I'd forgotten how much I love this series and the perfectly imperfect characters of the Policing Standards Reassurance Team, just a couple of chapters in and once again I was hooked.

Organised crime boss Tam Hardie is dead, Tam Jnr has vanished without trace and younger son Davie's finding things tough. He no longer has the clout he once had and two years into a 12 year sentence he's spending 23 hours a day in his cell, he gets one shower a week, no gym and the foods crap. He's ready to talk.

For any early parole date and a transfer to a less restrictive prison he's willing to turn snitch but he has one further demand, he doesn't want DS Max Craigie of Scotlands Policing Standards Reassurance Team anywhere near it. A new Deputy Chief Constable keen to make her mark and aware that the history between DS Craigie and the Hardies could lead to allegations of prejudice doesn't take much convincing.

I read this in one go, it was perfectly paced with great characters and a good mix of police procedural, drama, action and intrigue.

Book five in the DS Max Craigie series enough background is given that this could certainly be read as a standalone novel but in a series that goes from strength to strength I'd definitely recommend reading them all.

My Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for the advance review copy, I was under no obligation and all opinions expressed are my own.

Another fantastic book by Neil Lancaster, continuing the series of DS Max Craigie and the rest of the team.

Brilliant storyline, involving the Hardie brothers, the last remaining members of the notorious criminal family.

Corruption, murder, lies, coverups, it has it all. So easy to read but at the same time, compelling and quite simply, unputdownable.

Highly recommend and cannot wait for the next installment, assuming there is one!

My thanks to NetGalley and HQ for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy in return for an honest review.

Wow, Neil Lancaster has wrote a cracker of a read here that included the return of previous characters. I devoured this book in one day, and kept returning to continue reading it whenever I could. I really like Craigie and his team, and it was great to be back with them as they chase all leads on a corruption investigation. I love the banter between the characters and the humour the author brings into his writing that makes this such a great read. The authors writing style is engaging and very entertaining and hit the ground running at the start. It definitely grabbed my attention, drew me straight in and I was hanging on every word. I loved all the separate threads that had me second guessing what would happen next. And the glimpses into the characters home and personal lives rounds them out nicely. All begins to come together and tie up beautifully towards the end and I was right in guessing the corrupt character. Overall, a very VERY good read that I'd recommend. It's the fifth in the series so if you've not read any of the previous books I'd suggest you do so you're familiar with the characters and their histories. Neil Lancaster is fast becoming one of my favourite authors and I've loved every one of his books.

4 stars

A reliably good read. Always an intriguing plot that moves at a good pace but still just this side of believable. I think this works as a stand alone novel too.

Fab, fab, fab! I’ve read all the DS Max Craigie books and have loved every one. Max and all his team are great but this series would not be the same without Ross or Barney. Every time I turn a page and see either of their names I know there’s a chuckle on the way. As usual, this book had me gripped from the beginning and, as usual, I thought I knew who The Ace was going to be. I’m always wrong, and it’s always such a shock to find out who the Mr Big is at the end. I can’t wait for the next in the series so come on Mr Lancaster get writing! Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a thrilling read.

DS Max Craigie #5

The devils Max knows are the Hardie gang with leader Tam Junior still missing after a prison break. Tam’s brother Davie, also incarcerated, makes claims to his solicitor that he has information on a missing person case of sex worker Beata Dabrowski that is so explosive it will secure him a place in a less harsh prison than his current placement at Shotts. He refuses to allow his solicitor to divulge any information to Max so he makes a call to DCS Miles Wakefield who in turn approaches the new Deputy Chief Constable, the steely and ruthlessly efficient Louise Campbell. She agrees to allow an interview with Davie but will keep the “Police Standards Reassurance Team” led by the legendary tactful (not) DI Ross Fraser out of the equation. However, knowing the teams wiley ways how likely is it they’ll stay out of the loop? Let’s hope in Davie’s case that snitches don’t get stitches.

I absolutely love this series and the eager anticipation of starting a new Neil Lancaster is sky high and I can say with certainty that he doesn’t let his readers down. This is yet another cracking read that has me riveted from the start and that never lets up. One of the reasons for the enthusiasm for the series is the fantastic group of characters the author has created. Max and his partner DC Janie Calder are steady away, highly skilled and motivated and there’s terrific banter between them. Yorkshireman Barney, ex MI5 and on surveillance and Ross provide many laughs that helps to dilute some of the gritty darkness they encounter from the nefarious characters they are trying to unmask. All of them are extremely well portrayed so they spring to life from the pages. Things are never dull when this team are around. I love the tension you can cut with a knife in Ross’s encounters with Louise Campbell who has more than met her match there.

