I haven’t read other titles in this series, but that doesn’t matter as this works well as a standalone. Max is a detective with a socially aware daughter and a dog. His daughter is concerned about the plight of homeless people and this thread links well into the plot. Sixteen years earlier, his first arrest was Emma and she’s just been released from pension having kept her mouth shut about what really happened. Following he release, others involved in the original heist die. Max is convinced there’s a link with Emma.

This is fast paced and at times tense murder thriller. I found the characters con and the plot is satisfyingly complex to keep the intrigue high. Well written and a strong sense of place. I’ll read other titles in this series as I like Max Wolfe.

I haven’t read of this authors book before, let alone this series, but I had no difficulty in picking this one up and going with the flow

Highly recommended

Max, Scout and Stan are the trio that I found most interesting throughout the book. Great storyline for Detective Max Wolfe and I will be looking out for books from this author

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House

I haven’t read any of the other Max Wolfe books previously but that did not matter as Parsons gave enough background context without overdoing it. In this episode Wolfe is preoccupied with his relationship with his 12 year old daughter who wants to save the world. However his world is disrupted by the release from prison of the woman who was his very first arrest 16 years before. Emma is only just released when the other members of the heist for which only she was jailed start to die. Coincidence? Max think not…

Thoroughly enjoyed this read, and will be heading to pick up the rest in the series to date. Thanks to the author and the publisher and to NetGalley for the chance to read this Advance Reader Copy for which I have given my honest opinion.

4-5 stars

DS Max Wolfe #7 - and no, I’ve not read the series before but have no difficulty in picking this one up and going with the flow.

It all starts when Max is out walking Stan, his aging Cavalier, and finds a dead body being guarded by Buddy, his Rottweiler. Meanwhile, Max’s twelve year old daughter Scout, is deeply concerned about the rising number of homeless in the capital and the situation comes across their path in a big way. It all links to the release from prison of Emma Moon, Max’s first arrest as an officer, who has served sixteen years of a thirty year sentence for her part in a fatal armed robbery. Emma never betrays the other members of the ‘Hole in the Wall’ gang and remains the only one ever sentenced for the heist. Now, as at the time, Emma is big news but now she’s on a mission. What that will be only time will tell but maybe Max will need to keep checking over his shoulder.

I thoroughly enjoy this latest from the talented Tony Parsons. The storyline flows effortlessly, the pace is quick and the plot is intriguing from the start. It’s well thought out and becomes increasingly complex which fully captures my attention. It’s a good blend of the gritty via the underworld of organised crime combined with contemporary issues fused with Max’s difficulties of being a single parent to a thoughtful child who has her own agenda. It takes a deep dive into corruption and immorality which deepens the mystery but the biggest mystery of all is perhaps love. The further it progresses the more the plot strands reveals themselves and I find it gripping. There are twists and clever misdirections leading to an unpredictable end with the ultimate end being very moving.

What of the characters? I really like Max who feels very authentic and he’s a good man. I love the dynamic between him and Scout who at her tender age really cares about the homeless and this is a thoughtful aspect of the book.

I like Max enough to want to fill in the gaps between the first book and this - highly recommended.

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

First time reading a Max Wolfe book. Found it a little slow to start but once the story hooked you in, it kept you there right through with both the police story but also the family story.

Absolutely loved this book. The main character Max, is very likeable and a "decent copper". The relationship he has with his daughter is heart warming and totally relatable to what young teens are like. Chuck in Stan the Dog, and you've got me hooked.

There are two main storylines running through the book, both of which reach a satisfactory conclusion by the end - always good!

Add in a couple of twists and "wow, I didn't see that coming" moments throughout, and you've got the perfect recipe for what makes a great page turner.

Looking forward to more books with Max Wolfe.

