The Blood Tide by Neil Lancaster

Fans of Scottish crime will enjoy this authentic second DS Max Craigie thriller, which continues themes from Dead Man's Grave, making it best to read the first novel beforehand.

With drug kingpin Tam Hardie in prison, Scouse gangster Scally aims to take over the distribution of Turkish heroin and cocaine in Scotland. However, two thugs begin intercepting his shipments, stealing the drugs, and leaving no one involved alive.

PC Hamish Beattie encounters a distraught man on a bridge about to jump into the River Clyde; he has nowhere to turn. An intelligence officer with the National Crime Agency, the man claims his whole family will be killed, and those responsible are part of misconduct that leads to the top of the agency. DS Max Craigie's team has formed a specialized anti-corruption unit and finds the investigation into the jumper crooked, evidence missing, and his new Inspector forcing him off the case. Tam Hardie makes a daring escape from prison, having no intention of giving up his crime empire to new blood, with a special grudge against Craigie. Leaked operational details prove there are corrupt bastards within the team. And the rot must go all the way to the top.

Even more gripping and exciting than the first novel, Lancaster hits his stride with the characters. Tough and authentic, Craigie is again bent on justice, helped once more by the secretive ex-British Special Agent Ferguson, who manages to get the last laugh over Hardie. For fans of Scottish crime, it's a real page-turner. I couldn't put it down.

2022 / Tradeback / 448 pages

My other review for Neil Lancaster:

Dead Man's Grave