Affi Smith was snatched from the bottom of Fyrish, where she'd been doing her training. She'd been a bit of a wayward teenager until she discovered athletics - and it now looks as though she could be heading for the national squad. That's quite an achievement for someone with her background: you see, Affo came to Scotland from Albania as Afrodita Dushku at the age of twelve. She was rescued when she was carrying a kilo of drugs and three years later she's happy with her foster family. There's just one cloud on her horizon: her little sister, Melodi is in a children's home in Tirana - and anyone could get to her.

Affi was snatched by Jetmir Xhilay who originally trafficked her to the UK. He's always been annoyed about the police rescuing her, not least because he was responsible for the drugs which were confiscated. Now he'd like to get his revenge and Affi is to be placed in a brothel in Glasgow and she'll be kept under control by threatening her that Melodi will end up in a brothel in Tirana, which would be worse than anything Affi could suffer. DS Max Craigie hears that Affi has disappeared through his wife who has had some dealings with her and he manages to get DI Ross Fraser and DC Janie Calder along with intelligence analyst, Norma Kirk, involved in the case despite the over-stretched local force concluding that Affi's just another teenager who's gone off for some time on her own.

That doesn't sound very complicated, does it? Well, it is. You've got to factor in the various gangs which are operating in Albania and in Glasgow and what their aims are. Max and the team's involvement is accidental as their remit is to trace corruption within the police force. What was frightening was just how easily the police can be manipulated into providing information about people who should be protected.

The pace is very fast and there are times when you have to remind yourself to breathe The terror level's pretty high too: there's an Albanian psychopath you really wouldn't want to encounter and whilst some scenes are frightening, there are no gratuitously gory description to stay in the mind.

Right now this is one of the better crime series around and I'd like to thank the publishers for letting Bookbag have a review copy.

One morning Affi Smith, 15, ran up Fyrish hill (about 6km) then disappeared. Did she fall coming back down, or was she snatched? If so, by whom and why? The reason that “snatched” is a possibility, is because Affi Smith isn’t her real name; that is Afrodita Dushku, and three years previously she had been rescued from an Albanian gang that had trafficked her into the UK, for use as a drug mule and, when older, a prostitute. Since then she’d been fostered by Reg and Valerie Smith at their cottage in Evanton, a village in Easter Ross, in the Scottish Highlands, not far from that hill where she disappeared. She had become a promising runner and was training for a big race. The circumstances seemed a bit suspicious, but the local police investigation didn’t find anything and concluded she was probably just a runaway. However, Katie Craigie, the paralegal working on her case with the Home Office was worried, and Katie’s husband happens to be DS Max Craigie, who agrees to have a look. Craigie and his partner DC Janie Calder, swiftly deduce that Affi has been taken by the same gang and set the wheels in motion. Max and Janie are part of the Police Standards Reassurance unit, which is tasked with investigating corruption in the force, so normally wouldn’t get involved in a case like this. However, it turns out that a local PC might be involved, which gives them an excuse to push the investigation. It becomes clear that other girls with a similar profile have also disappeared, which means someone is leaking location information that is supposed to be secret. And that puts it firmly in the PSR’s remit. Soon after, murders, mayhem and corruption stretch from the south of Glasgow to the Highlands.
This is the fourth book in a series but works perfectly well as a standalone. It is a police procedural but not in the conventional sense, because the PRS is not a conventional unit. The members are all well drawn and believable; Craigie and Calder are the most prominent, of course, but their irascible (and sweary) boss, DI Ross Fraser, and the laid back (almost too casual) ex MI5 IT expert, Barney, are arguably the most characterful. The latter pair certainly provide lighter elements to soften the harder sections. The author is a very skilful writer; his prose seems simple, his unfolding of the plot is painless, but the reader finds themselves swept along, the pace is fast, the reveals often surprising. It all makes for a very enjoyable read.

From GoodReads:
Number 4 is just as good as 1,2 and 3.
A cracker of a series where the twisting plots and engaging characters completely draw the reader in - bedtime came later until it was finished.
Looking forward to more

This is a wonderful addition to the DS Craigie series. Neil Lancaster has woven many separate threads that ultimately come together in a spectacular finale

The 4th book in the Max Craigie series and it was yet another blinder! It totally lived up to what I've come to expect from this series! It has fast become one of my favourite series and I'm always looking out for the next book to come out!

This was fast paced with plenty of twists and turns. As always, it was fantastically written. You could just feel the tension as you read.

