This is a down-to-earth Scottish crime novel with a decent plot. I enjoyed the characters and the development of the plot but I tired of the constant references to a tragic event in the main character's past. I appreciate that the reader needs to be reminded of things occasionally but it felt as though it was every other page. Despite that, overall, this is a good read.

DS Malkie McCullough is a complicated man but an excellent detective, if a bit prone to saying the wrong thing. He’s still recovering from his own personal tragedy when he’s forced to confront his nightmares as a body is found in a burnt out whiskey warehouse. As in any good police murder mystery there are several story lines nicely intermingled, just like most real life murder investigations. Add in Malkies team, and with DC Steph Langs own back story coming to a head it makes exciting and compelling reading.

I like the relationship that Malkie has with his own boss, how protective he is of the few people he considers as friends and the lengths he’s prepared to go to look out for them. The ending is not your usual storybook finish but neither is real life. This is a standalone read, despite being the third book in the series and hopefully not the last.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

DS Malkie McCulloch is back and just as crusty as ever. This case couldn’t be worse for him as it’s a fire and brings back thoughts of his mother’s death in a fire. The fire is in a whisky warehouse but it doesn’t appear to be an accident. Not only is there a body in the building but a fireman dies in the way out of the building. If course he couldn’t do it without his long suffering partner Steph. Fantastic team. Wonderful book

I really enjoyed this book, and didn’t need to have read the previous ones in the series to know what had happened previously. The plot was good, the writing was really, really good, and the only reason I haven’t given 5 stars is because I felt there seemed to be quite a bit of repetition. Just one example: how many times did we need to hear about the whistle? A few proofreading errors need sorting before publication, but this is a book that I could highly recommend and I am looking forward to reading the next in the series. Thanks to Storm and NetGalley for the electronic copy.

It is great to catch up with DS Malkie McCulloch, DC Steph Lang, DC Lou Gooch, DC Rab Lundy and their boos, DI Susan Thompson. Malkie is tasked with investigating a warehouse fire, where a body has been found and a fireman comes to harm helping to put out the blaze. The story is action packed, full of mystery and suspense, with a few red herrings thrown in to confuse the reader. Once, I began reading, it I could not put the book down as it was engrossing and a page turner!! Malkie is a flawed but complexed character but with good reason as he has to fight his own demons after the suspicious fire at this parent's home, where his Mum died and left his Dad recovering from his injuries. Malkie and Steph, upon discovering the name of the warehouse victim is William Galbraith, go to his widow, Anna, to find out more about the man and the business. All the sub plots are woven together to an exhilarating ending! More Malkie and Steph please!!!!

4* A bit unbelievable in parts, unless Scottish coppers do things a bit differently to English ones, but an interesting read.

It's not necessary for readers to have picked up books 1 and 2 before diving into this one, as enough info's given so you get an idea of Malkie, Steph and his love interest. The latter doesn't feature too prominently but might be a bit more visible in the next tale as Malkie will likely need emotional support after what he discovers towards the end of this tale.

You don't learn tons about the characters, just enough that you understand why they go about their jobs as they do, what made them who they are. A couple of things shocked me, particularly where Steph us concerned, as how can 'management' not pursue something that's been turned into.sm official complaint?

But, the above aren't the main elements of the tale. The storyline in this is well done, part-sad when you realise the motivations, part-horrifying when it dawns on a character that what she'd kind of done with decent-ish intentions, has had terrible repercussions. There's a lot of fire-brigade talk, so much that it was a tad off-putting, but the storyline and the investigation and outcome were decent.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my reading pleasure

Thanks to Doug and NetGalley for allowing me to read A Deadly Flame before the publication date.
Although this is the third book in the series, it is the first which I have read.

The fatal fire takes place in a bonded warehouse where barrels of whisky are stored.
There are a couple of gruesome scenes in the book which are not for the feint hearted. The reference to the fire at the Glasgow Cheapside Street whisky bond was chilling and it probably impacted on my impression of the book.
Black humour is the coping mechanism present in the crews working the current scene.

There are multiple threads, some professional, some personal, but all having an impact on the investigation into the fatal fire.

