No Man's Land

Connor Fraser #1

by Neil Broadfoot

'An atmospheric, twisty and explosive start to a new series by one of the masters of Scottish fiction' Angela Clarke, Sunday Times Bestseller

War is coming to No-Man's Land, and Connor Fraser will be ready.

A mutilated body is found dumped at Cowane's Hospital in the heart of historic Stirling. For DCI Malcolm Ford it's like nothing he's every seen before, the savagery of the crime making him want to catch the murderer before he strikes again. For reporter Donna Blake it's a shot at the big time, a chance to get her career back on track and prove all the doubters wrong. But for close protection specialist Connor Fraser it's merely a grisly distraction from the day job.

But then a bloodied and broken corpse is found, this time in the shadow of the Wallace Monument - and with it, a message. One Connor has received before, during his time as a police officer in Belfast.

With Ford facing mounting political and public pressure to make an arrest and quell fears the murders are somehow connected to heightened post-Brexit tensions, Connor is drawn into a race against time to stop another murder. But to do so, he must question old loyalties, confront his past and unravel a mystery that some would sacrifice anything - and anyone - to protect.

From Dundee International Book Prize and Bloody Scotland book of the year nominee Neil Broadfoot comes No Man's Land, the first in the white-knuckle Connor Fraser series.

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Praise for Neil Broadfoot

'Broadfoot is here, and he's ready to sit at the table with some of the finest crime writers Scottish fiction has to offer ' Russel D. McLean

'Cracking pace, satisfyingly twisty plot. A great read ' James Oswald

'Crisp dialogue, characters you believe and a prose style that brings you back for more . . . a fine addition to a growing roster of noir titles with a tartan tinge ' Douglas Skelton

' A deliciously twisty thriller that never lets up the pace. Thrills, spills, chills and kills' Donna Moore

'Definitely a must read for all lovers of Tartan or anyone else who simply wants to enjoy a compelling tale' Undiscovered Scotland

Genres: Fiction, Crime, Mystery, Audiobook, Scotland, Thriller

320 pages, Paperback

First published September 6, 2018

About the author

Neil Broadfoot worked as a journalist for fifteen years at both national and local newspapers, covering some of the biggest stories of the day. A poacher turned gamekeeper, he has since moved into communications: providing media relations advice for a variety of organisations, from Strathclyde Fire & Rescue Service to high profile sporting clubs in Scotland. He’s now working as a communications officer for the Scottish Government.

Neil is married to Fiona and a father to two girls, meaning he’s completely outnumbered in his own home. He lives in Dunfermline, the setting for his first job as a local reporter.

Reviews

[Paromjit · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a terrific beginning to this tense and atmospheric new Scottish Noir series set in Stirling featuring Connor Fraser, an ex-Belfast police officer now working as a close protection officer for Sentinel Security that is owned and run the by ex-army Lachlan Jameson. In one of Stirling's tourist hot spots at Cowane's Hospital, a decapitated body is found by a dog walker showing all the signs of a medieval sadistic savagery that horrifies all who are unfortunate enough to see it, destined to guarantee ongoing nightmares for all of them. The murder inquiry is led by DCI Malcolm Ford who cannot get the brutal crime scene out of his mind, vowing to find the deranged perpetrator in an investigation that is hampered by political and media pressures. The resource strapped and troubled Police Scotland hierarchy is more engaged in political intrigue and scapegoating, leaving Ford often with minimal power on the case.

Connor is keeping up to date with the news about this gruesome murder, but it is the photographs that show a book at the scene of the next murder that has him beginning to panic, it has echoes of his past in Northern Ireland and the paramilitaries operating there. An ambitious freelance journalist Donna Blake is a single mother with a baby son, Andrew, living a financially precarious existence, forced to rely on her parents for childcare. She is currently working at Valley FM radio, but she has big plans to move into TV reporting, she just needs that big story and a series of exclusives. The murders provide her with that opportunity as she mines all her contacts for that cutting edge information, but she is not prepared for the killings to come so close to her personal world. She is desperately scared and right to be afraid. Connor looks for an inside source of information on the murder inquiry, and his close friend and police partner from Belfast, Simon, offers his help and support. However, can Connor trust anyone close to him?

