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The Enzo Files #7
The Night Gate
In a sleepy French village, the body of a man shot through the head is disinterred by the roots of a fallen tree.
A week later a famous art critic is viciously murdered in a nearby house.
The deaths occurred more than seventy years apart.
Asked by a colleague to inspect the site of the former, forensics expert Enzo Macleod quickly finds himself embroiled in the investigation of the latter. Two extraordinary narratives are set in train - one historical, unfolding in the treacherous wartime years of Occupied France; the other contemporary, set in the autumn of 2020 as France re-enters Covid lockdown.
And Enzo's investigations reveal an unexpected link between the murders - the Mona Lisa.
Tasked by the exiled General Charles de Gaulle to keep the world's most famous painting out of Nazi hands after the fall of France in 1940, 28-year-old Georgette Pignal finds herself swept along by the tide of history. Following in the wake of Da Vinci's Mona Lisa as it is moved from château to château by the Louvre, she finds herself just one step ahead of two German art experts sent to steal it for rival patrons - Hitler and Göring.
What none of them know is that the Louvre itself has taken exceptional measures to keep the painting safe, unwittingly setting in train a fatal sequence of events extending over seven decades.
Events that have led to both killings.
The Night Gate spans three generations, taking us from war-torn London, the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, Berlin and Vichy France, to the deadly enemy facing the world in 2020. In his latest novel, Peter May shows why he is one of the great contemporary writers of crime fiction.
A week later a famous art critic is viciously murdered in a nearby house.
The deaths occurred more than seventy years apart.
Asked by a colleague to inspect the site of the former, forensics expert Enzo Macleod quickly finds himself embroiled in the investigation of the latter. Two extraordinary narratives are set in train - one historical, unfolding in the treacherous wartime years of Occupied France; the other contemporary, set in the autumn of 2020 as France re-enters Covid lockdown.
And Enzo's investigations reveal an unexpected link between the murders - the Mona Lisa.
Tasked by the exiled General Charles de Gaulle to keep the world's most famous painting out of Nazi hands after the fall of France in 1940, 28-year-old Georgette Pignal finds herself swept along by the tide of history. Following in the wake of Da Vinci's Mona Lisa as it is moved from château to château by the Louvre, she finds herself just one step ahead of two German art experts sent to steal it for rival patrons - Hitler and Göring.
What none of them know is that the Louvre itself has taken exceptional measures to keep the painting safe, unwittingly setting in train a fatal sequence of events extending over seven decades.
Events that have led to both killings.
The Night Gate spans three generations, taking us from war-torn London, the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, Berlin and Vichy France, to the deadly enemy facing the world in 2020. In his latest novel, Peter May shows why he is one of the great contemporary writers of crime fiction.
496 pages, Hardcover
Published March 16, 2021
530 people are currently reading
1622 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 398 reviews
February 14, 2021
4.5 rounded up.
Enzo Macleod is now retired from his job as head of forensic science at Toulouse University. However, he is consulted when a skeleton of a Luftwaffe Officer is found buried in a shallow grave in Carennes in the Dordogne, followed by the murder of an art dealer from Paris. This intriguing investigation takes us back in time to World War Two where Georgette Pignal is tasked by de Gaulle to prevent the Mona Lisa from falling into Nazi hands, Paul Lange is sent or acquire it by Hitler for his planned museum in Linz and Karlheinz Wolff is dispatched by Göring to obtain it for his personal collection. The story is told from several perspectives throughout the war years and in 2020/21.
This is how you write a thriller! I’ve enjoyed previous Macleod books but I think this one will become my favourite! I love the wartime element which is very immersive and compelling. I love the symbolism of the de Gaulle’s desire to save the La Joconde for France and the world. The character of Georgette is fabulous, she’s clever, brave, loyal, full of initiative and spirit. My heart leaps with joy when Georgette is sent to the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides to train for her mission and we get a decent tour of the island. Thank you!! The tale that the author constructs is credible and believable with episodes of danger and excitement, with fear and tension, plenty of twists some of which are unpredictable. The characterisation is good with a good balance of likeable and those to despise. I really like the contrast between 2020 and the war years with France yoked by Nazi control and in the present day under the duress of fighting a different kind of enemy. I’m glad Peter May chose to include the pandemic because it makes the storytelling realistic and authentic. Central to the plot is the Mona Lisa which is a superb element adding an excitement all of its own in this fast paced novel. The settings are fantastic with the Dordogne adding it’s own inimitable atmosphere both in wartime and 2020. There are some very good descriptions and some tense scenes in places well known by tourists. The plot unfolds well and I have no difficulty following the threads from then to now and I like how they all connect in this cohesive thriller. This is a well blended mix of fact and fiction.
Overall, a very enjoyable intelligent thriller which I recommend to fan of Peter May and the genre.
With thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books, riverrun for the much appreciated arc for an honest review.
Enzo Macleod is now retired from his job as head of forensic science at Toulouse University. However, he is consulted when a skeleton of a Luftwaffe Officer is found buried in a shallow grave in Carennes in the Dordogne, followed by the murder of an art dealer from Paris. This intriguing investigation takes us back in time to World War Two where Georgette Pignal is tasked by de Gaulle to prevent the Mona Lisa from falling into Nazi hands, Paul Lange is sent or acquire it by Hitler for his planned museum in Linz and Karlheinz Wolff is dispatched by Göring to obtain it for his personal collection. The story is told from several perspectives throughout the war years and in 2020/21.
This is how you write a thriller! I’ve enjoyed previous Macleod books but I think this one will become my favourite! I love the wartime element which is very immersive and compelling. I love the symbolism of the de Gaulle’s desire to save the La Joconde for France and the world. The character of Georgette is fabulous, she’s clever, brave, loyal, full of initiative and spirit. My heart leaps with joy when Georgette is sent to the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides to train for her mission and we get a decent tour of the island. Thank you!! The tale that the author constructs is credible and believable with episodes of danger and excitement, with fear and tension, plenty of twists some of which are unpredictable. The characterisation is good with a good balance of likeable and those to despise. I really like the contrast between 2020 and the war years with France yoked by Nazi control and in the present day under the duress of fighting a different kind of enemy. I’m glad Peter May chose to include the pandemic because it makes the storytelling realistic and authentic. Central to the plot is the Mona Lisa which is a superb element adding an excitement all of its own in this fast paced novel. The settings are fantastic with the Dordogne adding it’s own inimitable atmosphere both in wartime and 2020. There are some very good descriptions and some tense scenes in places well known by tourists. The plot unfolds well and I have no difficulty following the threads from then to now and I like how they all connect in this cohesive thriller. This is a well blended mix of fact and fiction.
Overall, a very enjoyable intelligent thriller which I recommend to fan of Peter May and the genre.
With thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books, riverrun for the much appreciated arc for an honest review.
October 13, 2021
When I finished Cast Iron I really thought it was the last book in the Enzo series but I was wrong!
The Night Gate is a bit like an epilogue in that we find what is happening to a retired Enzo McLeod and the rest of his family and friends. We even get to visit Charlotte in jail and I felt sorry for her despite all that she did and how much I used to dislike her!
Apart from that the book deals with a murder and a cold case from WW2. Enzo assists in a voluntary capacity and of course he solves both cases. I very much enjoyed the parallel story of Georgette Pignal who worked in occupied France during the war trying to secure all the works of art from Hitler's sticky fingers. Her particular job is to keep the Mona Lisa safe and the methods the French used are intriguing.
The book is set in a Covid ridden Paris with many references to masks and social distancing. At one point Enzo only just manages to get home before he is shut out by an emergency lockdown. At least we can all associate with this. The mystery is really enjoyable although not hard to work out.
I was very happy to be reunited with Enzo and the rest and will not mind at all if Peter May writes an eighth book in the series!
The Night Gate is a bit like an epilogue in that we find what is happening to a retired Enzo McLeod and the rest of his family and friends. We even get to visit Charlotte in jail and I felt sorry for her despite all that she did and how much I used to dislike her!
Apart from that the book deals with a murder and a cold case from WW2. Enzo assists in a voluntary capacity and of course he solves both cases. I very much enjoyed the parallel story of Georgette Pignal who worked in occupied France during the war trying to secure all the works of art from Hitler's sticky fingers. Her particular job is to keep the Mona Lisa safe and the methods the French used are intriguing.
