Dead Man’s Grave

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What to expect

Don't miss Neil Lancaster's brand-new espionage thriller series! No Mercy available to buy now.

‘Grabbed me from the first page’ Ian Rankin

‘The best police procedural I’ve read in years’ Jane Casey

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!

Critics Review

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‘Grabbed me from the first page … think Jack Reacher fronting Line of Duty’ Ian Rankin

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‘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

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‘A genuinely thrilling adventure’ Scottish Sun

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‘Compelling, quirky and engaging, this is a page-turner you won't want to miss!’ Denzil Meyrick

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‘Genuinely gripping, a total page-turner and one of my favourite reads of the year’ Matt Nixson, Daily Express

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‘Great storytelling with a whiplash smart hero and heroine’ Daily Mail

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‘A cracking good story … kept me turning the pages, and loving the twists. I can’t wait for the second Craigie instalment’ Gytha Lodge

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‘Gripping’ Bella

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‘A sizzling start to a new series’ Crime Monthly

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‘A thriller writer set to blow up the bestseller lists’ C. L. Taylor

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‘Rock hard cop stuff, from a writer who’s done it for real. Absolutely terrific’ Paul Finch

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‘If you liked Line of Duty, you’ll love this’ Real People Magazine

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‘The most authentic voice in thriller writing’ Tony Parsons

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‘An edge-of-your-seat, read-in-one-sitting book. If you like Line of Duty, you must snap this up’ Cass Green

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‘A fast-paced read’ Suffolk Magazine

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‘An authentic and compelling thriller. Highly recommended’ Mark Dawson

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‘Absolutely blown away by how good this is’ Marion Todd

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‘If you loved his Tom Novak series, you’ll love this even more’ Stephen Leather

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‘A powerful and gripping story … D. S. Max Craigie is a fantastic creation’ Howard Linskey

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‘An incredible piece of work. Great storytelling, pacy and written with such a sense of place’ Chris MacDonald

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‘A stone cold classic of the genre; the strongest start to a series I’ve seen in years’ Tony Kent

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‘The best police procedural money can buy’ Imran Mahmood

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User Reviews

Book 4.4
Narration 4.6
4.0
4.0
Good but I’ve read better. Probably go back to the series one day but didn’t totally grip me.
Michelle Louch 05/06/2025
5.0
5.0
Geoff Miles 02/02/2025
5.0
5.0
stevew 30/09/2024
4.0
5.0
Really enjoyed this well crafted tale, brilliant characters and excellent plot. Narration was very good although Jenny the second main character's voice was a little annoying. But I will definitely buy the next in the series. 😁😁😁😁
Johnboy 25/12/2023
4.0
4.0
Rattling good read. Stretches the imagination a wee bit- but why not? Suspenseful, well written and believable characters. Thats me hooked.
But a couple of howlers- Sheriff Court - not Sheriffs. Also Forth of Firth??
harvA 19/08/2023

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