Bestselling Scottish Crime Writer Peter May Passes Away at Holiday Home in France
GARRIGUES, France — The global literary and publishing community is mourning the reported passing of acclaimed Scottish crime novelist and television screenwriter Peter May, who passed away on Friday night, September 25, 2026, at his holiday home in the south of France.
Published by Global Report Center
GARRIGUES, France — The global literary and publishing community is mourning the reported passing of acclaimed Scottish crime novelist and television screenwriter Peter May, who passed away on Friday night, September 25, 2026, at his holiday home in the south of France.
Born in Glasgow, Scotland, May worked as an award-winning journalist and successful television screenwriter—co-creating major Scottish drama series including Machair and Take the High Road—before devoting his career full-time to fiction. He achieved international acclaim with his atmospheric crime fiction, most notably The Lewis Trilogy (The Blackhouse, The Lewis Man, and The Chessmen), set in the Outer Hebrides. His extensive body of work also includes The China Thrillers, the Enzo Macleod series, and bestselling standalone novels such as Entry Island and Lockdown. Over a career spanning four decades, May's novels sold millions of copies worldwide, earning him prestigious literary awards including the Prix Cezam, the Barry Award, and Sunday Times bestseller status.
Official Status and Family Privacy
French civil authorities and local emergency services responded to his residence in Garrigues, Gard, following reports of his death on Friday evening.
Official representatives confirmed that May passed away peacefully, and no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death have been identified. In accordance with family privacy preferences, specific medical details regarding the exact cause of death have been withheld. Formal statements regarding private family arrangements and international memorial services will be announced in due course.
Literary Tributes and Legacy
News of Peter May's death has prompted widespread tributes from fellow authors, publishers, television producers, and readers across Scotland, France, and internationally.
Publishing partners at Quercus and drama executives honored May as a master storyteller whose vivid prose, meticulous research, and deep connection to Scottish landscapes reshaped contemporary crime writing. Condolences continue to be extended to his wife, fellow author Janice Haddy, his family, and his global readership as they mourn the loss of a towering figure in modern literature.
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