Broadfoot gives us a thrillingly compelling brutal and blood drenched story where recent contemporary political events such as Brexit and police restructuring driven by budget cuts are integral to the novel. The author's complex plotting is impressive, with a multilayered narrative that is suspenseful, full of twists and fast paced. The characters are gripping and well fleshed out, Ford who is struggling to survive in the viper's nest that is Police Scotland, Donna's ambition that curtails the time she spends with her baby son, and Connor who tries to reign in his volatile temper when it threatens to get out of control. This novel is not for the faint hearted, but it is for all those who love edgy, well written, grab you by the throat Scottish crime fiction. I cannot wait for the next in the series. Highly recommended! Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new series from Neil Broadfoot and boy he likes to kick things off in style.
No Man’s Land is a tense and beautifully plotted thriller with some great characters and a setting known to me courtesy of the Bloody Scotland Festival- which made it twice as good for this reader although even if you’ve never been to Stirling you’ll feel like you have.
Connor Fraser is a highly engaging protagonist to follow along with and old sins cast a long shadow….
When people start dying (horribly- I do not recommend eating whilst reading) Connor is caught up in a case that has roots in his past, along with DCI Ford and reporter Donna Blake both in it for other reasons. These three are all separate yet together in a story that is both thrilling and considered, with plenty of obfuscation and a hugely addictive mystery element.
No Man’s Land is one of those page turners, a proper piece of inventive crime writing, the sort that I love. An authentic feel with plenty of heart and a perfect finish.
Recommended.

[Leonie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for a review copy of No Man's Land, a tale of serial murder set in the historical Scottish town of Stirling.

For Connor Fraser, ex PSNI officer and now close security specialist, the first gruesome murder is of note due to its nature but the second draws him in with its hints of a connection to his past.

I thoroughly enjoyed No Man's Land with its mix of high octane action, well concealed perpetrator and Scottish setting. The novel opens with an injured Connor fighting for his life and then flashes back to the previous three days to explain how he got into that situation. It is told from various points of view, mostly Connor, DCI Malcolm Ford who is leading the murder investigation and reporter Donna Blake who is hoping to restart her career with her reporting. Normally I don't like this switching of perspective as I find it distracting but a strong plot and credible, realistic characterisation make it a compulsive read. It should be noted, however, that the novel is not for the faint hearted as the murders are violent and stomach churning. I loved the plot with its various twists and turns and found the solution ingenious, surprising and well worth the read.

Despite the strong plot I think it is the characterisation that really makes the novel. Connor Fraser is the protagonist but he's fairly generic - smart, attractive and resourceful with troubles in his past. He's well drawn but I found Donna Blake and Malcolm Ford much more interesting. Mr Broadfoot uses them to explore the wider concept of their roles, the politics of modern policing and the crisis in journalism. I found the obsession with spin, instant gratification and unrealistic expectations fascinating, repulsive and wholly believable.

No Man's Land is a great read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

[Raven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Neil Broadfoot is a consistently excellent crime writer and I have read many of his books, so all the signs were there that this would be a cracking good read- and so it proved to be. What I like about Broadfoot’s books is the less linear and more complex plotting that he employs, tackling big themes but never losing sight of the fact that his characters caught up in these webs of deceit need to be credible. In Connor Fraser, ex police officer and now security specialist, Broadfoot has has come up trumps, marrying the image of the tough guy with a more cerebral edge, similar to genre stalwart Jack Reacher. Fraser is a character that will appeal equally to men and women, and supported by another great character in the shape of female journalist Donna Blake, who proves an excellent foil for him but also being a likeable and determined protagonist in her own right. Broadfoot slowly fleshes out both his principal characters, putting them through the wringer, but not afraid to balance their more dangerous experiences with some good character analysis, particularly Blake balancing her compulsion for career advancement with the attendant difficulties of being a single mother. As the story segues between Fraser’s former experiences in Northern Ireland, and a series of pretty visceral and inventive murder around Stirling, Scotland. Broadfoot keeps the action flowing, as a dark conspiracy comes to light, affording Broadfoot the opportunity to put a more socio- political slant on the main plot, which resonates with the troubled times we currently find ourselves in. Very pleased to report that the first of this new series augurs well for further books, and there will be much to enjoy from Broadfoot in the future. Highly recommended for thriller lovers everywhere- it’s a damn good twisty one…

[CriminalRepurcussions · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars out of 5, midway, because of a creative work having been created published and widely read, apparently. I read many English Scottish and Irish authors, crime/mystery my favourite genre (hence my goodreads username), and the criminal repurcussions here are that it was like reading a book of facts. It jumped chapter to chapter character to character and there was little atmospheric absorption in this hard-to-read 'read'. Some books we really have to work at, they are hard work, this is one.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stirling’s history just got a little bit bloodier, thanks to Neil Broadfoot’s introduction of close protection specialist, Connor Fraser, to the city.

