This is the first book I have read buy this author, and all though it is book 3 in the Max Craigie series. I found it read well as a standalone. I will admit that I found the first part of the book a little hard going, the dialogue felt clunky in places and the scenes of banter between the officers felt forced… however, as I read on, I became totally engrossed. There are loads of ‘red herrings’, twists, and turns and the ending was thrilling.

Overall, a very good read earning a solid 4 stars from me.

This is the third book in the DS Max Craigie series and didn’t disappoint. The main characters are likeable and DI Ross Fraser is very amusing.
Criminal enforcer Scott Paterson is found dead in a small copse on a golf course near Edinburgh. Max Craigie and the Team get involved as it appears that the killer could be a cop and try and work out how the killer managed to overpower and murder this man mountain. In a similar time frame the Team learn that a lawyer is found dead after falling from a cliff-top and the cases appear linked with him being Scott Paterson’s defence lawyer, who recently got him off what seemed to be an open and shut case.
A very interesting fast paced plot line that makes it difficult to put the book down.

Max Craigie is the archetypal action man: ex-squaddie and undercover cop. Two related deaths occur in remote locations. Then more bodies pile up. Is there a serial killer at large?
Plenty of action ensues. Lots of procedural detail, sometimes a bit too much on the technical side. Some of the characters could have had more depth to them and the plot stretches credibility to say the least especially towards the end.
Thanks to HQ publishing and Netgalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

This is an intensely dark and exciting addition to former police officer Neil Lancaster's Scottish crime series, featuring his ex-military PTSD suffering DS Max Craigie, part of the special new police Reassurance covert operations unit reporting directly to Chris Macdonald, the Chief Constable. Leith MIT, led by soon to retire DCI Donald 'Donnie' Watson, and his team, which includes DI Marnie Gray, DS John Lorimer and DS Mark Fagerson, find themselves at a golf club, a dog walker has stumbled across the strange and gruesomely murdered body of the man mountain that is gang enforcer, Scott 'The Axe' Paterson, a cold blooded execution, killed soon after being freed after a 'not proven' verdict at his court trial. There are no clues, and Watson finds himself shocked to learn that Paterson's lawyer, Fergus Grigor's broken and battered body, has been found at Dunnet Head, where he had been on honeymoon. Surely this is not a coincidence?

Freelance journalist, Shuggie Gibson receives information that the killer is a police officer, part of Leith MIT, triggering an inquiry involving Max, his foul mouthed boss, DI Ross Fraser, and DC Janie Calder, aided by the talented Norma and Barney. However, they struggle to make any progress, unsurprising given they are dealing with a vigilante police killer who is aware of every move they make. Given the pressure they are under, Max makes the decision to bring in an undercover police officer that had saved his life in London. As Max and his colleagues race against time to try and prevent further murders, they have no idea of just how ruthless the killer is. This is a twisted and dangerous case that is to test Max to his limits.

The many authentic policing details that Lancaster provides illustrate his police background, the highlight of this series for me is the characters he has created and developed, Max, Ross and Jane, along with Norma and Barney, and the relationship dynamics between them, the often bickering but affectionate banter that mark their commitment and loyalty to each other. This is a wonderful crime read, tense and suspenseful, with a number of unexpected twists, and with a thrilling nail biting finale. I have no doubt this will appeal to many fans of the series and to new readers who love the Scottish crime and thriller genre. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

An excellent, entertaining read. Max Craigie and his team are working in the shadows, on the trail of a killer. No ordinary felon this though; all the clues - and there are precious few - point to the perpetrator being one of their own. A killer who knows how to deny the investigators even the tiniest shred of evidence and who leaves behind nothing but gut roiling unease. Using every bit of experience ang instinct available to them, Max and his team may be undercover, but the killer is hiding in plain sight - and could be right next to them.

Neil Lancaster has done it again ,by producing another great thriller.
Exciting read, reminiscent of "Line of Duty" style police procedural . The Edinburg Major Investigation Team has a problem. A well known thug and murderer has got off in court by the help of his Barrister. Both have been found murdered some miles away from each other on the same day. Information regarding the pair are similar in style to previous instances and suspicions are aroused setting a motion a covert investigations into MIT .Id there a serial killer at large within MIT?
A small undercover group with D.S. Max Craigie ,D.C. Janie Calder both led by the foul mouthed Ross and Norma the civilian investigate with their lives suddenly at risk. Whoever is responsible for these murders will not stop at putting those in harms way that are likely to expose them.

Great thrilling read, exciting fast paced that twists and turns right to the surprising end. Another Neil Lancaster book involving the intrepid four that will not disappoint the reader.

I really liked the opening two chapters of this. It introduces two very disconcerted people who maybe haven't survived. Nothing like a high octane start to grab you immediately. This is the third outing for DS Max Craigie and I have read and enjoyed the previous two. They were along the general approach of Line of Duty - the investigation of corrupt cops. This one moves focus somewhat and is about someone who is trying to get what they see as justice in crimes that have been judged as "not proven" in terms of Scottish Law. It quickly seems likely that the perpetrator may be linked with the investigative team!

