Member Reviews

The Devil You Know is the next installment in the DS Max Craigie, which quickly became one of my favourite crime series. I love the spin on the typical police procedural, with Craigie's team involved in uncovering corruption. There's also some long running themes across the books, which feature again in this book. Davie Hardie is the last man standing of the infamous Hardie crime family, and currently in prison for his crimes. He's looking for a way out, and is offering information about a cold case murder in exchange for his freedom. However it's not a straightforward exchange for Hardie, as you can be sure that there are others who want to keep him silent.

What I really enjoyed in The Devil You Know is the in-depth characterisation, which will at times suprise you. Davie Hardie may have been part of a top level crime syndicate but it doesn't mean he can't be vulnerable in the face of danger.

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When someone works really hard to ensure that Scotland's finest corruption busting cop team is kept away from a case, you know straight off the bat that it's just not going to end well. For the criminals, that is. To be fair, I don't even think Davie Hardie could predict how epically badly his attempt at double cross and subterfuge might go, but Neil Lancaster certainly takes us all to very unexpected places. Right from the very beginning of The Devil You Know you can see that there are dark and powerful forces in play, and even the merest hint that their security and freedom is at stake is likely to lead to a bid for retribution. But it's not just Hardie who needs to watch his back and far from being excluded from the case, Max Craigie and the team are set to face one of the biggest showdowns of their career. And I loved it.

I do love this series. A real blend of action, tension and some good old fashioned humour makes for a very addictive and fast paced read. As character's go, Max Craigie is compelling enough to capture a reader's attention, but when you look at the wider team, fellow officer, DC Janie Calder, former spook Barney, Intelligence Analyst and all round computer wiz, Norma, and their overly sarcastic leader, DI Ross Fraser, you have the perfect mix of personalities and capabilities, even if, in Ross' case, it seems to centre mostly around winding up his superiors with a less than respectful approach to communication. I really love spending time with them and just know, no matter what challenges they face, they are going to come good. Not that it doesn't come close to disaster at times, and this book is no exception. But if they go down, they are going to go down swinging and, for Max especially, there is too much at stake to drop the ball on the particular case.

This is a proper cloak and dagger kind of a read. Whilst we know who some of the bad guys are, they are not the person ultimately pulling the strings. There is a promise of a really big and notable scalp if they can get to the root of this particular evil but the author plays his cards very close to his chest and the identity of this books 'Mr Big' is well hidden. Keeping Max and co on the periphery does add a layer of complexity to the investigation, but you know the team won't just sit back and relax - that would make for far too dull a read if the bad guys are allowed to just run riot around the streets of Scotland. There might not actually be a lot of running involved in this case, but there is plenty of tracking and a tidy amount of misdirection and a chase, of sorts, up the country. With plenty of surprises, and more than the odd moment of shoot 'em up action, there is plenty to keep the avid police thriller lover glued to the page, and for those of us who love the irreverent, and sometimes obscenity charged humour, rest assured, Ross is on fine form.

The race towards the end is truly dramatic, the uncovering of the 'double agent' quite surprising but effective. The ultimate ending - well quite sweet to be honest, but not sure what impact that will have i the future. But, if I didn't know better, I'd be very wary of visiting Scotland - the amount of lawlessness that seems to exist in Neil Lancaster's fictional police force alone should give us cause to stop and think. But thankfully Max, Janie and the gang are clearing it all up, one cracking case at a time, and I am totally here for that. Definitely recommended.

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Whilst this is the fifth in the DS Max Craigie series, this reads easily as a stand alone. The Devil You Know follows Max and his team trying to crack a brutal corruption case.

This book is absolutely jam packed with action, drama and some grizzly murder scenes. Its fast pace makes it an utter page turner! I really enjoyed it and fully got behind Max and his team. It got my blood pumping and heart racing in some of the scenes. I loved the descriptive nature and the humour peppered throughout (I think “you nugget” is now one of my favourite insults and had me chuckling). The suspense was great and I felt it was cleverly written and had a believable storyline.

My only criticism is that I’d have liked “The Ace” to have been a bit more of a central character. I felt like I was more “who?” than “whaaaaat?” when we found out who it was. It could have been a touch more of a jaw dropping moment.

Excellent series, would recommend. A solid four stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for my advanced copy.

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I always look forward to reading the next Max Craigie novel and this one didn’t disappoint. Prisoner Davie Hardie announces that he has information relating to a very important person’s involvement in a murder several years ago. He says he wants protection and a transfer in exchange for the information.
Max doesn’t think he can be trusted but new DCC Louise Campbell thinks otherwise and deliberately excludes Craigie from investigations.
When things don’t quite go according to plan Max and his team are soon back on the case , on the hunt for a killer and his boss, but the scenario develops into the hunters becoming the hunted.
This is a tense , pacy thriller which you won’t want to put down .
Thank you very much to the publishers for the very welcome ARC.

