The Night Gate is a sweeping historical novel with a dual timeline, France in the present day (2020) and Scotland, Berlin and France in the early 1940’s.

This is the 7th and, we are told, final book in the Enzo Files, the series about the somewhat flirtatious pony tailed lover of women, wine and good food, Enzo McLeod – one time Professor of Forensic Science at Toulouse University and now retired. Enzo lives in rural France with his wife Dominique, and is anxiously awaiting the arrival of his daughter Sophie’s baby. He is called in by his friend, forensic archaeologist Professor Magali Blanc, when a body is discovered in a village that neighbours Enzo’s own. The body is dated back to WW2 and Enzo is intrigued. He does love to work on cold cases but this one suddenly becomes a deal more urgent when a prominent art critic is murdered in the same village.

Peter May’s story is an epic tale which weaves together apparently separate stories but which contain one important link. Taking us from Germany to occupied France in the 1940’s via London and The Outer Hebrides, May delivers a passionate story of art, love, murder and betrayal set around the safeguarding of the most famous painting in the world, La Joconde – the Mona Lisa.

There are many points of view in this book, but the main strands focus on Enzo’s contemporary investigation and on the story of Georgette Pignal, a young woman personally tasked by De Gaulle to prevent the Mona Lisa falling into enemy hands. Georgette is at character you can really root for. Young but with a well-developed sense of self; she has massive courage and determination. She is full of gumption and determined to do her bit for her country.

As always May’s sense of place is strong and his knowledge of this part of France – Carennac in the Dordogne – shines through. His research is meticulous and the strength of the historical veracity adds to the authentic feel of the book. Rose Valland, for example, who features in the book as Georgette’s boss, was the curator of the Jeu de Paum, and she saved a lot of art from the Nazis after the war by listening to their conversations when in the gallery about where they were having it sent.
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He easily mixes past and present as the past carries the clues to the present murder and Enzo has to use all his knowledge and research to get to the truth of what happened in the past in order to solve the present killing.

It is the mix of history, thriller; characters that you root for intermingled with historical figures and references that that make for a heady mix which carries this book through. At almost 500 pages it is a little sprawly, but May knows how to tell a big tale and carries it off with aplomb.

It feels strangely natural too for Enzo, at his age, to be taking the French Co-Vid protocols especially seriously and after the initial surprise of reading about these, the freshness slipped into the background and became as natural as breathing.

Though you can easily read this book as a stand-alone, there’s plenty, too for followers of this series and – as is fitting for the final book in the series – some previous strands are closed off.

Verdict: A fine conclusion to the Enzo series and characters we have come to know and love. The thriller element works well and the background of Vichy France together with Hitler and Göring’s ambitions lends scale and weight to an epic story.

Enzo Macleod gets a call from a colleague asking for help. A disinterred body has been discovered in the roots of a fallen tree. Seven days later a famous art critic is brutally murdered in the same village. Before he knows it Enzo is entwined in two cases that are seventy years apart, but could they be linked?
To solve both cases Enzo must delve into the past - all the way back to when France was occupied by Nazi Germany. He is told the story of Georgette Pignal and her task of keeping the world’s most famous painting, the Mona Lisa, out of reach from Hitler and the Nazi party.
In one of the most complex cases of his career at the time when France is about to go into lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Enzo Macleod must race against the clock to find the answers to both cases and at the same time avoid a killer looking to stop him at any cost.
Peter May brings an atmosphere to this book that chills you to the bone, capturing both periods of history perfectly. With scenes of hope, bravery and pure desperation in the most harrowing of times.
An extraordinary book, with both parts of the story coming together seamlessly. A book of the highest quality that will entice the reader throughout. An outstanding novel which I highly recommend. Peter May is an absolute joy to read.

I absolutely loved this book, brilliant story, excellent character development and one of my all time favourite main characters Enzo returns with a complete update to his life story. This book was a complex interweaving of several story lines executed flawlessly. Superb writing and a book you are sure to love too- I highly recommend it to you.

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 #historicalfiction #historicalfaction #murdermystery #WWII

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

Wartime thriller featuring Enzo McLeod. Intriguing and interesting blend of fact and fiction, a really good story.

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.

'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!

(With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this title.)

I read other books by Peter May and didn't like it but I wanted to try this one as I read great reviews about this series and I thought "Maybe it was one of those it's-me-not-the-book".
I can say I loved it and couldn't put it down.
The mix of historical facts and fiction, the excellent character development and the tightly knitted plot kept me hooked and turning pages as fast as I could.
I will surely read the rest of the series as I loved this entertaining, complex, and gripping story.
It's highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I have always loved Peter May’s books so when the possibility of reviewing the latest book in the Enzo Files series, the first after a gap of 4 years, I jumped at the chance. I love the Enzo Files series and this may just be the best one yet!

We have a body discovered in a French village that seems to date from the occupation period, a person who had been shot through the head. Then just a week later a body of an art critic is found in a nearby house. Is there a connection or is this just a big coincidence. Enzo is asked to inspect the site of the first body but soon finds himself drawn into the more recent murder, despite his retirement.

As the story progresses we have two timelines being explored linked to both bodies. I have to say this is a totally captivating story involving a famous piece of art and it’s war story, involving both Hitler and Goring! Such great characters are developed throughout the book and I found it difficult to put this one down as I needed to know what happened.