The case is very twisty and fast paced. There are some red herrings laid out for inspection. Or are they red herrings!! I confess that I did spot some aspects of this case in advance but not the ending. I guess that, three books in, this isn't as "fresh" as it was. The characters - generally very good - are mostly the same. The overall background of the book with Max's team as a "secret" group is much the same. This one does stretch things somewhat (as you will find out at the end) however it is cut from the same cloth as the earlier ones and that is not a complaint. Do start on the first book if you are new to this series.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this read. As I've said it has pace, tension, some good twist and good characters. I will just mention that Ross (Max's boss) is not my favourite character and that was the same in the previous book. He is particular "type" which I'm not that keen on however that is probably my only real reservation about this book. I would be very surprised if I didn't read book four when it comes out. Easy enough reading and satisfying too. 4.5/5

It's an enjoyable whodunnit with police procedure and undercover police. I became annoyed at one of the main characters swearing in every sentence but the book was fast-paced with enough twists and turns that I wanted to keep reading the closer I got to the end. Overall a decent read.

An absolutely gripping read - I couldn’t put it down ! Excellently written, strong and believable storyline and characters. There are two books on my library app by this author and I’ve downloaded both. Would make a fantastic audio-book. Definitely recommend!

The best book yet in this strong series. All the necessary elements of a great police procedural are here: strong and empathetic characters, a fast paced plot, twists at the end, and set in a Scottish background. It is more difficult than usual to chase this killer as they are one of their own police officers. This is a great read. I can’t wait for the next in the series.

Scott Paterson is a known gang enforcer and one of Scotland’s most notorious criminals and he just walked free. His lawyer, Fergus Grigor, is celebrating with his new wife on their honeymoon in Dunnet Head.
Paterson and his lawyer are both found dead of suspicious circumstances.

DCI Donnie Watson is almost to retirement. His group of officers are called to investigate. It turns out they are linked to these cases, all of which included criminals who were not convicted.

Now Max Craigie and his partner Janie Calder have been called to investigate because there is suspicion that a cop might be involved in the murders. Who is the murder? Did they act alone?

This is my first book by this author. It was a good mystery. I would recommend.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book i have read in this series but reading it as a standalone did not ruin the story at all.

With different legal rules in scotland, a hardened criminal escapes a jail sentence. One morning his body is found, murdered, and bound to a tree. Further away his lawyer appears to have committed suicide off of a cliff. However on further investigation it appears that not only are these 2 murders but appear linked..with inside knowledge pointing to police members potentially being involved.

Using maxs anti police corruption team, work starts to uncover the truth.
Niall, a met officer and friend of Maxs, goes undercover in order to gain further information with evidence pointing towards a high ranking officer.

A really fast paced book with twists amd turns, and an ending i didnt predict.

Look forward to reading more in this series and highly recommend a read.

4.5 stars rounded up.

What a great series this is! I was thrilled to get the arc for this, book 3 of the DS Max Cragie series. The action starts with finding the body of crime enforcer, Scott Paterson, slumped against a tree in a boggy copse on a golf course only a few days after his release from remand due to no conviction. This does not mean not guilty. His throat had been slit. The cops are, however, puzzled how anyone could overpower this man mountain who exhibited no defence injuries. The next morning, Fergus Grigor is found smashed up at the bottom of a cliff. Suicide is ruled out as the man was on his honeymoon but accident also seems unlikely. It turns out he was the barrister that got Paterson released. Another of his clients who escaped justice was also killed five years ago.

DS Max Craigie’s team, the innocuous sounding Policing Standards Reassurance team whose task is actually to root out police corruption, smell a rat and Max, DC Janie Calder DI Ross Fraser and their analyst, Norma, swing into action. Snuggie Gibson, one of the more ethical journalists says a source tells him that the killer is actually in the police force. That answers a lot of questions. It reeks of vigilante justice. A suspect is identified and a sting operation planned but when they break down the door of this suspect they are too late. He is dead in the bathtub - another apparent suicide. But Max is having none of it. Somehow they will prove it was murder and they WILL catch the perpetrator!

From there the pace moves rapidly, the chase is on. Max calls in one of his buddies from the London Met, Niall, to do a bit of undercover work and he is planted into the Major Incident Team with a solid backstory.

This was a fast paced, tautly plotted story with very relatable characters. We learn more about Max’s background and the ghosts he still harbours from his stint in Afghanistan. Norma is such a great addition to the team, if the information exists she will find it. Jane is a loyal team member with mad fighting skills which come in very useful at the end of the book. A highlight of this series is the dialogue, particularly that of Ross. It had me laughing out loud at times. The Scots do swearing so very well. The writing is excellent and comes across as very authentic.

This one came down to a nail biting, jaw dropping finale with a major twist. I can’t wait to read the next book! Many thanks to Netgalley and HQ for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.