It was great being reunited with Max, Janie, Ross and co. They have to be one of my favourite group of characters. I absolutely loved the banter between them.

If you haven't read this series, then I would definitely urge you to read them!

Thank you to Neil, NetGalley and publishers HQ, HQ Digital for the chance to read this book.

DS Max Craigie and his team are back in Blood Runs Cold. A cracking an addictive story. That kept me reading long into the night.

As fifteen-year-old Affie Smith. Who was trafficked into the UK three years ago disappears.

And with local police overwhelmed, understaffed and slow to act. Max's wife Katie asks him to take a peak at the case for her.

What he doesn't expect to find is compromised identities, a bent local copper and an Albanian OCG firmly established in Glasgow.

But that's just the tip of the iceberg. As Katie calls with shocking news that has Max and the team needing to act. Fast.

Only the team aren't quite fast enough and the consequences leave Max questioning everything and everyone around him.

Even his own team.

And with danger, huge shocks, surprises, twists and turns. Not to mention great humour and characters. This was a fantastic read and I urge anyone yet to read to the DS Max Craigie series to do it now. As you won't be disappointed.

Affi Smith’s fifteenth birthday is going to start with being dropped off by her foster mum for a run - she doesn’t return. Affi was a trafficking victim and was supposed to be safe with a new identity and home.

DS Max Craigie gets involved in the case as his wife has been dealing with trying to get Affi’s sister, Melodi over from Albania and so she knows the family.

It doesn’t take long for Max and his team to discover corruption somewhere in the police force.

With child trafficking being something that we still hear about to this day, it did make it a difficult subject to read about. Having said that, it is a thrilling and entertaining read.

It never ceases to amaze me how much corruption does go on and I don’t mean just by the police and I love how the author draws our attention to this.

The author has written an extremely difficult story. The plot is intense and at times gory but that is necessary for the story.

My thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Neil Lancaster's latest thriller Blood Runs Cold is for me his best yet. A great plot and great characters make this a gritty and fast paced novel. Again set in the Highlands of Scotland Max Craigie and his team set out to find Affie Smith, a 15 year old, who has gone missing. Affie was previously a victim, brought to the UK by an Albanian people trafficking gang. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. Can't wait for the next book!
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for an arc.

Craigie, Calder, Ross, Barney, and Norma are back!
Affi has been trafficked from Albania but managed to escape. Three years later, on her fifteenth birthday, she is abducted while out running.
Absolutely gripping. I couldn't put it down.
My heart was in my mouth towards the end as I didn't know how it was going to play out.
There are some pretty nasty characters in this, especially Hoxjan, who is known as 'The Surgeon' ( shudder)
I did guess who the corrupt copper was, but there were plenty of twists.
Although this is the fourth in the series, they can be read as standalones.
I loved it and can't wait for book five.
Thanks yo Netgalley and HQ for the ARC in return for an honest review.

The Max Craigie series are a must read for any lovers of Scottish based crime writing. Perfect for fans of Ian Rankin and Chris Brookmyre.

The characters are believable and the reader is soon immersed into their world. Based around child trafficking and exploitation it is topical and certainly no cosy crime read!

One of my favourite crime writers by a country mile.

Another excellent book in this series. I still don't like the deus ex machina assistance at crucial times, but a good read nevertheless.

Love the Max Craigie novels. Great writing and premise. Amazing characters. Page turner. Plenty of suspense to keep me guessing..Definitely looking forward to the next offering. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it

This is the fourth book in the Max Craigie series from this author, and I’ve been lucky to read them all. Another solid and enjoyable crime story, set in Scotland. A good plot, and lots of detail of police procedure made for an interesting read.
I did not enjoy it quite as much as the first three books, however. I felt the author was trying too hard at times to be amusing, and the dialogue became a bit clunky as a result.
I will still look forward to another book by this author, but it’s maybe time for a change in focus? How long can the stories continue to be based around police corruption?
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book. Recommended.

Another cracking book from Neil Lancaster. The characters of DS Max Craigie and his team gel so well together. They are all different but their chemistry bounces of each page with every word of Scottish banter. At ease with each other they frequently tease and cajole but when things get serious they have each other’s backs totally and without question. In Blood Runs Cold a young Albanian girl is forced into delivering drugs with threats against her family if she disobeys. Rescued by Police she is then fostered by a kind family who hide her identity and she gradually grows into a happy teenager until one day she disappears. Her original captors are suspected and a lengthy investigation begins that has far reaching consequences for many and goes far beyond an evil Albanian gang. A shocking insight into people trafficking and the lengths some will go to in order to protect their despicable crimes and deeds. I also enjoyed reading how incredible advances in technology can help solve crime and make evidence watertight. A brilliant series and I can’t wait for the next one.

