After reading the first one in this series last year, I was excited to see a second one! This book is a solid sequel, ticking all the boxes you'd want; the characters are developed further and the plot picks up where it left off. I enjoyed learning more about Max, Janie and the rest of the team. I felt the story did dip a little in the middle and I lost track of what was happening, but the ending picked up the pace again and tied everything together whilst leaving me with enough questions to want to read more! I struggled to keep track of all the characters at the start, but as the story moves on it becomes easier, and I was desperate to know what was going to happen next. Neil Lancaster has a strong narrative style, which makes this book an easy read and you get a sense of each character throughout.

This is the second in the series following the investigations of Max Craigie. Two seemingly unconnected deaths Lead Max into the world of the drugs trade and corruption in high places. I enjoyed the plot and the characterisation but I didn't feel there was any great excitement despite a small twist at the end. It is very much a procedural novel rather than a crime thriller. Having said that, I did enjoy reading it and will be keen to read more by this author.

Excellent storyline. Fantastic characters. Brilliant pacing.

The Blood Tie is a superb book and one that any fan of great thrillers should definitely not miss out on

When reading this book, I thought I was watching an action packed thriller that is keeping me at the edge of my seat!

In a remote place, a fisherman disappears without trace. Then a man jumps out of the bridge to his death and soon, the police find clues that link the two cases together.

This is the second book of the DS Mac Craigie series although I haven't read the first book of the series yet. Though it was slightly confusing initially, gradually, I was hooked into the story from the start to the finish! The writing was good and the author did a good job drawing the reader into the story, making the reader feel like they are in this adventure with Max and Janie and Ross! In fact, I can't wait for the third book of the series to come out soon!

Overall, this is an unputdownable thriller that will keep you up all night--worth five stars!

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

This is book 2 in the Max Craigie series and I am lost for words! It's a fascinating, interesting and convoluted plot, all wrapped up and filled with wonderful characters. I love the banter between the team, the beautiful Scottish setting and not forgetting Nutmeg, the dog! The pace never stops from start to the finish as we encounter police corruption, murder and drug smuggling. Honestly, it's a truly brilliant read and I highly recommend it. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

DS Max Craigie is worried when an old friend is found dead in and apparent suicide. Recalling their last conversation Max does not believe that he took his own life. As Max, Janie and Ross dig deeper it becomes apparent that Max’s fears are correct but there is far more going on than they initially thought.
Although Tam Hardie is safely locked up in prison he has left a void to be filled and Liverpudlian Macca thinks he’s the man to do it. But, something is going badly wrong. Drug deliveries are being intercepted and stolen, couriers are being murdered. Someone with inside knowledge is clearly lining their own pockets and Max and the team are determined to find out who that is. Finding out could cost Max dear, how much is he willing to risk to root out corruption that could go much higher up than he imagined.
Absolutely brilliant book. Yet again Neil Lancaster kept me guessing who the corrupt insider was. I love the addition of Norma and Barney to the team and hope they continue to be involved.

The Blood Tide is a tense thriller set in Scotland.....a missing fisherman, suspicious deliveries off the Scotish Coast, a killer behind bars, corrupt police....its fast paced and very good. I really enjoyed it and finished it in a few days. Full of twists and turns, great f you like a thriller. This is the second book with Max as its central character and it well worth reading both!

With distracting details of the beautiful Scottish weather, the story unfolds. They say that crime doesn't pay, but for some it surely does; in fact it pays so well that a particular type of criminal might think it is worth their time stealing it. Sometimes, that particular type of criminal might just be a copper. So, the grimy underworld drug barons fins themselves mixing with even lower pond scum.
The hunt is on, to right a wrong; to pay a debt and bring the criminals to justice - harder than it should be, when those in power who are working to protect the public have had a taste of the most addictive drug of all .....money. And they will do everything in their power to keep it.

A pacy police procedural with tons of authentic detail that kept me turning the pages. I would recommend reading the first in the series before as there's a lot of background that pops up in this one. This one can be read as a standalone but with big spoilers for the first. Tightly written.

Blimey there are more people killed in this book than in a Jack Reacher story! And, I’ve done it again, jumped in at book 2 but I’m going to read book 1 very soon as I really enjoyed this. DS Max Craigie, DI Ross Fraser and DC Janie Calder comprise the Scottish Policing Standards Reassurance Team - these are the guys that really crack down on corruption and they report direct to the Chief Constable. This book set a cracking pace that never let up.

It starts with the disappearance of a couple of low level drug couriers. Then PC Hamish Beattie is just about to come off night shift when sees a potential jumper at a popular suicide bridge. He doesn’t manage to save the guy but he does learn that the man is positively terrified for his family. It turns out that he had worked as an intelligence officer at the National Crime Agency (NCA) so that raises a few red flags. Beattie raises the issue with Max but when Max looks for his report he doesn’t find much on the system. When he and Janie go to talk to Beattie at home they find him dead from hanging himself. Only Max is certain he didn’t actually hang himself.