With SFRS responsible for the fire ground, DS Malkie McCulloch has to navigate the SFRS rules when he takes statements from the firefighters.
When the Fire Scene Investigator arrives, McCulloch realises that it is the same investigator who was in charge of the fire in which McCulloch’s mother died and his father was seriously injured.

The central characters include a number of women, each working in a male dominated environment.

'A Deadly Flame' is the third book to feature DS Malkie McCulloch and DC Steph Lang. Once again Doug Sinclair has given us an exciting Scottish police procedural, this one involving a disastrous fire in a whisky warehouse. It's very well researched and well written. I really like the main characters. They're both flawed but are decent people who work well together and genuinely care and look out for each other. I look forward to the next book in the series. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an early read.

Police crime book set in Scotland. If love crime fiction then you will love this book.
The main character and the people in his inner circle are a lovable group who have had their fair share of hard times.
This book will be released on 10/31/2024

This isn’t an easy read, and is full of unpleasant characters that stain the story and impact the lives of them main police officers in a negative way. The plot itself is deceptively simple, yet the relationships add a fascinating layer of complexity and confusion to the book. Each character is carrying a painful story that leaks out and oozes into the investigation. The lead officer - Malkie - is far from perfect and yet there is a core of care and love for those in his inner circle, he is desperate to not just do his job but get it right for those impacted. The violence bursts out and marks the characters and is a strong underpinning to the plot.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Doug Sinclair’s “A Deadly Flame” is the third installment in the DS Malkie McCulloch series, and it delivers a gripping Scottish crime thriller that will captivate you. Set against the moody backdrop of the Pentland Hills, this novel weaves a complex tapestry of mystery, suspense, and emotional depth.

The story begins with a devastating fire at a whisky distillery, leaving behind charred ruins and a body. DS Malkie McCulloch is thrust into a case that quickly spirals into a labyrinth of secrets and lies. Sinclair masterfully crafts a narrative that is intricate and fast-paced, ensuring the reader is constantly guessing and re-evaluating their theories.

DS Malkie McCulloch is a brilliantly complex detective, haunted by his past yet driven by a relentless pursuit of justice. His personal struggles add a layer of vulnerability that makes him incredibly relatable. The supporting characters, from the grieving widow to the young firefighter’s fiancée, are equally well-drawn, each one adding depth and emotion to the story.

Sinclair’s writing is sharp and evocative, painting vivid pictures of the Scottish landscape and the tense atmosphere of the investigation. The plot is peppered with twists and turns, keeping the suspense high and the pages turning. The themes of revenge, justice, and the impact of past traumas are explored with sensitivity and insight, making this more than just a standard crime thriller.

“A Deadly Flame” is an utterly unputdownable read that will appeal to fans of Angela Marsons and JD Kirk. Doug Sinclair has crafted a compelling story with a memorable protagonist and a plot that will keep you hooked until the very last page. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a thrilling and emotionally resonant crime novel.

If you love heartfelt police procedurals, you have to read this wonderful 5 star book!

A Deadly Flame has investigators looking to determine the cause of a fatal fire at a distillery. DS Malkie McCulloch seeks to discover if there is a killer on the loose while dealing with his own trauma of having lost his mother in a fire. I read about a third of the book, but I didn't find the characters nor the plot particularly compelling, so I skipped to the end to wrap things up.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

The third book in the DS Malkie McCulloch series, A Deadly Flame (2024) by Doug Sinclair, is a Scottish police procedural. Not having read the earlier novels was no disadvantage to enjoying this tale with its interesting characters and three subsequent murder cases. Malkie is given an arson call to attend in the middle of the night and has to cool his heels while the firefighters do their work. Body in the burnt-out factory and the death of a firefighter requires Malkie’s team of detectives to investigate. A subsequent murder muddles the cases, with the impact on the protagonist becoming the real focus of the crime fiction tale. A somewhat benign murder mystery tale, with the foibles of Malkie and Steph and various choices of the characters, making for a pleasant read with a three stars rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without any inducement. With thanks to Storm Publishing and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes.

