The first book in quite some time that I would rate as 6 Stars. A totally absorbing, interesting and almost possible story. Loved the people, loved the plot, loved the scene setting. In truth, loved all of it.

Buy it, make and take some time and enjoy something truly original.

Oh, just excellent.
A really fresh, unique angle on the ex-special forces out of retirement genre that was executed to perfection.
These guys aren't just retired. One has an allotment, one can't stay out of the loo and another wants to get home for the 'Bake Off' final but together?
Can they call on their old skills and contacts to pull off something spectacular?
Thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It does have some humerous parts but still manages to keep the reader gripped throughout.
A tense thriller by an excellent writer.
If I had to come up with one criticism it would be the title. 'No Mercy' makes it sound like a generic rogue bad boy turned hero novel and this is way more than that.
Would make a great film. Loved it.

I’m a fan of Neil Lancasters, particularly his Max Craigie books. As an ex army, ex Met police officer, you know he has the right back ground knowledge to be able to write about this type of subject, from the camaraderie both jobs exude to the way the military and police methods work. Under Max Connors name, we have a different angle to read about, which works very well. I liked the 11/06 Club members, from either end of the spectrum, be it a con man, a Rupert or just solid and dependable.

Josie was likeable although her stance on being called Love or Dear by her elders grated a bit, particularly as she had been round them all since a baby. However, she definitely had her part to play, which was well drawn, and will no doubt lead to another book, quite rightly. I loved the twists towards the end, ends nicely tied and proper justice served.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I’m guessing Neil Lancaster has chosen to write under the pseudonym Max Connor as this is a breakaway from his usual police procedurals? I won’t précis the book for you as if you’re reading reviews about the book, I presume you’ve read the blurb on the book, written by better writers than me.

I’m a big Neil Lancaster fan and love his Max Craigie series, so I expected good things from this book about four ex-marines who team up with the daughter of one of their old colleagues, who dies while having his valuable set of military medals stolen. The five determine to get the medals back for the fifth member of the 11/06 club and Josie, his daughter, wants revenge.

The book didn’t disappoint, although I didn’t find it as enthralling as the author’s previous books. I found parts of the books a little slow and I found it hard to take to Josie. It particularly annoyed me that she strongly objected to being called a girl or being called ‘love’. She’s a young woman working with men in their sixties, men who had achieved as much as her father, and should (in my opinion) be treated by her with the same respect and reverence that she obviously felt for her Dad. Affectionate terms are not derogatory when used by close friends. Having said that, she contributed a lot with her particular set of useful skills, which the 11/06 club couldn’t have done without. This is, I’m guessing the springboard for a series starring Josie and I look forward to seeing how that pans out.

The story did ramp up towards the end and while you definitely have to suspend reality (it is fiction after all) the last part of the book was really exciting and the very end of the book brought tears to my eyes.

This book by Max Connor the pseudonym of Neil Lancaster is as usual for regular readers of Neil a fast paced page turning story. It begins with ex soldier Frankie Chapman disturbing an intruder who is stealing his valuable extensive set of medals earned during his tours in the Royal Marines. Unfortunately during the scuffle with the burglar Frankie falls hitting his head resulting eventually in his life support being turned off.
The action then increases when his ex comrades Macca, Charlie, Jacko and Neil together with Frankie's daughter Josie join forces to get the medals back.
Lots more twists and turns follow with the usual banter between the characters and plenty of action in there endeavours to retrieve the medals.
This is another highly recommended book by the master of the high octane action story.

What an exciting read!

Josie Chapman has been raised to be a stong individual; her brave father served in the armed forces and has a raft of medals to prove it. Her mother has dementia and lives in a care home. When her father's home is targeted and his medals stolen, he arrives home just in time to tackle the intruder and the ensuing scuffle results in 'Chappers' death. Not only bereft, Josie is also angry and wants revenge - and a bit more. When the 11/06 men, her father's former comrades get together and learn that the medals were intended to provide for her mother's care, they decide to see if they can work out how to get them back - and Josie is determined that they're not doing anything without her!

