*4.5 stars*
15 year old Affi Smith goes out for her regular run but doesn’t return. Affi isn’t your usual 15 year old, because unfortunately she was trafficked as a child by an Albanian gang and used as a drug mule, but she was lucky enough to be rescued some three years ago. With a new identity, she’s living in the beautiful Scottish Highlands, with wonderful caring foster parents, and a possible future as an athlete. Life’s looking good, but no one foresaw that the people who trafficked her would return to claim back their prize!
DS Max Craigie realises that somewhere within the system they have a mole, someone who has revealed Affi’s whereabouts. The mole must be found before the same thing happens again, and if that means turning the spotlight on his own team, then so be it!
Author Neil Lancaster has written a cracking series, and book 4# confirms it. DS Craigie’s partnership with DC Jane Calder is great, they might trade insults but it’s always tongue in cheek and never designed to hurt. Craigie’s boss DI Ross Fraser may be potty mouthed, and delights in using Scottish slang, but he’s hilarious, and brings much to the table. Norma is their analyst and excels at her job, whilst Yorkshireman Barney is a surveillance expert who is blunt and to the point, but he’s also comical and extremely good at what he does. Together they make an excellent team, and they’ll need to be this time around!
The head of the Albanian gang that trafficked Affi goes by the name of ‘The Surgeon’ so it goes without saying that he’s a particularly vicious, violent and cruel criminal. However, the whole thing makes for a riveting, if dark and disturbing read. Gritty, fast paced, Scottish noir at its best, ‘Blood Runs Cold’ is a worthy addition to this terrific series and surely another winner for author Neil Lancaster.
15 year old Affi Smith goes out for her regular run but doesn’t return. Affi isn’t your usual 15 year old, because unfortunately she was trafficked as a child by an Albanian gang and used as a drug mule, but she was lucky enough to be rescued some three years ago. With a new identity, she’s living in the beautiful Scottish Highlands, with wonderful caring foster parents, and a possible future as an athlete. Life’s looking good, but no one foresaw that the people who trafficked her would return to claim back their prize!
DS Max Craigie realises that somewhere within the system they have a mole, someone who has revealed Affi’s whereabouts. The mole must be found before the same thing happens again, and if that means turning the spotlight on his own team, then so be it!
Author Neil Lancaster has written a cracking series, and book 4# confirms it. DS Craigie’s partnership with DC Jane Calder is great, they might trade insults but it’s always tongue in cheek and never designed to hurt. Craigie’s boss DI Ross Fraser may be potty mouthed, and delights in using Scottish slang, but he’s hilarious, and brings much to the table. Norma is their analyst and excels at her job, whilst Yorkshireman Barney is a surveillance expert who is blunt and to the point, but he’s also comical and extremely good at what he does. Together they make an excellent team, and they’ll need to be this time around!
The head of the Albanian gang that trafficked Affi goes by the name of ‘The Surgeon’ so it goes without saying that he’s a particularly vicious, violent and cruel criminal. However, the whole thing makes for a riveting, if dark and disturbing read. Gritty, fast paced, Scottish noir at its best, ‘Blood Runs Cold’ is a worthy addition to this terrific series and surely another winner for author Neil Lancaster.