peter May (P)2013 WF Howes Ltd

Critic reviews

"Peter May is a writer I'd follow to the ends of the earth." (New York Times)

What listeners say about The Chessmen

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,978
  • 4 Stars
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  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    2,107
  • 4 Stars
    456
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    100
  • 2 Stars
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  • 1 Stars
    6
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,624
  • 4 Stars
    728
  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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  • 1 Stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A Masterclass in Storytelling

This is the third of the Lewis trilogy by Peter May. I read the first two but, after starting a job which involved a long drive, decided to listen to this one. This was very much the right choice.



The story is wonderful, dark and brooding, realistic about life and love and evoking the bleak environment of the islands. It’s tension never lets up and it’s very difficult to stop listening.



For me, however, this story was improved a hundredfold by Peter Forbes’s excellent narration. His accents are superb, his delivery is pitch perfect, adding a real dynamism to the tale. He is at no point over dramatic, which I find a lot on Audible, but managed to convey real emotion without sounding hammy.



Five stars aren’t quite enough for such excellent story telling.

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55 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Riveting conclusion to 1st rate trilogy

Whilst you could undoubtedly enjoy each part of this trilogy as a stand alone story - listen in the correct order and you will gradually absorb the complete tapestry of Fin's life as well as pick up sub-plots, stories and clues that weave their way throughout the 3 books. Rarely have I come across a trilogy that has been so cleverly constructed. Well written and well read The Blackhouse, The Lewis Man and now The Chessmen are thoroughly absorbing and I would have thought enjoyable for men and women alike.

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36 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

The best trilogy I read

Driving some 40k between jobs of work in the Scottish Highlands radio and mobile phone signals are very poor, which is no bad thing. Music is fine for short periods but having discovered audible I can think of no greater pleasure than getting lost in a good book and that I have done many times. Having listened to almost 200 books over the last few years this trilogy is only the second that has moved me enough to write a review. The narration is superb, accents and intonations paint such a beautiful picture of the setting and the people of Lewis. Peter May's ability to tell a story of intertwining lives, friendships and romance is so close to what seems ordinary but he makes it so much more. The addition of an extraordinary story which is so believable makes this something you can't stop listening to until you reach the end & even then the hunger for more is there. Not ever having been to Lewis Google earth gives some insight to its beauty creating a desire for its exploration. The books in this trilogy made me find excuses to go walking, drive slower and further.........and just get out into the garden to do mundane tasks just so I could plug in and get lost in the story. Sorry it had to end. Peter please give us some more!!!!!!

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32 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A third treat from the Isle of Lewis

I have been bowled over by these novels and couldn't wait to read each one in turn. Each plot links the past, childhood loves and teenage jealousies and loss, with a present conundrum. The characters are rich and their relationships are deep and realistically drawn. I suspected that the backdrop of a small Scottish isle might render the stories mundane, but far from it. Concentrating on a tiny community allows us to examine the protagonists and their motives in detail.

The narration is excellent, switching effortlessly between various Scottish brogues and English accents. The tale is told with meaning and expression.

I recommend this book and this author, though I would suggest reading the thee books, the Lewis Man, The Black House and The Chess Men, in order to understand the full history of the characters.

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16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Fitting end to a wonderful trilogy

I had waited for this to be produced, and have to say that this felt such a good last novel.



The Hebridean islands had their fitting and rightful place in the story, and all the themes of the influence of the past, the effect of growing up on a remote island community, the comradeship of old friendships, the ties of family, have their place in this story.



If you have enjoyed the other two books (The Blackhouse, Lewis Man) then this will satisfy you completely.



The narrator is perfect, as before, and I feel faintly bereft now that the story is brought to a place where we say goodbye to Fin, Marsaili, Donald and the rest.



Highly recommended

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • AB
  • 16-12-15

Superb book, and expertly narrated

Where does The Chessmen rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The book ranks up there with my best listens. The scene is superbly set, and Peter Forbes turns in a flawless performance

What did you like best about this story?

I find the location fascinating. The history that threads the story together is fantastic.

Which character – as performed by Peter Forbes – was your favourite?

Would have to be Finn. A complex character but expertly portrayed

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

If I could have, I certainly would have!

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant conclusion!

An excellent thriller, in keeping with the other 2 books in this trilogy. Magnificently read. I ended up staying up til 2am in order to listen to the end - and am now sorry I did because this means it's finished!!! Highly recommended - the wait for this final book of this trilogyy was worth it.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A great ending

This is a great novel well read. The drama is perhaps slightly less intense than the previous two books, but it still has its moments. It's a great listen, with evocative descriptions of Lewis and a good story. A fitting ending to a great trilogy.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Chess first of all teaches you to be objective.


A good conclusion to the trilogy, with a mystery that burst from the past to take Fin Macleod deeper into his memories and his complicated life in the island. re encountering friends long lost and long ignored and some regrets in his life.

This book explores friendship and the alliances we make through our life, also the living behind of people that were once significant.

Not your usual detective story, but in the island all is personal and all is remembered by someone, influencing the fabric of the story more than any other factor.

Atmospheric and full of details that explain more about Fin and his life before his return to the island, finding out many secrets and opening doors into a dilemma and a moral decision that will influence his and others future.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A good performance but Finn is no Jack Reacher!

I'll admit it I've been hooked on too many cheap thrillers recently but if you're the same as me this one takes patience. The story starts but never quite gets going as the author spends much of his time in the deep past of the characters. Much of it is necessary for the plot but it did drag on me after a while as long flashbacks to multiple different periods were used to fill in the back story just as the tension finally seemed to be building.

However, that would be my one less than positive observation based very much on my own perhaps impatient preferences. This is a well written and performed story with strong character development. I would recommend it and will dig out more by the same author but us Jack Reacher types will need to set our expectations before venturing in!

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9 people found this helpful