I'm a big fan of Neil Lancaster's Max Craigie series, so when I realised that Max Connor is his pseudonym, I was excited to read this one. It is a roller coaster ride from beginning to end; packed with characters with a lot of life experience who, while not perfect, will do anything for a mate. Blood-pumping, heart-pounding moments abound and I read long after I should have closed my eyes and gone to sleep - I just couldn't wait to find out what happened next! An absolutely terrific, thrilling novel which I can't help but recommend and, of course, no less than all five sparkling stars will do!

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

medals given to soldiers but when they get stolen and that soldier dies from injuries caused by the thief you can imagine the upset....

so when a tight group of friends with the soldiers daughter plan to get those medals back its going to be good....

with a millionaire whose greed knows no bounds this book will keep you entertained for hours....

have to admit to not being keen on the granddaughter there was just something about her that put me off her but the old soldiers that tightknit bunch of friends were very likeable...

neil lancaster can certainly write a good storyline...

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.
Hopefully a new series from a new author but wait – it’s actually a different pen name for Neil Lancaster. Well written, great characters, a fast paced story, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Yes it stretches the imagination at times but hey it’s fiction. I was drawn in from the start & read it in a couple of sittings
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

Not my usual type of book although I do like Neil Lancaster’s police procedural books. However I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the ending which I thought was lovely. I struggled with the character of Josie though - I felt she didn’t come across as a particularly nice character- but I loved the old military comrades. Recommended.

When former marine, Frank Chapman, is killed by an intruder and his very valuable military medals are stolen his daughter, Josie, wants the medals back. To her aid comes her fathers former colleagues now all over 60 years old. They track the medals to a renovated cliff-top Castle which is owned by a very wealthy man who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.
An amusing tale, perfect for a holiday read without being a romance.
Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for the advance copy of this very entertaining book.

I am familiar with this author through the excellent Max Cragie series published as Neil Lancaster .
This is a new direction from that series and is equally as good. A group of long retired marines team up with the daughter of a comrade who died during the theft of his medals and vow to recover them. The result is a good old fashioned adventure story with heroes and villains that moves along at a cracking pace.. The characters are well rounded and the plot is well worked out .I think this may be the start of a new series and if so I will definitely be reading more.
I highly recommend this book.

This is a very good thriller from the author, filled with everything you could want in the genre! I loved the plotting, ex military veterans on a quest for justice for one of their own. The characters are well described and I loved their banter too. Josie is formidable, definitely a chip off the old block and very resourceful as she integrates with her father's ex colleagues from the military. It is fiction, but very believable in a strange way and I do think readers will enjoy this first book in an exciting new series which I would recommend to lovers of action and adventure books. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Being a big fan of the Max Craigie series of books by Neil Lancaster, I was interested to read a book by this author using a different 'voice; and pen name. We still get the fast past, action and characters in uniform (although not police this time). I loved it.
This may sound strange but think of Enid Blyton's Adventure Series of books and mix it up with the Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman. Add a very heavy dose of action and suspense, and like me, you may end up with these kind of thoughts in your head.
I absolutely loved the book. Bringing together 4 ex-Royal Marines who are now retired, and a daughter of a Marine who is out looking for revenge and you get a great story with wonderful characters and location.
Some may say that it is a little long and sometimes far fetched but I feel that the length of the book gives the author a chance to do what he does perfectly by building up a relationship between the readers and the characters, and use your imagination a little, it is fiction after all.
I would recommend this to anyone that enjoys reading action and adventure books, be they in their teens or in their elder years.
Many thanks to HQ, NetGalley and the author, for providing me with an advanced electronic copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
The book is published on the 5th of June, so not long to wait) and will be available in paperback, e-book and audiobook formats

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.