Murder for Busy People is a great mix of cold case and current crime for Max Wolfe to solve. Emma Moon has just been released from prison after serving 16 years for her part in an armed robbery that left two men dead. But she's never revealed the true secrets of the day in question. Now that she is out, and her beloved partner has moved on, will she talk? And more importantly, will she seek revenge?

Max Wolfe was the fresh faced office who arrested Emma Moon all those years ago, and soon becomes entangled with her again in the present day. Juggling a spate of murders and his relationship with teenage daughter Scout, Max really has his work cut out.

Murder for Busy People is an engaging read, with multiple storylines and excellent characters.

This is book 7 in the Max Wolfe series and although I haven’t read any of the previous novels, I had no trouble picking this one up. The plot line of this book was great and had me intrigued. However I felt in some parts that it was too slow paced and didn’t keep me completely enthralled. I did want to see how the plot unfolded through so would rate it 3 stars. Thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK and the author for the chance to review.

Having read a couple of books by this author, and really enjoying them, I was looking forward to reading this book, Surprisingly, however, this was the first book in the Max Wolfe series that I had read.
I loved it, one of my top reads of 2024. Like the other books of his that I have read, the author not only provides interesting and easy to read stories, he also provides great character progression developing relationships with the reader, he also brings out the character of the location where the story is set so that you feel you are in the same space.
This book looks at a number of storylines which all intertwine, from the perception of the police by the general public, the stress an difficulties involved in being an Authorised Firearms Officer, but most of all the relationship of a single parent father with his 11 year old daughter and their elderly dog. This is an high action police story but there are also elements of family life and romance. It covers a number of subjects that the reader can look at from a different perspective and can ponder over.
Do not be put off with this being the seventh book in a series as it reads very well as a standalone. I could appreciate there was a lot of background to the series but it did not deter my enjoyment
Many thanks to Random House UK Cornerstone, NetGalley and the author for providing me with an advanced electronic copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
The book is to be published on 2nd January 2025 and will be available in e-book, audiobook and hardback mediums

I cannot believe it has been so long since we were in Max Wolfe´s company. Nearly 5 years, in fact, since #Taken hit the shelves. A lot has changed in that time for all of us, and, it seems for Max. still, it was a very welcome return to Max and his colleagues, with Murder For Busy People providing all of the intrigue I've learned to expect from the series, as well as the compassion and emotion from the books' hero. This is not your typical police thriller, and as much as Max is engaged in a (possible) investigation into what might, or might not be, murder, these books offer so much more than the whodunnit of the crime.

That is what I like about the books. Max Wolfe, action hero as he may be, or at least have been, is also a father. And the exploration of his relationship with his daughter, Scout, and his ageing dog, Stan, is as much a part of the stories as the investigations he leads. In some respects, it is this aspects of Max's life that leads on this particular story. Yes - there is a case, sort of. People associated with an old case that Max was once involved in as a fairly green PC, start dying in unusual circumstances. It can't exactly, or easily, be declared murder but there is a clear connection. The question is whether someone from the case is seeking revenge or not and, if so, is Max also at risk. But if Max is, this means that Scout may be too, and as a girl on the cusp of teenage, she's already changing in ways that Max is struggling to keep up with. How do you keep your daughter safe when she is keeping secrets from you and engaging in a life that puts her right in the path of danger? I love this side of Max, the way in which Tony Parsons explores and highlights his compassion and the emotional turmoil Max feels in trying to protect Scout whilst also battling his feelings of guilt towards the woman whose conviction he helped to secure.

There is a secondary investigation in the book - or maybe I should call it the primary investigation given than Max can't quite get anyone to believe the people from the old case are actually in danger. It is the murder of a young homeless girl, who situation is amplified in that Max and Scout knew her, to a degree. The book highlights the plight of the many homeless people on the streets of London. The way in which they are largely ignored and discarded, and how disposable they seem to some. This is where we really see the kind of compassionate and independent girl Scout has become, her dedication to the defence of those less fortunate being just one of a few reasons Max finds himself at odds with his daughter. It is one of the many scenarios that tugs at the heart strings, and really makes you think.

If you are looking for some of the gruesome and intense moments of the earlier books, this latest offering may not quite deliver that as it is a far more contemplative and emotional novel than an thrill based one. There are scenes of action and tension, but they are far fewer than other books in the series, and whilst the sense of threat is ever present, it is less obvious and less pulse pounding in delivery. I still felt compelled to read onward - there is a real mystery at the heart of this book - but it was more about wanting to know what really happened than because of an intense rhythm or pace. And it is still a classic Max Wolfe story - all of the empathy and determination of our hero to ensure justice is done, just with a lot less bloodshed along the way.