From then on it’s a bloodbath! It’s about who is controlling the drugs coming into Scotland and it becomes obvious that there are corrupt elements within law enforcement when a drug bust goes bust. Max and DI Ross and Janie come up with a plan to trap the corrupt officials but in the way of many plans, things don’t go according to plan. And when Max learns who is behind things his blood runs cold. There is one person he truly fears!

The characters were wonderfully done, they seemed so real and relatable. The addition of analyst, Norma, to the team was inspired as she was like a mother hen - a mother hen with mad tech skills! The language was salty but seemed totally appropriate to the story and I loved the little Scottishisms and the dark humour I associate with tartan noir. I’ll be looking forward to the next book for sure. Many thanks to Netgalley and HQ Digital for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.

One of Scotland’s best investigators Max Graigie is about to put his life on the line as he starts a new case beginning with the suspicious death of his friend Hamish.
Drug gangs, smuggling and corrupt officers of the law will test the skills of Max’s team and maybe their lives.

Brilliant book with great characters plus typical Scottish weather. What. More could you ask for? Enjoy.

The Blood Tide by Neil Lancaster is the second in the must read Max Craigie series.
In short, we follow DS Max Craigie and his team, the Policing Standards Reassurance Team, their remit to identify and tackle corruption in the police force that others in the force couldn’t. Max realises this new investigation informing his team, “There’s Jimmy McLeish, the missing Caithness fisherman, Hamish’s absent notes, Murdo’s final words, DIY, knots. Need I go on!”
I flipping love this series, the dynamics of the team, the fast paced thrilling plots, the wit, the Scottish landscape and the inimitable Max Craigie and his posse…just brilliant.
The Blood Tide had so many splendid twists and turns but it’s the ending which blew this book out of the water…just genius. Mr Lancaster I most definitely enjoyed this right old ripper of a story!
Big thanks to Neil Lancaster, HQ Digital and NetGalley for this eARC which I chose to read in return for my honest review.

A fantastic story keeping you hooked in from start to finish. The thread can go many different ways and it will keep you on the edge of your seat...

I am very grateful to HQ Stories and NetGalley for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.
Ian Rankin described this book, “Think Jack Reacher fronting Line of Duty”.

I think that sold it best for me.

The story grabbed me from the start as a great page-turner should. The characters, the settings, the plot lines and pace all made this my favourite read for a long time.

I loved the twists and turns, the setbacks and the triumphs, with great villains and outstanding police work.

If you are an avid crime/thriller fan and have yet to read a Neil Lancaster story, you are missing a treat! I highly recommend The Blood Tide!

I’ve read this and the predecessor in quick succession; they’re good easy read thrillers. Lancaster can show off his technical understanding a wee bit more than is strictly necessary, which i suspects adds veracity for some bit is a bit overplayed for me - it’s also quite amusing how much detail is is offered at times but for dramatic purposes whole days of planning can be elided (thankfully!).
Characterisation can be a bit thin, and there’s a tendency to tell not show, but these complaints feel superfluous- it really doesn’t matter. This is about exciting plot, big reveals, threat, danger and the good guys ultimately catching the bad guys, and it does that well.

I struggled with the overly descriptive, flowery writing style. The characters were complex and well developed. The ending was positively superb. This was a good mysterious thriller.

The Blood Tide is the second of the DS Max Craigie novels by Neil Lancaster, and I enjoyed it just as much as the first. Following swiftly on from the twists and shocks of Dead Man's Grave, the action kicks off straight away with a suicide off a bridge in Glasgow. What follows is a series of events, which are seemingly not linked - but are they?

The Blood Tide is another great read by Neil Lancaster, with the same level of heart-in-your-mouth tension to keep you gripped. Reading it is like watching a great crime thriller series, when you just have to watch the next episode, but then something else happens and you still can't turn it off!

Neil Lancaster has fast become one of my favourite crime authors, and I can't wait for the next installment.,

This is book 2 in the DS Max Craigie series set in Scotland. I loved the first book and was very happy to be approved for a review copy of the follow-up book so thanks to Net Galley and the publishers.

The books starts off with a fisherman disappearing without a trace in the North of Scotland, and another man throwing himself off a bridge to his death. Both do not seem related but Max soon identifies connections, and as the investigation continues it seems to link to his nemesis who is currently residing in prison due to Max.

This is another pulsating and fast moving book with plenty of action, great characters and a certain amount of tension which is maintained throughout the book This keeps up the really high standard of the first book and has a great central character who works his way into your affection, being set in Scotland only adds to the attraction for me.

I would certainly strongly recommend this book to those that love crime fiction with great plotting, great characters and pulsating action. I can’t wait for book 3!

A really excellent book to read. Good characters and a storyline to keep you interested all the way through with some twists and turns you didn't see coming.

Another excellent police crime book from Neil Lancaster. I love the setting, the obvious understanding of police procedures. The office banter and relationships between the officers is enjoyable and helps bring a little warmth to the plot. I live in constant fear for little Nutmeg but other than that I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as I did his previous one and look forward to the next instalment from Max and the team.