The book is set in a Covid ridden Paris with many references to masks and social distancing. At one point Enzo only just manages to get home before he is shut out by an emergency lockdown. At least we can all associate with this. The mystery is really enjoyable although not hard to work out.
I was very happy to be reunited with Enzo and the rest and will not mind at all if Peter May writes an eighth book in the series!
March 18, 2021
EXCERPT: A sound that whispers like the smooth passage of silk on silk startles him. Movement in the darkness ahead morphs into silhouette. Momentary light catches polished steel, before he feels the razor-like tip of it slash across his neck. There is no real pain, just an oddly invasive sensation of burning, and suddenly he cannot breathe. His hands fly to his neck, warm blood coursing between cold fingers. He presses both palms against the wound as if somehow they might keep the blood from spilling out of him. He hears it gurgling in his severed windpipe. Just moments earlier he had been consumed by anger. Now he understands that he is going to die, but somehow cannot accept it. It is simply not possible. Consciousness rapidly ebbs to darkness and he drops to his knees. The last thing he sees, before falling face-first to the floor, is his killer. Caught in a fleeting moment of moonlight. And he simply cannot believe it.
ABOUT 'THE NIGHT GATE': The body of a man shot through the head is disinterred by the roots of a fallen tree.
A famous art critic is viciously murdered in a nearby house.
Both deaths have occurred more than 70 years apart.
Asked by a forensic archaeologist in Paris to take a look at the site of the former, Enzo Macleod quickly finds himself embroiled in the investigation of the latter, and two narratives are set in train - one historical, unfolding against a backdrop of real events in Occupied France in the 1940s; the other contemporary, set in a France going back into Covid lockdown in the autumn of 2020.
At the heart of both is da Vinci's Mona Lisa.
Tasked by de Gaulle to keep the world's most famous painting out of Nazi hands after the fall of France in 1940, 28-year-old Georgette Pignal finds herself swept along by the tide of history. Following in the wake of the Mona Lisa as it is moved from chateau to chateau by the Louvre, she finds herself both wooed and pursued by two Germans sent to steal it for rival patrons - Hitler and Göring.
What none of them know is that the Louvre has secretly engaged the services of the 20th century's greatest forger to produce a duplicate of the great lady, one that even those who know her well find hard to tell apart. The discovery of its existence is the thread that links both narratives. And both murders.
MY THOUGHTS: The Night Gate is the seventh in the Enzo Files series by Peter May. It is a superb blend of contemporary fiction, historical fiction, and 'whodunnit' that switches between WWII in France and the current Covid pandemic.
In the 1940's we follow Georgette Pignall as she lays her life on the line to protect La Jaconde from the Nazi invaders. This is a fascinating thread full of intrigue and action, and one that will leave you wondering about the provenance of what is probably the most famous painting in the world.
In 2020 the remains of a ranking officer of the Luftwaffe with a bullet hole in his skull are discovered in the tiny medieval village of Carennac on the banks of the River Dordogne when a dead tree is dislodged by a slip. Enzo is called in to cast a professional eye over the 'grave' when the forensic archaeologist Professor Magali Blanc is unable to travel to the site.
While he is there another, contemporary, murder is discovered and the local gendarmes, unused to dealing with such a crime, make use of Enzo's expertise.
May's characters are, as always, superb. They seem to jump from the page and stride about, such is the realism. The intertwining stories are intriguing, and the links between the timelines, other than the Mona Lisa (La Jaconde) not apparent until the end.
Many of the characters in The Night Gate are real, and many of the events actually occurred - the evacuation of artworks from the Louvre to various Chateaux around France; the Nazis burning of paintings; the shooting of Maquis fighters in Saint-Cere; the courageous action of Berthe Nasinec in preventing a massacre of the citizens of Saint-Cere; and the extraordinarily selfless work of Rose Valland in cataloguing the art the Nazis stole so that it could be tracked down, post-war, and returned to its rightful owners. And these are just a small portion of the actual historical events Peter May has woven through his narrative.
While The Night Gate is not my very favourite of the Enzo series, it is right up there. I don't recommend that The Night Gate be read as a stand-alone as there is too much background of the contemporary characters that you would be missing out on and which would impact on your understanding of some of the events and references to the past storylines that are included in this book. But I do strongly recommend that you read it.
NOTE: The Night Gate is, apparently, the finale to the Enzo series.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#TheNightGate #NetGalley
#authorpetermay #quercusbooks
@authorpetermay @quercusbooks
#contemporaryfiction #crime #familydrama #WWII #historicalfiction #historicalfaction #murdermystery
THE AUTHOR: Peter May was born and raised in Scotland. He was an award-winning journalist at the age of twenty-one and a published novelist at twenty-six. When his first book was adapted as a major drama series for the BBC, he quit journalism and during the high-octane fifteen years that followed, became one of Scotland's most successful television dramatists. He created three prime-time drama series, presided over two of the highest-rated serials in his homeland as script editor and producer, and worked on more than 1,000 episodes of ratings-topping drama before deciding to leave television to return to his first love, writing novels.
He has won several literature awards in France. He received the USA's Barry Award for The Blackhouse, the first in his internationally bestselling Lewis Trilogy. In 2014 Entry Island won both the Scottish Crime Novel of the Year and a CWA Dagger as the ITV Crime Thriller Book Club Best Read of the Year.
Peter lives in South-West France with his wife, writer Janice Hally, and in 2016 both became French by naturalisation. (Peter May)
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Quercus Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Night Gate by Peter May for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
ABOUT 'THE NIGHT GATE': The body of a man shot through the head is disinterred by the roots of a fallen tree.
A famous art critic is viciously murdered in a nearby house.
Both deaths have occurred more than 70 years apart.
Asked by a forensic archaeologist in Paris to take a look at the site of the former, Enzo Macleod quickly finds himself embroiled in the investigation of the latter, and two narratives are set in train - one historical, unfolding against a backdrop of real events in Occupied France in the 1940s; the other contemporary, set in a France going back into Covid lockdown in the autumn of 2020.
At the heart of both is da Vinci's Mona Lisa.
Tasked by de Gaulle to keep the world's most famous painting out of Nazi hands after the fall of France in 1940, 28-year-old Georgette Pignal finds herself swept along by the tide of history. Following in the wake of the Mona Lisa as it is moved from chateau to chateau by the Louvre, she finds herself both wooed and pursued by two Germans sent to steal it for rival patrons - Hitler and Göring.
What none of them know is that the Louvre has secretly engaged the services of the 20th century's greatest forger to produce a duplicate of the great lady, one that even those who know her well find hard to tell apart. The discovery of its existence is the thread that links both narratives. And both murders.
MY THOUGHTS: The Night Gate is the seventh in the Enzo Files series by Peter May. It is a superb blend of contemporary fiction, historical fiction, and 'whodunnit' that switches between WWII in France and the current Covid pandemic.
In the 1940's we follow Georgette Pignall as she lays her life on the line to protect La Jaconde from the Nazi invaders. This is a fascinating thread full of intrigue and action, and one that will leave you wondering about the provenance of what is probably the most famous painting in the world.
In 2020 the remains of a ranking officer of the Luftwaffe with a bullet hole in his skull are discovered in the tiny medieval village of Carennac on the banks of the River Dordogne when a dead tree is dislodged by a slip. Enzo is called in to cast a professional eye over the 'grave' when the forensic archaeologist Professor Magali Blanc is unable to travel to the site.
While he is there another, contemporary, murder is discovered and the local gendarmes, unused to dealing with such a crime, make use of Enzo's expertise.
May's characters are, as always, superb. They seem to jump from the page and stride about, such is the realism. The intertwining stories are intriguing, and the links between the timelines, other than the Mona Lisa (La Jaconde) not apparent until the end.
Many of the characters in The Night Gate are real, and many of the events actually occurred - the evacuation of artworks from the Louvre to various Chateaux around France; the Nazis burning of paintings; the shooting of Maquis fighters in Saint-Cere; the courageous action of Berthe Nasinec in preventing a massacre of the citizens of Saint-Cere; and the extraordinarily selfless work of Rose Valland in cataloguing the art the Nazis stole so that it could be tracked down, post-war, and returned to its rightful owners. And these are just a small portion of the actual historical events Peter May has woven through his narrative.
While The Night Gate is not my very favourite of the Enzo series, it is right up there. I don't recommend that The Night Gate be read as a stand-alone as there is too much background of the contemporary characters that you would be missing out on and which would impact on your understanding of some of the events and references to the past storylines that are included in this book. But I do strongly recommend that you read it.
