This book surprised me in the best way. Had I read the blurb alone, I probably wouldn't have chosen it to read. Once I started reading, I was hooked from that first chapter.
Max Connor (Neil Lancaster) has created a great cast of characters and in this introduction to Josie Chapman, they provide an excellent way in for her to future plotlines.
His writing practically screams authenticity at you so even when they characters are doing the most unlikely things, there's enough there for a reader to believe they're possible. Knowing a little of Lancaster's background explains why procedures feel so authentic. Bringing this to his writing is a gift to readers.
I couldn't put this down when I started it and I'll be on the lookout for future installments in the series.

No Mercy is a good and engaging read. It started off well and I was drawn into the story quickly. When Frankie Chapman, a war veteran, dies during a home invasion and his set of military medals are stolen his daughter Josie and Frankie's friends join forces to find them. The authors writing is good, and I liked that the story is told over a short period of time. The plot is well thought out with lots of threads that kept me interested and keen to know what would happen next. I didn't take to Josie initially, to me she came across as quite cold and not very likeable although she did begin to grow on me the more I read. I loved Frankies military friends though, especially their banter, camaraderie and loyalty to him. The story pacing is good and the author certainly knows how to increase the tension, mystery and suspense making this a riveting read at times. I liked the ending which I hope sets up a second book, hopefully with the return of Frankies friends. Whilst No Mercy didn't quite wow me like the authors Max Craigie series has I'd still recomend this if you like crime books.

3.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and HQ digital for ARC.

Spoiler alert - I'm a big fan of Neil Lancaster's police procedural/conspiracy theory series and was excited to read this.

The plot is intriguing - when a highly decorated veteran of the Falklands and other conflicts is killed in awful circumstances his daughter Josie wants more than justice - she wants retribution. She's assisted, with various degrees of enthusiasm and ability by her dad's old comrades-in-arms, who all owe their old sergeant a debt of some kind and have various motives for their involvement.

As you'd expect from this writer the pace is breathtaking and it ranges across all of the mainland British Isles, with a lot of derring-do, some shady dealings and occasional graphic violence, all incredibly well handled. The ending, while not exactly plausible, is gratifying in the extreme and sets us up nicely for what I hope will be Josie Chapman's long career as the hero of her own life.

Cracking fun, an updated boys-own style adventure in many ways but never downplaying the long term effects of conflict on those that serve and those who love them.

Josie's father is killed trying to protect his military medals, and now she is our for vengeance. With the help of her father's old comrades, Josie plans a heist to get the medals back, and nothing will stand in her way.

Max Connor is the pen-name of Neil Lancaster, the author of the hugely successful Max Craigie series. No Mercy is equally well written with an engaging storyline and plenty of unexpected moments. I really enjoyed the characters of Josie and her father's friends, Macca, Charlie, Asquith and Jacko. They are all completely determined to fulfill their last mission, even if it comes at a cost.

I hope that Josie makes an appearance in another novel; it would make a great new series!

This was an action packed read from Max Connor.

Former marine, Frank Chapman, is killed by an intruder who has broken into his house with the sole intent to steal his military medals.

Frank's daughter, Josie, wants the medals back and, along with four of her Dad's buddies, take revenge and find themselves in Scotland at a renovated cliff-top Castle which is owned by a very wealthy man who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

The team need to get the medals before they leave the UK and are out of reach forever.

A very enjoyable, rollercoaster, of a read. Action packed and gripping. I look forward to the next book to see if the group come together again.

Thanks for the advance copy. I would highly recommend this book.

When I heard that Neil Lancaster has a new book out under the pseudonym Max Connor, I was so intrigued. I am a big fan of his Max Cragie series, so I couldn’t wait to read this.

Veteran Frankie Chapman was a servicemen in the Falklands wa. Hw was a Sargent Major in the Marines, and was highly decorated for his service . He fought in in many conflicts and have medals to show for it.
when there is a house invasion and it tries to stop The junkie stealing the medals he is killed in the process. His old colleagues in the special forces the 11 06 club, come together with his daughter Josie to plan to get the medals back. There are not just sentimental value but Jose wants to sell them and use the money to pay for her mothers care. She is in a home and has Dementia.
I didn’t know what to expect from “ No mercy” since this is not a police procedural, but I’m surprised how much I enjoyed this. Not only is it full of action and has a great storyline but the members of 11 06 Josie all such likeable and believable characters Under great banter between them. this is a great read, and I hope there is more of the story to come. 5 stars from me.

Four veterans their friendship forged from fighting together on the slopes of Mount Harriet in the Falklands attend the funeral of Chappers, one of their own, the victim of a robbery turned manslaughter when he tried to stop a junkie from making off with his impressive medal collection.

The members of the 11/06 club might be in their sixties but these ex-marines still have a glint in their eye and nerves of steel, its just the other parts that are letting them down these days. Their discussion turns to the perpetrator and the likelihood of him ever receiving a sentence worthy of his crime or the medals being recovered and a plan begins to take shape.