The plot is fast paced, it’s chock full of tension and suspense. I so enjoy that it starts in one place and then spins off in multiple directions and although it does get complex and convoluted it’s written with such clarity you never lose your way. There’s deep doo-doo all around, depths of wickedness and amoral behaviour with corruption that takes your breath away as the team use all their powers to root out the bad apples. There are some good cliffhangers at the end of chapters where I’m on tenterhooks wanting to know thus making it impossible to put the book down. My advice? Set yourself a block of time as this is a one sit read.

As ever, it’s entertaining, the settings are terrific and well utilised and I love the ultimate end. Can’t wait for number six.

This can be read as a standalone as the author does a good job of gap filling but to be honest you are missing out on a belter of a series.

Kudos Mr L, you’ve done it again and knocked it out of the park although since we’re in Scotland maybe a hole in one is more appropriate.

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

Thank you to Netgallery and the publisher for this ARC. Wow, what a book where do I even begin I loved it! A fantastic thriller with many twists and twists throughout and lots of suspenseful moments thrown in. This is the first book I’ve read by this author and he is definitely my go to author now, it was a cracking book!

I liked all the characters my favourite one was Max. I had so many questions as the book progressed who was the famous ‘Ace’ I thought I had figured out but I was so wrong! I would highly recommend this book by a fantastic author definitely one of the best books to start off 2024! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 stars!

There is a rule in the Hardie Clan - you never help the police - but with Tam Hardie Snr dead and Jnr missing, Davie Hardie takes the opportunity to use his knowledge of a disappearance to try and shorten his sentence, against the advice of his brother. He has just one caveat - Max Craigie and his team cannot know a thing. With a new Deputy Chief Constable wanting to make her mark, she is more than willing to agree but some forces may not still trust the Hardies.

This is another brilliant book from Neil Lancaster - a 5* effort.

Wow. Neil Lancaster never disappoints. What a brilliant read. It was like dropping a pebble in a puddle and watching the ripples spread. It starts off with a contract murder, but the ripples just kept on spreading as the story unfolded. As the reader you think it is quite straightforward, until the ripples give up the next, and the next, and the next characters involvement until Max and his team (and the reader) have more questions than answers.
The storyline does not disappoint with the teams working separately and together to discover who is the mastermind. It was great to see all the usual characters interacting together with some realistic banter. Barney and Norma really come into their own with their excellent tech input.

So… Max Craigie book five! The book starts with the disappearance of a Polish woman six years earlier. Davie Hardie, who was imprisoned as a result of a previous case of Max's, is not happy in prison and wishes to trade information on the case for a cushier time in prison. However he is adamant that he will not have Max involved in the discussions even though it will "shake Scotland to its foundations".

Max and the team are to know nothing about Hardie's discussion with the police however it might come to his attention via a roundabout method. It's always possible that things will be less than straightforward with the Hardie family and given his previous interest in them will Max stay away for what goes on? The book follows this story and the far wider ramifications of it. Fans of this series (& it really is worth starting it at the beginning not here) will be pleased to hear the this features all of the usual crew including Barney the freelance "spook" and an appearance by Bruce Ferguson. Inevitably there will be some evidence of corruptions but where will that lead. Plenty of tension and action here together with some nail biting moments - all very good reading.

I guess I am fairly surprised at just how good this series continues to be. Book one was great and this one and the previous book I could argue are even better. That is no mean feat and shows just what a good writer Lancaster is. I don't read much crime fiction these days and rarely follow series. However, for me, this ticks all the boxes I want from such a series - it is definitely a series I will continue to follow. The pace and tension are excellent. The characters are very well worked and developed. Personally I'm pleased that Max's boss Ross seems to have been toned down slightly - I realise that he is a "real character" however he had begun to irritate me but is far better in this story. For me this is genuinely one of the best police/action type thriller series around currently. My partner and I tend not to see reading matter in the same ways however she also loves this series so it may well continue to have a wide appeal - I would certainly recommend it. 4.5/5 and rounded up very happily.

