Elizabeth Dunn, a desperate middle aged woman makes a dreadful mistake to help her daughter face up to bullies at school, in the process unfortunately drawing the attention of some very violent men from one of the most brutal crime families, who badly want retribution. DS Malkie McCulloch and his colleagues must race against time if they are to save her.

This is the fourth book in this gritty Scottish crime series set in West Lothian. Malkie is a complicated and flawed detective who might not always make the right choices but will always do whatever it takes to protect the innocent. His personal life is complicated as he is still coming to terms with the death of his mother in a suspicious fire that destroyed their house and he is falling in love with a female pilot battling serious injuries following a helicopter accident. He’s also recently discovered he has a 26 year older he didn’t know about and is anxious about meeting her for the first time. His relationships with his colleagues can also be complicated as they also have their own work or personal issues to deal with. Still, they work together well enough and their banter can be quite entertaining.

Tense, fast paced, often brutal but always compelling, the novel works reasonably well as a stand-alone since the author gives sufficient background. However, a lot of previous events are alluded to and it would be best read in sequence with the rest of the series to fully understand Malkie and his colleagues.

A Cold Heart by Doug Sinclair is the 4th book in the excellent DS Malkie McCulloch crime series which is set in Livingston West Lothian in Scotland. I have enjoyed reading this series and getting to know the main character DS Malkie McCulloch which is an excellent character, I really like him. This latest book is another 5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ read from start to finish and a enjoyable read!

Elizabeth Dunn is brutally snatched from her home and in broad daylight, DS Malkie McCulloch is called to the scene. The victim lives on a housing estate in Livingston and is living a quiet life. . . .But, someone wants to hurt her and to risk everything to do it!!

But, Who would do this to a normal house wife, who is a mum and carer!? and so many people will miss her!

DS Malkie McCulloch and his team are raising against the time to find her before it is too late! As he puts all the clues together about Elizabeth, the case takes a devastating turn for the worse. Now, he connects her disappearance to the violent death of a local security guard and a large web of secrets that threatens to destroy everyone it touches.

The clock is ticking . . . . . .especially as DS Malkie McCulloch personal life is in turmoil, with a newly discovered relative, a deepening relationship with fellow trauma survivor Deborah, and now a renewed investigation into his mother’s suspicious death. Malkie's brain is on over drive!!. . . . . . . But he has to focus 100% on the case of missing Elizabeth Dunn case and what he and his team has recently found out regarding this case.

Now, the temperatures outside have fallen to below freezing, as winter takes its toll!! and his investigation reveals a story of family betrayal and desperate love that shows just how far a parent will go to protect their child. . . . . . .

Tick tock the clock is ticking. . . . .time is running out for Elizabeth.

A Cold Heart can be read as a Standalone but I do recommend you go back and read the other 3 books, it will not disappoint! I highly recommend this series. Another 5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my ARC.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to review this latest book in the series about DI Malkie McCulloch and his team. It is a gripping story that follows his investigation into the abduction of Elizabeth Dunn. Who and why was a local housewife taken from her home by force? Walkie also has his own demons that he is dealing with, as he tries to find normality in his life and personality. The characters are all interesting and have developed through the series. I recommend reading the books in order, so as to better understand them. This story is full of interesting developments and unexpected twists. I was hooked from the beginning and just had to keep reading at every chance I had until I finished it.
I look forward to reading more of DI McCulloch and his own demons. A recommended read to lovers of crime fiction.

A Cold Heart was a solid read. I didn’t realize that it was book 4 of 4. This book didn’t confuse me in any way with not reading the first 3. I really liked this book, so I will be adding the other 3 to my list, Fast paced, quick read with a great plot,

A desperate mum with no money and on the edge of breakdown, struggling to hold it together; desperate to do whatever it takes to spare her adolescent daughter from yet more bullying at school, she makes a difficult choice — and from that one bad decision, her world starts to collapse around her...

