At first I thought this was a same old, same old story but I couldn’t have been more wrong. What a stunning book. And so much corruption still. I fo get the impression this is the last one in the series which is both good and bad news. It’s come to a good conclusion.

The sixth book in the Max Cragie series and it did not disappoint.
It all starts with Max getting a call from Shay, an old friend who works in mountain rescue, about a woman who has fallen to her death while climbing munroes. Then another similar death occurs. Max and his team start to look into these deaths and it's not long before they realise these deaths were no accident but cold blooded murder but why were the police not investigating further??
Again, Neil Lancaster has written another superb book that had me gripped as well as giving us the usual characters that we love.
Hopefully we see more of the team and new dad Max Cragie soon. Thanks to HQ Digital and Netgalley for advanced copy.

Excellent, as always. I enjoyed the latest Max Craigie novel from Neil Lancaster, it was slightly different to to the others I have read but very good. The investigation and relationship between the main characters is as strong as ever and I look forward to many more.

I admit to being a fan of Neil Lancaster and of his Max Craigie series so could not miss the opportunity of reading book 6 in the series and I definitely wasn't disappointed; I was hooked and loved it from start to finish. You can read it as a standalone but I would definitely suggest you read the others in the series as you miss a lot of the character and relationship development and you won't be disappointed.

This addition is another cracker; with fantastic recurring characters (Ross being one of my favourites with Barney in hot pursuit!) and a few new ones that have only added to the excellent ensemble. The story is disturbing but absolutely riveting and, sadly, not beyond the realms of reality. The pace is fast and totally engrossing and the language used by Mr Lancaster paints vivid pictures of the landscape and perilous situations clearly.

What can I say? This instalment is a triumph; a brilliant book and one I would highly recommend as I would the rest of the series and many thanks to the author, HQ and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this, an excellent addition to a brilliant series.

"'Munros are dangerous places.'
'that they are, but women hardly ever die on the hills, it's almost always men...'
'What if someone is targeting lone women climbers, and shoving them off cliffs?'"

The sixth book in this Scottish policies procedural series sees DS Max Craigie and colleagues investigating a grim, misogynist incel group arranging to meet with and push women off Munros.

Always fast-paced with an involving combination of great recurring characters, corrupt coppers, technology and drama. Another great addition to this series!

Another brilliant book in this great crime series.
I love the dynamic between Max, Janie, Ross and Norma, oh and Barney of course!
Max is contacted by an old friend who is linked to mountain rescue. He’s concerned about the number of deaths of women on the mountains. When Max initially looks at the reports, they seem above board, however on closer inspection it’s clear the deaths weren’t fully investigated.
Ross gets a ‘Thematic review’ authorised and it soon becomes clear that someone is pushing women to their deaths on the mountains.
This is a gripping crime thriller that gets better and better, the more the story progresses.
There’s a few surprises in store and a new arrival for Max.
I’d highly recommend this series if you’ve not yet read any of these books before.
Thanks to HQ for the opportunity to read this book

Book 6 in the DS Max Craigie series and possibly the best yet, which is no mean feat! If you haven't read the previous books you will still enjoy this one as a standalone but you will feel compelled to go back and read the rest in the series. The word "thriller" epitomises this quite excellent book. If you like a book with plenty of thrills and spills (quite literally) then this is definitely for you.
During an unusual quiet spell for the police anti corruption team headed up by DI Ross Fraser, Max Craigie visits an old friend who is a helicopter pilot with search and rescue in the Highlands of Scotland who alerts him to a number of suspicious deaths on the Scottish mountains that have never been properly investigated. Craigie heads home to his heavily pregnant wife with his interest suitably piqued and its only a matter of time before his team are involved in investigating the deaths. The team head north as Katie Craigie nears her delivery date leaving Max Craigie in a quandary about leaving her but feels that he needs to be involved in this investigation.
The characters are all very likeable and the storyline is very well written intertwining the thrills and suspense of the case along with the personal life of Craigie. The story is very fast paced as the death count increases. Can the team solve the intriguing case before Craigie junior makes an appearance...

This is my favourite police procedural series. It's like Line of Duty but so much better. The Characters all bring something different to the book and the dark humour is very appreciated. The plot of this one is, in my opinion, quite dark and I'm not sure I'll be going hiking any time soon but Neil tackles it with his usual brilliance bringing the best out of all his characters and moving the plot along at a great tempo. I'm very much looking forward to book 7 now!!

When a body is found at the bottom of a Scottish mountain it is classed as a tragic accident.
DS Max Craigie is then alerted that this is not the first so called accident - in fact there have been five others this year and each have been accomplished climbers. They have also all been blond females.
Is it the work of a serial killer or is it more than that?

DS Max Craigie and his rag tag band of colleagues are back, and this time we are plunged straight into the action. Max is contacted by an old friend who has suspicions about a series of 'accidents' on the mountains - could there be more to it? As the team open an investigation, it very quickly becomes clear that something more sinister is at play.

