May died at his home in the south of France and his wife, Janice Hally, wrote on social media that she "lacks words to express the loss."
May, best known for “The Black House,” has written books that have sold 15 million copies, according to The Scotsman. “The Black House” began a series of books about Edinburgh police officer Fin Macleod, who is sent to his childhood island, the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, to solve crimes.
The book May said would be his last, "Island of the Dead," will be published in January.
Peter May's publisher writes that the author is an irreplaceable person who will be remembered for his "kindness, generosity and magnanimity."