A very good thriller - works as a standalone although there is a lot of back story involving both DS Max Craigie and his team and the Hardie crime family.

The novel revolves around the death of a Polish woman six years before. The remaining Hardie knows where the body is - and agrees to tell the police in return for favours. Max is instantly suspicious: no member of the Hardie family has ever helped the police with anything. There are hints that a VIP was involved in the death, and when several people linked to the killing are murdered it is clear someone is covering their tracks.

The Devil You Know is strong on character development and action. The sense of place is weak at times, with little description or detail to anchor the scenes. But the fast pace and unresolved identities of a mole in the police and the MR Big behind the killings make this an intriguing read.

Another excellent book in the DS Cragie series. Although it helps if you have read the previous books, you can certainly read this as a standalone.

A great storyline that keeps you intrieged right throughout the book and characters you get into right from the off. Definitely a book to highly recommend!

Neil Lancaster is genuinely one of my most reliable authors. Each time I read his novels, he delivers a cracking read.

This is book 5 in the DS Max Craigie series and, for me, the best yet. Although this could be read as a standalone, and the necessary gaps are filled in for those who haven't followed the series, I honestly think you would lose so much from not reading these in order.

It's hard to tell the synopsis of this one without giving away what happened in previous novels and I want to avoid spoilers for those who haven't read the full series.

All I will say is Craigie and the gang are once again facing up against the Hardie's, corrupt cops and many other obstacles as they try and uncover corruption at the highest levels.

A cracking read and I can't wait for the next one in the series. Thanks to Netgalley and HQ Digital for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Neil brings yet another gripping, cutthroat story to life in The Devil You Know. In this book Neil ramps up the tension and throws us mere readers several curveballs to get our heads around, and he does it spectacularly well. Brilliantly plotted, with a hefty dose of the humour of Ross to give us a laugh at just the right moment. The Devil You Know is an absolute must for crime fiction fans.

Wow!! What a stunning book. I couldn’t put it down. It’s the continuing story of the Hardie family and their connections to Max Craigie and Janie Calder and trying to get rid of bent coppers. This one concerns the death of a kept woman some years previously and where her body has been dumped. But someone is telling the bad guys what is going on. But Barney the tech guy always has an answer and a spare gadget lying around that just happens to come in handy. It’s so fast paced I could see this as a tv series.

This was yet another brilliant book in the Max Craigie series, one of my must read series to be honest. This time they’re specifically excluded from a case involving one of the Hardie brothers trying to cooperate with police Scotland however when they find out about it thanks to Max’s source they’re instantly suspicious. Although there are mentions of their lives outside work, especially in Max’s case, this seems to focus more on the job this time and with a new ambitious DCC who doesn’t see the need for their team at all they’re not just fighting the criminals but one of their bosses too which made for interesting politics. As ever the main perpetrator’s identity is well concealed and an interesting revelation and the action includes brilliantly controversial tactics. Although this is part of a series it could be read as a standalone (although personally I think you’d be missing out on a great series) as it doesn’t have any hard to explain backstory. Can’t wait to find out what’s instore for Max and the team next.

3.5 🌟

I try not to jump into a new series a few books in, but the fab reviews swayed me..
Glad I did.
Thr writing style made it easy to follow, easy to like Max and his gang, and not feel like I'd missed out on not reading thr previous books.
Plenty of bodies to keep us all busy, and a book that deserves the praise it's getting.
I will be looking out for more Lancaster in the future!

Excellent.no other words for it to be honest. Having said that, I didn’t expect anything less, having read Neil’s previous books.. fast moving story lines with a nice mix of characters. Won’t take you long to read as it keeps you turning the pages.

I have read all of Neil Lancaster’s Craigie series. This story includes some links to previous books so would recommend that the books are read in order. Max Craigie is a veteran of Afghanistan now in the police so has personal issues to deal with due to trauma. In this book he doesn’t seem so consumed by them as before. His personal life is more stable and his work is demanding but rewarding. This story centres around a death/murder six years ago which was unsolved but the knowledge of which is being used as a bargaining chip. A VIP is keen to keep the past hidden but it’s worth too much to some to stay quiet. There is a real cat and mouse element to the narrative. Who is the VIP? How is information leaking? Can you trust members of a criminal family to tell the truth? I really liked this episode, can’t wait to see where Max is going next! Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for a prepublication ebook in return for an honest review.