This series is an automatic read for me (it’s skipped to the top of my NetGalley tbr). Max Craigie is awaiting the birth of his first child, when a climber who has seemingly fallen to her death sparks curiosity about why her case has not been more closely investigated. In looking more closely, Max and his colleagues uncover a serial killer who could also be much closer to home than they would like.
It’s great to be reunited with this group of investigators and to see Max’s dilemma over balancing work and home.
Another fantastic addition to this series.

Murder or accident? That really is the crux of the question posed to DS Max Craigie in this latest, quite fabulous, offering from Neil Lancaster. I am totally hooked on this series of books, and When Shadows Fall is a brilliant example of exactly why. A challenging case, a seemingly uncatchable foe, and a whole cast of characters who elicit so many emotions - and a fair amount of smiles and laughter too - who could possibly need more?

Max Craigie is called upon by an old friend, Shay, who works in Mountain Rescue within the Cairngorms. He has attended the scene of what, at first, seems to be a tragic accident - a woman who has fallen to her death from one of the trails throughout the mountain range. Something about it all doesn't add up for Shay and fortunately he know just the man to turn to. It's slightly out of the remit of the team that Craigie works for, but given that this is not the first sudden death in the mountains, and the semblance of a pattern between the deaths and the type of victim, plus a less than robust follow up investigation, it isn't that much of a stretch for the anti-corruption unit to elect to conduct a 'thematic review'. Queue one of my favourite teams heading north to Inverness to oversee things and make sure that they insert themselves right in the middle of the investigations.

When I say one of my favourite teams, I really do mean that. They are such a diverse crew, but each of them really adds something to the series. Be it their Max himself who has had his moments of challenge but it all set for the biggest upheaval of his lifetime on the homefront, team analyst Norma, whose brilliant skills have helped the team out on so many occasions, DC Janie Calder, Max's long suffering but somewhat perfectly matched partner in crime-fighting, or their oft curmudgeonly boss, DI Ross Fraser, there isn't a single character in the team I don't enjoy hearing from. Ross especially if I am honest as he is so grumpy, so inappropriately abrupt with those who deserve it, but very capable of leaning into his softer side, as he proves regularly in this book. Neil Lancaster has the perfect balance between their kinship and their determination, the tough talking when necessary and the laughter and banter just when we need that too, that I find myself drawn in to their story, their camaraderie, as much as I am the case in question.

Speaking of the case, this one is so current and relevant to today's society and the rise of a very objectionable perspective on life from a certain group of individuals, that it has almost too much of an air of possibility and plausibility about it. As readers we get the perspective of the killer (it's not a spoiler this was no accident - it would be a very short book if it were) and they are particularly hideous as you might expect. Their confidence that they cannot and will not be caught added to my fascination with the story and the pace at which I powered through it all. As always, Neil Lancaster has managed pace perfectly, creating some real moments of tension where it seems like one or more of the team might be in real danger, and more than the odd moment of misdirection too.

The narrative style used to enlighten readers as to what is going on works really well, and while there is no doubting the devastating nature of the incidents on the victims, the darkest elements are left off the page. It is more the tension and psychological aspects of the book and the killer's attitude that got my hackles up, that and the knowledge that people like that do really exist and, in certain circles, seem to be glorified in their behaviour and attitude these days rather than vilified as they should be.

If you love this series, you will love this latest addition too. It's pacy, tense, full of banter and full of anger inducing moments and it is 100% addictive. I tore through it and loved every moment, but with an ending like that I'm wondering just what changes lie ahead. It's a game changer for Max for sure, but in a good way before anyone panics. No - not a cliffhanger. Let's face it - there were enough of those in the book already ... Definitely recommended.

I've read and enjoyed all but the second of the Max Craigie books and I was keen to read this latest one. It's another gritty Scottish police procedure with police corruption and, I think, the best one since the first one. There are twists and turns to keep your attention and it has a satisfying ending. And I managed to enjoy the story without the need of a glossary to understand some of the Scottish terms. Neil Lancaster does it again.

