I would like to thank Netgalley and HQ for an advance copy of Blood Runs Cold, the fourth novel to feature DS Max Craigie of Police Scotland.

Affi Smith goes missing on her fifteenth birthday, having already been trafficked and rescued. Max’s wife, Katie, is working with Affi and she’s worried, so she asks Max to investigate. What he finds is more trafficked children who have disappeared in similar circumstances and potential corruption in the force.

I thoroughly enjoyed Blood Runs Cold, which is an engrossing read with a bit of everything. There is humour, tension, cruelty, murder, organised crime and, above all, a cracking plot with a very satisfying conclusion.

The novel is told from various points of view, on both sides of the law. This gives the reader a rounded picture of events and an inkling of how the gangsters work. I also think that this overall view makes the plot easier to understand as there is a certain amount of double dealing and no comment interviews, plus the web of who did what is complicated.

There were times in the novel when I laughed out loud at the dialogue between team members, it is very Scottish and may lose a little for non natives, but I think the humour will still shine through. This is good as it lightens what is a very dark subject matter and loosens the tension in a high pressure investigation.

The plot itself is absorbing. It starts with the disappearance of a teenager and becomes a much wider and deeper investigation as more facts emerge. Max’s team deal with corruption, and they quickly become aware of a leak. I liked that the leaker’s identity was hidden until the denouement and while I had my suspicions I wasn’t sure enough to say I guessed in advance. Another plus point for the author.

A lot of the investigation revolves around the use of modern technology, phones, computers etc.. I’m not very literate in these areas but it was simple enough to follow, if eye opening at what they can do. Even more eye opening is that their specialist in this area is a pensioner.

Blood Runs Cold is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

DS Craigie is back! Such a good series set in Scotland with a great cast of characters that we are getting to know. This time its about a 15 year old who goes missing whilst out on her usual run. Affi Smith a promising athlete was trafficked by an Albanian gang but she was rescued and has a new identity and a new home and family in the Scottish highlands. So who knew where to find her after three years? Max Craigie has to start looking at his own team and decided who is the mole? The term "Scottish Noir" was made for this book I was unable to put this book down. Quick paced, filled with tension and jeopardy a truly riveting read.

Given that I've been on the journey with Max Craigie from the first installment it'll come as no real surprise that I thoroughly enjoyed this latest title. People trafiking, forced prostitution, murder, child abduction, drug running, police corruption, just a few of the subject matters covered in this book. Although there is the odd reference to events in previous books, it would not spoil the readers enjoyment in any way reading this as a standalone book.
A very easy decision to award five stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review the ARC.
Here's to the next one

Another cracking read from Neil Lancaster in the DS Max Craigie series. Brilliant plot, people trafficking, drugs, police corruption. Love the dynamics of the characters and the humour. Enjoy reading about the Scottish backdrop. Looking forward to more...

I have followed the Max Craigie series from the first one - this is #4 and the best yet. Scottish Noir at its best. Think ‘Line of Duty’ with the words leaping off the page. It grabs from the first page and is unrelenting right up to the heart stopping conclusion.
Neil Lancaster has the best credentials for writing police procedurals having been a serving officer and it shows. His plotting ( though it doesn’t seem like that) is impeccable and his descriptive powers bring it all to life. The banter between the team lightens what are dark subjects; trafficking, prostitution and corruption. I hope there are many more books to come. A definite 5⭐️ read and thoroughly recommended.

Really great story, full of tension and suspense. Neil Lancaster never fails to deliver.

Well written and hard to put down.

I loved this book and read it in 2 days. I have read a couple of Neil Lancaster stories and I am very impressed. This one is as good if not better than previous stories.
I love that its based in Scotland.

Another fast paced thriller in the DS Max Craigie series. From the abduction hook to the trial at the end it left you breathless. However, I think depth was sacrificed on the altar of pace and wasn't quite as good as some of the earlier ones in the series. There have been improvements though and these relate to technical outcomes being more in the realm of the possible rather than the wishful. I wonder if Neil Lancaster is going to do something with the mysterious Bruce Ferguson character who works for a Russian oligarch, not quite the ideal employer it may have been a few years ago, if indeed ever. There was a thread in the novel relating to the import of drugs but it seemed to die a death along the way. I would have liked a little more wit and repartee amongst the team, especially from Ross and of course the depth which previous novels had.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book , though I did struggle with the Scottish accents occasionally. The characters were all very believable & the story lines was absorbing

Neil Lancaster is an exceptional author! His CV is truly impressive:
He served as a military policeman and worked for the Metropolitan Police as a detective, investigating serious crimes in the capital and beyond. As a covert policing specialist, he used all manner of techniques to investigate and disrupt major crime and criminals. He now lives in the Scottish Highlands, writes crime and thriller novels....

I feel truly grateful for that man's service and just as grateful that he has decided to use his talented writing skills to educate us plebs into that devious underworld that we thankfully are not aware of....

Once again this book is packed with action and opens your eyes to what is out there...
The setting of the beautiful Scottish Highlands is as ever a delight to enjoy and makes you want to go there for yourself.

Really enjoyed DS Craigie's mystery solving with his cracking team and their lovely sense of humour.
Please hurry up and write the next book!!!!

I have read all the previous terrific Neil Lancaster Max Craigie books and looked forward with great anticipation to reading this. It did not disappoint, as always it is a fast paced thriller that covers many subjects including people trafficking, prostitution, a ruthless crime boss and police corruption.
The all action story continues throughout with many twists and turns and of course Neil's extensive knowledge of police procedures, plus the banter between Max, Janie, Ross and Barney make for a very believable and enjoyable story.
As ever this is a very highly recommended page turner from beginning to end and I look forward to more Max Craigie stories from the excellent Neil Lancaster.

