Absolutely loving this author and series I’ve got so many people reading it. Being Scottish I love references to places local to me. Fabulous characters & as always an amazing well thought out plot

I really enjoyed this book. Excellent read with great characters and a really good storyline. I would recommend this book.

‘Not Proven’ the infuriating third verdict possible in Scotland allows Scott ‘The Axe’ Paterson to strut out of court cocksure and a free man. Few would shed a tear when he is found murdered on a golf course, but when his lawyer is also found dead off a cliff top through either accident or suicide, people take note. DS Craigie fears that there is a vigilante killer out there intent on righting the wrongs of the legal system, with their own brand of tough justice.

When that rarest of commodities in the modern world, a hard drinking old-school investigative journalist Shuggie Gibson approaches with inside information Max’s team take note. Shuggie has an informant, who seems to be reliable, who points in the direction of an MIT officer. An unpleasant task ahead, but just the sort of job the Policing Standards Reassurance team was set up for.

To progress the investigation, they need someone on the inside, luckily Max knows just the person for the job. With their mole in place and ex MI5 man Barney working on the surveillance hardware Max is confident of getting a result, but ultimately will the price they have to pay prove too great?

Before you dive into The Night Watch fasten your seatbelt because it doesn’t hang around. Perhaps not quite as fast paced as The Blood Tide (reviewed here) it retains all the hallmarks of the author's fast past paced all action-packed style. A book where the action drags the reader along with it.

The plot centres on police corruption, but this time not the financial kind but the moral kind. Law enforcement officers taking the law into their own hands when the ‘right’ judgement is not delivered, handing out summary executions.

Even though the novel is incident packed there is time for some excellent characterisation. We learn more of Max’s time in the Met and how he owes his friend and former colleague Niall Hastings so much. A debt that becomes central to the plot. Max is still suffering with PTSD, the insomnia and nightmares, and how mages to cope. We also get to know that finally Janie’s relationship problems are being resolved as she settles down with new girlfriend Melissa. Not forgetting the third member of the team Ross who is still being moulded by his wife (surely, she cannot remain a ‘her indoors’ style character throughout the series.) There is also a lovely cameo portrayal of Shuggie the decent old-school journalist, a dying breed in the age of clickbait online ‘journalism.’

As already noted, the storyline doesn’t hang around, but Mr Lancaster maintains a canny knack of remaining one step ahead of the reader the whole time. Just when you think it’s becoming clear where the plot is leading there is a sidestep and like a labouring prop forward in the loose you are left in his wake trying to catch up.

The thing that makes it all work is the authentic feel about it. As fiction the boundaries are going to be pushed in the name of entertainment, but at its core this is a novel written by an author who has first-hand experience and knows how to bring this to life on the page.

There are two central themes to the novel. The first is the vigilantism, the killing of evil people who ‘get away with it’. The other is the bond of friendship forged during danger that can never fully be repaid, the reliance on someone even to put them back in danger. Undercover work is glamourised in fiction, particularly on screen, but the human cost on an individual level i so great. The question posed is when have you had enough, when do you get out? Powerful stuff.

As gritty and authentic a crime novel as you’ll find. The authors real world experience comes through in spades, and makes for a compelling read!

When Scott Paterson is found dead a few days after being released from remand, many questions come to mind. Then his barrister is also found dead. The chase is on to find the serial killer. They must be quick. The plot is twisty and at times surprising. You get a good insight into the investigative team along the way.

What a twist at the end. One of the best crime books I have read. This book keeps you interested throughout and has a nice twist at the end.

This is the 3rd book in the DS Max Craigie series but the first one I have read. This book worked well as a stand-alone and I was able to keep up to speed with all the characters. The author does mention what I am assuming are brief background events.

The case is an interesting one as it is an investigation within an investigation. While this does sound complicated the author has made it really easy to follow. It does though cause a bit of a headache for me as I try to review this and still make some sort of sense!

The death of a lawyer and then the death of a man having recently been given a "not proven" verdict are just the tip of the iceberg and the body count doesn't stop. The nature of the deaths is a little unusual as there appears nothing unusual about them. Yeah, I know!

So begins the investigation, this is also the start of another investigation by Max and his team. An undercover detective is brought in and with a small team, Max starts to piece things together. When they discover that the killer could possibly be on the main investigating team things get difficult. There are not many clues or signs of evidence as they are aware of forensic evidence.

This is such an amazing story and one that had me hooked. It has great pacing and even though there are several investigators that are essentially working on different teams I was able to follow along. The overall feel of this story is tense and there is a palpable sense of danger that lurks in the background. Max and his team have to tread quietly and keep things close to their chest for fear of their suspicions leaking out.

After reading this 3rd book I am definitely going to go back and read the previous two. This is a great intro for me to this series and yes part of me wishes I had read them in order.

Fabulous crime and thriller read that I do think police procedural readers would really enjoy. Great characters, complex plots and quite a few false leads and red herrings to keep you on your toes. It is a book I would definitely recommend.

Another page turner from this fast rising star of crime fiction.
What sets this apart from many crime novels is that it focuses on the undercover side of the police. Rounded characters, twisting plot and a right pyscho of a villain all make for a top notch read.

Another great instalment in the brilliant series featuring detective Max Cragie. I can’t wait for book 4!

