Peter May, the prolific Scottish author and screenwriter known for his evocative crime novels and extensive television work, has died following a heart attack at his home in the south of France. He was 68.

Born and raised in Glasgow, May forged a distinguished career spanning several decades, beginning as a journalist. At 19, he penned his first novel attempt, which was met with an encouraging rejection. Shortly afterward, he earned recognition as Scotland’s Young Journalist of the Year, contributing to The Scotsman and the Glasgow Evening Times. His debut novel, The Reporter, was published when he was 26 and later adapted into the 1978 BBC prime-time television series The Standard.

May’s television career flourished throughout the 1970s and 1980s, earning him more than 1,000 writing credits. He created notable series such as Squadron, a drama centered on an RAF rapid deployment squadron, and contributed to long-running shows including Take The High Road and Machair, a Gaelic soap opera set on the Isle of Lewis.

His most acclaimed literary work came with the Lewis Trilogy, a series of murder mysteries following Edinburgh detective Fin Macleod as he returns to his rugged birthplace in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides. Initially rejected by major British publishers, May’s first book in the series, The Blackhouse, was first published in France, where it won several literary awards. The trilogy subsequently gained international recognition, with publications across Europe and eventual release in the UK.

In addition to the Lewis Trilogy, May wrote several other series, including The Enzo Files and the China Thrillers, as well as numerous standalone novels. Across his career, he sold approximately 15 million copies worldwide, establishing himself as one of Scotland’s most successful contemporary writers.

May was known for blending immersive research with his storytelling. While working on the thriller Virtually Dead, he created a virtual detective agency within the online platform Second Life, adopting the avatar Flick Faulds to gain firsthand experience in surveillance and investigation techniques.

He is survived by his second wife, author Janice Hally, and a daughter, Carol, from his first marriage. Hally described his passing as a profound loss.

Although May had announced his retirement, he was preparing for a farewell literary tour of Scotland and the Isle of Lewis to coincide with the release of his final novel, Island Of The Dead, scheduled for publication in January.

Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney paid tribute to May, praising his vivid portrayal of the Hebrides and his deep connection to some of the country’s most cherished landscapes.