I'm a big fan of the authors Max Craigie books under a different name so couldn't wait to get into this one. There's a lot to love about this group of aging veterans and the storyline which had them putting their ailments aside and heading off up to Scotland on a daring mission to recover the medals, ably assisted by Chappers daughter Josie.

Its a bit far fetched and a bit of a yarn but with a good mix of heroes, villains, humour and plenty of heart its a decent read that I have a feeling ex military types will love. Definitely recommended.

When retired Marine, RSM Frankie Chapman is hurt in a burglary at his home, the burglar stole his hard fought medals from campaigns stretching back to 1982 to his retirement. His daughter, Josie and the remaining members of 11/06 club - Macca, Charlie, Jacko and Asquith join forces to get her Dad's medals back come hell or high water!! What follows is a fast paced rollercoaster of book, with a few laugh out loud moments! All the characters are well written and they have a strong bond. The subplots all come together with an explosive conclusion. Let's just say, I was rooting for the fearsome fivesome!!!!

As you would expect from this author, this book is full of action and thrills but very entertaining and enjoyable at the same time. Written about a group of ex marines who fought in the battle for Mount Harriet in the Falklands. With all of them now retired from the service and living their own lives the author epitomises service life in so far as you never forget your colleagues and will always do anything for them. That is the case when one of the group is killed and had his medals stolen to order, such as how unique a grouping of medals they were. The remaining four members of the group, known collectively as the 11/6 club, that being the date of their memorious victory, get together with the daughter of the victim to get the medals back due to their sentimental value and for someone to pay for the death of their colleague and Dad.
Each person has unique skills which are utilised fully in their challenge during which forces humour comes to the fore.
A really well written book which has everything you would look for in a thriller!

Frankie (Chapman and ultimately a Regimental Sergeant Major) was in the Marines and was highly decorated for his service. He fought in many conflicts including the Falklands. He was not a man to show off his medals generally however he would wear them to the War Memorial gathering in November to pay respect to his fallen brothers. He is about to leave for the service when the phone goes. It's the nursing home his wife is in with dementia and she is troubled. He takes the medals off and goes to see her. When he returns he disturbs a thief who has his box of medals and nothing else. There's a scuffle and he dies as a result.

So starts this book and it sets a scene nicely. His daughter, Josie, is devastated and returns home immediately. At his funeral some of those who served with him in the Falklands are talking things through. They represent a small club calling themselves the 11/06 club (named after an incident in the Falklands war) and they wonder what they can do to help. The story follows the efforts of the 11/06 club to try and get the medals back. Josie refuses to be excluded!

There's a decent tale here. It's violent at times and, as with most of these type of books, credibility is strained at times. The 11/06 club are a nicely varied collection of characters (4 of them) and Josie, as Frankie's daughter has a good skill set to compliment those of her father's generation. Given there's a Cockney in the 11/06 we get quite a bit of rhyming slang and there's plenty of Marine terms too. I did find this a bit of a distraction as each bit of slang had to be explained.

This is a good pacey read and fans of Neil Lancaster's other books (Max Connor is a pseudonym) should definitely enjoy reading this. Personally I prefer the Max Craigie series by this author but this is a good enough read. The book is set up for another book with Josie as the lead character - while I found her a good action character I'd have liked a bit more depth but perhaps that will come in the next book.

This is the first book in a new series by Neil Lancaster, writing as Max Connor. Unlike his previous books, this is not a police procedural book. The story centres around the daughter of a veteran and his four former colleagues, as they attempt to steal back the medals he had won.
This was a reasonably entertaining read but not as good as the police stories. I found the characters, at best, bland and there were times when they were a bit irritating. The character of Josie did not come across well. The pace felt a bit stop start. After a great beginning the action seemed to stall for a while until the drama of the conclusion. The writing style was different to the police books, it came across as slightly patronising at times.
Overall, this was entertaining but nothing special.

I have to confess I was a bit nervous when sent a copy of this from the publishers. This is a new series from Neil Lancaster, writing as Max Connor. Lancaster’s Max Craigie books are a must-read for me, but I probably wouldn’t usually pick up a book about retired Marines mates.
I need not have worried. The 11/06 club brings together a group of retirees far tougher than The Thursday Murder Club! When one of the 11/06 club’s members has his medals stolen, dying as a result of the theft, they swing into action, assisted by the dead man’s daughter. The formidable Josie Chapman and her 11/06 mates, swing into action to retrieve the medals from a proper baddie.
Action-packed and full of humour, I enjoyed this immensely, and will definitely look forward to the next in the series.

An excellent read - and a little different too. No Mercy starts with the death of a veteran during the theft of his medals. His old unit vows to get them back, using their military skills and contacts from civvy street. They are joined by the dead man's daughter, who turns out to have a flair for undercover work.

The team have great experience, but some physical limitations being in their sixties. But Josie brings youth and physical skills aplenty. The plot is tight and the pace is fast, making this a very readable novel. The characters are believable and well written, flaws and all.