I thoroughly enjoyed this latest book in the DS Max Craigie series. A stand alone story that sees his team investigate their own MIT as it is suspected there is a potential murderer among them. Working remotely and without drawing attention to their covert operations they begin to uncover suspicious activity. However, proving anything proves increasingly difficult and an old friend and colleague from the MET is brought in to work undercover but in close proximity to the suspect. As the murder count increases and frustrations build, will they bring the murderer to justice before more people lose their lives? An excellent story that had me hooked throughout. I love the close knit team who know each other so well and the banter among them is another level. However, when things get serious they always have each other’s backs and their professionalism is second to none. A great read with some excellent twists along the way. I look forward to reading the next in this great series.

Well this is another great story with the familiar characters I loved in the last Neil Lancaster book. The team are back together in Scotland working a case, trying to find out who if anyone is the bad apple amongst their own police force - think Scottish Line of Duty. I don’t want to give away the plot but suffice to say this will keep you wondering who is the bad apple. Although as previously mentioned, this is in a series it can easily be read as a stand alone. Can’t wait for the next one!

DS Max Craigie is an ex-military who served in Afghanistan. He is now working for the Scottish Police Service as part of the new police Standards Reassurance covert operations unit after leaving the London Met under a cloud. The team report directly to the Chief Constable of Scotland. Max, DI Ross Fraser, DC Janie Calder, and their analyst, Norma, act on the information gained from Shuggie Gibson – a journalist after a dog walker stumbles across the gruesomely murdered body of a man. He is gang enforcer, Scott 'The Axe' Paterson, killed soon after being freed from Saughton Jail, following a court trial.

This is an amazing and riveting crime thriller with fantastic characterisation and it blew me away. The author certainly has a talent for blindsiding twists and deviously complex characters. In a multilayered story, Neil Lancaster expertly shows off his skill the reader is treated to a wonderfully oppressive, fast-paced thriller. The tale incorporates danger, ruthlessness, revenge and brutality, all culminating in an unpredictable hold-your-breath ending. I was hooked from the opening chapter and mesmerised throughout. I recommend The Night Watch very highly. Roll on book four!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from HQ Digital via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

The Night Watch by Neil Lancaster is the third Book in the excellent DS Max Craigie series. It was another fantastic read with lots of great twists and turns that just had to gripped again.
When a lawyer is found dead at sunrise on a lonely clifftop at Dunnet Head which is on the northernmost tip of Scotland. It was supposed to be his honeymoon, but now his wife will never see him again.

He will hunt You!!!!

But, Who will Hunt you?

DS Max Craigie and and other members of the Reassurance Covert operations unit are called to investigate.
Is this death linked to other mysterious deaths, But, DS Max Craigie knows this can only mean one thing: they have a vigilante serial killer on their hands.

WoW! This book was So good! I loved it I highly recommend The Night Watch. 5 stars x

Big Thank you to HQ and to NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a brilliant addition to this series! A dark and twisty thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish! Wonderful characters with a fast paced utterly engaging plot.
Highly recommended!I

This is a police procedural, par excellence! My first taste of Neil Lancaster's work and, I'm sure, not my last. Concerns that this was the third in a series were soon put to bed as I became hooked on the next chapter. Heartily recommended.

While many police procedurals aim for the extremes of procedure at the expense of the story, this did not. Both were superb, with natural banter (watch out for the regular use of profanity), realistic procedure and a cracking story. The tale, whilst far-fetched, was not beyond the realms of possibility and a "thoroughly good caper" with a rather serious and thought-provoking undertone. I think it was this contrast that really kept me hooked.

As an ex-cop, Lancaster treats us to a fly-on-the-wall rollercoaster which is a credit to him and realistic to the service as a whole. Bravo

With thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC

The Night Watch by Neil Lancaster.
He’ll watch you.
A lawyer is found dead at sunrise on a lonely clifftop at Dunnet Head on the northernmost tip of Scotland. It was supposed to be his honeymoon, but now his wife will never see him again. He’ll hunt you.
The case is linked to several mysterious deaths, including the murder of the lawyer’s last client – Scotland’s most notorious criminal… who had just walked free. DS Max Craigie knows this can only mean one thing: they have a vigilante serial killer on their hands. He’ll leave you to die. But this time the killer isn’t on the run; he’s on the investigation team. And the rules are different when the murderer is this close to home. He knows their weaknesses, knows how to stay hidden, and he thinks he’s above the law…
A brilliant read. Well written. Gripping. 5*.

He’ll watch you.
A lawyer is found dead at sunrise on a lonely clifftop at Dunnet Head on the northernmost tip of Scotland. It was supposed to be his honeymoon, but now his wife will never see him again.
He’ll hunt you.
The case is linked to several mysterious deaths, including the murder of the lawyer’s last client - Scotland’s most notorious criminal... who had just walked free. DS Max Craigie knows this can only mean one thing: they have a vigilante serial killer on their hands.
He’ll leave you to die.
But this time the killer isn’t on the run; he’s on the investigation team. And the rules are different when the murderer is this close to home.
He knows their weaknesses, knows how to stay hidden, and he thinks he’s above the law...

This is a gripping read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.

In this third outing for Max it’s another brilliantly written thriller, it’s a complex but nicely put together storyline with lots of detail, realistic and gritty characters set in absorbing Scottish locations that has a quality TV drama feel, looking forward to the next book already.

This is the third installment in this Scottish detective series and the first one I’ve read. It took me a while to get a handle on the characters and some of the Scottish police lingo but as I did I came to love the characters and the story. Definitely a great read for all of you mystery/crime lovers who love all things UK!

Many thanks to Netgally and Neil Lancaster for this ARC!

I thought I might struggle with this one as I hadn't read either of the first 2 books but that wasn't the case. This was a great book. It was fast-paced, suspenseful, and well-written. The characters were lovable, especially with their camaraderie and bickering. Loved it!