Emma Moon has served her time for killing two people and now she is out and ready for revenge.
She has nothing left and is dying so needs to move fast and soon the bodies begin to appear.
The detective on the case is the one who years ago arrested her for the murders!

Just simply beautiful. Maybe a strange thing to say about a murder mystery story but it really was. The premise of the killings, people literally being scared to death because of an old score to settle is ingenious and original. The sensitive handling of who is the good guy and who are the bad is also exquisitely explored , especially in the landscape of Police who are not necessarily all they seem. The lines are so blurred it’s hard to know who to put your trust in. The main characters and supremely poignant relationship between Max, our detective and single parent to a fast growing up, almost teenage daughter is completely spot on, vulnerable, no instruction books and feeling your way through as though in the dark, superb and makes the characters so achingly real and likeable. My emotional dial was all over the place by this point but then Tony keeps writing a dog into the narrative and suddenly I’m gone, an emotional wreck, but I feel so blessed for having found and read this book. Full heartedly recommend if you can’t tell from my review thus far. More please!

Tony Parsons can certainly write a book that intrigues the reader!
Max Wolfe is back and it’s like he’s never been away , he’s a complex flawed family man ( single parent) .
The story revolves around Emma Moon who was involved in a robbery where two men died . She was the only member of the gang to serve time in prison and now she’s been released.
Is it a coincidence that the rest of the gang are starting to drop like flies now Emma is out?
Max was the police officer involved in the arrest of Emma and is now trying to stop the deaths of the rest of the team .
Is Emma getting her revenge and is Max on the hit list?
Max has his own way of working and doesn’t let the rules stop him .
He’s an independent maverick character which makes the pages fly by and left me wanting more!
A great read!
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone .

I have always enjoyed this series, and even after a long time since the last book, I was right back in that London loft with Max and Scout. Beautifully complex characters and a plot that kept me up very late to finish the book. Welcome back!

Tony Parsons can spin a yarn but it was so long since the last one in this series that I almost felt like I was starting as a new reader. Some of the character traits and back story were lost from my memory so I did feel a bit alienated and this took away form the overall enjoyment of the story. I also felt ion this case it was quite a manly read but hadn’t felt that in the past.

Emma Moon has just been released from prison after serving a long sentence for armed robbery. Max has never forgotten her as she was one of his first arrests and the rest of the gang had fled the scene. She also has something of a cult status as she never informed on the gang members who left her to carry the can. Now Emma is out of prison, people who had dealings with her are dying and Max has to investigate. But are Max and his teenage daughter also in danger? This is the First Max Wolfe book I’ve read. I didn’t realise it was part of a series and it works well as a standalone novel. It has a great plot and is full of action. I really enjoyed the setting in an area of London I know well. I found Max’s relationship with Scout, his thirteen year-old daughter odd as she seemed to be free to roam around the streets alone late at night. She’s an interesting character though with a strong social conscience which makes for some great tension with Max and his chosen career.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House UK for this review copy.

Definitely one with plenty of unforeseen twists and turns- a great page turner. Emma Moon served 16 years in prison -not informing on the other members of a robbery gone wrong. On her release deaths occur- is it a coincidence or is she involved.

Tony Parsons is quite new to me but he is definitely now on my list of favourite authors.
As a nervous rookie cop Max Wolfe put the cuffs on Emma Moon, charged with armed robbery where two people died, nine years later Max is now a respected detective and Emma is out on licence. Emma has always refused to name the other people involved in the crime and they have lived a comfortable life of freedom.
After Emma's release, her accomplices started dying one by one, all from natural causes.........or ware they, Max wasn't convinced.
Max has to combine his homicide duties with being a one parent family to his twelve year old daughter, Scout, Scout is mature beyond her years, she has a great social conscience and worries about the homeless, I could feel the anxiety of Max as he thinks that he is loosing the connection that he has with his beloved daughter.
When a young homeless woman asks Max for help, he is disturbed when she relates the series of events, this could open a can of worms, a can that no one wants opening and when the young girl is found dead Max must follow his conscience even though it could cause anger in people close to him.
This story has wonderful, relatable characters, Down to earth, Max who loves his daughter to distraction and worries that she is so independent in an unsafe city. Scout who loves her father but is at the awkward stage where she doesn't show it, Emma who is a complex character, served her time for a heinous crime but comes across ans gentle and caring and there is definitely a connection with Max. There are so many twists and turns in this complex story, so many leads, so many dead ends, so many red herrings, and a surprising ending that I didn't see coming, I am now a firm fan of Max Wolfe

Comment: Who was responsible for the robbery in London all those years ago. Was the right person arrested and jailed for all those years – was Max, at that time, a new wet behind the ears copper get set up? Out of prison now and is that person responsible for all the deaths now happening. Max, now a DI in the Met finds himself involved in the current aftermath of the robbery and what conclusion will he come to this time? Meanwhile, being a single parent to a 12-year-old girl isn’t making things easy. I enjoyed the book, but I’m not sure that the inclusion of the daughter helped the story along and would a police officer really let a child of that age do the things she did? My thanks to Net Galley and the author for an ARC.

