Last of the Line

By John MacKay

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Luath Press Ltd
• Release date: Jun 1, 2007
• ISBN: 9781909912151

John MacKay

John Mackay’s Hebridean roots stretch back beyond written records. His four bestselling novels, The Road Dance, Heartland, Last of the Line and Home, all draw on that heritage. He has made appearances at the Edinburgh Fringe, Aye Write and Celtic Connections, and his writing has featured on national television, radio and press. He is the co-anchor of STV’s News at Six and Scotland Tonight, the country’s most popular news and current affairs programmes. His experiences at the forefront of coverage of most of the major stories in Scotland in recent times are detailed in his book Notes of a Newsman, also published by Luath Press. A movie adaptation of The Road Dance filmed on the Western Isles and directed by Richie Adams was launched at the 2021 Edinburgh International Film Festival and won the Audience Award, voted for by viewers.