Last of the Line - Ebook

A gripping Hebridean mystery about identity, family secrets and the ties we try to escape — and those that refuse to let us go.

When Cal returns to the islands to say goodbye, he discovers the past is not done with him.

About the Ebook

The call came from a place far away — where the dark was deep and the only sound was the fading breath of a woman on the edge of eternity.

Summoned to the bedside of his dying aunt, Cal MacCarl is dragged away from the blur of city life and back to the islands where time turns slowly and tradition endures. He has spent years striving for the urban dream — the luxury apartment, the prestige car — shedding his past to get there.

Aunt Mary is his last remaining blood link. She still knows him as Calum. When she dies, he will be the final branch of the family tree — the last of the line. But for Cal, family and history are burdens he thought he’d left behind.

Reluctantly returning out of duty, Cal finds himself drawn into the role of genealogy detective. As he uncovers long‑buried secrets, he begins to realise that Mary was not the woman he believed — and the truth she guarded for decades may mean he is not the man he thought he was.

Last of the Line is a powerful, atmospheric story of identity, belonging and the shadows cast by the past.

Critical Praise

"A strong modern story of personal conflict."
— Northwords Now

"Where MacKay differs from most other Hebridean‑based novels is in his obvious research into the geography, and meticulous background into island traditions and cultures."
— The Stornoway Gazette

"The Hebridean scenes are powerful."
— The Sunday Herald

"There is a tightly plotted story here, together with some lovely details of remote island life."
— The Independent

Why You'll Love This Ebook

• A gripping island mystery rooted in family secrets and personal discovery.
• Evocative Hebridean setting rich with atmosphere, tradition and emotional depth.
• A compelling journey of identity as Cal uncovers the truth about his past.
• Perfect for fans of Scottish fiction, family drama and place‑driven storytelling.
• Part of John MacKay’s acclaimed Hebridean novels exploring island life and generational ties.

Also by John MacKay

Explore more fiction and non‑fiction by John MacKay:

• Notes of a Newsman
• Heartland
• Last of the Line — you are here
• The Road Dance
• Home

Or get everything in one place:

The Complete John MacKay Bundle

About the Author

John MacKay is a Scottish broadcast journalist and STV News presenter. As co‑anchor of STV News at Six and presenter of Scotland Tonight, he has covered many of the nation’s defining stories over the past three decades.

Drawing on the oral traditions of his Hebridean upbringing, MacKay has written a trilogy of bestselling novels set on the Isle of Lewis — including The Road Dance, which has been adapted for the big screen. His later novels continue to explore themes of identity, belonging and the enduring pull of home.

His non‑fiction work Notes of a Newsman charts Scotland’s transformation through the eyes of a journalist at the heart of the nation’s news.

Publication Details

Publisher: Luath Press

Publication Date: 22/07/2013

Print Length: — (Ebook edition)

ISBN (Ebook): 9781909912151

Format: Ebook

Language: English

Categories: Scottish Fiction / Family Saga / Hebridean Literature

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