NOTE: The Night Gate is, apparently, the finale to the Enzo series.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#TheNightGate #NetGalley
#authorpetermay #quercusbooks
@authorpetermay @quercusbooks
#contemporaryfiction #crime #familydrama #WWII #historicalfiction #historicalfaction #murdermystery
THE AUTHOR: Peter May was born and raised in Scotland. He was an award-winning journalist at the age of twenty-one and a published novelist at twenty-six. When his first book was adapted as a major drama series for the BBC, he quit journalism and during the high-octane fifteen years that followed, became one of Scotland's most successful television dramatists. He created three prime-time drama series, presided over two of the highest-rated serials in his homeland as script editor and producer, and worked on more than 1,000 episodes of ratings-topping drama before deciding to leave television to return to his first love, writing novels.
He has won several literature awards in France. He received the USA's Barry Award for The Blackhouse, the first in his internationally bestselling Lewis Trilogy. In 2014 Entry Island won both the Scottish Crime Novel of the Year and a CWA Dagger as the ITV Crime Thriller Book Club Best Read of the Year.
Peter lives in South-West France with his wife, writer Janice Hally, and in 2016 both became French by naturalisation. (Peter May)
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Quercus Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Night Gate by Peter May for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
April 8, 2021
Twenty-eight-year-old Georgette Pignal had no idea how her life would change when she met with General Charles de Gaulle in 1940. The job he gave her was overwhelming, but after training on the Isle of Lewis, then the long journey to the airfield, her flight into France saw her wondering what she’d agreed to. The following years of the war saw George move around from Paris to the countryside, always hoping they were one step ahead of the Nazis and what they were prepared to do.
It was 2020 and the Covid pandemic was rife when Enzo, who’d been retired for some time, was asked to consult on a murder investigation. Enzo had his suspicions that the current murder linked with the skeleton that had been unearthed a few days prior, when a dead tree released it from the roots, very near the apartment where the murder had occurred. The French police believed they knew who killed the art critic while Enzo didn’t believe they had it right. But would Enzo find the answers to the chilling murder? And with someone out there trying to stop him, would this be his last investigation?
The Night Gate is the 7th in The Enzo Files by Peter May and it was set in two time frames. I thoroughly enjoyed Georgette’s story and her character; the war years, the protection of the famous pieces of art which had been housed at the Louvre, always staying one step ahead and being aware of what would happen if they were caught by the Nazis. Enzo’s story in 2020 encompassed his family as well as the pandemic along with his search for the truth – and realizing he was getting far too old for what was involved! The Night Gate is an excellent read which I recommend.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
It was 2020 and the Covid pandemic was rife when Enzo, who’d been retired for some time, was asked to consult on a murder investigation. Enzo had his suspicions that the current murder linked with the skeleton that had been unearthed a few days prior, when a dead tree released it from the roots, very near the apartment where the murder had occurred. The French police believed they knew who killed the art critic while Enzo didn’t believe they had it right. But would Enzo find the answers to the chilling murder? And with someone out there trying to stop him, would this be his last investigation?
The Night Gate is the 7th in The Enzo Files by Peter May and it was set in two time frames. I thoroughly enjoyed Georgette’s story and her character; the war years, the protection of the famous pieces of art which had been housed at the Louvre, always staying one step ahead and being aware of what would happen if they were caught by the Nazis. Enzo’s story in 2020 encompassed his family as well as the pandemic along with his search for the truth – and realizing he was getting far too old for what was involved! The Night Gate is an excellent read which I recommend.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
April 17, 2024
Досади ми много тази книга и след над една трета прочетена от нея се отказвам.
Не знам, кой е този "гений" в издателство "Колибри", който е решил да издаде направо седмата книга, с главен герой Енцо Маклауд. Те читателите няма да забележат, нали?
Очевидно има връзки и препратки с другите шест книги, това веднага се усеща и никак не е приятно.
Самият роман се влачи мудно и обещаващия му синопсис се губи някъде между редовете. Семейната история на Маклаудови е толкова овъртяна, че не е ясно кой на кого какъв се пада, драмата с Ковид и маските е абсолютно ненужно натъртена - ми не сме паднали от Луната, та и ние преживяхме пандемията, която обаче още май не е отминала.
Слабият и пълен с неточности превод н�� помага въобще.
Като резултат ми писна и няма да дочета "Нощна порта".
P.S. Не познах стила на Питър Мей от трилогията за остров Люис, която много ми хареса. Все едно друг човек е писал този роман...
Не знам, кой е този "гений" в издателство "Колибри", който е решил да издаде направо седмата книга, с главен герой Енцо Маклауд. Те читателите няма да забележат, нали?
Очевидно има връзки и препратки с другите шест книги, това веднага се усеща и никак не е приятно.
Самият роман се влачи мудно и обещаващия му синопсис се губи някъде между редовете. Семейната история на Маклаудови е толкова овъртяна, че не е ясно кой на кого какъв се пада, драмата с Ковид и маските е абсолютно ненужно натъртена - ми не сме паднали от Луната, та и ние преживяхме пандемията, която обаче още май не е отминала.
Слабият и пълен с неточности превод н�� помага въобще.
Като резултат ми писна и няма да дочета "Нощна порта".
P.S. Не познах стила на Питър Мей от трилогията за остров Люис, която много ми хареса. Все едно друг човек е писал този роман...
March 23, 2021
Retired forensic scientist Enzo McLeod is asked by a colleague to consult on a case in the Dordogne region, which is not far from his home.A body dating back to World War 2, believed to be a German officer, has been discovered when a diseased tree topples over. Upon arriving at the town, Enzo learns that a Parisian art critic has been murdered one day ago in a house overlooking the parkland where the aged corpse was discovered. The local police think they have identified the culprit. He is a young impetuous German who owns an art gallery in Berlin. He has fled the area and has not been located.
This opening exposition plunges us into a plot revolving around timelines in both World War 2 France and present day France. The seventy five year old backstory centers around efforts to prevent stealing art from Occupied France. Slowly the two investigations connect as Enzo couples his forensic deductions with the reminisces of an old lady relating a saga that has been passed down through three generations.
I first became acquainted with Peter May through his outstanding Lewis Trilogy. He is a master of setting and plotting.Those strengths are evident in this book. Enzo is conducting his investigation in the midst of the current pandemic.May is very descriptive of the precautions necessary in these fraught filled times. The atmosphere he conveys carries over well into the World War 2 timeline as well. Albeit for different reasons, there is some similarity in the fear,need to take precautions and lack of normal movement in public places. The congruence of these factors in both eras helps to seamlessly move the reader between the two time periods. The plot is fascinating as well. The efforts of the French citizens to preserve their artistic legacy is well worthy of telling.May creates a memorable heroine in Georgette Pignall, who is representative of the courage and spirit of those who were engaged in this struggle.
I have never fully connected with the character of Enzo throughout this series. In this book, though, May’s mastery of history and setting produce a compelling result that can be read as a standalone novel.
This opening exposition plunges us into a plot revolving around timelines in both World War 2 France and present day France. The seventy five year old backstory centers around efforts to prevent stealing art from Occupied France. Slowly the two investigations connect as Enzo couples his forensic deductions with the reminisces of an old lady relating a saga that has been passed down through three generations.
I first became acquainted with Peter May through his outstanding Lewis Trilogy. He is a master of setting and plotting.Those strengths are evident in this book. Enzo is conducting his investigation in the midst of the current pandemic.May is very descriptive of the precautions necessary in these fraught filled times. The atmosphere he conveys carries over well into the World War 2 timeline as well. Albeit for different reasons, there is some similarity in the fear,need to take precautions and lack of normal movement in public places. The congruence of these factors in both eras helps to seamlessly move the reader between the two time periods. The plot is fascinating as well. The efforts of the French citizens to preserve their artistic legacy is well worthy of telling.May creates a memorable heroine in Georgette Pignall, who is representative of the courage and spirit of those who were engaged in this struggle.
I have never fully connected with the character of Enzo throughout this series. In this book, though, May’s mastery of history and setting produce a compelling result that can be read as a standalone novel.
April 12, 2021
This is the 7th and final book in the Enzo McLeod series which I have really enjoyed. This book sees Enzo now retired, married and awaiting the birth of his second grandchild.