I have read all 6 Max Craigie books by the brilliant Neil Lancaster who just gets better and better. The story centres around female climbers in the Highlands who it would appear initially have either fallen or committed suicide after being found at the bottom of the Munroe. Max and Janie become suspicious when there are too many similarities between the victims, (young, blonde women).
It soon becomes obvious to the team that they are looking for a serial killer or killers. As the hunt for the killer/s intensifies Ross, Norma and Barney all become heavily involved with Max and Janie to track down the suspects. As ever loved the banter between all the characters.
Running alongside the main story is that Max who is constantly away from home while his wife Kate is soon to give birth to their first baby and needs him back at home.
There are many twists and lots of drama to unfold in this brilliant plot from a master of police procedure and a great storyteller
Another highly recommended book and I am so looking forward to the next instalment in the Max Craigie series.
Thanks once again for the advanced copy

Fantastic from the first page . It is exciting to see a new Neil Lancaster book published and this is no exception. Fast paced and twisty ,I kept thinking it was finished and then another twist came along and another. Brilliant writer .

I haven’t read all the books in this series, but this works well as a standalone. Max becomes suspicious about deaths involving women in the Highlands who have allegedly fallen. The story is a clever blend of police procedural as deaths are investigated alongside a strong sense of location and the effort involved in mountain rescue. It’s tense, fast paced and a great piece of escapist fiction which takes you to a different place. Dialogue, in particular, feels very real and flows naturally between the characters. Enjoyed this and finished in a couple of sittings.

It is always an exciting time when you start to read a new book from this author. You know that you are going to get great writing, lots of action, and a fast paced story.
This is book 6 in the series and it is lovely to see the main characters develop across the series. I would say that this could be read as a standalone, however those that have read the rest of the series will get an enhanced feel of the progression.
Personally, I think this could be his best work so far. I am sure that there are other books that involve crimes around the hobby of rock climbing but this take a different angle due to the police procedural elements. The author builds the tension superbly, and as a former detective he writes clearly and finds it easy to convey information within the story. There is also an element of respect towards the mountain rescue teams and the amazing work that they do.
Looking forward to hearing what will happen next time and will await the next release.
Many thanks to HQ, 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 will be published on 27th March and will be available in e-book, hardback and audio formats and will be available in paperback later in the year

Neil Lancaster delivers another gripping thriller in When Shadows Fall, the sixth book in the DS Max Craigie series. This time, the case kicks off with the mysterious death of Leanne Wilson, an experienced climber found at the bottom of a mountain. At first, it looks like a tragic accident—but when Max and his team start digging, they realize she’s the sixth woman to die in similar circumstances. Suddenly, they're on the trail of a serial killer, and things get even darker when they uncover a wider conspiracy.

Lancaster’s background as a former detective brings a real sense of authenticity to the investigation, making you feel like you’re right there with the team. The banter between Max, his no-nonsense boss Ross, sharp-witted DC Janie, and tech whiz Norma adds some great moments of humour, balancing out the tension. The Scottish Highlands setting is also beautifully described, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

Packed with twists, sharp dialogue, and a fast-paced plot, When Shadows Fall is another winner from Lancaster. If you love crime thrillers with strong characters and a gripping mystery, this one’s a must-read!

This is only the second book in this series that I have read but I will certainly be looking to read the others. It stands alone so you don’t need to have read the previous five although you might want to when you’ve finished this one. A brilliant story full of tension and a great ending. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

Huge fan of the Max Craigie books, they don't sugarcoat any hint of corruption in the police force.

Leanne Wilson is about to climb a 'Munro' in the Highlands, we are witness to what exactly happens. DS Craigie gets a call from an old friend of his, Shay Hammond, a coastguard search and rescue pilot at Inverness, who has concerns after Leanne's body is found, this is the not first 'accident' they have seen, and all the woman seem to have at least one thing in common.

Brilliantly written, tense at times, I devoured it. Great interesting characters and whilst some of it was complex with regards to the dark web, it was well explained.

One small issue, Craigie's wife Kate is expecting their first child, but seems to have lost all back bone and even phoned Max up moaning she didn't want to be on her own, she knew what job he had when she married him, she is a supposedly strong woman but this was just annoying, and frustrating to read as a woman! Can we get the strong Kate back please.

DS Max Craigie is contacted by a former colleague in the Navy (can one say colleague?) who now works on Mountain Rescue, a middle-aged blonde woman has fallen to her death whilst walking the Munroes, sadly deaths are not uncommon, but Max's friend is worried that the number of women dying has increased dramatically and is at odds with the normal statistics - ie women are traditionally better prepared and more cautious than male climbers.

