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  • No Way Out: Don’t miss this gripping organised crime and espionage thriller from the bestselling author of the Max Craigie series Neil Lancaster in 2026: Book 2 (Josie Chapman)

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No Way Out: Don’t miss this gripping organised crime and espionage thriller from the bestselling author of the Max Craigie series Neil Lancaster in 2026: Book 2 (Josie Chapman)

by Max Connor (Author), Neil Lancaster (Author) Format: Paperback
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'UTTERLY GRIPPING!!' Reader review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Absolutely brilliant!! This has genuinely cemented Max Connor (Neil Lancaster) as one of my favourite authors. I have reached the point where I do not even need to read the synopsis anymore' Reader review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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…

A brand new espionage thriller series from Neil Lancaster, the author of the best-selling Max Craigie series.

Readers LOVE No Way Out:

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

'A perfect summer read that keeps you on the edge of your seat' THE SUN

'Weapons-grade excitement from one of the best of a new generation of British thriller writers' DAILY MIRROR

'A rare combination of gritty spy thriller, heart-stopping conspiracy drama and (despite the American setting) very British banter’ DAVID GOODMAN

‘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

'UTTERLY GRIPPING!!' Reader review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Absolutely brilliant!! This has genuinely cemented Max Connor (Neil Lancaster) as one of my favourite authors. I have reached the point where I do not even need to read the synopsis anymore' Reader review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'An absolute triumph of a thriller that grabs you from page one and never lets go!' Reader review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Read more
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  1. Book 2 of 3
    Josie Chapman
  2. Print length
    352 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    HQ Digital
  5. Publication date
    4 Jun. 2026
  6. Dimensions
    12.9 x 2.4 x 19.8 cm
  7. ISBN-10
    0008751579
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0008751579
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No Mercy: The brand-new gripping thriller, full of action, adventure and revenge to read in 2026: Book 1 (Josie Chapman)
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From the Publisher

Text reads: 'They built a network of fear. She's ready to tear it down.' Dramatic sunset silhouette scene with orange sky background.Text reads: 'They built a network of fear. She's ready to tear it down.' Dramatic sunset silhouette scene with orange sky background.
Text reads: 'MAX CONNOR NO WAY OUT' with review quotes including 'Pulse-pounding new thriller - THE MIRROR' and other praise text across multiple book cover designs.Text reads: 'MAX CONNOR NO WAY OUT' with review quotes including 'Pulse-pounding new thriller - THE MIRROR' and other praise text across multiple book cover designs.
Text reads: 'MAX OUT', 'NO WAY OUT', 'MAX MERCY', 'CONNOR'. Book cover designs featuring bold typography against contrasting backgrounds.Text reads: 'MAX OUT', 'NO WAY OUT', 'MAX MERCY', 'CONNOR'. Book cover designs featuring bold typography against contrasting backgrounds.
No Mercy: The brand-new gripping thriller, full of action, adventure and reve...
No Way Out: Don’t miss this gripping organised crime and espionage thriller, ...
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Customer Reviews
4.3 out of 5 stars 396
4.6 out of 5 stars 125
Josie Chapman Book 1 Book 2

Product description

Review

Praise for No Way Out

'A rare combination of gritty spy thriller, heart-stopping conspiracy drama and (despite the American setting) very British banter’ David Goodman

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

Praise for the author:

'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

Book Description

Don’t miss this gripping organised crime and espionage thriller from the bestselling author of the Max Craigie series Neil Lancaster in 2026

Product details

About the authors

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  1. Neil Lancaster

    Neil Lancaster

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    NEIL LANCASTER is the No. 1 digital bestselling author of both the Tom Novak and Max Craigie series. His first Craigie novel, Dead Man’s Grave, was longlisted for the 2021 McIlvanney Prize for Best Scottish Crime Book of the Year. The second Craigie novel, The Blood Tide, topped several ebook and audio charts. It was also longlisted for the 2022 McIlvanney Prize and shortlisted for Best New Series at the Dead Good Reader Awards.

    Neil’s authentic crime writing style stems from his police background. 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, writes crime and thriller novels 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.

    Neil is also writing a new series under the pseudonym Max Connor. The first, No Mercy, is available now, and the follow up, No Way Out will be released in 2026

    See more on the author's page
  2. Max Connor

    Max Connor

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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    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.