Blood Runs Cold Neil Lancaster

5 stars

Another great book in the DS Craigie series

I have read one of this series before and really enjoyed it. This one is just as good if not better.

DS Max Craigie and his partner DC Janie Calder get involved in a potential crime when Afrodita Dashku a young Albanian girl disappears after going for a run. Afrodita was trafficked but rescued and placed with her foster parents Reg and Valerie Smith. Craigie’s wife, Katie has been involved with the family due to her job in social care and is currently trying to bring Afrodita’s younger sister, Melodi to Scotland.

When Afrodita is kidnapped DS Craigie fears that she has been taken by her original trafficker Jetmir Xhilaj. However it soon becomes obvious that there is a mole within the Scottish police force as no-one knew where Afrodita had been sent so how did they know where to find her?

One of the good things about this author is his secondary characters that bring more to the stories. DI Ross Fraser is foul-mouthed and generally unhappy but as a detective he is outstanding at his job. Likewise there is Barney a proud Yorkshireman who is brilliant when it comes to technology.

As the team combine their various talents to try and discover where Afrodita is being kept she suddenly re-appears. However she refuses to say anything to anyone as the Albanians threaten her little sister if she reveals what has happened. It also soon becomes apparent that there may be more than one mole in the police force.

The action is fast and furious and as in all good books of this type the bad guys are not revealed until the end and kept me guessing as to their identity throughout the book.

I hope that the author writes more in this series, they are always a good story and exciting to read.


Karen Deborah

I really enjoyed this book, my first experience of Neil Lancaster's writing ( though I do see him popping up on various true crime programmes. A really readable book which exposes the corruption that in this case exists in the Police force alongside hugely good, honest and dedicated officers. A great read and I will read more in the series.

Affi Smith goes for a run and never returns. She is only 15 but with a new identity and secure home in the Scottish Highlands, she was supposed to be safe… she had been involved with drug delivery as a result of trafficking.
Then she reappears but is silent as to what has happened.
DS Max Craigie takes on the case and it is soon obvious the police have a huge task in front of them but it is not helped by corrupt policeman.
Can Max solve the case before its to late?

The Max Craigie books are fast becoming my favourite detective series at the moment (along with Cara Hunter's DI Fawley series and Tim Sullivan's DS George Cross I have to say).

Max, along with Janie, Ross and Norma (ably assisted by Barney) look into the case of 15 year old Affi Smith who goes missing after a run near her home. Affi was brought to the country from Albania to assist in drug running, as well as other illegal activities, however managed to escape with the help of the police and was settled in foster care with her new family. When she goes missing, the focus moves to her previous life in Albania and Max and the team seek to bring down the Albanian crime ring.

Although this is part of a series, it could be read as a standalone however I would definitely recommend reading the other 3 books in the series. Before being approved for this book, I had only read the first two and then read the third before moving onto this one. Although you will still enjoy the book, I always feel like you just miss something when you haven't read them all. The relationships don't make as much sense and don't feel as powerful as they would if you knew the backstory and how things came to this point.

The writing from Lancaster is as brilliant as ever and what I like most about him is that he doesn't overreach. By that I mean, his stories don't go into the realm of 'disbelief suspension' like many others do, there aren't over-elaborate twists or ridiculous plot holes just honest, robust policing from a dedicated group of hard-working, honest officers - no heroes, just good people doing their best.

Thanks to Netgalley and HQ Digital for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Book 4 in the Max Craigie series.

Affi Smith is a young victim of people trafficking who has been given a new start in the Scottish highlands. She is supposed to be safe now. Heading out for a run she is late returning home. Written off as just another runaway Max's wife Katie isn't so sure it's that simple.

Tasked with looking into her disappearance Max and Janie head north to interview her parents. What follows is more chilling than they could have guessed.

This series is one of the best around. With likable, strong character's, a plot line that hooks you from start to finish and action galore I couldn't put this book down.

A cracking read that will keep you up into the early hours.

Another real pager in the Max Craigie series. An Albanian gangster is in his sights and more corruption in Police Scotland. Gritty, atmospheric and so believable. Hooked from the first to the last page. Great characters and masterful story telling. A well deserved five stars and another addition to this MUST READ series.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.