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Neil Lancaster - you’ve done it again! The Devil You Know is another cracking read in the Max Craigie series, full of twists and turns.
I was a latecomer to this series, starting with Blood Runs Cold, I’ve since read the back catalogue and not a single book disappoints.
Thoroughly recommend - 5stars!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

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DS Max Craigie returns in The Devil You Know which is another excellent police corruption novel from Neil Lancaster which kept the pages turning from the first page to the last one.

This is a superb series and the latest book is definitely recommended.

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Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I must admit I haven't read the previous books, but it don't think this hindered my enjoyment or spoiled the read. Well-written and a great plot. Recommended.

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Well that was a read and a half! So much so that I'm still recovering... thrills, humour, brilliant characters and a hero you can relate to in Max Craigie.
What I love most about this series is that the natural progression of the series characters is believable and that makes me totally invested in them!
The writing is fast paced and the techie elements add to the authenticity of the plot.
5* from me

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*4.5 stars*

Book #5 in the DS Max Craigie series, and it’s certainly lost none of its appeal.

Six years ago Polish sex worker, Beata Dabrowski met up with her lover in a Glasgow hotel and then simply disappeared.

In the present day, DS Craigie and his team are once more involved with the Hardie crime family. Hardmen Davie and Frankie Hardie are both serving prison sentences, but Davie has something he wants to share with the police - he says he wasn’t responsible for Beata’s death, but he knows where her body can be found, however, he demands that he receives a shorter term in a cushier prison in return for leading police to the location. The day dawns when the mission to locate Beata’s body is to go ahead, but it’s unexpectedly high jacked by persons unknown, it’s a violent attack, and Craigie and his crew are drafted onto the case - a case that will be long, dangerous, but totally gripping for the reader.

Neil Lancaster really knows how to create an elaborately involving storyline and skilfully combines the multi-layered elements to create an electrifying climax. DS Craigie, and his colleagues, DI Ross Fraser, DC Janie Calder and ex MI5 (and blunt talking) Yorkshireman, Barney, provide the reader with much witty banter, which helps create a more light hearted and amusing backdrop to alleviate the seriousness of the crimes they’re dealing with. Another winner for Mr L.

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Neil Lancaster never disappoints. An excellent continuation of the series, this is another fast-paced and credible story. It's impossible not to get caught up in the action as the clock ticks towards closing the case before more damage is done.

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Neil Lancaster delivers a gripping Scottish thriller, perfect for fans of Ian Rankin and Marion Todd.

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I was lucky enough to catch the first book of the Max Craigie series and was immediately hooked. The latest case (no 5) is even better. It reads well as a stand-alone but I recommend reading from the beginning. If you are looking for a new series and like ‘tartan noir’ I highly recommend them. The latest book has characters referenced from a previous book but don’t be put off.Excellent plot, descriptive writing, authentic with good procedure and well written. Lots of action which builds to a gripping climax. The small team investigating corruption within the ranks is tight with plenty of banter. I really enjoyed it, a definite 5⭐️ from me.

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I thank the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC of thi book in return for a fair review. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and although the author does a great job of making it a standalone read, I am sure my enjoyment would have been greatly enhanced had I read the preceding 4 books in the series to which this appears to be a conclusion. The central characters are very well delineated and make a good central core to the book. The plot is clever and very satisfying. But i don't think I now want to go backwards so I look forwards to Neil Lancaster's next one - I have earmarked him as one to watch out for.

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Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an unbiased review.
I'll try to be unbiased, but it's difficult as I've been on the Max Craigie journey from book one and dare I say it, this is in my opinion probably the best one yet.
As well as the main story surrounding the murder of a woman in Glasgow six years ago, we learn more main characters from previous books.
As usual, there are loads of twists that i personally didn't see coming.
Already looking forward to the next one.
An easy task to award five stars.

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Six years earlier Polish sex Beata Dabrowski went missing and never heard of again. Six years on, Davie Hardie is in castrated in High security Shotts Prison after a previous crime he committed that DS Max Craigie was involved in and wants a cushier residence. He is willing to give information to Police Scotland of the whereabouts of Beata in exchange to be moved to a prison with better privileges and a shorter sentence. But he is adamant that he doesn’t want Max and his team to be involved. Little do they know there is more to this confession than meets the eye.
But when Davie is brought to the location by the Police and an escape plan is set in motion. Davie is shot dead by a mysterious sniper. But how did they know he would be at that location? The security of what was going down was tight. So, how did they find out? Is there a leak in the Police force? Max and his team are brought in to find out what happened and protect the last remain Hardy brother still in jail. Does he know what happened Beata all of them years ago?
The Devil you know is book 5 in the DS Max Craigie series and this series just seems to get better and better. This is another gripping full of action thriller. Mr Lancaster can do no wrong in my eyes. It not only has a great and believable storyline. But I love the characters in it. The relationships and the camaraderie in the team and don’t forget the Turncock tea cakes. I couldn’t get enough of this storyline I read it in one day, way through the night. I will wait in anticipation for the next book in this fabulous series. 5 stars from me.