Unlike other books in this series, a lot of the story is set during WW2 and Georgette a young woman tasked with ensuring that Mona Lisa portrait is kept out of Nazi hands. It appears that both Hitler and Görring both desperately seek to get hold of the portrait and each has tasked a man with accomplishing this mission.
In the present Enzo has become involved in the discovery of a body that appears to be of a german soldier buried under a tree in a park. Coincidentally around the time of this discovery another person, namely an art dealer is found brutally murdered nearby. It is set during the COVID-19 pandemic and deals with all that we have come to know in terms of lockdowns, masks and social distancing.
A very intriguing story but not so much about Enzo here, but still a fitting end to this highly entertaining series.
Thank you Netgalley and Quercus Books for the opportunity to read this digital ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Unlike other books in this series, a lot of the story is set during WW2 and Georgette a young woman tasked with ensuring that Mona Lisa portrait is kept out of Nazi hands. It appears that both Hitler and Görring both desperately seek to get hold of the portrait and each has tasked a man with accomplishing this mission.
In the present Enzo has become involved in the discovery of a body that appears to be of a german soldier buried under a tree in a park. Coincidentally around the time of this discovery another person, namely an art dealer is found brutally murdered nearby. It is set during the COVID-19 pandemic and deals with all that we have come to know in terms of lockdowns, masks and social distancing.
A very intriguing story but not so much about Enzo here, but still a fitting end to this highly entertaining series.
Thank you Netgalley and Quercus Books for the opportunity to read this digital ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
June 27, 2025
Although I’ve greatly enjoyed his Lewis books and a few of his standalones, this is the first time I’ve tried one of Peter May’s Enzo Macleod novels. And, in a way, I’ve plunged into the deep end here as this is the 7th novel in the series.
The stories are set in the Dordogne region of south-west France. In this one a body is discovered, disinterred by the roots of a fallen tree near the village of Carennac on the banks of the River Dordogne. The skeleton is revealed to be that of a man shot through the head and appears to have been in the ground for almost 80 years; dating it to the Second World War. A few days later, a famous art critic is brutally murdered at a nearby home. Are the two deaths somehow connected.
The current story is set during the early 2020s as France is set to enter its second Covid lockdown. As well as the compulsory mask wearing, travel soon becomes restricted, which slows down the investigation.
Much of the novel consists of flashbacks to the 1940s and a young woman charged by none other than Charles De Gaulle to protect the Mona Lisa. The Nazis were infamous for plundering works of art and she is determined the world’s most famous painting doesn’t fall into the hands of the second most powerful man in Germany, the dreaded Reichmarshall Hermann Göring.
Although quite complex, I still found this an easy novel to follow. As expected, there was a considerable backstory I was not aware of, including Enzo’s previous marriage and romantic entanglements. However, in the end, none of this really impaired my enjoyment of the novel.
The stories are set in the Dordogne region of south-west France. In this one a body is discovered, disinterred by the roots of a fallen tree near the village of Carennac on the banks of the River Dordogne. The skeleton is revealed to be that of a man shot through the head and appears to have been in the ground for almost 80 years; dating it to the Second World War. A few days later, a famous art critic is brutally murdered at a nearby home. Are the two deaths somehow connected.
The current story is set during the early 2020s as France is set to enter its second Covid lockdown. As well as the compulsory mask wearing, travel soon becomes restricted, which slows down the investigation.
Much of the novel consists of flashbacks to the 1940s and a young woman charged by none other than Charles De Gaulle to protect the Mona Lisa. The Nazis were infamous for plundering works of art and she is determined the world’s most famous painting doesn’t fall into the hands of the second most powerful man in Germany, the dreaded Reichmarshall Hermann Göring.
Although quite complex, I still found this an easy novel to follow. As expected, there was a considerable backstory I was not aware of, including Enzo’s previous marriage and romantic entanglements. However, in the end, none of this really impaired my enjoyment of the novel.
July 9, 2021
I'm perplexed by the positive reviews of this book. I never would have guessed it was written by the author of The Lewis Trilogy which I found to be an engaging series. To me, this was just a tourist guide to the Dordogne with a layer of thriller. I had to wade through the description of too many little villages, churches, alleys, cathedrals and meals to get to the meat of the story. Peter Mayle meets Peter May. While I enjoyed the narrative timeline, I found the characters so annoying and one dimensional. Did Enzo have an affair with every woman he's met? Did the author have to linger on descriptions of how each woman is beautiful? And the "I'm getting too old for this" refrain made me mutter "Clearly you are!" And Georgette could apparently only glare, giggle or whine. Lastly, the motive for the murder was just too far fetched. I thought it was one of the worst books I've read in a long time. I only finished because I was stuck waiting in an ER for 9 hours.
December 11, 2021
The Night Gate is the seventh (and final?) book in the Enzo Macleod Investigation series by Scottish journalist, screenwriter and author, Peter May. Now married to Dominique Chazal, raising ten-year-old Laurent, and five years retired from teaching, Enzo protests that he has left behind the solving of cold cases when asked by a forensic archaeologist to give an opinion on the scene of an old skeleton exposed by a fallen tree in a park in the village of Carennac.
But it’s October 2020, and COVID lockdowns have left him bored and frustrated, so ex-gendarme Dominique encourages him. When at the scene, they become involved in the investigation of the very recent murder of a Paris art dealer just a stone’s throw from the park. From the physical evidence, it looks like Emile Narcisse was murdered by young Berlin gallery owner, Hans Bauer. But something about the blood spatter pattern has Enzo puzzled.
This latest instalment spans almost eighty years, ranging over London, Paris, Berlin and the Isle of Lewis, and involving the wartime looting of artworks by the Nazis, and the efforts of the French to keep a certain world treasure out of the hands of a megalomaniac dictator and his lieutenant.
It is told through letters, diaries and an old woman’s recall of her mother’s much-told story, as well as narratives from many perspectives, including those of two men charged with acquiring that famous painting. Enzo manages to put himself into mortal danger several times.
This is more a wartime story than a contemporary one, featuring only a token amount of Enzo’s forensic science expertise. All the major players from the series do make appearances, if brief, that provide a sort of “where are they now” nine years on from the events of the last book. Hans Bauer’s result from Google Translate is probably more accurate than what most users would experience. Intriguing and entertaining, as always.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Quercus.
But it’s October 2020, and COVID lockdowns have left him bored and frustrated, so ex-gendarme Dominique encourages him. When at the scene, they become involved in the investigation of the very recent murder of a Paris art dealer just a stone’s throw from the park. From the physical evidence, it looks like Emile Narcisse was murdered by young Berlin gallery owner, Hans Bauer. But something about the blood spatter pattern has Enzo puzzled.
This latest instalment spans almost eighty years, ranging over London, Paris, Berlin and the Isle of Lewis, and involving the wartime looting of artworks by the Nazis, and the efforts of the French to keep a certain world treasure out of the hands of a megalomaniac dictator and his lieutenant.
It is told through letters, diaries and an old woman’s recall of her mother’s much-told story, as well as narratives from many perspectives, including those of two men charged with acquiring that famous painting. Enzo manages to put himself into mortal danger several times.
This is more a wartime story than a contemporary one, featuring only a token amount of Enzo’s forensic science expertise. All the major players from the series do make appearances, if brief, that provide a sort of “where are they now” nine years on from the events of the last book. Hans Bauer’s result from Google Translate is probably more accurate than what most users would experience. Intriguing and entertaining, as always.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Quercus.
March 16, 2021
The Night Gate is historic fiction combined with a crime element of whodunnit. There are two different time lines and storylines - the first in a French village during the Second World War, the other in 2020 with Covid happening. Peter May weaves a compelling plot that links these two tales with a leisurely paced venture, art history and a murder mystery to solve. For first time readers, this seventh instalment of the Enzo Files was not a disadvantage and could happily lead to the other adventures. A pleasant read with interesting characters and the interlocking of divergent timeframes with a three-star rating. With thanks to NetGalley and the author for a preview copy for review purposes. All opinions expressed herein are freely given and totally my own.
February 16, 2021
When Enzo is persuaded to come out of retirement to examine a newly unearthed skeleton in a public park, he gets embroiled in a current murder investigation and very soon regrets getting involved. The pressure to solve the mystery is increased when the country goes back into lockdown due to the resurgence of the current pandemic.
