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A review by laurahastoomanywips
Dead Man's Grave by Neil Lancaster
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is the first book in the new Max Craigie series.
Max has recently joined Police Scotland from the Met. He is sent to investigate the disappearance of Tam Hardie senior, an infamous Scottish crime lord, whilst he was exploring his families past. This leads to the discovery of Tam's body in an old grave, marked by a tombstone reading "This grave must never be opened".
As part of the investigation they get swept up in a blood feud between two families which is assisted by deep seated police corruption.
Can Max and his new colleague Janie Calder get to the bottom of things? How high will the body count be? How high does the corruption go?
This was a well written, fast paced thriller. The setting and characters were clearly Scottish, the particular Scottish wit was in great evidence, to my delight.
I really enjoyed this, and although I was a bit behind at times (read this on the Pigeonhole) this actually worked to my benefit as could binge read a few staves at a time, especially the last three.
Highly recommend and have purchased a kindle version, so can refresh my memory ahead of the next book being published. This would go down particularly well with "line of duty" fans I think.
With thanks to the Pigeonhole for the opportunity to read.
Additional comments after listening to Audiobook Aug/Sept 2023: Fanastic narration by Angus King, really brought the characters alive.
Max has recently joined Police Scotland from the Met. He is sent to investigate the disappearance of Tam Hardie senior, an infamous Scottish crime lord, whilst he was exploring his families past. This leads to the discovery of Tam's body in an old grave, marked by a tombstone reading "This grave must never be opened".
As part of the investigation they get swept up in a blood feud between two families which is assisted by deep seated police corruption.
Can Max and his new colleague Janie Calder get to the bottom of things? How high will the body count be? How high does the corruption go?
This was a well written, fast paced thriller. The setting and characters were clearly Scottish, the particular Scottish wit was in great evidence, to my delight.
I really enjoyed this, and although I was a bit behind at times (read this on the Pigeonhole) this actually worked to my benefit as could binge read a few staves at a time, especially the last three.
Highly recommend and have purchased a kindle version, so can refresh my memory ahead of the next book being published. This would go down particularly well with "line of duty" fans I think.
With thanks to the Pigeonhole for the opportunity to read.
Additional comments after listening to Audiobook Aug/Sept 2023: Fanastic narration by Angus King, really brought the characters alive.