In 2051, after a catastrophic climate change, vast swathes of the planet are underwater, and Scotland is a changed place. Old-school detective Cameron Brodie tries to keep up but knows his time is limited. On the day that he learns he has terminal cancer, he is also asked to look into the death of a journalist found encased in ice.

This is an ok read. In essence, it's a solid example of a police procedural book. The history of Brodie and the reason his daughter is estranged is sad and well-told, and the plot is intricate but ultimately satisfying. But the whole futuristic setting was a little jarring to me. With the exception of the final chapter, it was largely unimportant throughout the book and merely served as an intrusive bit of technology.

Excellent narration added to the enjoyment of this thriller set in 2051 when Scotland has been devastated by climate change. Addie Sinclair, a meteorologist, finds a dead body in the ice whilst checking her weather station in Kinlochleven and her estranged father is the detective inspector sent to find the killer. With a few sub plots, twists and turns this is another hugely enjoyable, suspenseful murder mystery from Peter May. The characters are believable and it brings the threat of climate change into sharp focus! Thank you to Net Galley for an audio arc in exchange for an honest review.

Set in the near future (2051) when climate change has meant that huge areas of the world are now under water, including the city that I live in. Scary stuff! There are also flashbacks to 2023.

A Winter Grave is an absolutely absorbing listen which, unfortunately, feels all too plausible. The setting of a bleak snowbound Highland village was claustrophobic and made my spine tingle as I sensed the danger to come as I listened and I can absolutely see this as a Hollywood blockbuster. The story moved at a good pace and there were plenty of twists and a satisfying ending. I loved how the author inserted all the high tech gadgets of the future, and they all seemed credible to me. The main character of DI Cameron Brodie is so well fleshed out that I connected with him and was rooting for him all the way through, despite his flaws.

I can't believe that this is my first book by this author, and I will certainly be listening to his back catalogue asap,

I enjoyed the narration by Peter Forbes.

I need to start by saying that I am a big fan of Peter May and have read most of his books. I wasn't sure about this one as it is set in the future but I assumed it would be well written and I was correct.

The book is mainly set in 2051, with a few memories from earlier years to help with the background, and the world is a different place. Climate change has had a huge impact and as expected technology has been updated. Deep fake has been superceded and the results are very scary.

Cameron Brody is a policeman who goes to investigate the death of a climber in the remote mountains where the weather is bleak and unforgiving. The story covers life, death, illness, relationships, corruption and deception as well as climate change. It tackles the issues well and is very believable as to the potential outcomes offer our actions.

I know that we are only a week into 2023 but any other books will have to work hard to knock this from my favourite book of the year pedestal.

I’ve enjoyed a number of Peter May’s other books, particularly the Lewis trilogy. I was pleased to receive an advance copy of his latest stand-alone novel, A Winter Grave. For a change I decided to listen to the audiobook version.

The novel is mainly set in the near future, 2051. Climate change has transformed the world and many places have disappeared under water. The book also moves to other time periods but this is easy to follow.

Adie lives in remote Scotland and discovers a body entombed in ice. A detective and pathologist are sent to investigate. The detective is Adie’s estranged father, Cameron. The investigation doesn’t go as planned and Cameron is determined to find out the truth.

The narration is excellent and really fits the story. It’s pleasant to listen to.

The story is mostly told from Cameron’s point of view. I liked his character and hoped for a happy ending, even though I knew it was unlikely.

The scenery is well described and it’s obvious the author knows the locations.

I noticed that instead of referring to it as a jacket or coat, Cameron’s jacket was referred to as “The North Face” which seemed a bit odd. Was the author sponsored by them? 😂 Other garments were referred to by their name so I found it a bit odd.

Overall, I liked this story. It held my interest and there is plenty going on to keep you hooked. The chapters aren’t overly long and the plot is fast paced.

I would recommend this book, especially the audiobook version. If you haven’t read The Lewis Trilogy, then I highly recommend that too.

Thanks to Quercus Audio and NetGalley for my copy to review.

A Winter Grave is the ninth stand-alone novel by award-winning Scottish journalist, screenwriter and author, Peter May. The audio version is narrated by Peter Forbes. In November 2051, a young meteorologist is checking her weather station in the western Scottish Highlands when she comes across a body in a patch of ice in a corrie. Three months earlier, award-winning Scottish Herald investigative journalist, Charles Younger, the bane of corrupt politicians, went missing near Loch Leven.