A good read embracing two time zones.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Books for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
A good read embracing two time zones.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Books for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 10, 2025
I've been reading/listening to the Enzo Files books for the last couple of weeks, and today I finished The Night Gate. Unless more books are published, is this the last book in the series?
I found the story to be not as engrossing as I had hoped. It is a dual-time story set both in the present and during WWII. What's not to like? I did find the book good, but I struggled with the WWII aspect for some reason. I much preferred the present time and Enzo trying to solve a murder to the WWII storyline of Nazis after the Mona Lisa. I was a bit surprised that I didn't have more interest, but I think it all comes down to me liking the present characters more than those in the past.
It's not a bad book, just not my favorite in the series.
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
I found the story to be not as engrossing as I had hoped. It is a dual-time story set both in the present and during WWII. What's not to like? I did find the book good, but I struggled with the WWII aspect for some reason. I much preferred the present time and Enzo trying to solve a murder to the WWII storyline of Nazis after the Mona Lisa. I was a bit surprised that I didn't have more interest, but I think it all comes down to me liking the present characters more than those in the past.
It's not a bad book, just not my favorite in the series.
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
March 6, 2021
This was a risky book choice for me, I really enjoy author Peter May’s novels but for some unknown reason I just haven’t felt the same warmth towards this series. This is the 7th book in the series ‘The Enzo Files’ and my two previous reads were not that successful but this one was completely different. I enjoyed it from start to finish and left me wanting now to read the other books in the series. Although it is part of a series the novel works as a standalone.
The novel spans three generations, taking us from war-torn London, the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, Berlin and Vichy France, to the Covid Lockdown. A man is shot in the head in a sleepy French village and then a week later a famous art critic is viciously murdered in a nearby house. The deaths occur seventy years apart. Forensic expert Enzo Macleod is asked to investigate the site of one of the murders but finds himself looking at both cases. It appears that the link between the two murders is the Mona Lisa.
Two stories are told throughout the novel, one from wartime Occupied France and the other from modern day France in 2020 Lockdown.
I enjoy historical fiction and this was an excellent read, a well crafted plot expertly narrated and perfectly paced.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Quercus books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The novel spans three generations, taking us from war-torn London, the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, Berlin and Vichy France, to the Covid Lockdown. A man is shot in the head in a sleepy French village and then a week later a famous art critic is viciously murdered in a nearby house. The deaths occur seventy years apart. Forensic expert Enzo Macleod is asked to investigate the site of one of the murders but finds himself looking at both cases. It appears that the link between the two murders is the Mona Lisa.
Two stories are told throughout the novel, one from wartime Occupied France and the other from modern day France in 2020 Lockdown.
I enjoy historical fiction and this was an excellent read, a well crafted plot expertly narrated and perfectly paced.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Quercus books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
May 21, 2021
Peter May returns with an Enzo Macleod book. It's a welcome return, since I've enjoyed all the previous novels in this series. There were times when this book just appeared to be haphazardly constructed with too many moving parts. But I liked the story and the characters, especially Georgette. It's a better written books than some of the more recent May books and those parts all come together in an interesting ending. But one of the tactics he uses here is the "found diary" and what has always annoyed me is when dairies are discovered and read and the entries never really look like diary entries; they look like a novel within a novel. I've never thought that diary entries with long streams of quoted dialogue are realistic. Perhaps a famous diarist might have the memory and the tenacity to write down exactly what might have occurred. But these diary entries, although a wonderful mechanism for providing the background of the story, are not really authentic. Was there another way to make the plot move along? Or perhaps a way to make the diary entries more authentic? I doubt that May gave much thought to it having invested so much in the foundation of the novel to a mechanism such as this. But perhaps I nitpick over personal peeves when I should rejoice that May has returned Enzo to us in a very entertaining story. So let's rejoice and hope that May and Macleod have more of the same for us in coming years.
March 22, 2021
Just published with riverrun March 18th, The Night Gate is a book born out of the Covid-19 pandemic. Enzo McLeod, the main character of The Enzo Files, and now retired, has been resurrected for one last bite of the cherry, so to speak, mixing the historical with the contemporary in this novel that has been described as ‘the razor-sharp finale’ to the series.
The birth of The Night Gate has a fascinating story behind it that even Peter May had not anticipated. The book he was supposed to be publishing involved some intense research that would take him to the Arctic Circle and onto some very exciting sailing trips involving melting glaciers and the international research station at Ny-Ålesund in Norway. But the chaos of Coronavirus soon put paid to all this and Peter May had to rethink. Living in France, confined by the various lockdowns and restrictions, he recalled an exhibition in the town hall of a local village near his home. Its subject was the artwork that had been protected from the Nazi occupation in Paris during the Second World War. These works of art, including The Mona Lisa, were kept at the Château de Montal but all the work from the Louvre could not be accommodated there and other additional premises were used for storage. Peter May made the incredible discovery that he actually owned one of the building used. He hadn’t at the time considered this discovery for a plot in one of his books but when he found himself in lockdown the seed germinated and the premise for The Night Gate was born.
Peter May decided to mix fact with fiction, the historical and the contemporary, using actual people and true events from the past to create a fascinating ‘what if?’ tale. Awakening his character Enzo MacLeod, now retired from his work in forensics, Peter May set about intertwining a dual line story of espionage, intrigue and murder. Making an executive decision Peter May decided to incorporate the current pandemic into the narrative, something which was strange to read yet was also comfortably familiar in many ways.
The discovery of a body buried in a small village brings Enzo MacLeod to the scene. An archaeological acquaintance asks a favour of MacLeod to look at the area and to give his thoughts on what he finds. When he arrives, the village is suffering a fresh trauma after the murder of an out-of-town business man in the home of a local. MacLeod is recognised by the local police who quickly request his assistance. The initial scene reveals a case that appears relatively straight forward. A suspect is identified and is on the run but where is the connection and why? In the meantime it is revealed that the historical victim is wearing a uniform dating from the Nazi regime, a member of the party shot and hidden under pipes never to be discovered but for a tree rotting at its roots and pulling away from the earth revealing its treasure to all.
Two unrelated bodies in one small village. What secrets does this village hold? Although retired MacLeod is intrigued and, with his tenacious and investigative approach to a case, he begins to unravel the complexities of this sorry mess. Through the voice of a elderly resident, the reader is catapulted back to the war years and the Occupation, when the French people feared for their lives, when neighbours became enemies and when the greed of the German officialdom was clear for all to see. Peter May takes his reader to Hitler’s Berghof and Göring’s Carinhill. We become acquainted with Rose Valland, an art gallery curator who, through meticulous recording, managed to track down much of the Nazi commandeered art after the war and return it to its rightful home. References are made to an incident in Saint-Céré where civilians were saved from a massacre due to the persistence of a resident. There are many such insightful and factual historic events that are seamlessly intertwined into The Night Gate adding to its authenticity and to the compelling nature of the plot.
Georgette Pignal is our heroine in The Night Gate. Fluent in French, she proves useful to the British spy network and is sent into Paris to protect the Mona Lisa at any cost, after it becomes evident that Hitler wants it for his museum that he plans to build in Austria. But Göring evidently also wants it for his private collection. Neither want to be seen as thieves so they need it obtained in a moderated and unsuspecting fashion. Georgette soon finds herself caught up in this madness and the fear for her life becomes very real indeed.
MacLeod unearths some interesting information that leads him to suspect that both victims are in some way linked but first he needs to find the evidence. Curtailed by Covid restrictions he uses the resources available to him, one very personal that has a deep impact on his well being.
The Night Gate is a highly enjoyable page-turner with a very gripping plot that weaves back and forth between the 1940s and the present day. Enzo MacLeod is a brilliantly depicted character and we get a closer look at his own personal relationships with both others and himself.
A very engaging and intriguing read, The Night Gate captures the imagination with an ingenious concept at its core regarding Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. On completion the reader will be compelled to read further on this subject, which adds an extra layer to this riveting tale of secrecy and murder.
The birth of The Night Gate has a fascinating story behind it that even Peter May had not anticipated. The book he was supposed to be publishing involved some intense research that would take him to the Arctic Circle and onto some very exciting sailing trips involving melting glaciers and the international research station at Ny-Ålesund in Norway. But the chaos of Coronavirus soon put paid to all this and Peter May had to rethink. Living in France, confined by the various lockdowns and restrictions, he recalled an exhibition in the town hall of a local village near his home. Its subject was the artwork that had been protected from the Nazi occupation in Paris during the Second World War. These works of art, including The Mona Lisa, were kept at the Château de Montal but all the work from the Louvre could not be accommodated there and other additional premises were used for storage. Peter May made the incredible discovery that he actually owned one of the building used. He hadn’t at the time considered this discovery for a plot in one of his books but when he found himself in lockdown the seed germinated and the premise for The Night Gate was born.
