As well as being a very enjoyable thriller Neil Lancaster also tackles the problem of minors being traffiked from East Euopean countries to the UK. Blood Runs Cold is the latest in the DS Max Craigie series and lives up to the high expectations and standards of the previous books. Fifteen year old Afrodita Dushku has been living with foster parents in a small Highland community for three years after being stopped on a train by policemen tracing deliveries of drugs when she was only twelve years old. Afrodita had been brought to the UK from Albania and was used to transport drugs although the likelihood is that as she got older she would have been forced into prostitution, Afrodita had gone through a rebellious stage however had settled down and was a committed athlete. On her birthday her foster parents give her the trainers she wants and she decides to go on a hill run immediately to try them out. However she doesn't return from her run and the local police suspect that she has left of her own accord based on her rebellious phase, Her foster parents aren't convinced and luckily DS Max Craigie shares their suspicions and takes up the case, once again ably supported by DC Janie Calder. Blood Runs Cold should be on the reading list of everyone who enjoys thrillers and books about police procedures.