Although not their usual purview, when the team start investigating there have been five other women in the last year who have had similar 'accidents' and they all look eerily similar, middle-aged recently divorced/separated, and blonde. More worrying, none of the deaths appears to have received more than a cursory investigation.

As the team dig deep they put Janie undercover, but could her life be at risk?

I love this series, I like the way they have branched out of pure police corruption (although TBH there would be no-one left in Police Scotland if they didn't) and I like the addition of the new team member.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Book #6 in the DS Max Craigie series. Author Neil Lancaster served for over twenty five years in the Metropolitan Police, predominantly as a detective, leading and conducting investigations into some of the most serious criminals across the UK and beyond, and that knowledge shows!

The story begins with the discovery of a woman’s body at the base of a Munro in Scotland. The body is that of Leanne Wilson, 40 years old and just starting a new phase in life after leaving a controlling ex boyfriend. Initially thought to be a tragic accident, the team discover many similar ‘accidents’ concerning young women, and it turns out that they have a serial killer at large, and it’s clearly someone who has a deep hatred of women!

Well written, fast paced, lots of suspense and heart stopping moments, with a storyline that grips from the outset. DS Max Craigie, and his colleagues - boss DI Ross Fraser (a potty mouthed man, yet hugely amusing and beneath his gruff exterior lies a heart of gold), the wonderful DC Janie Calder and intelligence analyst, Norma, 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.

Neil Lancaster is adept at creating a complex, yet gripping storyline, skilfully combining the multi-layered elements, leading to a terrific read and a more than satisfying conclusion. Another winner for Mr Lancaster!

I have been on the Max Craigie journey right form book one and here we are with the sixth instalment.
If possible Neil Lancaster's story telling just gets better and better and here to more power to his elbow. Keep them coming.
This one is set in the Highlands where there have been a number of deaths of blond women climbers/hill walkers, which appear to be completely unconnected events and dismissed by the police. That of course wouldn't make much of a story, so you just know there has to be a connection and Max and his team are just the ones to prove it.
Further character development by the author and a cracking storyline.
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC in return for an unbiased review..

Is there a serial killer on the lose or just fatal accidents? That's the question facing Max and the team o and when will the baby finally arrive?

This is part of a series but definitely a standalone read as it doesn't go on about the history from last books as so many do. It's characters are established and the theme run from the last but you won't feel left out from previous books. Like Maxs wife is expecting so it's within 9 months of the previous storyline,I only know this from having read the previous book is that makes sense? But this is all by the by as the important thing is the storyline is excellent as it unfolds with drama of the case and Maxs wife popping up every now and then to add to the tension. The new characters that make debuts are fun in the way they ŵm are meant to be the evil ones prove to be evil and there's the odd idiot thrown in which is amusing to see.

So the main plot is are women falling from the cliff tops or being murdered well you can guess the answer from chapter one. So it's a murderer mystery told at a good pace lots of drama a tight team grumpy boss but fair and all round good but sweary team. So real to life I'm told for this environment inline with the characters involved.

I think it's a great read I loved every page the story telling is excellent and I'm convinced this is a 5 star read all the way through.

When Shadows Fall is book number 6 in the DS Max Craigie series and there is no signs of any diminishing returns as this is another excellent and worthy addition to the series.

The pace of the book is full on throughout with a number of twists and turns that kept this reader gripped from the first page to the last.

Definitely recommended.

Max Craigie at his best.
Alerted to a suspicious death on a mountain side by an old friend, sets off a chain of events.
Not a single death but a series of them. It's a joy to meet up with the team again as they untangle the clues and find out who is committing the crimes.
A well plotted and captivating plot that plays to the strength of each character.
It is rounded out with the home life that underpins the team.
Really enjoyed this book as a standalone and part of the series.

Another great thriller from Neil Lancaster.
Yet again, this author is prepared to include dreadful, chilling crimes in his storyline. A friend of Dectective seargeant Max Craigie's suggests that a d3ath on one of Scotland's Munros is suspicious and may not have been an accident.Max and his tem quickly find that there have been a number of deaths following the same patten and that there is a serial killer at large. During the investigation, the team realise that there is far more involved in the case, including police corruption, the dark Web, and offshore bit coin trading. As well as dealing with the enormity of these crimes, Max also has to cope with the need to be at home with his wife, who is about to give birth to their first child.
There is a lot of banter within the team, much of it initiated by Inspector Ross, who has an irreverent manner and management style. He peoopers his conversation with several expletives, often in a humorous way. These conversations include quite a lot of Scottish dialect terms.
This is a very good book with a fast-moving, hardly a let up in the tension and graphic descriptions of the stark beauty of the Munros. Well worth a read.