Glasgow Police DI Cameron Brodie, fresh from failing to get murder conviction due to technical complications, rejects his DCI’s request to accompany the pathologist to perform a post mortem on Younger, and, noting his expertise in hill walking, examine the scene. But then he receives a diagnosis adverse enough to change his mind.

After a slightly rocky introduction, Brodie finds that he gets on quite well with police pathologist Dr Sita Roy, and both are relieved when their eVTOL (electric helicopter) sets them down safely during an ice storm, in the blacked-out village of Kinlochleven.

The following morning, despite an ongoing power failure, Sita conducts her PM and concludes that Younger was murdered, noting some anomalies about his body in her findings. The blackout prevents instant analysis of the likely killer’s DNA, as well as stopping their eVTOL being recharged, effectively grounding them.

Meanwhile, Brodie has kept to himself the fact that the woman who found the body, the wife of the local bobby, is his estranged daughter. Addie Sinclair is not best pleased to see her father, and vocal about it. But they are forced together to climb the mountain and check what is now a murder scene. But why, they both wonder, was a journalist with no hill-walking experience take the difficult trail up to a high peak?

And Brodie is determined to take what may be his last opportunity to tell his daughter what he has been silent about for the ten years since her mother’s death.

With comms and the internet still down, and the Ice storm having cut off the village, Brodie continues to investigate this puzzling murder. But certain incidents add an atmosphere of menace, and then there’s another murder, which won’t be the last before Brodie departs the Kinlochleven.

May sets his story in a near future where an independent Scotland has rejoined the EU, and climate change has significantly raised sea levels, causing widespread flooding and a huge increase in climate refugees, which exacerbates racism, and a plague of resistant German cockroaches: he paints a realistic if rather frightening picture of how the world could look if climate change is allowed to progress at the current rate.

Interspersed throughout Brodie’s narrative are flashbacks to 2023, when he first met Addie’s mother, gradually revealing what has weighed so heavily on Brodie’s conscience for a decade. May includes some interesting tech, and his characters have depth and appeal. A well-crafted plot, with action and intrigue, twists and red herrings, and a nail-biting climax, make this is another Peter May winner. Unputdownable.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Quercus

A Winter Grave is a fascinating novel set in 2050 when huge areas of the earth are under water due to rising sea levels and climate change, plastic is banned and technology has moved at an alarming rate.
Cameron Brodie is sent from Glasgow a remote Scottish village to investigate a body found in an icy tomb. The book reveals the body was of a journalist who disappeared six months earlier. The story also moves back to the 2020’s to reveal how Cameron met his wife and why he is estranged from his adult daughter.
I thought this was an original way of telling what could have been a run of the mill crime novel and brought home how our world could look in 30 years time if we don’t take action against climate change now.

Detective Cameron Brodie who has been a keen climber and hill walker spending years ‘collecting’ the Munroes (peaks over 3,000 feet) turns down a job crying out for his skills. They need someone to investigate the case surrounding the discovery of the body of a man found entombed in ice by a meteorologist high in the mountains. Was the death an accident or suspicious? The reason he declines is his estranged daughter lives locally and she still blames him for the death of her mother ten years ago. A confrontation is something he has no stomach for.

When he discovers he has stage 4 cancer and only a few months left to live he changes his mind. This will be the last chance he will get to see his daughter and at least try to explain his actions as a reconciliation seems unlikely.

The high ground may be Brodie’s environment, but he quickly finds himself out of his comfort zone. Opening up over his feelings and actions in the past will prove the easy part as he battles against the control of outside forces to get to the truth.

A Winters Grave is an incredible book. Peter May is a great writer of contemporary crime fiction so that part is given but in this work he has managed to capture the zeitgeist of the 2020’s and project it forward by 30 years. Much of it may be set in 2051 but it is neither science fiction or some dystopian fantasy but a realistic extrapolation of where we (and more specifically Scotland) may be by then. A world we can recognise but with chilling prospects ahead in more ways than one.

As can reasonably guessed the investigation becomes a murder one and this proves to be the main thrust of the plot, one which is very plausible and worryingly believable. The second strand is the reason why Cameron needs to unburden his past, not so much as a death bed confession as a dead man walking on his personal Green Mile. This runs from 2020s to 2040s and covers him meeting Mel and their lives together before her death.