Peter May decided to mix fact with fiction, the historical and the contemporary, using actual people and true events from the past to create a fascinating ‘what if?’ tale. Awakening his character Enzo MacLeod, now retired from his work in forensics, Peter May set about intertwining a dual line story of espionage, intrigue and murder. Making an executive decision Peter May decided to incorporate the current pandemic into the narrative, something which was strange to read yet was also comfortably familiar in many ways.
The discovery of a body buried in a small village brings Enzo MacLeod to the scene. An archaeological acquaintance asks a favour of MacLeod to look at the area and to give his thoughts on what he finds. When he arrives, the village is suffering a fresh trauma after the murder of an out-of-town business man in the home of a local. MacLeod is recognised by the local police who quickly request his assistance. The initial scene reveals a case that appears relatively straight forward. A suspect is identified and is on the run but where is the connection and why? In the meantime it is revealed that the historical victim is wearing a uniform dating from the Nazi regime, a member of the party shot and hidden under pipes never to be discovered but for a tree rotting at its roots and pulling away from the earth revealing its treasure to all.
Two unrelated bodies in one small village. What secrets does this village hold? Although retired MacLeod is intrigued and, with his tenacious and investigative approach to a case, he begins to unravel the complexities of this sorry mess. Through the voice of a elderly resident, the reader is catapulted back to the war years and the Occupation, when the French people feared for their lives, when neighbours became enemies and when the greed of the German officialdom was clear for all to see. Peter May takes his reader to Hitler’s Berghof and Göring’s Carinhill. We become acquainted with Rose Valland, an art gallery curator who, through meticulous recording, managed to track down much of the Nazi commandeered art after the war and return it to its rightful home. References are made to an incident in Saint-Céré where civilians were saved from a massacre due to the persistence of a resident. There are many such insightful and factual historic events that are seamlessly intertwined into The Night Gate adding to its authenticity and to the compelling nature of the plot.
Georgette Pignal is our heroine in The Night Gate. Fluent in French, she proves useful to the British spy network and is sent into Paris to protect the Mona Lisa at any cost, after it becomes evident that Hitler wants it for his museum that he plans to build in Austria. But Göring evidently also wants it for his private collection. Neither want to be seen as thieves so they need it obtained in a moderated and unsuspecting fashion. Georgette soon finds herself caught up in this madness and the fear for her life becomes very real indeed.
MacLeod unearths some interesting information that leads him to suspect that both victims are in some way linked but first he needs to find the evidence. Curtailed by Covid restrictions he uses the resources available to him, one very personal that has a deep impact on his well being.
The Night Gate is a highly enjoyable page-turner with a very gripping plot that weaves back and forth between the 1940s and the present day. Enzo MacLeod is a brilliantly depicted character and we get a closer look at his own personal relationships with both others and himself.
A very engaging and intriguing read, The Night Gate captures the imagination with an ingenious concept at its core regarding Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. On completion the reader will be compelled to read further on this subject, which adds an extra layer to this riveting tale of secrecy and murder.
March 12, 2021
3.25*
#7 Enzo MacLeod files this is the first book I’ve read in the series.
The night gate spans three generations, and takes us from war torn London, the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, Berlin and Vichy France to the deadly enemy facing the world in 2020.
Forensics expert Enzo Macleod who looks and dresses like an ageing hippy gets drawn into consulting on a cold case murder by forensic archaeologist Professor Magali Blanc. The case is a 75yr old murder of a ranking officer of the Luftwaffe.
It mentions covid in the form of its practicalities, travelling, masks, home schooling, social distancing and lockdown. I think now that we are into our second year of covid with no end in sight books in this time frame should acknowledge our new normal.
We are introduced to Georgette an feisty woman with French and English parentage who is given special ops training and tasked with the safe keeping of the Mona Lisa as Hilter wants to acquire it for his museum.
Enzo is investigating an old body unearthed with a fallen tree, in France but while there becomes a part of a current murder.
Much of the book is set in France.
I struggled to get immersed in the story, and whether it was lack of concentration I struggled to keep track of the different threads and characters who have complex family histories. This might have been exacerbated by having not read any of the previous series.
I was excited at the prospect of reading this book as I had recently read entry island and was wowed by it. This book never really grabbed my interest and I found the pace too slow.
#7 Enzo MacLeod files this is the first book I’ve read in the series.
The night gate spans three generations, and takes us from war torn London, the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, Berlin and Vichy France to the deadly enemy facing the world in 2020.
Forensics expert Enzo Macleod who looks and dresses like an ageing hippy gets drawn into consulting on a cold case murder by forensic archaeologist Professor Magali Blanc. The case is a 75yr old murder of a ranking officer of the Luftwaffe.
It mentions covid in the form of its practicalities, travelling, masks, home schooling, social distancing and lockdown. I think now that we are into our second year of covid with no end in sight books in this time frame should acknowledge our new normal.
We are introduced to Georgette an feisty woman with French and English parentage who is given special ops training and tasked with the safe keeping of the Mona Lisa as Hilter wants to acquire it for his museum.
Enzo is investigating an old body unearthed with a fallen tree, in France but while there becomes a part of a current murder.
Much of the book is set in France.
I struggled to get immersed in the story, and whether it was lack of concentration I struggled to keep track of the different threads and characters who have complex family histories. This might have been exacerbated by having not read any of the previous series.
I was excited at the prospect of reading this book as I had recently read entry island and was wowed by it. This book never really grabbed my interest and I found the pace too slow.
July 7, 2021
One of the best books I've read in a long while! Full of intrigue, history and sub-plots. It is so well written. Can't wait for another adventure for Enzo!
May 3, 2021
In this, the seventh instalment in Peter May's Enzo Macleod series, the discovery of a body buried in a small French village brings forensic expert MacLeod to the scene. An archaeological acquaintance asks him to look at the area and to give his thoughts on his findings. When he arrives, the village is suffering a fresh trauma after the murder of an out-of-town businessman in the home of a local. MacLeod is recognised by the local police who quickly request his assistance. A suspect is identified and is on the run. Two narratives run alongside each other - one historical, unfolding in the wartime years of Occupied France; the other contemporary, set in the autumn of 2020.
The Night Gate is a highly enjoyable tale with a gripping plot that weaves back and forth in time. MacLeod is a brilliantly depicted character and the reader is allowed a closer look at his personal relationships. An intriguing read, the story captures my imagination with the apparent link between the murders being Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, adding an extra layer to this riveting tale of secrecy and danger. This is a very good read so be sure to grab yourself a copy.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Quercus Books/ Riverrun via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
The Night Gate is a highly enjoyable tale with a gripping plot that weaves back and forth in time. MacLeod is a brilliantly depicted character and the reader is allowed a closer look at his personal relationships. An intriguing read, the story captures my imagination with the apparent link between the murders being Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, adding an extra layer to this riveting tale of secrecy and danger. This is a very good read so be sure to grab yourself a copy.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Quercus Books/ Riverrun via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
April 5, 2022
Peter May almost never disappoints. This was another great storyline, loosely based on fact (https://tinyurl.com/yp2z7h75) which I can heartily recommend to you.
March 22, 2021
The Night Gate is the final book in Peter May's Enzo Files series but the first I have read. I must admit to being a little hesitant to read it, in case I had missed too much of what has gone before but I love dual timeline books, particularly when the historical chapters are set during the Second World War so couldn't resist making Enzo Macleod's belated acquaintance. I'm happy to confirm that I found it reads beautifully as a standalone novel; any key facts about Enzo's past are woven smoothly into the plot and I'm sure that returning readers will enjoy catching up with his family members and faces from his past.
I know authors have faced something of a conundrum when it comes to including mentions of the current pandemic in books set in the present, and that some readers are reluctant to read novels that reference Covid-19 but Peter May ably demonstrates how it is possible to reflect what is happening in the world right now without it casting too dark a shadow on the storyline. We learn that Covid has impacted Enzo's own family but the affect on his own day-to-day life - he realises his age makes him more susceptible to the virus and already conscious of the risks of viral infections, his use of hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes is fastidious - will be familiar to us all. However, it's the threat of another lockdown which is most significant with the added pressure to complete his investigation lending a real sense of urgency to the case.