A Deadly Flame is the third in a series. As much as I enjoyed it I wished I read the other books. Mostly because I really enjoy the characters of Malkie and Steph. Even though they are colleges there is a deep personal connection between them plus I’d really like to know their backstories. There seems to be a lot with the two of them and as I read the book I only got bits and pieces of who they were.
The whiskey factory is on fire. A young firefighter loses his life and then once things calm down another body is discovered. The factory’s owner. Then throw in an attack on another firefighter with a murky background. Suspicions of who caused the fire is running rampant. Then we have Steph having to confront the memories of her mother and her past and what it could do to her career. What is the relationship between Malkie and Deborah? That is the part I wish I knew.about. The child he thought he had then didn’t. Would he have been able to save his mother from her death? Many questions to be answered.
All in all I liked the characters and how they were written and the story was interesting. I’d suggest reading the books in order. Yet I look forward to the next installment. Thank you NetGalley and Storm for the ARC and Mr. Sinclair for a thrilling read.

A fully engulfed liquor warehouse is reported on fire one morning. Calls that early are never good. As DS Malkie McCuloch and DC Steph Lang observe the fire, they learn that there is a body burned beyond recognition inside. Then the unthinkable happens. A firefighter is also reported down. A police procedural with complex, flawed characters, side stories and partners, Malkie and Stephanie, both struggling to not let their own personal demons overtake their determination to find a murderer. Well written, intriguing and action packed, I thank Netgalley and Storm Publishing for an early copy. This review is my personal opinion.

Brilliant! Malkie and Steph get called to a warehouse fire with fatalities. Was it arson or an accident? Will it trigger Malkie's memories of his Mom's death in a house fire? The case is very involved and complicated with more issues occurring afterwards. And Malkie learns some disturbing information regarding his Mom's fire. Really well written and interesting. Kept me hooked from the first page.
Thanks to Netgalley, Storm Publishing, and Doug Sinclair for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the 3rd DS Malkie McCulloch thriller but the first time I've encountered the Scot.
A body has been spotted by the fire service as they tackled a blaze at a whisky warehouse, which also claims a fire officer. McCulloch's team are at the scene to gingerly investigate, while mindful of fire service codes.
I enjoyed Sinclair's realistic approach in writing a warts and all police procedural, including the profanities that would routinely be used. He clearly knows his way around the police force and often reminds us how foolish the TV detectives are when they assign certain routine checks to their team, outlining each one just for the benefit of the viewers.
Not knowing Malkie's full history I didn't have a full sense of him as a person. I liked his loyalty to the team, although it went to extraordinary lengths. Gucci and Steph are both excellent characters and Malkie acknowledged he'd probably be working for them in the future, but didn't mind the idea.
The plot was unusual as it combined the efforts of police and fire service, and I liked the tension that created.
It ended with me hungry for more, particularly as two enticing angles have been left unexplored, ready for book 4.

Malkie is called in to investigate the death of someone in a factory that burned down. It brings back bad memories of his mother who died in a house fire.
A firefighter is attacked, and the suspect has gone into hiding.

I read the first in this series, and was put off by Malkie's self pity. I see that in this, the third book, he is still feeling sorry for himself.
The investigation is good, but I felt that it was put on the back burner, the novel concentrating on the personal stories of Steph and Malkie.
I battled to get into this book, and it took me longer to read than I liked. The whole story could have been condensed by at least a quarter or more.
3/5 stars from me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.

I really enjoy the series and book 3 is no exception (can also be read as a stand alone). I found it compelling and also interesting as much information about firemen's work. What I particularly enjoy in this series and which is a bit different from many other police books, is that much focus is on the psychology of the police officers. A brilliant team works here, always backing each other, professionally or privately! On top of that, the concept of empathy is ever present. Empathy towards murderers, how is that possible, one might ask? It is, sometimes, as long as it doesn't interfere with justice, it is ok and makes one reflect.... A couple of sub-plots are also dealt with, interesting ones again on a psychological level. I liked the conclusion very much, agreed with it, and now I am waiting for book 4!
I received a digital copy from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.

I read A Deadly Flame as a stand-alone, and it's my first encounter with this author. I love reading police procedural crime fiction, but I found this one hard to get into. The plot itself is well thought out, and it is full of complex characters, I just wasn't gripped by it. I think partly because I haven't read the first two in the series and partly because the crimes committed just didn't hold my attention that much.
There were parts I enjoyed, and I'm glad to have finished it to know what the outcome was.

Thank you, Storm Publishing, for my advanced copy.
My opinions are my own.