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Dead Man’s Grave: The first book in a gripping new Scottish police procedural series for crime fiction and mystery thriller fans: Book 1 (DS Max Craigie Scottish Crime Thrillers) Hardcover – September 16, 2021

by Neil Lancaster (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 3,975 ratings
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‘The best police procedural I’ve read in years’ Jane Casey

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

‘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!

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Previous page
  1. Book 1 of 6
    DS Max Craigie Scottish Crime Thrillers
  2. Print length
    400 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    HQ Digital
  5. Publication date
    September 16, 2021
  6. Dimensions
    6.26 x 1.34 x 9.45 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    0008517126
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0008517120
  9. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HQ Digital (September 16, 2021)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0008517126
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0008517120
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.43 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.26 x 1.34 x 9.45 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 3,975 ratings

About the author

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Neil Lancaster

Neil Lancaster

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NEIL LANCASTER is the No. 1 digital bestselling author of both the Tom Novak and Max Craigie series. His first Craigie novel, Dead Man’s Grave, was longlisted for the 2021 McIlvanney Prize for Best Scottish Crime Book of the Year. The second Craigie novel, The Blood Tide, topped several ebook and audio charts. It was also longlisted for the 2022 McIlvanney Prize and shortlisted for Best New Series at the Dead Good Reader Awards.

Neil’s authentic crime writing style stems from his police background. He served as a military policeman and worked for the Metropolitan Police as a detective, investigating serious crimes in the capital and beyond. As a covert policing specialist, he used all manner of techniques to investigate and disrupt major crime and criminals. He now lives in the Scottish Highlands, writes crime and thriller novels and works as a broadcaster and commentator on true crime documentaries. He is an expert on two Sky Crime TV series, Meet, Marry, Murder and Made for Murder.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
3,975 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

A Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Gritty and gory police procedural
Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2022
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I enjoyed this complex, hard-boiled police procedural that features an ancient family feud between the Leith and the Hardie families. The Hardie crime family must avenge the murder of their father—no matter that the killer is Willie Leith, a schizophrenic off his medications. DS Max Craigie and DC Janie Calder are certain the Hardies will seek vengeance on the Leith family.

A subplot of equal interest and complexity reveals how deeply the Hardies have infiltrated Police Scotland—co-opting/bribing officials, even at the highest levels. This frustrates DS Craigie as he believes the Hardies will initiate a revenge/murder plan to kill any blood relative of their father’s murderer. He’s suspicious of most cops in Police Scotland, so he stealthy investigates. Or so he thinks.

4.0 to 4.5 stars bumped up to 5 stars.
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Lynn T.
4.0 out of 5 stars Very Good Police Procedural-Based in Scotland
Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2023
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4.5 stars

"This grave never to be opened."

It was and it was the start of various murders happening. DS Max Craigie is called in to investigate the missing leader of a major crime family in Scotland. This is an unusual request but the sons of the missing man need help in locating him.

What Max gets entangled in is a several century old family feud and corruption at the highest levels in the Scotland police. Max does not understand why the powers to be want to close the case so soon after there is an arrest especially when the killings that seem to be related keep happening.

Max has a interesting partner. Her name is Janie and she can handle herself and help others in a physical battle. Janie is very intelligent and is joked about by her fellow cops. They see her as odd and she has advanced quickly so of course they think they know why. I liked the relationship between her and Max and their banter.

This is a police procedural based in Scotland. One didn't know who to trust. Was everyone bent?
That was a big problem for DS Max. Also, this was a book about revenge of the most evil kind. I even worried about the welfare of his dog Nutmeg.

I kept picking up the book as I wanted to find out what was happening. It was that good! I enjoyed the lead up probably more than the climax of the book. It was interesting to see how the plot was carried out and evidence established. I now have a new series to follow.

If you like police procedurals, you should like this book. If you like crime books based in Scotland, well, you should really like it. I know I did.
One person found this helpful
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Kay C. Chicago
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Beginning
Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2022
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Enjoyed the book, enjoyed the characters. Very fast paced...doesn't get bogged down. Intricate plot but not hard to follow. Nowhere do I recall anyone mentioning a bacon butty. Thank you. I'm sure I'll move on to the next book. There's only one thing I dare to complain about. What is the obsession British authors have with the scent of cordite? They haven't put cordite in ammunition since 1945. They never put it in ammunition that is used in hand guns. Yet, in every gunfight in a small to medium space the air is just reeking with cordite. Not possible...unless they're using 65 year old ammo. How about "The smell of gunpowder permeated the air!"? I'm a little old lady (Dad was in WWII) and I very much enjoyed the book. There were not pages and pages of tiresome background info that add 0 to the story. Bravo!
5 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Will read more
Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2023
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First time reading this author. Hooked after reading first chapter. Interesting and varied personalities working for a cause. I can see it becoming a drama series.
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Judy in CA
3.0 out of 5 stars 3.7 stars
Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2022
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For fiction, 3.7 stars is high rating for me. My first time reading Mr. Lancaster but will not be my last.
I thought all of the police characters in the story were very good (even the bad cops). The gangsters were well tied into the story. The Ross character's words were a little hard to follow but seemed authentic.
No graphic sex and no foul language that was not appropriate to the story.
3 people found this helpful
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The Irresponsible Reader
4.0 out of 5 stars The Debut of Your New Favorite Police Procedural Series
Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2021
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It took me no time at all to be hooked by this novel--it starts off strong and improves from there. It was tense, well-plotted, and (mostly) well-paced. Add in Max and Janie and Dead Man's Grave becomes a real winner—one of the better Crime Novels I've read this year.

