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.

DS Max Craigie is back with his team after too many women are falling to their deaths from Scottish mountains. Why have these deaths not been investigated full or at all? The team will climb mountains and use their skills to find out.

Very well written and action packed novel. Great characters all with their own skill set will work to discover a group of dangerous men that must be stopped from killing to entertain those willing to pay on the dark web. Brilliant book 6.

A fabulous installment in the Max Craigie series.
Characters are as likeable as always (some hilarious) and the plot felt fresh and original.
Can't fault it and the novel kept me entertained during a particularly difficult stay in hospital so many thanks.!
Easy 5 stars from me.

Another excellent read by Neil Lancaster in the Max Craigie crime series, this time with a very different crime scene, and a very clever adversary. The story takes us onto the Scottish mountains, introducing a new team of Mountain Rescue experts. The storyline has the action tearing along, with several red herrings and lots of tension along the way.
On the mountainside, it gets very suspenseful, and I was holding my breath in fear for a police officer at one point.
My only slight criticism is that it’s a wee bit dialogue- heavy at times. I know that Ross Fraser’s renowned cursing and swearing is enjoyed by many readers, I just personally feel it’s a little bit overdone at times. Interestingly though, in this book, the female members of Ross’s team rightly take him to task for his insensitivity. I like how that strand was handled by the author.
I have read all of the Max Craigie series, enjoyed the clever writing and involving and intriguing plot lines. I can’t wait to read what this author writes next. This one is a page-turner and a sure- fire winner.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book. Highly recommended.

‘When Shadows Fall’ is the sixth book in the Max Craigie series, and whilst it would read well as a standalone, I would recommend starting at the beginning, as the backstory to each of the recurring characters is important to fully understand their working relationships and personal history’s. New characters are introduced in this novel, and it seems Clive will be back with us going forward – I think he will be a good addition. Ross Fraser is by far my favourite of the bunch, and I was thrilled to get an albeit fleeting glimpse, into his private life.

This book, as with the previous five, is well written, with lots of twists and turns, (more than a few red herrings!), a wonderful sense of atmosphere, created in part by the stunning Scottish countryside and lots of tension created by the nature of the murders. The tale deals with contemporary issues such as ‘incels’ and the risks of social media. I will admit that this isn’t my favourite in this series (the bar is set high!), it is extremely readable, and I am sure it will be a great success.

I love the DS Max Craigie novels and the team he works with are superb. These books can easily be read as standalone novels without having read the rest of the series but, if this is your first I guarantee you'll want to go back and read the others.

This is an excellent police procedural thriller which keep you guessing until the very end. It begins when Max meets up with his friend Shay, a mountain rescue volunteer who voices concerns about a number of recent deaths on the Munros. All involved young blonde women who have inexplicably fallen to their deaths despite having some climbing experience and are properly equipped.

Max takes the information back to his boss who decides it merits investigation. The team don't realise that the few incidents they are aware of are the tip of the iceberg. It soon becomes clear that this is a much bigger case than first thought as the case takes a far darker turn involving the dark web.

Simply superb and unputdownable.

Like all of the DS Mac Craigie books, this was another fantastic read. I don't like to give spoilers, but suffice to say there are so many twists and turns that you find yourself on the edge of your seat.
Just when you think you're on the right path to solving it, something happens and you find you're no where near.
Being Scottish, knowing a lot of the areas mentioned makes it more intriguing.
Never disappointed, another great read from this author.
This is book 6 of 6. Here's hoping for number 7.

Thrilling, intriguing, and moving, the latest novel in the Max Craigie world is a true gem, and works on so many levels. As a murder mystery it enthrals from the first page and doesn’t let go. However it also confronts deeper questions around institutional corruption and misogyny. The characters continue to grow and none more so than Max, in ways that become more apparent as the story develops. I love some of the details in Neil Lancaster’s writing, the ‘rental tv’ mentioned in one of the flashbacks is so simple but evocative. Likewise I am grateful for the reminder of Smidge. I would however warn against reading this on any Munro bagging trips.

Another adrenalin fuelled outing for D.S. Max Craigie and team, led by the sweary D.I.Ross Frazier , DC Janie Calder , Norma the PC wiz kid and Barney the ex MI5 specialist.

The scene this time is the mountain ranges of Northern Scotland , where lone female climbers have met their deaths by falling off the crags'.
The team has their suspicions that these events are not just unfortunate accidents . Investigation by the team into the deaths, which they feel are covered up by being declared accidents where they feel murder is afoot.

So, the team get to work trying to uncover the details behind the deaths , which could prove that there is Police corruption behind it somehow.

