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The Dark Heart by Neil Lancaster x-book

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The Dark Heart

DS Max Craigie Scottish Crime Thrillers (Book 7)

Narrator
Angus King
Publisher
HarperCollins Publishers
Publish Date
12 March 2026
Run Time
12 hours
Format
x-book®
Rating
4.5 (2 reviews)
$13.95

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What to expect

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

'Just brilliant!! Superb plot, hooked early on, reeled in and kept dangling right till the end’ ★★★★★

'If you’re drawn to thrillers that combine procedural precision with emotional depth, The Dark Heart will leave you breathless’ ★★★★★

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

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

A DEADLY BOMBING

When renowned author Dr. Daniel Solomon is killed in a devastating explosion in York, authorities quickly attribute the attack to Islamic extremists. But as the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that all is not as it seems.

A DARK CONSPIRACY

DS Max Craigie uncovers a chilling connection between a series of brutal murders, each victim linked by a secret that someone is determined to protect.

A DANGEROUS GAME

With the number of victims growing and an elusive figure known as The Cashier operating in the shadows, Max must navigate a web of corruption and hatred. Can he unravel the truth before more lives are lost?

Praise for The Dark Heart:

'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

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

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

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

'This is one of the best series around’ Morning Star

'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

'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

'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

'Absorbing, scary and full of real emotion, this is a terrific novel’ Literary Review

‘Chilling’ Crime Monthly

'It’s gripping, suspenseful, terrifying, intelligent and engrossing. The storyline has heartbreak but it’s written so empathetically it’s impossible not to feel something’ ★★★★★

'Tense, scary, topical and at times brutal. Brilliant.’ ★★★★★

'This is my 7th Max Craigie novel and each one has been utterly standout in its execution and delivery. The quality of Neil’s writing and the way in which he allows each story to carefully unfold is just masterful’ ★★★★★

'The Dark Heart is a crime thriller that grips you from the start with a masterful plot line, suspense and some breathtaking moments’ ★★★★★

Critics Review

  • 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
See more reviews
  • '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
  • 'Absorbing, scary and full of real emotion, this is a terrific novel’ Literary Review
  • ‘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 StarPraise for Neil Lancaster:'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

User Reviews

Book 4.5

Narration 3.5

  • 4.0 3.0

    I have read all of the previous books in this series and have therefore my own interpretation on how they should sound.This then made this book not as enjoyable as it would have been this is a criticism of myself not the narrator, although some of the characters did sound a bit like Sean Connery.

    ring01 2026-08-20
  • 5.0 4.0

    I do really like Angus King as a narrator, and the number of different characters here, not to mention accents, no doubt makes this a challenge of a book to narrate! He does really well.

    As for the story, another heart-stopping rollercoaster from Neil! Love this series, and it doesn’t disappoint.

    lottiefb 2026-03-21

Details

Author
Neil Lancaster
Narrator
Angus King
Duration
12 hours
Release Date
12 March 2026
ISBN
9780008688394
Format
x-book®
Publisher
HarperCollins Publishers
Genre
Crime and mystery: police procedural, Political / legal thriller, Thriller: terrorism
Rating
4.5(2 reviews)
Narration
3.5(2 reviews)

Synopsis

Don't miss Neil Lancaster's brand-new espionage thriller series! No Mercy available now. 'Just brilliant!! Superb plot, hooked early on, reeled in and kept dangling right till the end’ ★★★★★ 'If you’re drawn to thrillers that combine procedural precision with emotional depth, The Dark Heart will leave you breathless’ ★★★★★ 'Ridiculously compelling. Devastatingly plotted. Timely, witty – basically everything you could want’ The Secret Barrister 'A relentless, beautifully constructed thriller … Lancaster doesn’t just tell the story; he makes you feel it’ T. G. Reid A DEADLY BOMBING When renowned author Dr. Daniel Solomon is killed in a devastating explosion in York, authorities quickly attribute the attack to Islamic extremists. But as the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that all is not as it seems. A DARK CONSPIRACY DS Max Craigie uncovers a chilling connection between a series of brutal murders, each victim linked by a secret that someone is determined to protect. A DANGEROUS GAME With the number of victims growing and an elusive figure known as The Cashier operating in the shadows, Max must navigate a web of corruption and hatred. Can he unravel the truth before more lives are lost? Praise for The Dark Heart: '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 'Another stonking page-turner. Literally too good to miss’ Daily Express ‘The body count of this typically twisty yarn is satisfyingly high’ The Times 'Pacy, intricate and terrifyingly good – first class thriller writing’ Marion Todd 'This is one of the best series around’ Morning Star '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 '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 '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 'Absorbing, scary and full of real emotion, this is a terrific novel’ Literary Review ‘Chilling’ Crime Monthly 'It’s gripping, suspenseful, terrifying, intelligent and engrossing. The storyline has heartbreak but it’s written so empathetically it’s impossible not to feel something’ ★★★★★ 'Tense, scary, topical and at times brutal. Brilliant.’ ★★★★★ 'This is my 7th Max Craigie novel and each one has been utterly standout in its execution and delivery. The quality of Neil’s writing and the way in which he allows each story to carefully unfold is just masterful’ ★★★★★ 'The Dark Heart is a crime thriller that grips you from the start with a masterful plot line, suspense and some breathtaking moments’ ★★★★★

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