Book 1

Dead Man’s Grave

by Neil Lancaster

Published 16 July 2021
‘The best police procedural I’ve read in years’ Jane Casey

‘Grabbed me from the first page’ Ian Rankin

This grave can never be opened.
The head of Scotland’s most powerful crime family is brutally murdered, his body dumped inside an ancient grave in a remote cemetery.
 
This murder can never be forgotten.
Detectives Max Craigie and Janie Calder arrive at the scene, a small town where everyone has secrets to hide. They soon realise this murder is part of a blood feud between two Scottish families that stretches back to the 1800s. One thing’s for certain: it might be the latest killing, but it won’t be the last…
 
This killer can never be caught.
As the body count rises, the investigation uncovers large-scale corruption at the heart of the Scottish Police Service. Now Max and Janie must turn against their closest colleagues – to solve a case that could cost them far more than just their lives…

LONGLISTED FOR THE 2021 McILVANNEY PRIZE FOR SCOTTISH CRIME BOOK OF THE YEAR

‘The best police procedural I've read in years – fast-paced, compelling and deeply authentic. DS Max Craigie is a brilliant hero and I can't wait for the next in the series’ Jane Casey

‘Genuinely gripping, a total page-turner and one of my favourite reads of the year’ Matt Nixon, Daily Express

‘A stone cold classic of the genre; the strongest start to a series I’ve seen in years’ Tony Kent

‘Absolutely blown away by how good this is’ Marion Todd

‘A thriller writer set to blow up the bestseller lists’ C. L. Taylor

‘The most authentic voice in thriller writing’ Tony Parsons

‘A genuinely thrilling adventure’ Scottish Sun

‘A page turner you won’t want to miss’ Denzil Meyrick

Don’t miss the first stunning thriller in the new DS Max Craigie Scottish Crime series!


Book 2

The Blood Tide

by Neil Lancaster

Published 23 February 2022
‘Think Jack Reacher fronting Line of Duty’ Ian Rankin

You get away with murder.
In a remote sea loch on the west coast of Scotland, a fisherman vanishes without trace. His remains are never found.

You make people disappear.
A young man jumps from a bridge in Glasgow and falls to his death in the water below. DS Max Craigie uncovers evidence that links both victims. But if he can’t find out what cost them their lives, it won’t be long before more bodies turn up at the morgue…

You come back for revenge.
Soon cracks start to appear in the investigation, and Max’s past hurtles back to haunt him. When his loved ones are threatened, he faces a terrifying choice: let the only man he ever feared walk free, or watch his closest friend die…

LONGLISTED FOR THE 2022 McILVANNEY PRIZE FOR SCOTTISH CRIME BOOK OF THE YEAR! Max, Janie and Ross return in the second gripping novel in this explosive Scottish crime series.

Readers LOVE The Blood Tide

Line of Duty on steroids… It just never lets up!’ John Barlow

The Blood Tide grabs you from page one and doesn’t let go. Be warned: don’t sit down planning to read only a few pages!’ Kate London

‘Tightly plotted, tense and thrilling. Neil Lancaster just gets better and better’ Marion Todd

‘You can’t beat the voice of experience… A rugged tale from a writer who’s done this chilling stuff for real’ Paul Finch

‘A rattlingly good read. The pages practically turn themselves…’ John Sutherland

An absolutely thrilling read from a brand-new star of Tartan Noir. Superb.’ Cass Green

Authentic to a tee. A story to die for. Characters that leap of all the page-turny pages.’ Imran Mahmood

‘What a gripping page-turner – it kept me guessing until the very end’ Michelle Davies

‘I’ve been hooked on this for a few days. It has it all: action, humour, tightly plotted with the most satisfying of endings!’ Chris McDonald


Book 5

The Devil You Know

by Neil Lancaster

Published 28 March 2024

‘A tense and twisty thriller that had me gnawing my fingernails one minute and laughing out loud the next.’ Marion Todd

A CASE GONE COLD

Six years ago, Beata Dabrowski arranged to meet her lover in Glasgow and was never seen again. There were no leads… until now.

AN UNRELIABLE WITNESS

Imprisoned gang boss Davie Hardie wants to talk in exchange for his freedom. He knows exactly where Beata is buried, and he’s prepared to take the police to her grave.

A KILLER DESPERATE TO ESCAPE

But when the mission to locate Beata’s body is hijacked, DS Max Craigie is drafted on to the case. Someone is selling secrets.

Max will stop at nothing to expose police corruption and uncover Beata’s murderer… but can you ever really trust a killer to catch a killer?

Don’t miss the next book in the DS Max Craigie series! Fans of Ian Rankin and Marion Todd will love this utterly gripping Scottish thriller!

Praise for The Devil You Know

‘Neil Lancaster is one of the most exciting, innovative crime writers in the UK right now… One of the best police procedurals I’ve read in a long time. Consider me a fan’ M. W. Craven

‘This tale is fast and furious with blue lights and screaming sirens all the way’ The Sun

‘Action-packed & lightning-paced with some of the best dialogue I’ve read. I’m a huge fan of Lancaster and he’s a true rising star in crime fiction. Explosive & compellingHelen Fields

‘As hard as it is to believe, these books just get better and betterTony Kent

A wickedly clever and riveting thriller’ Graham Bartlett

‘Neil Lancaster just gets better and better. This is a gripping read that feels entirely authentic, seasoned with lovely flashes of humour' Cass Green


Book 6

Max Craigie Book 6

by Neil Lancaster

Published 27 March 2025
Don't miss Book 6 in the DS Max Craigie Series!

Available to pre-order now!

Praise for Neil Lancaster:

‘Think Jack Reacher fronting Line of DutyIan Rankin

‘Fast-paced, compelling, and deeply authentic’ Jane Casey

‘Neil Lancaster is so damn clever’ Marion Todd

‘A thriller writer set to blow up the bestseller lists’ C. L. Taylor

‘Deliciously dark’ Daily Mail

‘Neil Lancaster is one of the most exciting, innovative crime writers in the UK right now… One of the best police procedurals I’ve read in a long time. Consider me a fan’ M. W. Craven

‘Action-packed & lightning-paced with some of the best dialogue I’ve read. I’m a huge fan of Lancaster and he’s a true rising star in crime fiction. Explosive & compellingHelen Fields

‘As hard as it is to believe, these books just get better and betterTony Kent

A wickedly clever and riveting thriller’ Graham Bartlett

‘Neil Lancaster just gets better and better. This is a gripping read that feels entirely authentic, seasoned with lovely flashes of humour' Cass Green

Smashed through it, top work!’ Callum McSorley