One little complaint—the book wraps up too quickly, it was just a bit too difficult to believe that they met their objectives that speedily. But, by that time, you're so into the story and characters that you're willing to go with Lancaster. And the conclusion was so satisfying that the only reason I remember this gripe is that I wrote it down.

I strongly recommend this one to you—it's the kind of book that makes me want to go and lower the stars on Lancaster's earlier books because this is so much better than what he'd done before—there's a depth, complexity, and richness to plot, character, and style that wasn't there in the Tom Novak books (don't get me wrong—I enjoyed each of them). If he's stepped up his game this much in so short a time, Lancaster's going to have a long and very satisfying career.
6 people found this helpful
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Kim J.
5.0 out of 5 stars What a fantastic book!
Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2022
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Neil Lancaster is a new author to me! And I want to know where he has been hiding! This book hit 100mph from the first page, and it never slowed down! The characters are well written and fleshed out, and you can feel the emotions in the story! I have seen books with this type of plot,, but not to this extent. The book is believable, because sadly the events in this book happen everywhere! But they sure do make a great fast paced story that I didn't want to put down! I for one can t wait to start the second book in this fascinating series!
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Daniel C.
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent! Head and shoulders above the crowd!
Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2022
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I rate Michael Connelly a the best crime novelist and the one I rate all other crime novels by. Dead Man's Grave is on par with Michael Connelly's work and is not only an excellent read but head and shoulders above most other books in this genre. Great characters, an exciting plot with twists and turns. I'm now a big fan of Neil Lancaster and am off to buying his next book in this series.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Susan brown
5.0 out of 5 stars A good read
Reviewed in Canada on November 25, 2022
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It was a good book, I knew the area it was written about, and the story line was good
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Seb Barrow
5.0 out of 5 stars A big wow!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 29, 2024
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What a full on action packed thriller this turned out to be! Just did not want to put it down as it grabs you from the get go.
A superb introduction to DS Max Craigie along with his team. Sorting out a murder, dealing with a viscious family and corruption within Scottish Police is more than enough to test the best.
Probably one of the best books I have read this year and there is more to come. Very happy!
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Cliente Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars Ritme trepidant
Reviewed in Spain on May 19, 2023
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No el pots deixar fins al final
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Pat b
5.0 out of 5 stars An explosive story
Reviewed in Australia on July 22, 2022
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4.5 rounded up.

I just recently read The Blood Tide - book 2 of the DS Max Craigie series by this author and I loved it so much I had to buy the first book. Unfortunately I knew some of what would happen but it didn’t detract too much from what was an otherwise explosive story!

Tam Hardie (the villain of book 2) reports his sick father, Tam Hardie senior, missing. The decision of this criminal family to involve the police is a sign of how concerned they are. DS Max Craigie and DC Janie Calder of Serious and Organised Crime (SOC) Scotland are tasked with tracking the elder Hardie down. It doesn’t pay to get on the wrong side of this family. The find him quickly, dead and entombed in a grave inscribed only with the words “this grave can never be opened”.

Without going into detail the killer is soon apprehended but he doesn’t resist, in fact he is as crazy as a loon! The death is to do with an old blood feud between the two families. Well Tam Jnr. (now just Tam) and the current head of the family swears vengeance and death on everyone in the killer’s family. Luckily there are not too many of them but still, the body count starts to rise. It soon becomes apparent that the Hardies are getting inside information to find their prey so quickly. Max is told to leave it alone but he doesn’t want more innocents to die so, with Janie’s help, he sets about trying to warn the others. This puts him in Hardie’s crosshairs and the lengths Hardie goes to illustrate that the police corruption goes to the highest levels.

Well we know there’s a book 2 and this story explains how the Policing Standards Reassurance Team of book 2 comes about. Sure, it’s just a police procedural but the book is so tightly plotted, so fast paced, so edge of seat with characters aplenty to both root for and to hate that it is really a cut above your everyday procedural. I love these characters! Max is crazy brave with mad fighting skills and he is very loyal to his friends. Janie is whip smart and can fight with the best of them - she knows Muay Thai! Their boss, DI Ross Fraser is an old warhorse with a heart of gold and he backs his troops to the hilt. And now - I can’t wait for book 3!
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Beechley
4.0 out of 5 stars A very good read with nasty villains. Interesting, convincing characters.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 22, 2024
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Strong violence in places, villains really nasty. Interesting, convincing relationships.
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