I was so excited when I found out that Tony Parson's would be returning to his Max Wolfe series and even more so when I was given the opportunity to read it as an ARC. So thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for that.
I have read all of Tony's books and really enjoyed them all. However, the Max Wolfe series has been his best writing by far. Max lives with his daughter Scout and their beloved dog Stan. He's a detective in the met, trying to solve murders and getting involved in the seedy underworld of criminal London.
In this latest book, Scout is growing up, nearly a teenager and pushing boundaries. I did think she seemed much older than 12, but maybe that's how children are these days? Max is struggling to connect with Scout, but like all parents, he is trying his best. Luckily, they still have Stan to bring them together.
The main part of the story involves a murder of a homeless person. Someone Max knows. There is the release of a prisoner from his early days as a PC. More murders happen. There are twists and turns. Max is on the case or so we think, but are things as they seem?
I always enjoy the police part of the Max Wolfe books, but to be honest, this book was so much more than that. Max relationship with his daughter was very much the main focus for me. And of course Stan. The forward includes a brief but poignant note that his own beloved Stan died, and this broke my heart as my own dog died 2 days before Stan. I presume that while Tony was writing this Stan was showing signs of coming to the end of his life, and he chose to mirror that in this book. I don't often cry over a book, but that last chapter. Oh my good Tony , you had me bawling.
5 big fat stars from me, and please keep the Max stories coming. I love him!!
By the way, this can be read as a stand-alone, but do yourself a favour and read them all. You won't be disappointed.

Gripping, Layered, and Immensely Satisfying

Tony Parsons delivers yet another brilliant police mystery with Murder for Busy People. The book masterfully weaves together three compelling threads. The main plot—whether a recently released criminal is bent on vengeance—keeps you on edge with its perfectly timed twists and turns. The secondary plot, involving police officers potentially abusing and murdering vulnerable young girls, adds a disturbing element to the story, reflecting the conflicts of police investigating “their own”.

The final plot is the emotional core surrounding Max Wolfe’s teenage daughter, Scout. As Wolfe navigates the perils of police work, the tension in his personal life adds a whole new layer to the narrative, making you feel deeply invested in these characters.

The surprises are frequent and skillfully placed, never once feeling forced or overdone. Parsons knows how to balance tension and emotion. For anyone who loves a mystery that’s not only smart but emotionally resonant, this one is a must-read!

I found this book a little boring, an easy read, but no twists or suspense. I also don’t think the title matches the book.

If you enjoyed the other books in this series you will no doubt enjoy this one. It gives you everything you would expect from a Max Wolfe novel. The crimes threads that run through it are a mixture of some fairly straightforward ones and some with twists that will surprise. However I felt the main theme of the novel was the relationship between Max and his daughter Scout. Her transition to difficult teenager and his coping strategies remind me more of earlier Parsons books such as Man and Boy. The themes of change, growing up, death and life passing by quickly impact on the various threads in the book and take it beyond a mere crime novel.

Max Wolfe is back and on fine form as always.
He finds himself embroiled in the aftermath of a case that involved his first arrest way back when. He does have a knack of inadvertently coming across bodies so I am glad I don't frequent the same places as him.

His daughter Scout is now 12 and showing signs of teenage rebellion which is all new to Max. I am surprised that he gives her as much freedom as he does around London at night especially given his job and the sights he sees.

Is it plausible that someone would come after an arresting officer years later? Maybe but I would hope not.

Lots of twists and turns in another enjoyable book by Tony Parsons.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for the DRC.

This is a great series of books. Max is my favourite London detective. Perfect balance of police procedure and single parenting with Scout now approaching the difficult teenage phase. Superb story as usual. Tony Parsons delivers great stories which are easy and fun to read.

This book makes me sigh contentedly. Max Wolfe is a perfect London detective. Crime, violence and single parent family all rolled into one. My hero. Long may he reign x

Pacy Max Wolfe thriller. As a young copper Wolfe arrested Emma Moon at the screne of a robbery where two men were murdered. The rest of the robbers were never caught and Moon never talked or gave their identities up. When she is released from prison men suspected to be amongst the robbers start to die and the gang of robbers believe she is scaring the men to death. Wolfe will need to work through not only the murders happening now but also get to the bottom of what happened on that night decades ago. Good pacing and an entertaining read.

This was my first Max Wolfe thriller and I really enjoyed it. Max's work as a detective and his concern as a single parent for his daughter give extra tension and the mystery of different murders is finally revealed and was totally unexpected. Very compelling reading!

