This is the third book I've read in the Max Craigie series - think I need to catch up on the other 2! I love the characters and fast paced excitement as well as personal insights into the players. This book was another great story with corruption, criminal gangs and prison life and builds on past stories. I can't believe this hasn't been made into a series yet!

DS Max Craigie, Book 5 a great read. Fast paced that keeps you hooked from the first page I found it hard to put down once I had started it.

Excellent read. A well researched storyline that keeps you in suspense until the very end. Well written. As a lover of crime novels I would read other books by Neil Lancaster. Highly recommended.

Another brilliant crime novel by Neil Lancaster - now one of my favourite writers. I loved this story, like the last ones, and could hardly put it down. A great plot with constant suspense and interesting characters. I hope there will be more in this series.

I have read all of the Max Craigie books and have thoroughly enjoyed everyone. I devoured this book in a day (on holiday luckily!)

Beata Dabrowski disappeared 6 years ago, reported missing but no sign of her, and was never seen again

Gang boss David Hardie, from the notorious crime family has decided to do the one thing his family would never do and that's squeal to the police about where she is buried. There is a condition Max Craigie must not be involved at all or the deal is off.

Absolutely brilliant, page turning doesn't even cover how good this book is.

Highly recommended and can't wait for the next instalment

I was recommended to read the Neil Lancaster Max Craigie books and I was not disappointed this is a real page turner. Max, Janie and the gang are not initially involved in the story, but things soon change after Davie Hardie a member of a notorious crime family is shot by a sniper. Its obvious that someone in Police Scotland had passed info on to the sniper which means Max and Janie are called in to find the corrupt police. Lots of action follows with lots of twists and turns to find the culprit.
Always a great read from Neil with his knowledge of police procedure, looking forward to book six.

I always look forward to Max Craigie books. This one starts with the murder of Beata and then moves forward six years. One of the Hardie brothers Davie from a well known family with a criminal enterprise tells his solicitor, he knows who killed Beata and will lead him and the police to her body. The only problem is Davie is in prison and let’s just say, his attempt to help the police doesn’t go quite to plan. Lancaster takes up on a whirlwind chase with Max Craigie back in action. There is clearly a high level criminal at work and they seem to be one step ahead in evading Craigie and colleagues. As always, an engaging compulsive read with smatterings of black humour, true grit and lots of action. Max Craigie has a good career ahead of him in Neil Lancaster’s hands.

I love a good detective novel and this didn't disappoint. The twists and turns along the way took me by surprise and the twist at the end was unexpected. Good characters and weirdly start rooting for the bad guys!

Another great story from Neil Lancaster. The Max Craigie series is consistently good, and this book was fast paced and developed the main characters even more. I liked it a lot and look forward to more from the author.

Neil Lancaster’s DS Max Craigie is back in books 5 of this series.
Six years ago a polish woman Beata.Dabrowski was on the way to meet her lover in Glasgow and was never seen again.
Davie Hardie, head of the infamous Hardie family, now says he knows where she is - and will give the information in return for his freedom from prison. But he doesn’t want Max Craigie involved!
But things go wrong, and Max ends up on the case - and more people are killed. Max won’t stop until he uncovers who killed Beata, even if it means uncovering more police corruption.
Another first rate thriller from Neil Lancaster! A great read! Thanks to #Netgalley for the ARC.

I have loved this series from the outset, so I'm always excited to see a new installment come out and The Devil You Know is no different. From the beginning of the fifth book in the series, it is fast paced and full of drama and surprises, and it was almost impossible to tear myself away.

At first, it's difficult to see how DS Max Craigie and his team will be involved in the case that emerges in the first few chapters, as they are all instructed to stay away, but they soon find a way in, and are as dogged and determined as always. The partnership between DS Max Craigie and DC Janie Calder is just as strong as it has always been, with the banter between them providing some relief between some very dark scenes. I also love the supporting characters and their unorthodox methods make the investigation a joy to follow.

I was intrigued by the investigation from the very beginning as the complex nature of the plot means it's not always obvious what is happening. Neil Lancaster is brilliant at bringing the threads together in a fascinating way and I loved trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together. The tension towards the end of the novel is created brilliantly and I was hanging on to every word until the very end.