Brilliant. Fast paced and very readable. Lots of twists and turns with an underlying menace. I have read all the books in this series they don’t disappoint.

First book I. have read by Neil Lancaster and will be looking out for more. Really enjoyed the story, kept me gripped all the way through and kept me reading in longer sessions than I really had time for. Had me gasping at some of the twists, which doesn't happen often when reading normally. 5 star read most definitely.

DS Max Craigie #3
4.5 rounded up

Scott Paterson, an eighteen stone gang enforcer for hire, is found dead on a golf course. It's a brutal, cold blooded murder as his injuries are shocking. Has Scott got his just desserts after securing a not proven verdict for murder or is it a gang land killing? Further deepening the intrigue Fergus Grigor, the advocate who secures Scott's freedom is found dead at the base of the cliffs at Dunnet Head in Caithness. Is there a serial killer at larger as evidence suggests there may be a link to a murder five years ago? The Reassurance Covert Ops of DS Max Craigie, his partner DC Janie Calder, their irascible boss DI Ross Fraser, ably assisted by Norma and Barney are tasked with an investigation.

This is yet another excellent addition to a series I rate very highly. The characters are brilliant and I love the banter between them which provides much needed light relief in a difficult inquiry which grows ever more shocking. The laughter is usually courtesy of Ross who is an absolute hoot and I'm tempted to pinch some of his more colourful expressions! Mrs F, only met in conversation, is a frequent presence as she tries to keep her husband in check with a better diet! Max is fascinating and this time the author takes us more inside his head as we get further background to explain his battles with PTSD. Max is loyal, intuitive and you'd definitely be glad he's on your side and Janie is a perfect partner for him. A big shout out too for Norma and Barney whose different skills frequently help to save the day! Barney sure thinks on his feet!

This is a rollercoaster read as the difficult investigation deepens with plenty of twists and turns as you desperately try to identify the ruthless culprits who are not only savvy but seem to be one jump ahead. The pace is fast, there is breath taking tension and suspense throughout with several jaw to the floor moments especially towards the exciting end.

One of the greatest strengths of this outstanding series (apart from the characters!) is how authentic these feel. Some former officers turn their hand to writing but this former Met detective can REALLY write and not only that he keeps you engaged throughout. Not for one moment am I bored, my attention is grabbed from the terrific start and maintained with a well thought out plot and with writing that flows. A highly recommended cracking read.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HQ for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

A couple of mysterious deaths, are they linked? Some of them happened to walk away free from prosecution. Is there a vigilante killer on the loose?

The book was a decent crime novel with enough pace to keep on reading. What I personally did not like was the overuse of 'aye' and 'ach'. I understand it is commonly used, but I thought it was rather too much. The character Ross was also too much for my taste - constantly swearing and negative.

When a really nasty criminal is not convicted of his crime (a not proven verdict) it is not long before he is found dead. What's more, his lawyer is also found dead on the same day. Is there a link or is it coincidence? Max Craigie is brought in to investigate because it's not the first time an un-convicted criminal has been murdered and it's possible that police officers are involved.

This is the third in Neil Lancaster's series about a unit that investigates police corruption and it's shaping out to be a very interesting series indeed. Max is a convincing character with his forces background. The details of his investigation are believable and the tension is well paced leading up to the final very gripping scenes. I enjoyed this and would recommend it to those who like their crime gritty and realistic. Thanks to NetGalley and HQ for the ARC.

Another great read by Neil Lancaster with his Scottish police officer, Max Craigie and crew. For those people who love fast paced Scottish crime novels, this is a must read. This time Max is investigating the murders of criminals who have been found innocent (or guilt not proven). Be forewarned that some of the murder descriptions are quite graphic.. The Scottish Highlands are described beautifully( one of my favorite places to visit). I will strongly recommend this to readers who love British/Scottish thrillers .

whree and a half stars.

A notorious criminal escapes prison on a verdict of not-proven. After a night celebrating with friends he is found dead, throat slit, on a local golf course. The same day, his solicitor is found at the bottom of a cliff, it is deemed accident or suicide, until a reporter makes the connection between the two deaths and references the disappearance of a third man, who also escaped prison on a technicality. It seems as though there could be someone dispensing rough justice when the legal system lets them down. But when the journalist reveals his source it seems as though the vigilante could be on the police team investigating the murders.

Can DS Max Craigie and his PIRC team discover the murderer before the body count mounts?

I have mixed feelings about this series. There are things I really like and things that don't work so well. I like the police procedural aspects and the camaraderie between the team. I also liked the increased complications imposed on the investigation because the murderer was thought to be a detective. What I didn't like was that actually there were no real clues, all the leads came from someone confessing/spilling the beans. Also, I get that they are an elite squad but everyone seems to be such a special snowflake and it feels a bit fake. Finally, why does Ross have to swear quite so much? I can't believe he's reached that rank with no personal skills whatsoever.

This is a fast-paced, tense crime thriller with a cold-blooded killer, fun read but doesn't bear close scrutiny.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.