Life in 2051 is so believably imagined its disconcerting; the effects of climate change mean all plastics are banned, water levels have risen, the subway flooded, power is nuclear and some hydro and there is constant mass migration as lands are flooded and populations seek higher ground. Cameron gets some high-tech computer glasses like a modern Google Glass that actually works, and air transport is by EVTOL, electrical vertical take-off and landing craft like helicopters but nothing outlandish. Then there’s the little observations like the kids are playing on Play Station 15 and houses being 3D printed at location, which make it convincing.

Climate change means storms, so atmospheric in film and literature and here it is huge snow falls rather than relentless rain that does the work. It shrouds things hiding or disguising them, it traps people and limits their scope and horizons. All of which is cleverly and stylishly used within the prose, nothing is wasted.

Cameron’s relationship with Mel is the emotional thrust of the story a perfect match but ultimately a doomed relationship. A relationship that causes him desperation and ultimately drags him down to the level of those he despises. His need to unburden and tell his side of the story to daughter Adele is palpable. He also explains that he blames himself for squandering life. Adele starts to come around before her own world is ultimately torn asunder from simple human vulnerably. Powerful stuff.

As someone who has a low opinion of politicians, I am pleased to see that they are portrayed as venal chancers here. By 2051 Independence has been gained and, quite sensibly the EU re-joined but all is still not rosy. A SNP replacement is in charge and riding roughshod with the Ecology party the only credible opposition. The next election is going to prove vital, so depressingly familiar.

The pacing is perfectly judged, moving along briskly but with plenty of space for observations which brings the prose alive. There’s enough action set pieces to keep the most demanding thriller read happy and plenty of jeopardy for Cameron and Adele.

Characterisation is strong as is their personal interactions. I particularly found the scenes shared by Cameron and the pathologist Sita Roy quite touching, especially when they demolish most of a bottle of The Balvenie Doublewood and reveal their inner secrets. As one of them says ‘in vino veritas’ and there lies the truth indeed.

The narration is masterful as I have come to expect from Peter Forbes.

A Winter Grave is a magnificent crime thriller and much more as it delivers a chilling warning of a future that we face unless humanity gets a grip of what is happening in a short window of opportunity. A must read for 2023.

Peter May delivers another outstanding 5 star read!

This murder mystery set in Kinlochleven is so grippy and engaging. Following the character of Cameron Brodie and his quest to solve the murder of a body found in the snow covered mountain village. This book explores family relationships and misconceptions about the past with chapters set in past and present.

I could not put this down!
Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book! All options my own

The narrator made this for me, a superb creator of characters. The descriptions of scenery and the Scottish highlands had me reaching for a warm duvet! Super story, well written with the twists changing all the way. Thank you

Wow, this is my first Peter May and I was genuinely surprised how much I enjoyed it although I think the excellent narration by Peter Forbes whose accent and style fit perfectly . It is set slighted in the future where the world is a different place, but Brodie the main character is an old school cop who has nothing to loose when he sets out in to the frozen wilds of Scotland to find out what happened to a man found frozen in the ice up a mountain, in doing so he hopes to bring about his own personal peace at the same time, The story is brilliantly written and weaves around to a satisfying conclusion.

I was lucky enough to get the audiobook of A Winter Grave read by Peter Forbes who is absolutely wonderful. He has read most of Peter May's books and I look forward to them each time. I've even been driven to not only read, but listen, to several of the May trilogies because of Forbes. I really hadn't known what to expect of May's latest. After Lockdown, I guess I had hoped he would revert to one of his earlier types of books - The Lewis Trilogies or and Enzo Macleod. Yet once I started A Winter Grave I was totally hooked. Yes, it's dystopian and somehow makes me glad I won't be around in 2051; yet he weaved this interesting eco-theme with some of the "almost" within our reach technologies - that I listened to it in only 2 days.

My first read from Peter May and certainly not my last. Set against an original backdrop of a futuristic world of 2050s, where environmental neglect has led to catastrophic consequences worldwide - flooding, mass destruction of the earth's surface and immigration wars. Areas of the world are scorching hot, whilst, far north into Scotland, the land is doused in snow and ice. When a journalists body is unearthed from the ice, it is soon apparent that it isn't a hiking accident. No one wishes to investigate in these circumstances, but Brody has no qualms after receiving devastating medical news and needing to get to Scotland for his own personal reasons. He is joined by pathologist Dr Sita. Their investigations draw some dangerous evidence that someone does not want to come to the surface. A dangerous mission soon becomes deadly. May superbly weaves plot, characterisation and drama into an intoxicating and thrilling investigative murder mystery. #awintergrave #petermay #netgalley #crime #murder #mystery

This was a delight to listen to and the narrators voice matched the story perfectly. Peter May has such a talent for storytelling and a descriptive knack for letting you feel like you can see the scenery. This had a great storyline and the characters were good making this audiobook a wonderful listening experience.