Great riveting stuff , danger and ironic humour lace the story which holds the reader in a nice balance of excitement and intrigue.

Book 6 of Max Craigie reaches new heights- literally and figuratively. Neil Lancaster holds nothing back and the suspense is maintained the whole way through. The detectives are not familiar characters and the murders are clever and horrifying. Lone women are dying in ‘tragic’ accidents but of course, all are not what it seems. Very dark and very enjoyable. Craigie must continue for many books yet!

I have read all of the Max Craigie books so was excited to read this new one. It certainly didn't disappoint. Max and his team find themselves investigating the deaths of a number of women who seem to have suffered fatal accidents while alone on the mountains. However, they were all experienced with the proper kit and their deaths seem unlikely in those circumstances. This is a real page turner with some particularly nasty characters to boot! I love the banter between the team, especially between Ross and Barney. Can't wait for the next one!
Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

This is the sixth book in the DS Max Craigie series and it leaves me wondering if there are any police in Scotland left to serve and protect the public? Max operates within a tightly knit group headed by DI Ross Fraser (think a less windy version of Jackson Lamb of Slow Horses infamy) and they look in to police corruption. This novel centres on a number of climbing 'accidents' that seem to have gone unnoticed. That was until ex-matelot and now helicopter pilot Shay Hammond reached out to his old mate Max, something was troubling him in his role as search and rescue pilot for the Coastguards. It would seem that too many women climbers had fallen to their deaths than he felt statistically likely. Max took an interest and approached his boss Ross to see if they could open up some sort of investigation as the reported deaths went suspiciously beneath the police radar.
I found the novel had great pace, an immediate hook and was very hard to put down.

I absolutely love Max Craigie and the team! I usually listen to these Neil Lancaster books on audiobook. This is the first one I've read on kindle and I really enjoyed it (except for not being able to correctly pronounce the names of the mountains, even in my head). The characters just jump out of the book as if they were waiting for the reader to open the book to begin living again and I love it when that happens. The author's storylines are always interesting and original and most importantly believable and accurate. This book had an intelligent and clever story with lots of twists which kept me guessing to the very end. A great addition to a great series. Can't wait for the next one.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

I'm a fan of Neil Lancaster's Max Craigie books and was looking forward to reading this. As expected a thoroughly enjoyable read based on suspicious fatal accidents of solo female climbers on the Scottish hills. Full of twists and one I definitely recommend to read.

The latest in the brilliant Max Craigie. Series and possibly the best yet., Initial suspicions about the deaths of lone female climbers open up to a web of corruption and killings. Max and the team have to use every tool at their disposal and then some in order to understand the depth of depravity while at the same time Max is concerned about leaving Katie alone with the birth of their first child now imminent
Excellent plotting and writing make for a great read which will be enjoyed by everyone who likes modern British and in particular Scottish crime writing. Neil Lancaster is surely now at the top table of authors in this category.

This is another superb tale in the series about Max Craigie and the team investigating corruption in the Scottish police force. The characters and their relationships have been well built up over the series but this title could be read as a stand alone. However I do believe readers encountering the team for the first time here would want to read the previous books in the series. In addition to the team, the books have some well-loved family characters in Max's Aunt Elspeth, his wife Katy and his dog Nutmeg. In this book Katy is nearing the end of her pregnancy and this is causing conflicting emotions for Max as he considers how to be a good father and continue in the job he loves. These emotions are well written by the author Neil Lancaster and add to the credibility of the book. 'When Shadows Fall' introduces some new characters who I think will be returning: Chay, a schoolfriend of Max, who is now a helicopter pilot with the mountain rescue team and Clive, a former student of Barney, the team's technology whizz.
This story was particularly terrifying and brought a number of contemporary issues to the fore, most significantly the 'incel' culture of men who hate women and the dangers of social media. Chay brings to Max's attention that there have been an alarming number of deaths of lone women hikers on the Scottish mountains recently which have not been thoroughly investigated by the police.. The team begin an investigation which tests all their skills and their emotions. Janie has recently completed an undercover course and is swiftly putting this to use in an attempt to unearth the killer. Barney brings on board the skills of Clive to help uncover the deeply hidden secrets of the dark web. Team boss Ross is brought up sharp when Janie and Norma alert him to how traumatising the serial killing of women is for them as women and begins to acknowledge the need for more consideration of the individuals of the team.
There are some nail biting moments in this fast moving story which was once again a thrilling tale with true heart. In addition to being a great story in the genre of crime fiction I do think this series would be an excellent introduction to the genre for those who may have steered away from crime / police procedurals in the past.
My thanks to the publisher via Net Galley for an ARC of this title which I have thoroughly enjoyed reading and offering this voluntary review.