Last of the Line

by John Mackay

With both his parents dead, Cal's aunt Mary is his only remaining blood link. He leaves the fast-paced life of the city for the Outer Hebrides, where traditional values and beliefs are adhered to and respected. It is a life he neither belongs to nor understands. When she goes he will be the last of the family line and he couldn't care less. Family and history are just bonds to tie him down.

Reluctantly, he sets out to do his duty and stumbles across questions that challenge everything he ever knew about himself and the people from whom he came. In the days between his aunt's death and funeral he is drawn into the role of genealogy detective. In a place where everyone knows everything about everybody, Cal finds that secrets are buried deep.

Mairi, a young widow, knows far more than she is willing to tell. Kate Anna, his aunt's lifelong friend, avoids his questions. And what of Finlay, who lays claim to the house? Cal begins to understand that Aunt Mary was not the woman he knew and the secret she kept hidden for so long means he might not be the person he thought he was. "Last of the Line" is a story that explores the part in all of us that wants to know who we are and where we are from.

Genres: Fiction, Scotland

196 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2006

Reviews

[Sarah MacCallum · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing after The Road Dance and Heartland unfortunately. Easy read and good in some ways just the plot was really obvious, a few more twists might have made it a bit more exciting

[Lynda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet tale of sadness, memories & the search into true family connections following the death of Mary with her only family, her nephew finding letters from her past. His ‘homecoming’ on the Isle of Lewis causes some true islanders some concerns…. 3.5 stars

[Anji · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story, well written.

[S Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book apart from two instances of blasphemy which were totally unnecessary

[Discoverylover · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! I wasn't very sure I was going to like the main character for a while, but there was enough there that I hoped he was going to change and be a better person, and I'm glad I persevered! I did guess bits of the ending before they were revealed but it was still nice to be proved right!

[Rosemary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Family secrets, set in the Outer Hebrides. A night-time call prompts Cal to return from Glasgow to the isle of Lewis where his aunt Mary is dying. He is the last of the MacCarl line ... or is he?

I enjoyed this but I liked Mairi a lot more than Cal. I was glad of the ending - I thought she could do better!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read. Didn't expect to get into it as much as i did. The short chapters makes the book very easy to pick up and read on the bus, which was how I read most of this book. Very good, particularly for a summer read

[James · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well written but I didn’t feel the author showed any ambition here. The plot was pretty thin and largely depended on the characters either jumping to conclusions or not telling one another the whole truth. Not too much actually happens.

[Teotakuu · Rating 2 out of 5]

It wasn't badly written but there was something about the plot that didn't quite jell for me

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another beautifully atmospheric read by MacKay.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have given this 4 * rating but there was something that annoyed me about this book, not sure if it was the ending or that I didn't like Cal the main character.

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable story

Really enjoyable story with a great setting in urban and rural Scotland, Easy read but memorable with believable and interesting. characters

[Issi]

Eh, no. Read it but didn't enjoy it. Predictable and boring. Set in Lewis.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice light read

[Beverly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bit predictable.