I would like to thank Netgalley and HQ for an advance copy of The Devil You Know, the fifth novel to feature DS Max Craigie of Police Scotland’s Policing Standards Reassurance Team.

Davie Hardie of the infamous Hardie crime family is feeling uncomfortable in prison and offers a deal in return for a shorter sentence and a cushier prison. His first step is to reveal the whereabouts of Beata Dabrowski’s body, a woman who went missing six years ago. The dump site gets compromised and Max and the team are suddenly back on the investigation after being frozen out because someone is selling secrets.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Devil You Know, which is one of the best books I have read recently. It combines an action packed plot with some trenchant black humour in the dialogue. I should point out that some of the language used is strong, which may not suit every reader, but, to my mind it simply adds to the humour as the range of insults is truly imaginative at times. Of course, it may just be funny to me because it’s familiar and very well done. The author captures the Scottish voice and attitude exactly.

The plot may be a touch OTT and it may rely on serendipity for some developments, but who cares when it’s so readable. Basically the team come off as amateur hour up against some serious professionals (and that’s just the other officers!) but don’t be fooled. There is a serious sneakiness to their investigations that I can only marvel at as they nab another criminal. It moves along at a fast pace with several new murders, some ambushes and the unveiling of a Mr Big. It doesn’t lack for action or at some moments tension, but it’s stronger on humour and sneakiness.

The Devil You Know is a great read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Following an in-depth police procedural with gritty crimes, relentlessly brutal criminals, and lots of tense action, The Devil You Know is another brilliant and fast-paced instalment in this always entertaining series.

Although I consider myself an avid thriller reader, I don't always enjoy them when they are centred on drug-related crimes and gangs or corruption, but Neil Lancaster makes his stories and characters so engaging that I would happily read anything written by him. Because although the Hardie gang are very pivotal to this story and Craigie is determined to uncover any potential cases of corruption, I was fully invested from start to finish.

His writing is effortlessly engaging, and his characters have such brilliant chemistry that I always look forward to returning to them. This book could also easily be read as a standalone, so I'd definitely recommend giving it a go if you're wondering whether this is a series for you. Because, no doubt, like me, you'll soon be addicted and will need to read them.

I still need to read the first two books in this series which I keep meaning to prioritise (but for me that could mean anytime in the next year), but this is definitely one of my current favourite series that I'm always eagerly looking forward to a new release from.

Six years ago Beata, a young Polish woman, was murdered after her married lover called in a favour from a crime boss he had in his pocket. Now the crime boss is dead, one of his sons is missing presumed dead and the other two are in prison. The youngest, Davie Hardie, offers to show the police where Beata's body was dumped and, in return for immunity, a move to a nicer prison, and cutting his sentence, he will also name a very important person who ordered the murder. His only condition, Max Craigie and his team have nothing to do with it.

When Max finds out about the deal from his hush-hush friend the team are of the view that once a Hardie always a Hardie and Davie would never help the police, they suspect its more likely to be an escape attempt. However, the new Deputy Chief Constable has a point to prove and she dislikes the team so they are ordered to back off and forced to take a week's leave.

Of course it all goes spectacularly wrong, Barney's (ex-MI5) van has been evicted from the car park by the DCC and 'coincidentally' he has chosen to park his van close to the lake in which Davie says Beata's body was dumped, luckily a friend has given him a new drone to test and so Barney captures everything in high definition film.

Separately, those men who actually murdered Beata are being quietly killed off. It seems that Beata's married lover, who is now someone of great importance, is getting rid of any links between him and Beata's disappearance.

Yet again, a great detective story. For me there were three main suspects and I was right on one of them. I'm really enjoying this series.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

A gripping read, I couldn't put it down until i had finished the novel. This author's books keep on getting better, so I am looking forward to the next one. Highly recommended.

Six years ago, Beata Dabrowski arranged to meet her lover in Glasgow and was never seen again. There were no leads. . . until

Another great story, from this author, which is hard to put down. Although part of a series it works well as a stand-alone novel. It’s got great characters, a pulsing pace and a great ending.

I've enjoyed every book in this series so far and this was no different. One of my favourite crime series. I always anticipate the next book. I'm left feeling the same way here. Wanting to see what happens next for this cast of characters.
While this did feel a slower start than previous books I was still gripped. Wanting to know what happens and who is behind the leaks.

The Devil You Know is brilliantly pacey; an absolute page turner that keeps the reader completely immersed until the final reveal. I absolutely love the interactions between Craigie and the team - camaraderie at its best. For fans of Reacher and Poe. This is a great read and I cannot wait for the next investigation.

Another nail-biting installment in the action-packed, tense and twisty DS Max Craigie anti-corruption series.

Think Line of Duty with down-to-earth, realistic characters who have families, foibles, and a sense of humour. There is more to them than meets the eye and they have an unerring knack of getting the job done.

The Hardie brothers are behind bars but they are still causing headaches for DS Craigie. One of them is trying to turn snitch on an unsolved murder and doesn't want Craigie involved. When he learns about it he raises his concerns, but the team are forced to back off by the new and power-hungry DCC, eager to make their mark.

When it all goes wrong, the tenacious and capable team set their sights on finding and convicting the corrupt individual

Wow another great detective book following DS Max Craigie series set in Scotland. When his enemy Dave Hardie who is in prison says he has information about a murder 6 years ago and will show them where the body is and who ordered the killing but insists Max is not involved.
When things go horribly wrong max and his team gets involved and what follows is a fast paced and thrilling story that has you on tenterhooks and I could not put it down until I had finished it,
Would highly recommend and I received a ARC for a honest review..

