Review: Blood Runs Cold

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Neil Lancaster 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 13 April 2023

Are you ready for the fourth installment in the Max Craigie series? I wasn’t and am guilty of wishing I had a print copy to hide in my freezer during those intense moments. Lucky for me, this book is available for purchase the day after I publish this review.

Readers be warned, this book does touch on severely emotional themes such as forced labour, human trafficking, and drug running. Yet there are comedic moments that had me laughing out loud, so skip the tough stuff if you have to, but I recommend giving this book the chance it deserves.

Meet Affi Smith. She is a teenage victim of human trafficking being given a fresh, safe start in the Scottish highlands. When she heads out for a run and is late returning home, she is written off as a runaway. Meet Max Craigie. He is part of a law enforcement team whose friendship and banter are quite loveable amidst their overall goal to uproot corruption from within the police force. Tasked with looking into Affi’s disappearance, Max and a teammate head north to interview her parents. Or will this interview turn into something neither expected, with potentially deadly consequences?

Lancaster delivers a storyline that hooks you from the beginning and doesn’t let you go until the final sentence has been read. This series is loaded with action, excellent characterization, and written in such a way that you may find yourself awake into the early morning hours. I don’t know about you but this is exactly what I want from my crime fiction reads. A tip of my hat to Lancaster for being able to tackle dark themes and uncomfortable situations with authenticity and tact.

Thank you to NetGalley, HQ, and HQ Digital for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

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