I do hope this series continues as the novel ends in a way that suggests there is much more to come from DS Max Craigie.

I enjoyed reading this detective novel. It had an abundance of tension and kept me hooked from the beginning. I liked how the characters were all so different yet worked so well as a team. It’s certainly one I’d recommend and I’d like to read more by this author.

My thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

It was brilliant to be back with DS Craigie and the team. I only found this series from the previous book so you don’t need to have read them all to enjoy each one.

I adore the mix of characters in this series. I also love the set up, with similarities to The Line of Duty, Craigie and his team are there to root out bent coppers.

This time a member of a known criminal family wants out of prison and is ready to make a deal. As long as Craigie is not involved….

A gripping story line that had me hooked start to finish. Absolutely brilliant.

Very well written, gripped from the start. The short chapters made this a quick engrossing read. Loved it.

I've read a couple of the other instalments in the Max Craigie series, of which this is the 5th, and this is my favourite so far - it had everything and kept me fully engaged throughout.

Max and his team are perhaps not the main characters in this book as it involves a previous antagonist a lot - one of the Hardie brothers, that they previously got locked up - but they sure take over by the end.

This book has everything but most importantly good, witty dialogue, plenty of action and a few twists to keep everyone on their toes. Can't fault it and can only hope there's a next instalment.

Thoroughly 5 stars from me. Neil Lancaster is being added to my must-read list of authors! If, like me, you enjoy Harlan Coben, Ian Rankin, Michael Connelly et al then this is going to be a hit for you too.

This is the 5th instalment in Max Craigie series and it's another gripping and twisty novels, a page turner that kept me hooked.
Plenty of surprised, the right level of darkenss and suspence.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and it's highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Years ago Beata Dabrowski stormed off after a row with her lover & was never seen again. Now Davie Hardie, part of a notorious crime family & in Shotts prison, is keen to help the police in exchange for a lighter sentence & a move to a more open prison. However he is adamant that Max Hardie & his team should not be involved. All seems to be going well, Davie has led the police to a Loch & told them where to dive. after taking them out on the loch. Back on dry land & Davie & his lawyer are killed by a long-range sniper. There is a leak somewhere & finding that is where Max & his team excel- even if the new boss is far from helpful!

It is always nice to be reunited with the team & become embroiled in the tangled plot Neil Lancaster is adept at creating. I look forward to what comes next after the ending! Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

Neil Lancaster rarely disappoints with his Max Craigie crime novels. There’s always action aplenty, with the tension ratcheting up as the plot unfolds. An excessively critical reader might complain that there are perhaps a few too many clichés, particularly regarding the characters in Craigie’s tight team, and the way in which our hero manages to resolve a knotty conundrum, but readers of this crime fiction genre want satisfying plots, with a reasonable number of teasing false leads and a competition of wits and skill between the good guys and the villains. On these criteria the author ticks all the boxes. Recommended.

This was a welcome return to DS Max Craigie and team as they investigate another brutal murder and try to untangle a web of lies and deception. This features the Hardie brothers as well as more suspected police corruption and it kept me guessing throughout. The book was fast paced and well plotted, with a host of well rounded characters. As with previous books in this series, this was a gritty and tense read and I absolutely loved it. A really compelling read which left me wanting more. This author proves time again what a master he is in this genre. Always engaging, plenty of intrigue and a fast paced plot with lots of twists to keep you guessing. Absolutely superb book and I can't wait for the next. Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the opportunity to read.

Another outing for DS Max Craigie and his team.
This time they are investigating the disappearance of Beata Dabrowski who went out to meet her lover and was never seen again.
Imprisoned gang boss Davie Hardie has some of the answers and he decides to help the police with finding her body, and has knowledge of who ordered the hit. This is all just a way of making a bit for escape.
However, all goes wrong for Davie, and things escalate. Davie's brother Frankie, who is also in the same prison finds himself involved, and realises that his own life is now in danger.
Max and the team must keep Frankie safe to gather more information from him, and to find who is behind the murders. They must also discover the identitiy of The ACE who they believe is the 'man in charge'. There is also a snitch within the police who has been feeding information to The ACE.
Another great read, and I am looking forward to the next one!