The Dark Heart

Praise for The Dark Heart:

‘Ridiculously compelling. Devastatingly plotted. Timely, witty – basically everything you could want’ The Secret Barrister

‘The body count of this typically twisty yarn is satisfyingly high’ The Times

‘Another stonking page-turner. Literally too good to miss’ Daily Express

‘Action-packed and totally thrilling, there is also an emotional depth to Lancaster’s writing often missing from high octane dramatic stories. A terrific read’ Liz Nugent

‘A relentless, beautifully constructed thriller … Lancaster doesn’t just tell the story; he makes you feel it’ T. G. Reid

‘Pacy, intricate and terrifyingly good – first class thriller writing’ Marion Todd

‘From the policing to the Scots accents, the authenticity is second to none, and the dialogue is fast and fun. Tense and thrilling’ Sam Holland

‘Lancaster has once again put himself in the top echelons of modern crime writers. This series must never end’ Graham Bartlett

‘Neil Lancaster is a natural born storyteller… The Dark Heart is a cracker of a tale — and the best Craigie yet’ John Sutherland

‘This is topical, timely and eye-opening … Neil is a true master of his trade’ G. D. Wright

‘I love the insider touch that Neil brings to this story… I wish I’d found his books sooner’ Alex Gray

‘Another ripper from the Lancaster Bomber’ Callum McSorley

‘Chilling’ Crime Monthly

‘For gritty police procedurals with a recurring cast of endearing and at times eccentric characters, this is one of the best series around’ Morning Star

‘Non-stop action, breakneck pace, deliciously suspenseful… When Shadows Fall was my first DS Max Craigie book and won’t be my last – I loved it.’ Andrea Mara

‘Superb reading. Neil is the master of the crime mystery. His serial killer “pusher” is the creepiest villain I think I’ve met this century…’ Jeremy Vine

‘Bone-chilling and full of so many twists’ The Sun

‘A good old police procedural… I was pleasantly terrified’ The Guardian

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.