Another rollercoaster ride of a book from Neil Lancaster. This cracking book continues the series based around DS Max Craigie and his team who generally work undercover to unearth corruption within Police Scotland. A Polish girl is murdered and although assumed just missing by the investigation at the time, she is never found. Fast forward six years and those responsible seem to have an awful lot to lose if discovered. It is apparent this person has a position of importance and will do anything to remain anonymous, including murder. As the body count rises and despite having their hands tied by the DCC, the team do their work, even speaking to old adversaries. As this gripping story escalates, it becomes a race against time to find out just who is at the head of this evil regime before more people are killed. A brilliant story, definitely one of Neil’s best, with the right amount of tension, fear and action but also with raw Scottish humour and heartfelt emotion. I can’t wait for the next one.

This might be a great story but there is so much bad language on the first few pages that I will not be reading any more of it.

The latest in the Max Cragie series does not disappoint.Once again the Hardie family are central to the story even from their prison cells and of course the body count rises. At the outset the anti corruption team, who report directly to the chief constable are locked out of the latest investigation but that soon changes as events take an unexpected turn. I have read all of this series so far and each new book will be a must read for me.This is Scottish Noir at its best and the series is a great addition to the British crime market.

A very clever plot that kept my interest from start to finish. The characters are believable and although this is the 5th in the series it could easily be read as a standalone book, although personally I like to read them in order. All in a cracking read.

DS Max CraIgie #5

A CASE GONE COLD

Six years ago, Beata Dabrowski arranged to meet her lover in Glasgow and was never seen again. There were no leads.... until now.

AN UNRELIABLE WITNESS

Imprisoned gang boss, Davie Hardie, wants to talk in exchange for his freedom. He knows exactly where Beata is buried, and he's prepared to take the police to her grave.

A KILLER DESPERATE TO ESCAPE

But when the mission to locate Beata's body is hijacked, DS Max Craigie is drafted into the case. Someone is selling secrets.

A Polish woman, Beata Dabrowski, has been missing for six years and Davie Hardie knows where she is buried, but he wants his freedom. He also has another condition, Max Craigie must not get involved in the investigation.

DS Max Craigie and his team are trying to solve a brutal corruption case. We get dome horrific murder scenes and drama, and it's action packed. There were some humorous moments to lighten up the story. The suspense is palpable, the pace is fast. The bribing with the Tunnicks biscuits made me glad I had some of their teacakes in the drawer, lol.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HQ and the author #NeilLancaster for my ARC of #TheDevilYouKnow in exchange for an honest review.

Number 5 in the DS Max Craigie series set in Scotland and once again Max finds himself, with his team, up against his arch enemies the Hardies along with another corrupt member of the force. Reads well as a stand-alone but would help to read this series in order for context, plus they are great reads!

Briefly, Dave Hardie is in prison but tells his solicitor he wants to do a deal with the police. He will tell them where the body of a missing person from a few years before can be found and who killed them in exchange for a shorter prison term in a cosier lock up. Only one condition Max and his team are not to be involved. However, things quickly turn fatally sour and Max and his eclectic team are pulled in to find the killers and the mole. They also have to protect the one remaining Hardie still alive who has information for them.

Once Max and the Policing Standards Reassurance Team are involved the pace ups and a deadly cat and mouse chase across Scotland evolves at electrifying speed. The usual banter is in evidence (no pun intended) and it helps keep the edge off the terrible events they have to deal with. I love this team, the author has put together a great group of people and Barney, the newest team member, is a gem. A thrilling and twisty police procedural with a shocking storyline and plenty of red herrings that kept me on the edge of my seat. A great read.

This series just gets better with each book. Max Craigie knows the Hardies well and doesn't trust Davie Hardie in this thrill a minute ride. Plenty of twists along the way. Neil Lancaster is an author to look out for he never lets you down. Thanks to HQ Digital and Netgalley for this review copy

Another fantastic read from Neil Lancaster. I have enjoyed all the books in the series so far. This continued with DS Max Craigie and his colleagues. Great storyline full of corruption, plots and tying up loose ends. Looking forward to next in the series. An author I recommend to anyone to read.

This is book 5 in the DS Max Craigie Scottish crime series. This great police crime thriller can be read as a stand alone but I would recommend
starting with book 1 of this great series.
Great characters, fast paced and a compelling story I highly recommend this book, and all the books in this excellent series.

Another great episode in a good series, although this one is slow moving in places, it kept my interest throughout and the suspense is built up well. Old adversaries make an appearance here and there is plenty of action in this police procedural set in Scotland . I like the characters in this series and they feel like old friends when reading about them. There is violence and gore, though descriptions are not too graphic and the plot is complicated enough to make it interesting without stretching the bounds of credibilty too far.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC , I look forward to reading the next episode

I was so happy to receive a copy of this book as I have enjoyed the rest of the series, Neil Lancaster is one of my favourite authors. It centres around a special unit in Police Scotland and their dedication to root out corruption. This time someone is desperately trying to avoid being exposed for commissioning a murder especially as they are now in a position of power. Unfortunately there are people in the way who can't be allowed to tell the tale.

There were a few small editing issues,
Chapter 38 the nickname given to the bad guy was mentioned at the end of the chapter and Max seemed surprised even though it was already revealed in the previous page.
Chapter 39 it says someone was born and raised in Manchester but later on the same page it says he is originally from Yorkshire!
Chapter 45 when describing a photo it says 'they smiled widely' but then says one didn't have a smile.

As always my favourite character is Ross and the only downside of reading the book is that I wasn't listening to it as the series narrator is excellent. Luckily I could imagine his voice speaking the words.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the DRC which was most appreciated, the only downside being the long wait for the next book.