No Mercy is an excellent novel with just a touch of humour, as the old soldiers take on one last mission to avenge a fallen comrade. Their sense of purpose is strong and the action is realistic.

No Mercy by Max Connor (a pseudonym for Neil Lancaster) is a fast-paced, gripping crime thriller. The story follows Josie, whose father is fatally injured in an attack that leaves his war medals stolen. With the police at a dead end, Josie teams up with her father’s former colleagues—veteran ex-soldiers—to track down the culprits. Their investigation leads them to Scotland, where Josie proves herself just as capable as the men in infiltrating a castle stronghold controlled by a dangerous European criminal.

The plot is packed with action and suspense, and Josie’s character is both relatable and impressive. The team dynamics are strong, with well-developed characters that add depth to the mission. Max Connor’s easy-to-read, no-frills style lets the story shine, and the pacing ensures that you’re never left bored or bogged down in too much detail. If you’ve enjoyed Neil Lancaster’s crime series in the past, this book will not disappoint. It’s a solid, entertaining read with the same level of intensity and smart storytelling that fans have come to expect.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for three ARC of this book.
This is Neil Lancaster's first book writing as Max Connor and although I appreciated the well formed and mostly likeable characters the storyline just wasn't one for me.
It was a too Army / SAS type based book and as such is not the type of book I normally read.
I do like Neil Lancaster policing and look forward to reading more of those.

No Mercy is the story of Josie who gets together with several of her father's old colleagues to retrieve his war medals after they are stolen and her father fatally injured in the attack. The police seem to be unable to trace who took them so the group stealthily trace who ordered the crime and where the medals are destined. The trail takes the group to Scotland where Josie proves herself every bit as reliable and competent as any of the ex soldiers. Together they break into the Scottish castle, a stronghold of a European villain and complete the mission.
The book is a fast paced, easy read, although the plot stretched the boundaries of normal activities rather far and I have to say I prefer the author writing as Neil Lancaster and love his DS Max Craigie books which I find far more realistic. Having said that, No Mercy is well written and easy to read with a satisfying outcome so there was nothing to dislike — I just hope there is more DS Craigie to come!
With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

This is a great thriller.
I’ve enjoyed Neil Lancaster’s other books and this looks to be the start of a new series, which I’ll definitely be reading.
Josie’s Dad is attacked in his own home and knocked violently to the ground. The thief got away with his treasured medals and when he passes away soon after, Josie wants revenge.
Her Dad’s old friends who all served with him agree that something needs to be done to get the medals back, and want to help.
The group soon start to put a plan into action when it’s clear the Police can’t do much.
They need to get to the root of the theft and realise the medals were stolen to order. There’s some dodgy characters that are just out for themselves, and Josie is great at weaving herself into their world.
This is an action packed crime thriller and I loved it.
I look forward to finding out what’s next for Josie.
Thanks to HQ for the opportunity to read this book.

I hadn’t heard of Max Connor, but when I started to read No Mercy, the writing style had a certain familiarity, which I couldn’t pinpoint. I subsequently discovered that Connor is Neil Lancaster, an author I like and I’ve read many of his books. He has a particular style and I feel that’s very well reflected in No Mercy where the writing and character development feels accomplished.

Back to the story; well you’ll have suspend credulity a little. I’m not entirely convinced that a 30 year old female would bond with her late dad’s old comrades to perform a heist in Scotland. A home robbery is bungled, Ex Marine Frankie Chapman is killed and his medals are stolen. He was one of a group of ex Marines who met up every June to reminisce. His daughter, Josie, swears revenge and enlists the help of his buddies. The trail takes the group to a castle in Scotland and involves European oligarchs and people trafficking. That said, it’s an entertaining romp and a fast piece of pure escapist fiction. I fell into their exclusive little world quite easily and even with some of the scenario being slightly preposterous, I was swept along with the story. Well paced and the characters are believable…although I found Josie rather irritating. Clearly the bones for a series, so it’s watch this space and it could do very well.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

When their old comrade, retired veteran and decorated Royal Marine Frankie Chapman, dies during a home invasion, the 11/06 club come back together to recover his stolen military medals. After they find out the medals have fallen into the hands of a wealthy billionaire who dabbles in human trafficking, they form a plan to steal the medals back – and Frankie’s daughter, Josie, wants in on the action.

I found this an easy read with a clear story and good character development. I did, however, find Josie irritating but the rest of the characters reminded me of “The Thursday Murder Club.” This has the makings of a possible series as the characters are already well defined.

There are heists books and there’s ‘No Mercy.’ Max Connor (aka Neil Lancaster) introduces us to retired veterans who have fought for their country in places like the Falklands amongst others. They meet up every year on 11th June to reminisce and then disaster strikes when Frank Chapman dies during a home robbery. His daughter Josei is naturally distraught, but anger soon takes over when she realises that his military medals were stolen. She vows to get them back and a plan is hatched. The old boys work with Josie on recovering the medals in a moral heist. An entertaining and touching tale with some classic Heist references. A satisfying read.