With a prologue full of promise of what’s to come, No Man’s Land, starts off with an almighty roar and keeps up the pace all the way through. Jam packed throughout this latest offering from Neil Broadfoot, is full of action. The murders are gruesome with finishing touches that will leave your jaw dropping! Yet the violence is never gratuitous, we only witness the aftermath, yet Neil Broadfoot manages to get right inside your head, painting a picture that you never want to see for real! I love Stirling and the sense of place created is breathtaking: if you’ve been there you will recognise it, if you haven’t you will feel as though you have by the time you have finished

You can definitely tell the writer has a background in journalism and a working knowledge of the current political climate; themes are current and most certainly relevant. With more than a passing reference to the bureaucratic nightmare that is police Scotland, the resulting reduction in staffing and Brexit, No Man’s Land is not only action packed but also highly topical, all of which adds something special to his writing.

Three very different characters, Connor Fraser, DCI Ford and reporter Donna Blake all embroiled in the investigation into a brutal death in the historical town of Stirling, we watch as the writer effortlessly weaves each narrative together resulting in a jaw dropping WTF conclusion.

I think I might have just found myself a new #CharacterCrush in Connor Fraser! He is a compelling character to read; as his background is revealed little by little throughout the novel, we learn just what has made him the man he is, flaws and all. Despite the hard shell, there is also a softer side to him, evident in his love for his gran who has dementia. And at this point, I’d like to commend Neil Broadfoot for his sensitive approach to the condition. Too often, dementia is written as a loss of identity and individuality, of suffering and anguish. And while the condition is dreadful, I’m a firm believer in not losing sight of an individual and replacing them by a label. The author does a fantastic job or retaining the sense of person through Connor’s relationship with his gran. However, before I digress onto a rant about stigma let’s get back to the characters and plot.

Donna Blake had me rooting for her from the start. A single mum with a mother who doesn’t tire of judging her, the very real feeling of internal conflict was created. She’s a strong character who is determined to make a name for herself in the world of the media without compromising her relationship with her son. We are given snippets of information about her background, all serving to draw us closer into her life.

DCI Ford finds himself marginalised from the investigation as political tensions run high. The author utilised this character extremely well, using him to highlight the current tensions within Police Scotland. The narrative was so credible; it was difficult not to believe that I had been caught up in a current news story taking place.

It’s tense, it’s brutal, it’s edgy and it’s raw! And it had me hooked from beginning to end! It is definitely a “read past your bedtime” kind of read! Don’t miss it!

[Suze Clarke-Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always like finding new characters and Connor Fraser is  definitely one to love. A former police officer in Northern Ireland, he's now a close security expert with a private firm. He's fit, athletic, strong and very capable. A real action man. But there's a gentle emotional side to him too, evident in his dealings with his grandmother and his concerns for Jen from the gym (loved Paulie, by the way). I'm curious to see if anything develops between the two of them in future books. Anyway, a grisly murder in his home town of Stirling catches Connor 's attention. But as the case progresses, it becomes personal for him, and he gets more involved. Much more involved.

Although this is definitely Connor's story, there are a couple of other key players who deserve a mention. The extract I shared yesterday introduced DCI Malcolm Ford, who heads the murder enquiry. He's a world weary cop who thought he'd seen everything. Until now. And we also meet reporter Donna Blake. A single mum, with disapproving parents, she's desperate to get the inside track on the investigation to give her the big break she needs. I found both of these characters hugely believable, very human and brilliantly written. And I have to say Donna, when confronted with a truly awful sight, handles it way, way better than I would have done!

The scene setting in No Man's Land is just perfect. The use of well known sites in and around Stirling is brilliant, although I'm not sure what residents of the town will think! The setting for the first murder (or at least the discovery of the body) is particularly eerie and atmospheric.

Ah yes, the murders. This is not a book for the faint hearted! There is a real attention to detail and the descriptions are vivid, bloody and gut wrenching. But not gratuitous, as the details are all important.

This is so well paced. It opens with a snippet from the tense final scenes, and then goes back to the beginning, just three days earlier. We are thrown in at the deep end, when the first body is discovered. Things progress steadily, but as Connor gets more involved, the pace quickens. And so does the action. There are red herrings, dead ends, mixed messages and people who really aren't who we thought. And it all builds perfectly to the explosive final scenes. This book has got it all.

Connor Fraser is a new hero, reminiscent of Reacher or Bourne. No Man's Land is fast paced and filled with believable characters who remind us that we don't always know who to trust. It's tense action packed and exciting. And bloody. Very bloody.  I loved it!