    See more on the author's page
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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
125 global ratings
afast-paced espionage thriller
4 out of 5 stars
afast-paced espionage thriller
I went into this completely new to the series – and I’m coming out of it already planning to go back for book one and counting down to book three. This is a fast-paced espionage thriller, and it absolutely delivers on tension, action, and high stakes. From the prologue, this had me hooked. The narration by Catrin Walker-Booth is honestly flawless. Clear, engaging, and so easy to sink into – it completely elevated the story for me. One of those narrators you immediately want to look up and listen to more from. Josie Chapman is exactly the kind of FMC I love – strong, capable, and driven, with just enough rebellion to make things interesting. And the character dynamics overall were such a highlight – the banter across the cast felt natural, sharp, and added a great balance to the tension. But what really made this for me was the team around her. Maggie brings serious 007 boss energy, Baz as the mentor trying (and sometimes failing) to rein Josie in, Ollie with the tech brilliance, Macca (who I absolutely loved) and that bond between them, and then the lovely Orville, who is sharp and misses absolutely nothing. The character dynamics and banter across the group added so much to the story. This audiobook had me fully gripped. The kind where suddenly your house is spotless because you’ll find any excuse to keep listening. By 80%, the tension had ramped up so much I genuinely didn’t want to pause (real life responsibilities felt very inconvenient at that point 😅). I loved the dual perspective between the “good” and the “bad” – it added so much tension and gave the story a real edge. And despite this being book two, I never once felt lost. It absolutely stands on its own while still making me want more of the wider story. This was such a strong first impression of this author for me. He actually came recommended by my local bookshop, The Hedgehog Bookshop, and I’m so glad I took their advice. Safe to say, I’m all in on this series now. I can’t wait to read more 😊
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Top reviews from the United Kingdom

  • Maureen
    5 out of 5 stars
    Pacy and exciting
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 June 2026
    Format: Kindle Edition
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    I like Josie Chapman. She works for a secret unit of the UK Secret Service. She is an independent and strong character and puts all her knowledge and skills to use in Morro in California. She is with Macca who we met in the first book. He is an old family friend. It is an action-packed tale and is very pacy and exciting. Loved it.

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  • Dino
    4 out of 5 stars
    High tension and nasty bad guys
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 June 2026
    Format: Kindle Edition
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    No Way Out is the second in the Josie Chapman series by Max Connor (pseudonym for Neil Lancaster). I really enjoyed the first book in the series which ended with an attempt to recruit Josie into the UK special forces. I had hoped from that teaser that there would be more so was very pleased to receive an ARC of this title from the publisher for which I voluntarily wrote a review. The author clearly draws on his background as a former military policeman.

    Josie is something of a super hero in her role as a new recruit. Instilled in her by her deceased marine father she is determined to do good no matter what the danger to herself. Neil Lancaster writes women characters in the Max Craigie series very well and it is good to read a thriller with a woman as the central character. However I did think there was rather an over emphasis on Josie's looks and physique which got a little wearing at times. That said, this was a gripping read with many moments of high tension, very nasty bad guys and a great new character in Orville the about to retire policeman. The action in this story is set in California which is certainly a geographical shift for the author so I didn't find as much sense of place as in all his earlier books set in Scotland. The plot centres around Josie's attempts to almost single handedly bring down a human trafficking gang who are also tied up in taking over cannabis production and sale and have infiltrated the highest levels of local police and government.

    I was pleased to read how Josie's character is developing in the face of the rigours of her new job and look forward to the next episode in the series but hope it moves back to Scotland.

    One person found this helpful
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  • Mark
    5 out of 5 stars
    Tense action thriller hits the spot
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 June 2026
    Format: Kindle Edition
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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Fantastic book 3/4 through, loving it. Character and pacing and plot spot on. Well deserving of 5 stars even before i finish.

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  • Tim Wilkinson
    5 out of 5 stars
    Gripping and well informed
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 June 2026
    Format: Kindle Edition
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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Excellent drama written in an authoritative tone with gritty insight.

    Fast paced and keeps you reading.

    Loved it.

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  • karen Campbell
    5 out of 5 stars
    UTTERLY GRIPPING!!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 June 2026
    Format: Kindle Edition
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    Yet another first class book by Max Connor .. Ive read all previous books by Neil/Max and yet again this is riveting . Plenty of heart thumping action .. It was totally impossible to put this one down . Im loving The impetuous Josie and Macca !! Excellent !!

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  • Donna R.
    4 out of 5 stars
    afast-paced espionage thriller
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 June 2026
    Format: Kindle Edition
    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    I went into this completely new to the series – and I’m coming out of it already planning to go back for book one and counting down to book three.