Murder for Busy People by Tony Parsons is #7 in the DS Max Wolfe series and sees Wolfe reintroduced to Emma Moon who was his first arrest as a fresh faced young Police Constable earlier in his career.

Moon was found by Wolfe at a house where a criminal gang had stolen the safe to open back at their safe house later. Also at the location are two dead bodies so Wolfe had to detain Moon to protect the scene and as a potential suspect. Moon pleads with Wolfe to let her go, as a young mother whose troubled son wouldn’t survive without her. As Moon only answered the Police questions with ‘no comment’, Moon was sentenced to life imprisonment for joint venture murder.

After serving 16 years and never speaking a word about the crime, or the other parties involved Moon is picking up the pieces of her life when members of the gang thought to be guilty of the theft start dying. Is Moon meting out her own justice on those who left her to lose the best years of her life in prison and for a son who she correctly predicted an untimely death. Also, is Wolfe himself at risk as the arrresting officer years earlier, who ignored her pleas and put his job first?

An interesting plot, some good twists and doesn’t get too tied up in police procedures. A nice easy reading ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for fans of the series, but one which doesn’t necessarily need to be read in order.

Advanced copy provided by Net Galley before the January ’25 release date in exchange for an honest review.

It’s good to have a new Max Wolfe book, although this one is pretty dark.
It addresses toxic relationships inside, and outside the Met, and the current issue of corrupt police officers.
Alongside this, Max is having problems with his fast-growing, and maturing, daughter Scout.
The murder of a homeless woman near Max’s apartment is set alongside a complex investigation involving a recently-released prisoner.
Needless to say, both are resolved, not without a few unexpected twists along the way.
There is some trademark black humour, good music, and hope for Max and Scout (and Stan) by the end.
This series just gets better and better.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for the opportunity to read this book.

Max Wolfe is back ! Just a brilliant read as always. I just love this series - give it a try, you won't be disappointed.

Further adventures of Detective Max Wolfe, trying to do the right thing at home and at work, somehow succeeding and failing at the same time.

This London metropolitan police story centers around a single male parent, his twelve year old daughter and the various problems encountered in the inner city. A robbery, sixteen years ago, and the repercussions in present time, is the central to the story and the author brings to life the characters in a realistic manner. Recommended.

Quite engaging and a straight forward story, but suffered from a completely ridiculous medical facts, particularly how some people died. Too many coincidences as well. Saved only by a nice twist at the end.

I just loved this book, a right page turner.

Return of Max as detective. An arrest of over 16 years ago comes back to haunt him big style. Was she innocent or were others to blame and she took the hit? Love of her life, really?

A single parent raising a daughter and a dog makes this a compelling read.

It took me a while to get into this book - I almost gave up but I'm glad I persevered as the plot got me interesting and the suspense increased. I'm glad I read to the end.
What I loved:
- The descriptions of London and it's various characters - it made me feel as if I was there.
- The plot twists - it got very exciting in the last third of the book.

What I didn't enjoy:
- The constant reference to people's accents - I understand why the author does it but it became a bit overkill.
- The beginning just didn't get me hooked - it all seemed a bit fragmented compared to the rest of the book.

When Emma a young woman was released after serving 10 years in prison for being caught on the scene of a bank with two dead bodies after refusing to give any defence at her trial; mysterious deaths occur one by one of the men of the gang involved. The investigating officer is the same as one the one who arrested your in the first place. Being convinced that it was her taking revenge for being abandoned at the scene of the robbery his investigations seemed to lead nowhere but how could it be?

Book 7 in the Max Wolfe series but can easily be read as a standalone.
It was great to catch up with Max, his daughter Scout, and Stan the dog,we find the relationship between father and his teenage daughter through strong is at times very delicate.
The plot line is so well written you feel for the characters and the gritty and dangerous sides of London are captured brilliantly.The story has multiple plots with Max confronting a case from the past that has links to a new investigation as well as dealing with some rouge colleagues.
You can't beat a book where the culprit just isn't on your mind, and then the bomb drops, and it's a big OOH moment.
This is a well crafted thriller that grips from the outset.
Readers are in for a gritty intriguing read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for the ARC.

I was really looking forward to this book as I've enjoyed the rest of the series but was disappointed. It wasn't bad but definitely not great. It's a run of the mill detective story. Predictable and not particularly exciting.