[Alex Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in a new series starring Connor Fraser a close security contractor working for Sentinel Securities ran by ex army lieutenant colonel Lachlan Jameson

Set in Stirling , Scotland , Whilst Connor is looking after a local celebrity, who is a star witness in a murder, a gruesome discovery is made at a popular tourist hotspot , Cowane’s hospital, a brutally decapitated body. An investigation is led. by DCI Malcolm Ford, who seems to be mentally disturbed by this discovery, taking the murder almost personally

Connor keeps an eye on the investigation through Twitter and local radio in the name of reporter Donna Blake, a single mother, struggling with her parents caring for her son yet fiercely ambitious to become more than the local radio reporter.

When a second body turns up Connor realises he is inexplicably linked to these murders, Donna continues to pushes the bar, desperately chasing the story , trying to get info to impress, whilst Ford becomes more and more emotionally involved

As the story develops, Connor and Ford are forced into an uneasy alliance, together to fight the greater cause , Connor calls in his best friend Simon from the PFNI to help him with the investigation.

Connor is a proper hero with echos of a young Jack Reacher, Connor is a bit of a machine, he has his issues from his past and his sick grandmother to contend with but nothing will stop him in his pursuit of the bad guys

This is , atmospheric, bloody, brutal , tense and at times, disturbing, a compelling tale soaked in blood and gore, throw in a bit of brexit and politics, this is a bang up to date thriller.

The writing flows perfectly, attention to detail is just right, it’s very descriptive and brilliantly savage at the gruesome parts, this book is a winner, I loved it,more Connor please!

4.5⭐️

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neil Broadfoot, who already has three Edinburgh-set novels under his belt, moves to Stirling with No Man's Land, the first in a new series.
Connor Fraser is a former cop who now works as a close protection officer, introduced to us in an explosive moment of action as he chases and outwits a reluctant witness who dodged his minder during a High Court trial in Edinburgh. Meanwhile, in Stirling, DCI Malcolm Ford is investigating after a man's body has been found, arranged in a particularly gruesome fashion. When a second body is found, at the university, Connor is focused on finding out who is killing people with a message he hasn't seen since his cop days back in Belfast...
No Man's Land is fast-paced to the point of breathlessness, keeping you turning the pages to find out what will hit next. It's often bone-crunchingly violent, but there is plenty of dark humour too. Connor is physically tough with a mind that worries at problems like a dog with a chew toy, but journalist Donna - determined to get the scoop on the deaths as her ticket out of an unfulfilling local radio job - is more than a match for him
A very promising start to a series - though what Stirling's tourist office will think, I'm not sure!

[Alison Eden · Rating 4 out of 5]

#NoMansLand #NetGalley A new author for me and a gripping crime thriller set in Scotland. As far as I'm aware there were no previous books in this series (actually not sure if it will be a series!!) and there was a fair amount of time given to providing the background to Connor's character which was needed to understand what makes him tick. The crimes were violent and the book captured this in great detail. I liked the character of Connor and hope that this will be a series as I would like to see more of him. The only thing I did not particularly enjoy was the way the book was told from the perspective of three different people - Connor, DCI Ford and the journalist Donna. I found just as I was engrossed with whichever character, it suddenly changed character and I was left feeling that I wanted more. It didn't stop my overall enjoyment of the book - just left me frustrated at times!

[Don Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe 3.5/5. This novel is set in Scotland just after the time of their Independence Referendum in 2014. Stirling, a quiet city is rocked by three murders within a few days, two with their heads removed. Our main protagonist, Connor, works for a security firm, but recognises a clue seen at the scene of one of the killings. He thinks it is a message to him, from his work in the Northern Ireland police years earlier.
The story also features Donna Blake, a freelance journalist, who digs relentlessly into the story to restart her flagging career. There are other minor characters, including a jaded policeman and some murky politicians. Everything is resolved in the end, but the labyrinthine tale has a lot of threads that unravel throughout. Don’t quite know why, but I found some of the tale laborious, with quite a few of the tropes expected of a thriller such as this - breathless women, heroes who survive beatings to win out etc.

[Martha Brindley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantastic start to a new series by Neil Broadfoot. A mutilated body is found in Stirling, closely followed by a second one near to the Wallace Monument. Connor Fraser, a close protection officer, receives a message similar to one he received in Ireland where he was a police officer. DCI Malcolm Ford is in charge of the investigation and facing pressure to solve the gruesome murders. Throw into the equation, local reporter Donna Blake and you have a dark, twisty and compelling thriller. Well written with great characterisation. I would recommend this book to thriller lovers. Thanks to Net Galley for my copy.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good page-turner.

