This was my first book by Neil Lancaster – and I don’t think it will be my last!
The reviews for this series are amazing, so I was pleased to be granted a copy by NetGalley so that I could make up my own mind.
The book opens with the deaths of a high-profile lawyer and one of his past clients, one of Scotland’s most notorious criminals who has just been released from prison. As the bodies begin to stack up, DS Max Craigie starts to suspect that they have a murderer taking revenge on those who have done bad things – a vigilante killer who seems to have insider knowledge of the police’s methods and processes. The investigation team is forced to face the fact that the culprit may be one of them – but how are they going to uncover someone who knows their every move?
This is the third book in the DS Max Craigie series and features Janie and Ross as recurring characters alongside Max. As it was the first time I’d met these characters, it took me a while to get to grips with the police hierarchy and the dynamics of the team. However, once I’d got this in hand then I really enjoyed the characters – especially Janie – who were well-rounded and often witty.
The narrative is extremely busy – there are a lot of events, characters and twists galore. This makes for a compelling and tense read, albeit one you have to follow closely or you miss things. Not one for skimming! The plotting of the novel is impressive – there is so much going on and yet it keeps moving forward at such a pace. There is honestly never a dull moment.
Personally, I’m not always a fan of police procedurals when they’re trying to root out corruption from within. However, Lancaster avoids the usual traps by making the victims morally dubious – to what extent can the actions of a vigilante police officer be seen as an (obviously illegal) extension of their law-enforcing duties? It’s an interesting moral question to explore but – at the same time – one that doesn’t detract from the impetus of the narrative.
My only regret is that I hadn’t read either of the previous books in this series – I think if I had hit the ground running then I would have got my head around the characters and the pace a bit sooner. Still, it’s an incredibly well-plotted and engaging read and one I’d recommend to those who enjoy top quality police procedurals.
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Header photo by David von Diemar on Unsplash
Great review, Kate! The fact that the narrative is a busy one and that there are many twists makes it sound like quite the page-turner. Maybe you can read the previous books in the series as well. 🙂