He begins a missing person enquiry that ends up as a murder investigation and the consequences from this investigation reach far and wide. I’m Charlotte, a British book blogger who also moonlights as an agency nurse in hospitals all around the south west of England. Tam Hardie, head of one of Scotland’s most notorious crime empires, is looking for something in a ruined graveyard in the depths of the Caithness countryside.

Unfortunately I knew some of what would happen but it didn’t detract too much from what was an otherwise explosive story!

The head of Scotland’s most powerful crime family is brutally murdered, his body dumped inside an ancient grave in a remote cemetery. This is a fast paced, enjoyable and exciting crime read that is hard to let go of, it is engaging and entertaining, and I loved both main characters. Without that mildly squiffy revelation of the graveyard in the wilds of Caithness, it wouldn’t exist. Highly recommended for lovers of Lee Childs' Jack Reacher - I actually pictured Max as Tom Cruise - but alas not for me.

The good guys are determined to bring down the Hardie family, but to do that, they need to bring down each and every dirty cop, who are feeding information to the Hardie’s and who are, in effect, derailing the whole investigation. The head of Scotland's most powerful crime family is brutally murdered, his body is dumped inside an ancient grave in a remote cemetery. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance. Introducing DS Max Craigie, this is a police thriller with a dark heart, but one that held my attention to the very end. They soon realise this murder is part off a blood feud between two Scottish families that stretches back to the 1800s.

It soon becomes apparent that the Hardies are getting inside information to find their prey so quickly. I particularly liked the minor character Bruce Ferguson, brother of one of the men killed in what appears to be a centuries old feud, a tough ex-special forces soldier now running security for a Russian oligarch. Sententious speeches crop up pretty regularly, presumably because we need to be reminded what splendidly upright people the good guys are. Neil Lancaster will insist on spelling things out for us which he’s already implied, and peppering this laboured prose with stale usage and cliché. They soon realise this murder is part of a blood feud between two Scottish families that stretches back to the 1800s.

Max isn’t alone in trying to get to the truth of this very deadly case, joined by a young DC, Janie Calder, a woman dismissed as somewhat of a misfit by colleagues, but someone who proves to be one of Max’s greatest ally, and someone more than equipped to save his hide.I do love a good police procedural and have been reading quite a lot of Lynda La Plante’s books lately (she of Prime suspect fame). As the body count rises, the investigation uncovers a large-scale corruption at the heart of the Scottish Police Service. What we also get is a strong storyline around a centuries old feud between two families with a hint of police corruption. The growing friendship and trust between Max and Janie is terrific as they power up the A9 like Batman and Robina.

Been off work for 3 months after surgery, surrounded by dozens of books that I pick up and put down, nothing gripped me. It is told mostly from Max’s point of view with the reader given glimpses from the other side’s point of view to widen the perspective. It started off really well and grabbed my attention right from the start and held it all the way through.He recently left the Metropolitan Police where he served for over twenty-five years, predominantly as a detective, leading and conducting investigations into some of the most serious criminals across the UK and beyond.