Hebrides

3 primary works

The Road Dance

by John MacKay

Published 1 April 2003

Kirsty MacLeod is a beautiful young woman, coveted by all the young men of her island village. She dreams of America, of following the setting sun west to a better life. She meets the man who dreams her dreams and promises to make them come true. But then the Great War breaks out and the men must leave for battle. In their honour, the islanders organise a grand Road Dance.

That night she is raped. She is left with a secret that will bring shame upon her and her family and ultimately on the child she is carrying. On a night of storms and sorrow, she has to make her choice and it is no choice at all.

Heartland

by John MacKay

Published 20 May 2004

A man tries to build for his future by reconnecting with his past, leaving behind the ruins of the life he has lived. Iain Martin hopes that by returning to his Hebridean roots and embarking on a quest to reconstruct the ancient family home, he might find new purpose. But as Iain begins working on he old blackhouse, he uncovers a secret from the past, which forces him to question everything he ever thought to be true. Who can he turn to without betraying those to whom he is closest? His ailing mother, his childhood friend and his former love are both the building - and stumbling - blocks to his new life. Where do you seek sanctuary when home has changed and will never be the same again?

Last of the Line

by John MacKay

Published 1 October 2006

With both his parents dead, his 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.