Alongside this we see how Enzo and his family have dealt with the incidents from the previous book. It was so great to catch up with Enzo again and these were favourite parts of the book. As you’d expect with Peter May there were some great twists and turns, and the odd shock too.

All round this was a totally engaging and excellent read, and made for a great Lockdown weekend where Peter May took me to new places. I thoroughly recommend this book and the series and definitely gets a five star rating for me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing a copy of this book for me, for an an open and honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is only my second book by Peter May and my first in the Enzo Files). I think it would probably be better to have read the previous books in the series, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment or understanding of this book. I will probably read the earlier books.

The dual time line between the World War 2 years and present day worked well for me, it was clear and easy to follow. I particularly liked Georgette and warmed to her character. The references to lockdown and rules that are now "normal" (face masks etc) made the present day sections feel very current. The two storylines connected clearly and I felt my questions were answered by the end of the book. Good atmosphere, twists and suspense. Interesting and well developed characters.

Overall an enjoyable read that I would definitely recommend.

An exhilarating read taking you on a phenomenal journey in time and place. The Germans have invaded France and are removing the art treasures while the French are making a counter attack to prevent the process and the central piece of art providing the linchpin in this tale is the preservation of the Mona Lisa. . At the centre of the drama is George(tte) recruited by de Gaulle and parachuted into France to be the protectress of the painting saving it from German hands but does she need protection too?
A well balanced story blending fact and fiction leaving the reader wondering where one ends and the other begins.

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 may be exacerbated by not having read previous books in the 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.

A Sweeping Dual Narrative...
The seventh book in the Enzo Files, and the series finale, provides a sweeping dual narrative between the historical and the contemporary. As ever, well written with a credible cast and an intriguing, immersive and cleverly constructed and considered storyline. An excellent read.

A beautifully constructed story stretching from present day COVID France back to W
W11 with a murder mystery at its heart. Enzo McLeod agrees reluctantly to help with an investigation into a forensic archeological case of a body discovered near his home town. A murder near to the discovery and the wartime tale of Louvre artworks moved to the area are neatly revealed. Starting in London with an appearance by Charles de Gaulle a young woman is sent for training to Skye and after a brutal session with an instructor she is suddenly sent to France her mission to protect the Mona Lisa. In the present day past events are linked by
Enzo to the wartime events and all is eventually revealed in a shocking climax. Excellent stuff!

I loved this book, but I had no idea it was part of a series! That's good news for me as now I can go back to the beginning of the series and read them all.

This book has two storylines. One is historical, based in world war two occupied France. And the second is current day, 2020 and 2021, still in France and in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. In the historical storyline, the Louvre in Paris has been cleared of all of its art. The art has been moved to various places, other museums and chateaus in free France. But Hitler and Goring both want to steal the Mona Lisa and it is not safe. In the current day, an old murder has been uncovered by chance and as retired forensic detective Enzo Macleod arrives to take a look at the site, a second, current murder is discovered. What appears co-incidental may actually be linked.

I liked the way the book alternated between the two storylines. However, at times I had to stop and think about whose narrative this was and where that character fitted in. It was quite complex. Had I read some of the previous books, some of this complexity may have been removed - when you read a series, some of the same characters are carried through from book to book and what I found complex this time, may have been familiarity.

I liked the note from the author at the end clarifying the factual elements in the historical storyline. Great that even actual names were woven into the text.

This is a fabulous read. It is crime fiction and historical fiction all twisted up together. Fast paced. Lots of characters. Lots of red herrings and a few loose ends. An easy five star rating for me. Exactly my favourite type of book.

Thank you to NetGalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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 Night Gate by Peter May
⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Firstly I must confess, I’ve not read any of the other books in the series and I think this affected my star rating.
Two deaths, almost 70 years apart, occurred in a sleepy village in France. Forensic expert, Enzo Macleod, is called in to inspect the sites and quickly finds himself mixed up in this unusual situation.
May writes with such fluency and delight. The words flow off the page into the readers mind painting a brilliant picture. This book was heavily focused on art, France and world war. If these are your interests then you will love this book. For me I found some of the terms confusing. There also appear to be a large number of characters which I found difficult to keep track of.
Thank you to NetGalley, @quercusbooks and @authorpetermay for this ARC.

Peter May is in the uppermost echelon of British crime thriller writers. This is confirmed yet again by one of his very best novels - compelling, incredibly moving, intelligent and suspenseful.
One of the main characters in this story is undoubtedly the Mona Lisa, the most famous painting in the world and often the source of a plot for thriller writers. The other characters are all drawn with realism and empathy.
How good it is to see an author tackling the problem of the current pandemic in his work, and not choosing to ignore it as so many others are. A deft blend of the thrilling and the romantic. A stunning novel.

Wow, what another fantastic book in the Enzo MacLeod series from Peter May. Captivated by the off and love the way it was written too - jumping back and forth between the past and present day to tell the story, and as per usual, a few twists along the way! Whilst it is the 8th Enzo book, you don't need to have read any others in the series to enjoy this one at all. Highly recommended!

Thanks to Quercus and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Having read lots of Peter May books I was absolutely delighted to receive this one and I certainly wasn't disappointed. This is one of the series of Enzo Macleod books and is every bit as good as its predecessors.

A cracking read. Highly recommended.