‘When Shadows Fall’ by Neil Lancaster

Published by Harpercollins,
27 March 2025.
ISBN: 978-0-00-855137-7 (HB)

This is book 6 in the DS Max Craigie series; it starts with Max at Chanonry Point watching dolphins with his aunt Elspeth, and a call from an old friend Shay Hammond about a suspicious death.

A climber has fallen on A’Chralaig, a Scottish Munro. The local police wrote it off as an accident, but it has been uncovered that a string of similar deaths have occurred over the last few years, it appears that someone has been targeting lone female climbers. As the investigation unfolds Max and Janie find themselves wrapped up in a world of heinous crimes and horrific motives.

These are the types of thrillers that I always find the most exciting and enjoyable, When Shadows Fall is centered around a well-established, likeable, capable team, and the plot is chilling, fast paced and suspenseful. It’s a genuine page turner, that pulls you through all its twists and heart in the mouth moments with ease. Neils ability to slowly turn up the tension and only reveal snippets of important information is masterful, following alongside the team as they work through these crimes is joyful in the darkest sense of the word.

I’d highly recommend this book and this series, it’s consistent and will constantly leave you wanting more.
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Reviewer: Lorraine Carpenter

Neil Lancaster was born in Liverpool in the 1960s. He recently left the Metropolitan Police where he served for over twenty-five years, predominantly as a detective, leading and conducting investigations into some of the most serious criminals across the UK and beyond. Neil acted as a surveillance and covert policing specialist, using all types of techniques to arrest and prosecute drug dealers, human traffickers, fraudsters, and murderers. During his career, he successfully prosecuted several wealthy and corrupt members of the legal profession who were involved in organised immigration crime. These prosecutions led to jail sentences, multi-million pound asset confiscations and disbarments. Since retiring from the Metropolitan Police, Neil has relocated to the Scottish Highlands with his wife and son, where he mixes freelance investigations with writing. 

Lorraine Carpenter lives in the Southwest of England with her partner Doug. She spends most of her free time reading and has loved mysteries and thrillers since a very early age. If she’s not reading, she is most likely to be drawing or crocheting (very poorly) and watching a true crime documentary.