I hadn’t read any of Tony Parson’s Max Wolfe series of books before. Despite that, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Murder for Busy People.

I really liked Max Wolfe. He’s a police officer in the Metropolitan Police, also a single dad to a 12 year old Scout. They live in near the Smithfield’s Meat Markets in Central London with their aging dog Stan with Mrs Murphy keeping an eye on them. I quickly caught up on Max Wolfe’s personal history.

This case centres on Emma Moon, the first woman Max Wolfe ever arrested. She’s served her time and is out of prison and the bodycount is rising. Could Max also be in danger?

I enjoyed reading the book, there were some twists and turns and an ending I didn’t see coming. I really liked Max Wolfe, his daughter Scout and Mrs Murphy. I used to work close to Smithfield’s and knew the geography of that part of London.

I look forward to reading more Max Wolfe books by Tony Parsons.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers, Random House, for making this e-ARC available to me in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This was the first in the Max Wolfe series that I’ve read but will definitely be going back for more.
Great crime fiction that kept me guessing. Also loved the descriptions of living in central London and certainly bonded with Max and Scout.

It was great to see a return to Max Wolfe. Tony Parsons books are always an easy, enjoyable read and this is no exception. Thanks to Netgalley.

DC Max Wolfe is back - aging and facing the trials of being a single parent to a 12 year old daughter.
I really enjoyed this book.
Emma Moon is a flawed but amazing human being who did 16 years behind bars for being found in a house with dead bodies - Max arrested her at the time.
Now she’s out and her fellow accountable but not accused cohorts are dying - is she responsible?

Another great book from Tony Parsons, with another case for Max. Loved the development of the character and his family alongside the thrilling main storyline.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I have to be honest this is the first book I have read by this author and thought it was good, liked the storyline, liked the characters and I will be certainly look for more books from him

I read many of Tony Parsons earlier books like Man And Boy but his later work has been much more of the thriller/crime which isn’t usually my go to reading material.
However…this was gripping, full of unexpected twists and a really good read. I haven’t read anything with these characters before but it didn’t seem to matter. I will search out more of these books as I really enjoyed it.

I would highly recommend this book. It’s a great read. I haven’t read any of the other books in this series, however I was still able to pick it up quickly.
It’s a fast paced and well written thriller that I really enjoyed.

I love the Max Wolfe books so was excited to be offered an ARC.

This is probably my favourite Wolfe book to date. It is full of suspicious deaths, bent coppers, and lots of tense moments. I also found parts of the book very moving, especially between Scout and Max.

I didn't see one of the endings coming and was genuinely shocked when it all unravelled. Was gripped from the first to last page, and if you liked the previous books, you will love this.

A great book. A return if a familio character and an old adversary. Well written and I would recommend to anyone but would suggest you read the first book first - not necessary but a way of understanding what was important.

'Murder for Busy People' by Tony Parsons sees the return of Max Wolfe and what a return it is!

When Max was a new police officer he arrested Emma Moon at the scene of a horrific crime. Emma Moon was convicted and is now out after serving nine years in prison. Max and Emma's lives now clash again with disastrous consequences.

Max's home life now involves a teenage Scout and their elderly dog Stan and Scout's teenage years are placing pressure on their home life.

This is a fantastic return of Max Wolfe and fans will be delighted. Those that have not discovered Max Wolfe can read as a stand alone, but I guarantee you are going to want to read the series.

This is an absolutely compulsive read and is just as good as all the others in the series, if not the best of the series.

Highly recommended!

Thanks to the author and publisher in allowing me to read in return for a review.

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!