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.

Book #6 in the DS Max Craigie series. Author Neil Lancaster served for over twenty five years in the Metropolitan Police, predominantly as a detective, leading and conducting investigations into some of the most serious criminals across the UK and beyond, and that knowledge shows! The story begins with the discovery of a woman’s body at the base of a Munro in Scotland. The body is that of Leanne Wilson, 40 years old and just starting a new phase in life after leaving a controlling ex boyfriend. Initially thought to be a tragic accident, the team discover many similar ‘accidents’ concerning young women, and it turns out that they have a serial killer at large, and it’s clearly someone who has a deep hatred of women! Well written, fast paced, lots of suspense and heart stopping moments, with a storyline that grips from the outset. DS Max Craigie, and his colleagues - boss DI Ross Fraser (a potty mouthed man, yet hugely amusing and beneath his gruff exterior lies a heart of gold), the wonderful DC Janie Calder and intelligence analyst, Norma, provide the reader with much witty banter, which helps create a more light hearted and amusing backdrop to alleviate the seriousness of the crimes they’re dealing with. Neil Lancaster is adept at creating a complex, yet gripping storyline, skilfully combining the multi-layered elements, leading to a terrific read and a more than satisfying conclusion. Another winner for Mr Lancaster!

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.

This is the sixth Max Craigie book and it is certainly not losing its attraction. Craigie is a policeman seconded to other agencies. He is currently working with a group who are pursuing the latest discovery, namely that there is a group of men filming the deaths of young blond women as they are pushed off .Monroes in the north of Scotland. The films are published on a dark website which generates large sums of money. It is a very original and exceedingly well constructed storyline. Bit by bit the story unravels as the perpetrators are unmasked. The culprits bring the police into serious disrepute. As a reader, I was desperate to know how it was all going to end. Max’s absorption with his job is a challenge as his wife is at home expecting a baby! If there was something about the book I would take exception to it would be the language used by some of the police team. That is not how Scots speak and does not add anything. That apart, this is a good read and I recommend it.

I am really enjoying this series and When Shadows Fall is a cracker of a read and a great addition to the authors Max Craigie series. Max and his team are asked to look into similar deaths that appear to have not been properly investigated and correct procedures followed. Wow, this book certainly hit the ground running and I was drawn into the story very quickly. Neil Lancaster certainly knows how to connect with his readers and this book really hit the mark with me. It has everything I like - a good plot line, engaging writing, great pacing, a slow build up of tension, thrills and suspense and cliff hanger chapter endings that made me eager to know more. I loved following the team as they chase leads and are horrified by what they uncover. The author has created a team of such likeable, and relateable characters that you just root for. I love their camaraderie, team banter and the way they all work and pull together. I really liked the ending and look forward to the next book, and would recommend this if you are a fan of police procedurals - if you've not read any of the previous books you need to read the series in order to know the characters and their histories from the beginning. 4 stars