I am most remise in not having read anything by Neil Lancaster before but wow what an introduction this novel was and I will soon be getting my teeth into his blacklist.
Neil definitely knows what he's talking about and it makes this thriller particularly gritty and realistic. The characters are particularly well formed, both the good guys and the bad guys, and the plot is completely up-to-date and relevant to the darker side of life in Scotland in the twenty-first century.
I don't usually like the phrase 'a real page turner' but it is absolutely spot on to describe this novel. I look forward to the series progressing.

Could be nothing less than five stars, as always.
Read it over a couple of days and really enjoyed it, so roll on the next one.
If you haven’t read Neil Lancaster before, you are missing out.

*4.5 stars*

15 year old Affi Smith goes out for her regular run but doesn’t return. Affi isn’t your usual 15 year old, because unfortunately she was trafficked as a child by an Albanian gang and used as a drug mule, but she was lucky enough to be rescued some three years ago. With a new identity, she’s living in the beautiful Scottish Highlands, with wonderful caring foster parents, and a possible future as an athlete. Life’s looking good, but no one foresaw that the people who trafficked her would return to claim back their prize!

DS Max Craigie realises that somewhere within the system they have a mole, someone who has revealed Affi’s whereabouts. The mole must be found before the same thing happens again, and if that means turning the spotlight on his own team, then so be it!

Author Neil Lancaster has written a cracking series, and book 4# confirms it. DS Craigie’s partnership with DC Jane Calder is great, they might trade insults but it’s always tongue in cheek and never designed to hurt. Craigie’s boss DI Ross Fraser may be potty mouthed, and delights in using Scottish slang, but he’s hilarious, and brings much to the table. Norma is their analyst and excels at her job, whilst Yorkshireman Barney is a surveillance expert who is blunt and to the point, but he’s also comical and extremely good at what he does. Together they make an excellent team, and they’ll need to be this time around!

The head of the Albanian gang that trafficked Affi goes by the name of ‘The Surgeon’ so it goes without saying that he’s a particularly vicious, violent and cruel criminal. However, the whole thing makes for a riveting, if dark and disturbing read. Gritty, fast paced, Scottish noir at its best, ‘Blood Runs Cold’ is a worthy addition to this terrific series and surely another winner for author Neil Lancaster.

Another great read in this series featuring DS Max Craigie and his team. Set in Scotland a young woman goes missing,a victim of trafficking. The race is on to find her. The characters in this series are great and very believable and the story will keep you guessing.

Neil Lancaster's book always hit the spot, and this Max Craigie story doesn't let the reader down one bit. A tense read with strong characters; banter between Max and Barry and then Ross with his irresistible foul mouth that can only make you smile, bring grit and a sense of realism to the book. Based on a story dealing with the despicable business of human trafficking and prostitution favoured by the Albanian "mafia" gangs and the leverage they use to force people into their world. Thrilling and horrible. Five stars.

Affi, a victim of trafficking, goes missing on a training run on her 15th birthday. While it appears that this case has little to do with Max's usual field of investigation it's a case his wife asks him to look at. It's apparent quite quickly that the fact Affi has been found by anyone to abduct may be as a result of a leak. So there's a missing girl to find as well as some violent criminals who may be getting inside information. Perfect for a new Max Craigie story.

It will come as no surprise to fans of this series that this is a fast moving and twisty tale. The people responsible for the girl's kidnapping and for major crimes in Glasgow and elsewhere are not nice people. There is violence in this story though not inappropriately to me but some may not like it.

The usual team are around - Max & Janie are great as always. Barney - retired but still active ex spook - plays a significant role in this and that worked well for me. I found Ross, Max's boss, slightly less irritating than in the previous 2 books which was good. The characters develop nicely in the course of the book. You even get a decent short story about Janie's background at the end of the book - it's worth a read.

I think this book was better for me than the previous two. The first book in the series was excellent as far as I was concerned but the next couple were perhaps simply readable. This one grabbed me more and sustained the pace and tension well. The whole story felt coherent and well planned. Some aspects were signposted to a degree while others caught me out - I always like that! To me anyone who is a fan of this series should love this one too. Those new to the series really ought to start at the first book (Dead Man's Grave) as it is very good and sets the tone for the series extremely well. 4.5/5 and happily rounded up.

Incredible book with vivid characters so realistic that you can both see and hear them. The clever plot takes you along with it as you become part of the urgent need to resolve this fast. A dark story but excellent light moments to show the hope and light that is always there.

BLOOD RUNS COLD by Neil Lancaster
Book 4 of the DS Max Craigie series
Rating 5 stars

This police procedural novel is a rollercoaster of a read. If you have not read D S Max Craigie before, please check him out, you will not regret it! The story is filled full of fabulous, true to life characters with laugh out loud dialogue, with twists and turns on every page. The writing style is wonderfully sharp and gritty, with dark humour running through the storyline. I enjoyed this book.

I would recommend this book and give a 5 star rating.

I WANT TO THANK NETGALLEY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF READING AN ADVANCED COPY OF THIS BOOK FOR AN HONEST REVIEW

5 Stars from me

Book 4 in the DS Max Craigie series sees Max and Janie working together to track down missing Affi Smith. 

This is a strong and gritty crime thriller balanced nicely with some soft and human touches and personable characters. Max, Janie and the team are fab - just the right take on hard and soft and they make for a formidable force. If I was lost, I'd want them looking for me!

There is some nice tension and the story runs at a great pace as they battle to find the missing 15 year old while trying to work out who on their team is leaking information to the bad guys.

This is definitely an 'I'll just read the next chapter' book and I am sure that all crime thriller fans will love it just as much as I did!