Tony Parsons never disappoints me with his books and yet each time I think my luck may run out, it hasn't. Each of his books are different and there are twists that I never expected. Just when I think I might have worked it out, there's another turn. Emma Moon has just served a jail sentence but her story is unclear, it's complicated, except when she is let out, one thing is for sure, is it's payback time for her. The book moves fast and is tense. Max Wolf is the detective and a likable person. Murder mystery isn't always about bad people.
I can't wait for another book by this author.

I really enjoyed this book so much so that once I started reading it I just couldn’t put it down. The story was very gripping and I just had to read on to find out what happened next with unsuspecting surprise about one of the characters. It was just so good and I liked the characters as well. This was my first book by this author but it won’t be the last.

I would highly recommend reading this book if you like a detective story that just keeps you gripped with a good story and good characters.

I would like to thank Penguin and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book early.

Max Wolfe #7

Emma Moon has just been released from prison. She had been locked up for an armed robbery where two men were murdered. The rest of the miscreants escaped and Emma refused to name them. Since Emma has been liberated, the people who were involved in the robbery with her are dying. Is this a revenge case for DI Max Wolfe to solve?

What a gripping read this book was. There were some really good twists. The characters are complex and well-fleshed out. We also get the story of a homeless girl who Max keeps an eye on. I like the author's writing style. I wasn't expecting to cry at the end of this book.

Published 2nd January 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #RandomHouseUK #Cornerstone and the author #TonyParsons for my ARC of #MurderForBusyPeople in exchange for an honest review.

Max Wolfe is walking Stan, his dog on Hampstead Heath when he comes across a dead body. He recognises him as the alleged driver in a robbery murder 16 years ago. Upon investigation it appears he died of fright, but by no other hand The only person, Emma Moon, who served prison time for the murder is being released in a couple of days and her supporters have always declared her to be innocent.
Max is torn, he is being told by his superiors that it wasn't murder, but is curious why other members of the gang seem to be dying as well all of a sudden. He is also having problems with Scout. She is very mature for her 12 years and cares deeply. He feels that a gap has opened up between them and doesn't know how to handle it. When she says she has re-established contact with her mother, he goes with it.
One of the local homeless girls asks for help and later ends up dead, again he is told to leave it as someone has confessed, but he knows the person who confessed and he wouldn't have done it.
A well written book and a delight to read.

Max Wolfe is back in another of his murder mystery stories. Many years ago, as a fresh faced policeman he arrested a young woman for armed robbery and murder. The woman, Emma Moon never disclosed who was with her the night of the robbery.
But now, 16 years later, she’s out of jail, and the bodies are starting to pile up again. Is she finally out for revenge for her lost life?
Can Max find out what really happened - and avoid getting sucked into the Emma Moon vortex?
A good read, even if you haven’t read any of the Max Wolfe stories before.

This is the first book I’ve read in the Max Wolfe series, but now I need to go back to read them from the start! Max Wolfe finds the body of one of the perpetrators of a burglary which went wrong, just before the person who was jailed, Emma Stone, is released from prison. Max starts to wander if the two incidents are related, especially when the rest of the gang start to die, one after the other. Meanwhile, where is his 12 year old daughter disappearing to at night? With two police graduates to mentor, his life is always busy.
I loved this book. I was intrigued by Max’s daughter as well as the power Emma Stone reportedly had over her closest circle. With lots of twists and turns, this is an exciting and unpredictable story.

Another great story from Tony Parsons loved the main character DI Max Woolfe as he juggles looking after his daughter on his own after his wife left them and his job. He is trying to find the killer who is going after a gang. who committed a robbery 16 years ago and arrested a Emma Moon who refused to name the other suspects.
When Emma Moon is released the other men involved are being killed Max has to work out who is responsible and does not believe Emma Moon is responsible.
This is a story that will keep you guessing with many twists and also as he struggles with his daughter.
Would highly recommend for a thrilling read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily