For her latest mission, British Intelligence operative Josie Chapman lands in California. Beneath the sun-soaked boulevards and rolling hills lurks a sprawling network of organised crime.

Posing as a climbing instructor, Josie infiltrates the operation and uncovers the staggering extent of its power and corruption. At its core is Franco Tondino, ruthless crime boss known as ‘The Director’, whose influence snakes through every level of authority, from local police to high-ranking officials.

How much is Josie willing to sacrifice to outwit a criminal empire that stops at nothing to protect its secrets? While failure means certain ruin, success could come at a devastating cost…

'Sensational – a high-octane, two-fisted spy thriller that fizzes with a rare authenticity’ TONY PARSONS

‘Buckle up for a wild ride!' PETERBOROUGH TELEGRAPH

'A classic heist tale with a twist from a master of the police procedural, the genius fingerprints of the author’s real identity – Neil Lancaster – are all over this book' TONY KENT, THE DAILY EXPRESS

'An enjoyable, fast-paced read' SCOTTISH FIELD

'Unputdownable read. The subplots all come together with an explosive conclusion' Reader review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Excellent new characters and great story' Reader review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A very enjoyable rollercoaster of a read. Action packed and gripping' Reader review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'What an excellent book. Very tense and thrilling with lots of chases and twists. I devoured this one’ Reader review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I felt a range of emotions throughout, a lump in my throat and tears pooling at certain points. Absolutely loved this gem!’ Reader review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'My cheeks were sore smiling at parts and next I would be reaching for a tissue’ Reader review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Praise for Max Connor

'Feels like a blockbuster movie…Amazing, authentic characters, some of the best dialogue I've read… It's got both heart and guys in bucket loads.' HELEN FIELDS

'Brilliant! Mark Billingham meets Guy Ritchie. A hugely entertaining, compelling read’ C.L. TAYLOR

'Pulse-pounding new thriller' THE MIRROR

'Sensational – a high-octane, two-fisted spy thriller that fizzes with a rare authenticity’ TONY PARSONS

‘Buckle up for a wild ride!' PETERBOROUGH TELEGRAPH

'A classic heist tale with a twist from a master of the police procedural, the genius fingerprints of the author’s real identity – Neil Lancaster – are all over this book' TONY KENT, THE DAILY EXPRESS

'An enjoyable, fast-paced read' SCOTTISH FIELD

'Brilliant! Mark Billingham meets Guy Ritchie. A hugely entertaining, compelling read’ C.L. TAYLOR

'Pulse-pounding new thriller'THE MIRROR

'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

'A good old police procedural… I was pleasantly terrified' The Guardian

‘As hard as it is to believe, these books just get better and better’ Tony Kent

‘A wickedly clever and riveting thriller’ Graham Bartlett

‘Neil Lancaster just gets better and better. This is a gripping read that feels entirely authentic, seasoned with lovely flashes of humour' Cass Green

‘Neil Lancaster is one of the most exciting, innovative crime writers in the UK right now… One of the best police procedurals I’ve read in a long time. Consider me a fan’ M. W. Craven

'A spine-chilling concept, despicable villains, a propulsive narrative. As satisfying as crime fiction gets.' Paul Finch

Max Connor is the pseudonym for bestselling and award-winning author Neil Lancaster. He served as a military policeman and worked for the Metropolitan Police as a detective, investigating serious crimes in the capital and beyond. As a covert policing specialist, he used all manner of techniques to investigate and disrupt major crime and criminals. He now lives in the Scottish Highlands and works as a broadcaster and commentator on true crime documentaries. He is an expert on two Sky Crime TV series, Meet, Marry, Murder and Made for Murder.

Writing as Neil Lancaster, he is the author of the DS Max Craigie books, which have been twice longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Best Scottish Crime Book of the Year.