A body falling 100 metres, will take 4.5 seconds and achieve a speed of 100mph. Deceleration to 0mph takes no time at all; as it hits the ground. Leanne Wilson probably spent the time wondering why someone had just pushed her off the side of a Scottish Mountain. DS Max Cragie, of the Scottish Policing Standards Reassurance Team, is off duty when he gets a call from an old friend, Shay Hammond, the Head of the rescue helicopter team. Shay is concerned about the circumstances surrounding Leanne’s death. She was an experienced hill walker, well equipped, the weather was excellent, the path in good condition, so an unlikely faller, but the police and the fiscal’s office had not requested an investigation, which he found odd. Looking at his records he had realised that at least four other women had died in similar circumstances in the last year, without an investigation. What if there is a serial killer stalking the mountains? Cragie and his colleagues start to look at the case, spurred on by another death with a lot of similarities. What they find is much more complicated than it first appears.
This is the sixth book in this excellent series, perfectly self-contained but reading it will make you want to go back and read the others for the pleasure of doing so. Cragie is ex-army, ex-Met, married to Katie, expecting his first child, a solid, dependable guy and a great detective. The rest of the team are well drawn, believable characters with their own idiosyncrasies; especially their immediate boss, DI Ross Fraser, who takes idiosyncrasy to a (REDACTED) level. The writing style, the plot, the pacing, compel the reader forward. This is a read in a day book, because you want to know what is going to happen, and wallow in the pleasure. This is beyond a 5 star book, but 5 is all I have.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

When Shadows Fall is the sixth book in the DS Max Craigie series by author Neil Lancaster. Set in the Scottish Highlands with a case of a series of mysterious deaths.

Leanne Wilson’s body is found at the bottom of a Scottish mountain and at first sight appears to be a tragic accident. But DS Max Craigie connects her death to five other women who have also suffered similar fates over the past year and realises there is an evil force at work. All the women were experienced climbers and each of them were alone when they died. There are far more supposed accidents than you would normally expect so Max is sure there is someone perpetrating these deaths.

Max’s investigations uncover something more complex than a lone serial killer and the more he uncovers the worse it appears.

I got into this series relatively late but I am enjoying it so much I have started to backtrack on some of the previous novels. I like the character of Max Craigie and he is ably supported by other regular characters. The more I read of this series the better it gets.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and HQ Digital for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

When a woman falls from a Scottish Munro suspicions arise as it's the fourth incident in a matter of months. The local police believe they're all accidents but Max Craigie isn't so sure.

A walker, critically injured from a fall, is rescued by Mountain Rescue working with the Coastguard. The pilot of the helicopter happens to be a friend of Max Craigie and voices his concerns. This is the fourth lone female walker to plunge in the space of a few months. The local police don't seem overly concerned, categorising them as accidents but Craigie wonders if there's something more. It could be laziness, incompetence or something much more sinister.

When Shadows Fall by Neil Lancaster is the sixth book in the Max Craigie series. Max works as part of a team investigating police corruption. Under the guise of a review of death investigations, they look more closely at the accidents and the members of the police force involved in investigating them.

The team are as foul-mouthed as usual. The boss, DI Ross Fraser is very much a technology dinosaur but is extremely creative with his vocabulary. The rest of the team, Janie, Norma and Barney, don't hold back either. There is a very strong sense of camaraderie among the team, mainly because they are so self-contained, the nature of investigating other members of the police means that they have to keep what they are doing secret. This book works extremely well as a stand-alone story but I heartily recommend reading the rest of the series to see the character development.

I found this story the most chilling of all of the books in the series. The nature of the crimes and the fact that social media was used to target victims came across as immensely plausible. Neil Lancaster has also taken inspiration from real events which makes things even more horrifying.

The pace never lets up, from the first page to the last, and my heart was in my mouth on a number of occasions. Alongside uncovering the villain, Max also has the worry of balancing his job with his home life, something that is getting more difficult by the day since his wife is about to give birth. This adds extra tension to the storyline as you can never tell what twists a writer holds in store.