The Devil You Know is a fabulous, gripping, fast paced dark thriller, brilliantly plotted with suspense, twists throughout and unruly corrupt police officers. It is compelling and addictive from the very start I didn’t want it to end! If you love psychological thrillers you will love this. I want to say a huge thank you to the publishers for sending me a finished copy.

Another rollercoaster ride of a book from Neil Lancaster. This cracking book continues the series based around DS Max Craigie and his team who generally work undercover to unearth corruption within Police Scotland. A Polish girl is murdered and although assumed just missing by the investigation at the time, she is never found. Fast forward six years and those responsible seem to have an awful lot to lose if discovered. It is apparent this person has a position of importance and will do anything to remain anonymous, including murder. As the body count rises and despite having their hands tied by the DCC, the team do their work, even speaking to old adversaries. As this gripping story escalates, it becomes a race against time to find out just who is at the head of this evil regime before more people are killed. A brilliant story, definitely one of Neil’s best, with the right amount of tension, fear and action but also with raw Scottish humour and heartfelt emotion. I can’t wait for the next one.

So… Max Craigie book five! The book starts with the disappearance of a Polish woman six years earlier. Davie Hardie, who was imprisoned as a result of a previous case of Max's, is not happy in prison and wishes to trade information on the case for a cushier time in prison. However he is adamant that he will not have Max involved in the discussions even though it will "shake Scotland to its foundations". Max and the team are to know nothing about Hardie's discussion with the police however it might come to his attention via a roundabout method. It's always possible that things will be less than straightforward with the Hardie family and given his previous interest in them will Max stay away for what goes on? The book follows this story and the far wider ramifications of it. Fans of this series (& it really is worth starting it at the beginning not here) will be pleased to hear the this features all of the usual crew including Barney the freelance "spook" and an appearance by Bruce Ferguson. Inevitably there will be some evidence of corruptions but where will that lead. Plenty of tension and action here together with some nail biting moments - all very good reading. I guess I am fairly surprised at just how good this series continues to be. Book one was great and this one and the previous book I could argue are even better. That is no mean feat and shows just what a good writer Lancaster is. I don't read much crime fiction these days and rarely follow series. However, for me, this ticks all the boxes I want from such a series - it is definitely a series I will continue to follow. The pace and tension are excellent. The characters are very well worked and developed. Personally I'm pleased that Max's boss Ross seems to have been toned down slightly - I realise that he is a "real character" however he had begun to irritate me but is far better in this story. For me this is genuinely one of the best police/action type thriller series around currently. My partner and I tend not to see reading matter in the same ways however she also loves this series so it may well continue to have a wide appeal - I would certainly recommend it. 4.5/5 and rounded up very happily. Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review

The Devil You Know is the latest in the DS Max Craigie series of novels. Frankly, Neil Lancaster should come with a health warning, more precisely a sleep warning! I was so hooked that when I woke up at 3 AM I read right through to daybreak and beyond. The hook centres on the death of a Polish woman carried out at the behest of a scorned lover (although 'lover' is over-egging it a bit). The man in question was in his ascendency as far as influence is concerned and he will do whatever it takes to keep his position. The Scottish polis already reeling from corruption uncovered by DS Max Craigie are somewhat wary of letting Max off the leash again. Meanwhile Max is reeling from something his wife told him. Something world changing. Can he concentrate on the job in hand sufficient to uncover the villain at the centre of the carnage and his controller? You'll have to suffer a few sleepless nights like I did to find out. My thanks go to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.