There's a fresh tone to this installment in the series, with some straight up 'old fashioned' police work in progress alongside the team's usual corruption focus. That, along with Max's imminent new family arrival and the creepy bad guy POV, made this a real stand out for me. It's like reading a new series but with the comfort of the characters you're already familiar with.

A welcome return for DS Max Craigie, DC Janie Calder, DI Ross Fraser and Barney Illingworth, tech wizard! This time, we see Max and the team investigate a mysterious death of a woman doing a Munro Bagging Holiday and this leads the team to uncovering more than they expected! They suspect why and how but still need to uncover the who. The characters are brilliant and work so well together and there are a few laugh out loud moments! Strap yourself in and settle down with a cuppa - Yorkshire Tea or decent coffee and snack on Tunnocks as the story is fast paced, well written, rollercoaster of a book and the ending came as a total surprise to me!!! More please, Neil!

Brilliant! I love this series which could easily be read as stand alones.

This book covers a difficult subject of violence against women. It is dealt with brilliantly and helped by the ever present humour of the characters. I love the team dynamics and Ross always has you groaning and rolling your eyes!

Max is about to become a father and so the story is also about whether he can balance his job and his new role.

A brilliant story all round. Well rounded, great plot, brilliant character, what more could you want?

DS Max Craigie, #6 When Shadows Fall....what can I say? Yet again Neil Lancaster has written an absolutely cracking murder mystery set in the Highlands of Scotland. This book has everything, a great plot, twists, turns, scenery, banter and humour. I could go on at length but suffice to say I loved it and highly recommend it (and the complete series) to anyone who enjoys a good thriller with a great cast of characters. Thank you to netgalley, the author and publisher for an early read. Roll on DS Craigie #7.

Another great case for Max Craigie. Love this series and to see what he and the team get up to next. Plenty of twists and turns and suspense to keep me hooked. Well rounded characters. Great writing style. Eagerly awaiting the next adventure. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

Neil Lancaster has done it again! This team of detectives is humanly flawed, funny and engaging, but above everything else - honest. This time they’re investigating a rise in the number of female climbers being killed in the Cairngorms. The deaths aren’t being investigated fully, is there something dodgy going on? Of course and the team’s investigation makes for a cracking read.

Neil Lancaster does not disappoint. Fast paced, original and excellent.

When several women die in separate incidents in the Scottish highlands, no one thinks of it as anything but tragic accidents until two plus two is put together and an investigation involving the dark web ensues.

I just love the Max Craigie series and this sixth book in the series is probably the best yet. It works as a stand alone book but I thoroughly recommend reading the whole series. His team who investigate corruption in the Police are a small, tight knit group who have each other’s backs and trust one another implicitly but the banter between them is on another level. Dealing with difficult and dangerous cases this helps relieve the tension. In this book an unusually high number of single women have fallen to their deaths while climbing. They appeared to have had proper equipment and no apparent reason to be careless. Max and the team begin an investigation that leads them into a complex and dangerous mission. Meanwhile, Katie, Max’s wife is heavily pregnant and not happy when he rushes off to the Cairngorms to try and prevent further deaths. The case progresses with increased urgency and without knowing who to trust they have to keep their investigation completely confidential. A fast moving case and an absolute page turner. Another gripping book from Neil Lancaster.

Book 6 in the DS Max Craigie thrillers and in my view the best yet. Sits well as a stand alone but then you would miss the enjoyment of the previous 5. The body of a blonde woman has been found at the bottom of a hill and whilst the local police are treating it as an accident someone is suspicious! As always this is well written with a great plot and so fast paced I couldn’t turn the pages quickly enough.

Briefly, when Max receives a call from a pilot friend in the Coastguard a chain of events open up a trail to the darkest crime. Very quickly Max and his team discover that a number of blonde women have suffered fatal falls on other mountains (Munroes) and a pattern is falling in place. As the investigation deepens they discover the most appalling of crimes and the killer is clearly receiving inside help.

Meanwhile Max is stressing as he is about to be a father for the first time and doesn’t want to miss the birth. Can he resolve one thing in time for the other? Such a brilliant cast of characters in Max’s team and the wonderful banter is great to counteract what is a dark and distressing story. A fantastic and thrilling police procedural.

OMG. What is not to like about having Max and his team back - with a special mention to Ross !! Great plot and story which is fast paced and thrilling throughout, all with the background of the stark Scottish munros. Just love this series to bits with all the dark humour yet efficiency of the team . A definite one to read.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review.

You wil have to put all other things on hold, settle down with a cuppa and enjoy this book. It really is an on-the-edge of your seat thriller.
The Scottish landscape sounds wonderful and the great team of police sound a good supportive lot.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which is not the first that I have read by this author, and it will certainly not be the last.
Wonderful writing.