I am thrilled to welcome back detective Max Wolfe after a long absence, and what a cracker this book is. Glamorous Emma Moon served 16 years in prison for her involvement in a house robbery that left two men dead. None of the other participants was caught, and she has always refused to strike a deal or testify against her then boyfriend, the gang leader, and his brother. Now she is out on licence, and it seems that she is out for revenge on those who abandoned her to her fate. Max was the young, newly qualified PC who arrested her, and he now finds himself drawn back into the case. His daughter Scout, now twelve, has also grown apart from him, and her newly discovered sense of social justice extends to her trying to help the homeless on the streets near their home, where danger is never far away, especially for young women alone. Both aspects of the plot are exciting and keep you guessing, and Parsons as usual manages to zone in on some very topical issues, especially regarding the problems facing the Met and the loss of public trust in them. The crime plots are ingenious and the threads are unravelled with pace and flair, and his trademark love for London and its traditions is very much in evidence. What gripped me most of all, though, was the sense of the passing of time and the changes that come with it. Max feels himself getting older, but this is underlined by Scout growing up and leaving behind their old routines together, and their dog Stan ageing noticeably. As a single parent especially, his heart is always vulnerable to anything harming Scout, but this all becomes more complicated as she moves towards her teenage years and he never feels quite good enough. An exciting crime thriller with depth and emotion- what more could I ask for?

I enjoyed this book. My first by Tony Parsons. Makes me want to read the previous Max Wolfe books. Well written and entertaining.
Also very few swear words which is hard to find in modern thrillers :)

I was granted an ARC of this book and somehow didn’t realise Max Wolfe was part of a series when requesting. That being said, I didn’t feel at any point as though I was at a disadvantage reading this having not read any of the others.

I did feel this was a little slow getting into it but after maybe the first 15% I didn’t want to put it down and read 70% in one day, which I think speaks for itself. The plot was full of twists and turns, and constantly had me guessing what was going to happen next and needing to read on. The ending did not disappoint at all and definitely lived up to the expectations I had formed throughout the book.

Max, Scout and Stan are a trio that I found myself invested in and I imagine if you’ve read this series from the start you would definitely feel a level of attachment towards the characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and definitely intend to read the rest of the Max Wolfe series, highly recommend!

I have waited so long for this book and it did not disappoint. It was nice to be back in the company of Max, Scout and Stan. I hope I don't have to wait as long for the next one.

Emma Moon has been released from jail after 16 years. Her arresting officer Max Wolfe is now a detective and members of Emmas old gang are being picked off one by one and killed. Is Emma behind this? Is Max next on the list? Being a single father he also has the added complication of will his daughter be targeted for revenge?
Although on the whole I enjoyed the story, I did find my mind wandering at times and maybe it was a little dragged out at the end.

A mundane morning dog walk takes a sinister turn for DS Max Wolfe when he uncovers a corpse tangled in the undergrowth of London's urban jungle. This macabre discovery is the grim harbinger of a tempestuous investigation, a puzzle with pieces scattered across a sixteen-year-old heist. Tony Parsons' Murder For Busy People isn't just a crime novel; it's a labyrinthine exploration of guilt, redemption, and the enduring shadows of the past.

As Wolfe delves deeper, the case grows more intricate, with each unearthed body a fresh layer of complexity. The specter of Emma Moon, a convict soon to be released, looms large, casting a shadow of doubt over every suspect. Parsons masterfully intertwines the gritty world of crime with Wolfe's personal struggles, creating a character who is as flawed and vulnerable as he is determined. The dynamic between Wolfe and his teenage daughter, Scout, provides a poignant counterpoint to the darkness of the investigation, offering glimpses of humanity in a world consumed by greed and violence.

Mad Wolfe is definitely back

What a fantastic read. I was hooked from the first page to the last

5 stars Thank you for the opportunity to review

Without doubt, Tony Parsons is a versatile author – from the thought-provoking ‘Man and Boy’ published a quarter of a century ago over his wonderful short stories (are they sadly now out of print?) to his psychological thrillers and the gritty thrillers that have emerged in the last decade. With his character Max Wolfe, Tony Parsons reprises the lone parent theme that he writes so well. This time, Max is negotiating a series of changes that make him realise how fast time passes: the daughter that Max is raising on his own is now almost a teenager, and the armed robber he arrested more than fifteen years ago by the name of Emma Moon has just been released from prison. Max is trying very hard to keep these two females apart from each other but finds that despite his best efforts, his personal and professional worlds eventually collide, with disastrous consequences ….