He is initially drawn to the small French village, Carennac as a favour to a colleague who has asked him to examine the site of a historical murder but it turns out that the local gendarme, Capitaine Michel Arnaud is rather a fan of the retired forensics expert and manages to coax him into looking into the very recent bloody death of a renowned art critic.The case seems fairly straightforward - they have a lead suspect, although no real motive as to why either man should have been in a house belonging to an elderly woman. Enzo wonders whether the two deaths may be linked and as a present day character recounts the incredible story of the woman tasked with keeping the Mona Lisa safe, we discover how and why Carennac becomes the site of the two murders.
The chapters set during the war feature Georgette Pignal, from her fateful meeting with Charles de Gaulle in 1940 to her eventful training in the Outer Hebrides and then her years steadfastly protecting the Mona Lisa - La Joconda - from the avaricious clutches of both Hitler and Göring. The two timelines meld together beautifully and I enjoyed switching from one to another but the chapters following the resolute, if sometimes quick tempered Georgette are perhaps the most engaging. The sense of time and place is perfect throughout and it's obvious that these are locations well known to the author, and given the circumstances which inspired this book - Peter May discovered that the double garage of his home in France was used to store priceless artworks during the War - The Night Gate feels like a real labour of love. I knew that steps were taken to protect precious artefacts from the Nazis but it was fascinating to learn more about the complex logistics involved and the bravery of those who did so much to keep these works safe. I enjoyed the inclusion of real-life figures like Rose Valland too, it adds to the authenticity of the storyline and pays homage to their considerable courage.
The intricate plotting allows for the truth behind the murders to be gradually revealed, with the tension building almost imperceptibly until both Enzo and Georgette discover the dreadful truth about how far people are prepared to go to achieve their aims. The clever weaving of past and present examines how history continues to influence lives, both on a familial and broader scale and the exploration of whether violence can be passed down through the generations is intriguing. Thoughtful, compelling and richly immersive throughout, The Night Gate is a wonderful conclusion to this series and will surely captivate both old and new fans alike. Highly recommended.
I know authors have faced something of a conundrum when it comes to including mentions of the current pandemic in books set in the present, and that some readers are reluctant to read novels that reference Covid-19 but Peter May ably demonstrates how it is possible to reflect what is happening in the world right now without it casting too dark a shadow on the storyline. We learn that Covid has impacted Enzo's own family but the affect on his own day-to-day life - he realises his age makes him more susceptible to the virus and already conscious of the risks of viral infections, his use of hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes is fastidious - will be familiar to us all. However, it's the threat of another lockdown which is most significant with the added pressure to complete his investigation lending a real sense of urgency to the case.
He is initially drawn to the small French village, Carennac as a favour to a colleague who has asked him to examine the site of a historical murder but it turns out that the local gendarme, Capitaine Michel Arnaud is rather a fan of the retired forensics expert and manages to coax him into looking into the very recent bloody death of a renowned art critic.The case seems fairly straightforward - they have a lead suspect, although no real motive as to why either man should have been in a house belonging to an elderly woman. Enzo wonders whether the two deaths may be linked and as a present day character recounts the incredible story of the woman tasked with keeping the Mona Lisa safe, we discover how and why Carennac becomes the site of the two murders.
The chapters set during the war feature Georgette Pignal, from her fateful meeting with Charles de Gaulle in 1940 to her eventful training in the Outer Hebrides and then her years steadfastly protecting the Mona Lisa - La Joconda - from the avaricious clutches of both Hitler and Göring. The two timelines meld together beautifully and I enjoyed switching from one to another but the chapters following the resolute, if sometimes quick tempered Georgette are perhaps the most engaging. The sense of time and place is perfect throughout and it's obvious that these are locations well known to the author, and given the circumstances which inspired this book - Peter May discovered that the double garage of his home in France was used to store priceless artworks during the War - The Night Gate feels like a real labour of love. I knew that steps were taken to protect precious artefacts from the Nazis but it was fascinating to learn more about the complex logistics involved and the bravery of those who did so much to keep these works safe. I enjoyed the inclusion of real-life figures like Rose Valland too, it adds to the authenticity of the storyline and pays homage to their considerable courage.
The intricate plotting allows for the truth behind the murders to be gradually revealed, with the tension building almost imperceptibly until both Enzo and Georgette discover the dreadful truth about how far people are prepared to go to achieve their aims. The clever weaving of past and present examines how history continues to influence lives, both on a familial and broader scale and the exploration of whether violence can be passed down through the generations is intriguing. Thoughtful, compelling and richly immersive throughout, The Night Gate is a wonderful conclusion to this series and will surely captivate both old and new fans alike. Highly recommended.
March 15, 2021
'Every tale has its time, and its place. And all stories of human endeavour, of frailty and betrayal, will pass eventually into history. Out of mind. And out of memory.'
Just when I thought the Enzo files were complete, lo and behold Peter May brings him back for a 7th outing. Some years have passed since we last saw him, and he is older and enjoying a quiet life of retirement with his wife Dominique, waiting for the arrival of his daughter Sophie's new child. But when a former colleague asks him to look into the case of the remains of a body, dating from WW2, discovered in a small village, his interest is piqued; even more so when an eminent art dealer is then murdered in a house in the same village.
Peter May weaves a (sometimes complicated) story with different timelines and different narrative voices. From the period of the Nazi occupation of France we have a story of art lovers and the Resistance, desperately trying to keep France's art treasures out of the hands of the Germans, with both Hitler and Goering wanting their hands on the 'Mona Lisa' for themselves. In the present day, Enzo finds himself caught up in the murder enquiry, whilst battling personal problems at the same time. Are the two dead bodies somehow connected? And how will Enzo cope when he is forced to face an old nemesis?
Having really enjoyed the whole series, it was a sheer pleasure to meet back up with old friends. The story will draw you in, and although it is a fairly long book (coming in at not far short of 500 pages) the pace and intrigue will immerse you in the story. May is a consummate thriller writer, but the human and personal relationships that are at the heart of the book make this feel very true to life. Throw in the fact that it is set in 2020-21, with frequent but not overbearing references to the Covid pandemic, and it also feels bang up to date. A fast-paced and engaging thriller, with a sweeping timeline and settings ranging from the Outer Hebrides to London and France, this is another smash hit from Peter May. 4.5 stars, rounded up for the welcome return of Enzo Macleod!
Just when I thought the Enzo files were complete, lo and behold Peter May brings him back for a 7th outing. Some years have passed since we last saw him, and he is older and enjoying a quiet life of retirement with his wife Dominique, waiting for the arrival of his daughter Sophie's new child. But when a former colleague asks him to look into the case of the remains of a body, dating from WW2, discovered in a small village, his interest is piqued; even more so when an eminent art dealer is then murdered in a house in the same village.
Peter May weaves a (sometimes complicated) story with different timelines and different narrative voices. From the period of the Nazi occupation of France we have a story of art lovers and the Resistance, desperately trying to keep France's art treasures out of the hands of the Germans, with both Hitler and Goering wanting their hands on the 'Mona Lisa' for themselves. In the present day, Enzo finds himself caught up in the murder enquiry, whilst battling personal problems at the same time. Are the two dead bodies somehow connected? And how will Enzo cope when he is forced to face an old nemesis?
Having really enjoyed the whole series, it was a sheer pleasure to meet back up with old friends. The story will draw you in, and although it is a fairly long book (coming in at not far short of 500 pages) the pace and intrigue will immerse you in the story. May is a consummate thriller writer, but the human and personal relationships that are at the heart of the book make this feel very true to life. Throw in the fact that it is set in 2020-21, with frequent but not overbearing references to the Covid pandemic, and it also feels bang up to date. A fast-paced and engaging thriller, with a sweeping timeline and settings ranging from the Outer Hebrides to London and France, this is another smash hit from Peter May. 4.5 stars, rounded up for the welcome return of Enzo Macleod!
March 23, 2021
Enzo is a favourite character and I was happy to read another book with him in it. An interesting take on the protected artwork stolen from the Jews during WWII.
March 18, 2021
The Night Gate by Peter May, the seventh book in his Enzo case files series, is such a fascinating. It’s also really engaging. In 2020, decades after the end of World War Two, a man’s body, from the time of the Second World War, is discovered. And not long after the grim discovery, a famous art critic is killed. While the world coping with a pandemic, Enzo is asked to help investigate the death of the man found decades after his death. But what connection does this have to the recent murder? And what connection do the murders have to the Mona Lisa?
I have to admit that this is the first book by Peter May which I have read and I am kicking myself now that I haven’t got round to reading his books sooner. I definitely will be going back and reading the earlier books in this series.
As the investigations in the present day develop, Peter May takes us back to when the Germans occupied France. There is increasing pressure to protect the country’s most treasured possessions from falling into the hands of the Nazis. One of these prizes, which Hitler is keen to procure, is the Mona Lisa. France goes to extraordinary lengths to protect it.
I found it really fascinating when Peter May goes back to the time. The story has such an interesting hook with the Mona Lisa. There were so many people involved in making sure that the world’s most famous painting stays safe; people are willing to put their lives on the line to protect it. Even the Nazis don’t want to just barge in and taking, fearing the international scandal it would cause. Peter May captures the tension that existed at this time so well.
The novel is also set in 2020 at the time of the pandemic. I was put off slightly by this when I first started reading it. I know that many readers may not want to read a novel set during this time, but it didn’t become an issue as the story progressed. I actually thought it was good for the character development as we see how Enzo’s family has been affected over the course of the last year. It makes the story feel very real, as well.
I loved how both of the story lines were weaved together. I wanted to find out how what happened in the past was connected to the events in the present. It’s what makes the novel so gripping, and I flew through it. The pace never drops. The dual timeline is what makes this book particularly gripping, and Peter May weaves them together with incredible skill.
The Night Gate is very cleverly and plotted, and I loved how Peter May brought everything together as the truth behind both murders is revealed. A highly engrossing read.
I have to admit that this is the first book by Peter May which I have read and I am kicking myself now that I haven’t got round to reading his books sooner. I definitely will be going back and reading the earlier books in this series.
As the investigations in the present day develop, Peter May takes us back to when the Germans occupied France. There is increasing pressure to protect the country’s most treasured possessions from falling into the hands of the Nazis. One of these prizes, which Hitler is keen to procure, is the Mona Lisa. France goes to extraordinary lengths to protect it.
I found it really fascinating when Peter May goes back to the time. The story has such an interesting hook with the Mona Lisa. There were so many people involved in making sure that the world’s most famous painting stays safe; people are willing to put their lives on the line to protect it. Even the Nazis don’t want to just barge in and taking, fearing the international scandal it would cause. Peter May captures the tension that existed at this time so well.
The novel is also set in 2020 at the time of the pandemic. I was put off slightly by this when I first started reading it. I know that many readers may not want to read a novel set during this time, but it didn’t become an issue as the story progressed. I actually thought it was good for the character development as we see how Enzo’s family has been affected over the course of the last year. It makes the story feel very real, as well.
I loved how both of the story lines were weaved together. I wanted to find out how what happened in the past was connected to the events in the present. It’s what makes the novel so gripping, and I flew through it. The pace never drops. The dual timeline is what makes this book particularly gripping, and Peter May weaves them together with incredible skill.
The Night Gate is very cleverly and plotted, and I loved how Peter May brought everything together as the truth behind both murders is revealed. A highly engrossing read.
February 25, 2023
A solid 3.5 rounded up. As is my wont, I jumped into this Enzo series at number 7, and had to to quite the catch up re: previous cases, jobs, wives and children etc.
In this historical fiction/crime story, Enzo is called out of retirement to unofficially look into a murder in a small French village. This storyline is contrasted with that of Georgette, who is working as a curator in France to stop the Nazi looting of France’s art. The wending around of the two storyline’s, and how the common points start to appear makes for an engrossing story, which seems odd given the time it took me to read it, however I’d started it before going on holiday, and didn’t want to take a half-read book away with me, taking up space in my case that an unread one could inhabit.
In this historical fiction/crime story, Enzo is called out of retirement to unofficially look into a murder in a small French village. This storyline is contrasted with that of Georgette, who is working as a curator in France to stop the Nazi looting of France’s art. The wending around of the two storyline’s, and how the common points start to appear makes for an engrossing story, which seems odd given the time it took me to read it, however I’d started it before going on holiday, and didn’t want to take a half-read book away with me, taking up space in my case that an unread one could inhabit.
March 29, 2021
Having not read the rest in this series the list of characters took some time to understand, as was the writing style which swapped time scales and narrators a number of times. Basically this was a modern murder (so modern it is in COVID times) that is related to a probable murder in WWII and the Hitler's attempt to steal the Mona Lisa, the French trying to save it, the German who says he wants to protect it but actually wants to steal it, the German who says he wants to steal it but actually wants to protect it and a family trying to protect a grandmother's secret. I'm afraid it didn't grab me but for fans of Enzo it probably will be quite enjoyable.
May 4, 2021
Enzo Macleod is not comfortable being retired, he misses his work and when he is asked to consult on the body found tangled in a tree root, he is happy to oblige. However when he starts to look into the death, a murder occurs in the same village and it's not long before Enzo finds links. This is all related to the war and the preoccupation of the Nazis with works of art, specifically the Mona Lisa. However whilst the world is in the grip of a pandemic, can justice be served?
This book works on so many levels, as a contemporary crime novel, as a historical 'romance', for war afficionados etc. May is a terrific writer regardless of the novel and this is no exception. The setting during the Covid Crisis in Europe just adds a little extra.
This book works on so many levels, as a contemporary crime novel, as a historical 'romance', for war afficionados etc. May is a terrific writer regardless of the novel and this is no exception. The setting during the Covid Crisis in Europe just adds a little extra.
September 8, 2022
Nejhorší z celé série. Kdyby to nebylo o Enzovi, tak je to fajn příběh z druhé světové. Ale byly tam světlé chvíle, třeba když se děj odehrával na Vnějších Hebridách.... Tři hvězdy za bezva nápad a vhled do Louvru za druhé světové.
October 11, 2022
Svému oblíbenci Peteru Mayovi bych dala i 5 hvězdiček, jenom pokud by vynechal všechny ty idiotské ústenky (= náhubky), rozestupy a sociální bubliny - k ději to nijak nepřispívalo a myslím, že na tuto etapu našich životů všichni chceme zapomenout. Jinak část z 2. světové války pro mě za plný počet hvězd :).
March 1, 2021
Peter May is one of my favourite authors, and I love everything he writes. The Enzo files have been an incredible journey for me, and I have loved every minute of reading the books. It is a sad moment now that I have read all seven books in this excellent series. It was nostalgic getting to read about Enzo and his life today. He has finally retired, and it seems he has found somewhat of a peaceful life.
Even though he is retired he takes one more case, his last one. It's a typical case, partly set in the past, and partly in the present. I found the most interesting parts of the book the ones were the reader gets to see what happened to Enzo and his family members after the jaw-dropping ending of book six.
One of the things I love about May's books is that I learn so many interesting things from them, for example about the Waardenburg syndrome. Another thing I love is how the writing is so smooth, it flows perfectly and the pace is just unbelievable good. A third thing is the fabulous characters, and I will surely miss this little group of misfits trying to fit into their own family. The fourth great thing is that the stories are just fantastic. They draw you in already after the first sentence, and I'm hooked until the last full stop.
This book was no exception to the rule, although it was a bit different from the rest in the series, since Enzo had already solved the seven cases of the book he was meant to solve, and there was a lot less family drama in this one. I guess it really means Enzo has gotten old. No matter what, this books is definitely worth a read!
Even though he is retired he takes one more case, his last one. It's a typical case, partly set in the past, and partly in the present. I found the most interesting parts of the book the ones were the reader gets to see what happened to Enzo and his family members after the jaw-dropping ending of book six.
One of the things I love about May's books is that I learn so many interesting things from them, for example about the Waardenburg syndrome. Another thing I love is how the writing is so smooth, it flows perfectly and the pace is just unbelievable good. A third thing is the fabulous characters, and I will surely miss this little group of misfits trying to fit into their own family. The fourth great thing is that the stories are just fantastic. They draw you in already after the first sentence, and I'm hooked until the last full stop.
This book was no exception to the rule, although it was a bit different from the rest in the series, since Enzo had already solved the seven cases of the book he was meant to solve, and there was a lot less family drama in this one. I guess it really means Enzo has gotten old. No matter what, this books is definitely worth a read!
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