This was 'background' reading for my MA in Creative Writing and jolly useful it was too.

A plethora of characters, well developed so I liked and disliked as guided by Neil. A right plot, revealed only as and when necessary with an interesting twist or two at the end, neither of which I saw coming (so I must try harder in my own writing).

Definitely worthy of a follow up, so I'll check out the next in the series for sure.

My one gripe? Some of Stirling's geography really doesn't match the descriptions given here (but I could put that down to poetic licence)...

[Jamie Bowen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Connor Fraser has been running from his past, but now it looks like it’s catching him up. A mutilated body is discovered in Stirling and then another, this time there’s a message that only Connor would know about. Who and why are they doing this? Can Connor find the killer before the killer finds him?

I’d heard so many good things about this, but I’m disappointed to say that I struggled with it. The first half of the book was difficult to follow, with a number of characters involved but nothing to join the dots. The second half of the book speeds the action up and it’s a good ending, just let down by the start.

[Toby Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a excellent start to a series. The introduction of Connor Fraser is a compelling and pacy read with a supporting cast of characters who feel real and believable.

The central story is taut and tense throughout. The world in which this takes place feels not too far removed from the real world and the tensions that exist for certain causes.

This gripped me from the start and I'm certain to return to return to Connor's world as he is a character that demands attention and I want to know where he goes from here.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

95% of this fast-pace, multi-faceted and twisty-plotted tale was very enjoyable, made even more so by its being set in Stirling, a city known to me thanks to the Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival. Some lovely writing too. What lost it, for me (and I well accept the problem might be mine) was the final twisting of an already corkscrew tale, so fast it became a bit of a blur.
But Connor Fraser definitely a man to watch. Along with Donna Blake's development.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is good book, The murders are pretty awful and brutal, showing what lengths people will go to keep a part of their past well hidden. I liked Connor how he unravels the crimes and links them and always keeping his temper in check, not wanting to be like his father.... Looking forward to the next in the series and hope Simon's in there as well. " Even in peace time you always checked under the car before you drove"

[Daniel Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid Scottish crime novel set in Stirling but with connections to Belfast and beyond. The writing is strong and the attention to detail in the locations was a particular joy for someone like myself who lived in Stirling for a few years. The trio of main protagonists were all interesting however each definitely had weaker moments, particularly around the ending which I found a bit rushed and unsatisfying. It was a quick and fun read but nothing special.

[C.S. Daley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I couldn't put it down. As I roared towards the finish all I could think about was where can I steal a few minutes out of my day to read a few more pages. The only bad thing I can say about this book is that it is the first book in a new series and now I have a long wait for the next one. If you like mysteries and you like Scottish Noir this is the book for you!

[Chaim Wachtel · Rating 5 out of 5]

good mystery, kept me on the edge of my seat

There is something about stories that take place in different countries, and this one is something else, a grisly murder to start and then Broadfoot weaves in more death and twists and turns that make it hard to put down. Can’t wait to read the next one in the series

[Ewan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good. I raced through it anyway - I suppose a few of the reveals at the end felt a bit contrived, but didn't spoil anything for me. Interesting characters, I'll keep an eye out for the next in the series.

[Anne Gibbons-Ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast paced

More than a bit blood thirsty. Although it kept my attention, there were too many characters and names to remember. Even at the conclusion I found the motivations of most of the people weak. A good writer in the making I think!

[iain finlayson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable and the three main characters were intertwined very neatly with the story. It was a very believable storyline and it was pleasure to read about Stirling. I look forward to the next book.

[Mainer207 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up because of the narration by Angus King.

The story was quite good but I had a hell of a time keeping the characters straight. I’m glad this was the first in a series. I will try the next book. I know the writing is good.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in Stirling, Scotland, this fast-paced thriller was a fascinating read. I sort of worked it out but only partially. Linked to Ireland and The Troubles. I look forward to reading more in the series

[Joanne Fairbrother · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book after seeing the author live and had high hopes for it. Sadly the writing didn't thrill me and the continued use of reflective questions the characters used seemed lazy. More school essay than engaging well crafted work IMO.

[Christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written, great story

[B FINLAY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

Fast pace and thoroughly enjoyable, highly recommended I enjoyed some of the different aspects involved in this one ......get yourself a copy

[Judie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scottish Noir at its best. I raced through this cracking good tale.