Wasn't sure about this audio book to start with but then got hooked as its got lots of twists and turns and I love that in a book
My only complaint was because its set in the future sort of but is not really futuristic as it mentions some equipment and we are pretty close to those now
As the narrator was reading it and saying 1940 or 1950 I thought they must mean the time rather than year lol

This book written by Peter May and narrated by Peter Forbes is simply PURE CLASS!!!
Absolutely amazing storyline. I had to double check the timeline: 2051!!!! That was a surprise and at first I was a bit sceptical as it is not my genre. I was very quickly converted as the storyline is amazing. The mystery is well written and keeps you engaged till the end. The star of the show for me is the Scottish Highlands backdrop. Peter May makes such a lovely job to describe this amazing landscape which I am dying to see for myself. Being British, I was a bit sad to read a fictional future version of Scotland no longer being part of the UK but it is very realistic. So is the fictional climate change grim prospects.
The whole book narration experience was simply amazing, absolutely spectacular....

Set in 2051 this shows us a bleak and troubled near future. A body, found in the Scottish Highlands, draws Glasgow detective Cameron Brodie into the investigation.

What a terrific story set a few years hence so very believable with the technology used. The narration by Peter Forbes is first-class and his changes in character voices are brilliant. Set in the Scottish Highlands during several ice storms makes the backdrop to the story sinister and brooding even before the murders. Brodie’s backstory adds to the completeness of the characters. The great pace and ending make this a must-read/listen-to novel.

My thanks to #NetGalley and #QuercusAudio for this advanced copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Peter May is one of my favourite authors in this genre, he never fails to write books which grip this reader from start to finish. And Peter Forbes, as always, is the perfect narrator for the story, You can tell that the narrator responds well to the writer’s creation and is able to capture the characters and situations perfectly. Once again they pair up for a great telling of a good story.
This story is set in an imagined near-future of the 2050s - I had to re-check the book’s blurb as initially I thought there was a mistake with the date, but quickly realised the setting was a few decades in advance, and the main character, DI Brodie, was born in 1996. Some points in the book did feel rather political: Scotland is an independent country and has re-entered the EU. At times it did also feel like an environmental lecture as climate change is the main cause of the severe weather in which the story is set. I would have preferred this book set in current times without imagined technology; however, I understand why this was impossible as the premise for the storyline requires it.
All that said, and despite correctly guessing the antagonist early on, I very much enjoyed this book. It held my attention throughout & had a good amount of suspense and tension within an interesting story, and as always, was extremely well narrated.

Peter May is one of my favourite authors because of the way he captures location. I was intrigued by this title as it’s a departure from his usual style in that it’s set in the not too distant future. And what a plausible scary future it is; climate change has brought about lowland flooding across the UK and his descriptions of Glasgow, with water taxis, and the journey to the Highlands with waterlogged areas are amazing and very visual. In addition to the climate change consequence, May indulges in some speculative technology which is intriguing. Vertical take off machines, guided by Alexa type commands. Fabulous.

Within this context, there’s a police procedural involving a terminally ill DI, Brodie ( who I thought was exactly right for the story) who’s investigating the death of a journalist found in an ice tomb. Brodie has a family backstory, neatly brought into the investigation and there’s the mystery of what the journalist was investigating.

This is a winner at every level. Full of twists and turns, huge empathy for the characters and totally convincing plotting in a well imagined future. The narration throughout is superb. A brilliant take exceptionally well told.

My thanks to the publisher for a review copy via Netgalley

As soon as I have the opportunity to have read/listen to a Peter May back I prioritise it. They are so dark and different.

This one was really different a murder investigation, gambling issues all set in a climate change environment and back history of family issues.

It really worked and I kept finding times to listen to it as I just had to know how it was going to work. I must admit some of the technology was a little scary.

I was given an advance copy by the publishers and netgalley but the review is entirely my own.