Written in a fast-paced, engaging and socially-aware manner, ‘Murder for Busy People’ is a wonderful addition to the Max Wolfe series that does not only unravel a compelling murder mystery, but also opens the reader’s eyes to some pressing urban issues. Highly recommended! Whilst writing, I wish to extend my thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

I was really looking forward to reading Murder for Busy People but after reading felt just a bit disappointed.
Same great characters and London settings. It’s great knowing where Max is and can almost be walking alongside when he is in Smithfield and other known locations. Loved the description of the aprons worn in Smithfield.
Bang up to date subjects, perhaps too many in one book but they were all important issues and dealt with care and attention.
All in all a good read but I have to say I just knew Bear was a ‘wrong un’ from the start and found the last few pages schmaltzy and unnecessary.

Another brilliant book by Parsons.
I was hooked from the start and reading it felt like watching one of my favourite detective tv shows.
I especially enjoyed the detail about Woolfe’s dog, having read about the author’s own pup 😢
Highly recommend this read!

Another cracker of a book with Max Wolfe, I enjoyed it immensely and did not see the twists coming, and Stan - oh lovely Stan. The best dog in the series of books.
Many thanks to the publisher for allowing me to read this and revel in.
Without wishing to give away any potential spoilers it felt almost like a farewell,

Another novel in the deservedly acclaimed Max Wolfe series. With his precocious daughter, Scout, approaching adolescence, missing her mother and often at odds with expectations, DS Max Wolfe finds that he has his hands full at home as well as at work.
Sixteen years earlier Max was instrumental in criminal Emma Moon’s arrest. Always insistent on her innocence, she has served her time for her part in an armed robbery which resulted in two deaths. Despite the fact that she took the rap for the rest of the gang, she has remained unswervingly loyal, refusing to reveal any details of the crime. Now she’s out and it looks as if she has come for vengeance on those who allowed her to rot in prison and those who put her there in the first place. And, with a diagnosis of stage 4 lung cancer, she hasn’t much time left.
Not only must Max watch his back and look out for his daughter, there’s work to do in investigating the murder of a young vagrant woman close to home. Max believes that she may be the victim of a predatory policeman using his position to extort sexual favours. Soon he hears that a police grooming gang operates out of a flat in Archway. Can this be true?
As ever, Tony Parsons manages several plotlines with consummate skill. The reader remains concerned for Max’s relationship with his daughter, whilst also trying to unpick rumours and truths. Fans of this series will certainly enjoy the latest tale whilst also appreciating that there are likely to be some rocky teenage moments ahead for Max and Scout to navigate!
My thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

Thoroughly enjoyed this latest of Wolfe investigations.
Emma Moon is an excellent character, easy to hate and hard to fathom and the grimy underworld that reveals itself via the murder of a homeless woman reads true to what we hear in the news about the way society treats those who fall through the gaps.
A really good plot, beautifully crafted.

I’ve read most of Tony Parsons previous novels - I loved his early family dramas but haven’t been keen on his more recent psychological thrillers. However the Max Wolfe series has always been my favourite and so I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read the latest instalment in this series.
Max, his daughter Scout, now aged 12 and their dog Stan are back, still living in their loft apartment in Smithfield. Emma Moon was one of Max’s first arrests 16 years ago, she is now out of prison and those involved in the armed robbery she was convicted for are dying. Alongside this plot line a homeless women is murdered and Parsons uses this to explore homelessness in London and the corrupt and abusive behaviour of some Met Officers.
I loved being back with Max and Scout and Parsons portrays the relationship between them extremely thoughtfully. The plot focuses on very current issues and like the rest of this series is well written and I raced through it over the course of 24 hours.
A recommended read that can be read as a stand-alone.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.