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Book 5 in the Max Craigie series and it's another excellent police procedural from Neil Lancaster. The maverick team of Max, Ross, Barney and Janie are all great characters and good friends. Their chat is mostly funny and sometimes profound.
Once again, the case involves the remaining members of the Hardie family, who are now in prison, and want to give information about the murder of a missing Polish sex worker in exchange for a move to an easier prison. "Ace", who ordered the murder, is now in an influential position in the Scottish legal system.
Max, Ross and team try to find out the identity of Ace while dealing with multiple murders, violent gangsters and corrupt and incompetent colleagues. Brilliant, couldn't put it down. Highly recommended.

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Another book in the series featuring the team headed by D.I. Ross Fraser with D,S. Max Craigie , D.C. Janie Calder and supported by Norma Kirk the "civilian" and not forgetting Barney ex MI6 operative.
The Hardie family , Glasgow's leading crime family is now getting smaller .The loss of the family head and eldest son means that the two remaining brothers, who are behind bars are the last ones.
The youngest Hardie , Davie has a secret . This secret is the whereabouts of a young girls body .Murdered by arrangement by the head of the Hardie family , Davie's father. who has now died. The secret is not just about the girls location but who arranged the murder . This person is now according to Davie is a prominent and important person.
The cost of this knowledge is for Davie to have early release from prison and a transfer to a more conducive establishment.
D.I. Ross Fraser's group smell a rat and efforts to intervene are thwarted . But, as we know this has never stopped the intrepid .
A really exciting page turner of a police procedural , moves at a cracking pace which leaves the reader quite breathless at the end.
Great read enjoyed every page.

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Davie Hardie was a person to be feared not too long ago. Now his crime empire is gone most of his family are dead and he is stuck in prison with no immediate hope of release.
Hardie tells the police he knows where they can find the body of a young woman, Beata Dabrowski, who went missing years ago. If they meet his conditions he will take them to Beata’s grave.
When his plan goes badly wrong DS Max Craigie and his team are brought in to find out what happened, who leaked details of where Hardie would be and what really happened to Beata?
It quickly becomes clear that someone wants to keep the details of Beata’s death under wraps and they will go to any lengths to do so. Max and the team will need to be firing on all cylinders if they are going to get the result they need.
Strong characters, great storylines, if you like good crime that will have you gripped from the start and keep you guessing until the end, you need to read Neil Lancaster.

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I can safely say my rating would be higher if I had read the earlier books in the series. I feel like there were a lot of relationships and dynamics here that I just wasn't particularly invested in, however I’m sure if I had read the early 4 books these interactions would have been so much more meaningful. Unfortunately I didn’t realise this was the 5th book in a series before getting stuck in and I struggled to become invested in the plot - I think if I had read the earlier books this plot would have absolutely hooked me though.

This is everything you want from an action-packed thriller - It’s fast paced, lots of twists and turns, lots of suspense, a gripping mystery, engaging characters - it’s a really well rounded read. Lancaster also has a solid writing style which fits perfectly for this genre and I am definitely tempted to check out the earlier books in this series as there are so many positives here.

Because it’s so fast paced I definitely think this is a ‘read in one go’ type of book, and I think reading it all together will probably make it easier to keep track of all the twists and turns too!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an E-ARC

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"The silence that followed was deep and cloying, and only just offset by the whisper of the wind and the thrum of the generator.
'A leak.' Not again. Please not again'...There was a longer pause as the realisation sunk in, that corruption was at the centre of their world."

Book five of the police corruption, crime fiction series sees an old enemy, another Hardie family member, threatened and a cold case reignited. It's always good to be back in the world of DS Max Craigie, DC Janie Calder, DI Ross Frsser and their team of investigators, in Scotland. Firstly because it's character-driven, meaning the reader cares about them and secondly because justice is always done. There are dramatic murders and tense ambushes to deal with, in a rapidly changing situation with a number of criminals and potential internal suspects. Compelling and pacy, this is one of the best current crime fiction series. I highly recommend starting with the first, Dead Man's Grave, and working your way through the series.

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