    This is a fast-paced espionage thriller, and it absolutely delivers on tension, action, and high stakes. From the prologue, this had me hooked.

    The narration by Catrin Walker-Booth is honestly flawless. Clear, engaging, and so easy to sink into – it completely elevated the story for me. One of those narrators you immediately want to look up and listen to more from.

    Josie Chapman is exactly the kind of FMC I love – strong, capable, and driven, with just enough rebellion to make things interesting. And the character dynamics overall were such a highlight – the banter across the cast felt natural, sharp, and added a great balance to the tension.

    But what really made this for me was the team around her. Maggie brings serious 007 boss energy, Baz as the mentor trying (and sometimes failing) to rein Josie in, Ollie with the tech brilliance, Macca (who I absolutely loved) and that bond between them, and then the lovely Orville, who is sharp and misses absolutely nothing. The character dynamics and banter across the group added so much to the story.

    This audiobook had me fully gripped. The kind where suddenly your house is spotless because you’ll find any excuse to keep listening. By 80%, the tension had ramped up so much I genuinely didn’t want to pause (real life responsibilities felt very inconvenient at that point 😅).

    I loved the dual perspective between the “good” and the “bad” – it added so much tension and gave the story a real edge. And despite this being book two, I never once felt lost. It absolutely stands on its own while still making me want more of the wider story.

    This was such a strong first impression of this author for me. He actually came recommended by my local bookshop, The Hedgehog Bookshop, and I’m so glad I took their advice.

    Safe to say, I’m all in on this series now. I can’t wait to read more 😊

    afast-paced espionage thriller
    Donna R.
    4 out of 5 stars
    afast-paced espionage thriller
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 June 2026
    Format: Kindle Edition

    I went into this completely new to the series – and I’m coming out of it already planning to go back for book one and counting down to book three.

    This is a fast-paced espionage thriller, and it absolutely delivers on tension, action, and high stakes. From the prologue, this had me hooked.

    The narration by Catrin Walker-Booth is honestly flawless. Clear, engaging, and so easy to sink into – it completely elevated the story for me. One of those narrators you immediately want to look up and listen to more from.

    Josie Chapman is exactly the kind of FMC I love – strong, capable, and driven, with just enough rebellion to make things interesting. And the character dynamics overall were such a highlight – the banter across the cast felt natural, sharp, and added a great balance to the tension.

    But what really made this for me was the team around her. Maggie brings serious 007 boss energy, Baz as the mentor trying (and sometimes failing) to rein Josie in, Ollie with the tech brilliance, Macca (who I absolutely loved) and that bond between them, and then the lovely Orville, who is sharp and misses absolutely nothing. The character dynamics and banter across the group added so much to the story.

    This audiobook had me fully gripped. The kind where suddenly your house is spotless because you’ll find any excuse to keep listening. By 80%, the tension had ramped up so much I genuinely didn’t want to pause (real life responsibilities felt very inconvenient at that point 😅).

    I loved the dual perspective between the “good” and the “bad” – it added so much tension and gave the story a real edge. And despite this being book two, I never once felt lost. It absolutely stands on its own while still making me want more of the wider story.

    This was such a strong first impression of this author for me. He actually came recommended by my local bookshop, The Hedgehog Bookshop, and I’m so glad I took their advice.

    Safe to say, I’m all in on this series now. I can’t wait to read more 😊

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  • Phil Combs
    5 out of 5 stars
    Neil Lancaster No way out
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 June 2026
    Format: Paperback
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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Brilliantly written by Neil Lancaster. A definite page turner

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  • Mrs J
    3 out of 5 stars
    Ok but I don't like the main character
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 June 2026
    Format: Kindle Edition
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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    The second book in the series featuring Josie Chapman. In this book, Josie is in the States on her first mission for the British secret service. Like the previous book, the "baddies" are, amongst other things, people traffickers. Once the mission is satisfactorily completed, Josie is supposed to return to the UK but she doesn't. She stays behind because she wants to stamp out the corruption she has seen.

    I spent the first part of the book feeling very annoyed. I don't like Josie, she is impetuous and arrogant and it really spoiled my early enjoyment of the book. The latter part of the book was rescued by the exciting, fast-paced action and some of the supporting characters were enjoyable to read, especially Orville.

    Overall this was a quick and entertaining read but I just don't like Josie!

    One person found this helpful
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