Two coppers whose banter regularly crosses over into tensions, bounces around their dark back stories, and always just about comes back together because their bond is so strong... Each faces tough choices, often on the spur of the moment when they both acknowledge that they have particularly short fuses, and those choices, too, will have repercussions not only for them, but for those around them.

Sinclair does a fantastic job of establishing these characters, their relationships and dilemmas, in a very short space, and then proceeds to pull the strands together, tangle them, and deepen them, in a kind-of* police procedural thriller that plunges you headlong into the dark depths of Scotland's criminal hinterland (*kind-of, because it's not really about the police or the procedures at its core — as Joseph Wambaugh once said, it's not about how the police work on a crime, it's about how the crime works on the police).

I hadn’t read the initial books in this series, and would have benefitted from having done so. A Cold Heart did read OK as a standalone, but knowing more about the characters and their backgrounds would have helped. Despite that, I enjoyed the read. I found the writing style a little jarring, but concede that it matched the content. I didn’t much warm to the neurodivergent lead investigator, Malkie, although there were aspects of him that were endearing. And he’s surrounded by colleagues, such as Steph, who adore and support him. I found some aspects of the story a little far-fetched. It certainly was action-packed with a large dose of brutality and pure evil. Not for sensitive readers.

If I ever had a problem with the law I'd want Malkie to be the detective investigating my case, he won't let anything past him and will keep digging till he finds the truth. A Cold Heart is a brutal story of domestic violence, crime and despair over life circumstances. Women who have been bullied and had their lives destroyed, a man who is slowly succumbing to an awful disease, a young girl who is being bullied at school, and a mother who makes an absolutely wrong decision. Raw emotions are present throughout the whole story which is well-written and grabs the reader's attention from the beginning. Great entertainment!
I thank Mr. Sinclair, his publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

This is the fourth book in this series, it can be read as a standalone but I would urge reading the series in sequence, you won't be disappointed.
D.S Malkie McCulloch's life seems to go from one disaster to the next, his mother had died when the family home was burned to the ground, a tragedy that Malkie blamed himself for, new information had come to light but did Malkie want to put himself and his devastated father through another investigation ? His fondness for Flight Lieutenant Deborah Fleming , badly burned in an accident, was growing into something deeper, Deborah listened to him, Deborah advised him, Deborah made him laugh but will Deborah ever have any sort of normality in her life? His partner, DC Steph Lang, had escaped a horrendous childhood to become a great cop but her sleezy, manipulative, stepfather was never far from the scene, would Steph be able to keep her temper in check and thus keep her job ? Out of the blue Malkie finds that he is the father to a twenty six year old daughter, how can he build a relationship with someone he didn't know existed for twenty six years ?
The team's latest case was getting to Malkie, Elizabeth Dunn is struggling to survive, she is carer to her disabled husband, she is working all hours to make ends meet, her daughter is self harming after being bullied at school but Elizabeth's desperate attempt to help resulted in the death of a member of one of the most feared, brutal, ruthless families in Glasgow and they wanted revenge........Elizabeth is their target.
I couldn't put this book down, I loved the diverse, well rounded characters, there is plenty of action, nail biting suspense and I can't wait for the next book in the series.
Thank you Storm Publishing and Net Gallery for this ARC, my review is totally voluntary.

Another exciting Scottish crime thriller with DS Malkie McCulloch. McCulloch is complex, quietly brilliant and the man you want on the job when there is a baffling, confusing, complicated crime to be solved. No one is safe from his focus and determination to secure justice.

A fascinating police procedural with a varied staff of officers balanced against Malkie’s equally fascinating personal life, A Cold Heart pulls you in and won’t let go. Full of suspense, danger, thrills, twists and turns and a peek into the mind of a professional at work. Will excite you, pull at your heart and keep you guessing until the final page.

I received an advance copy of A Cold Heart as a Storm Publishing pre-approved reader via NetGalley. I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.

Malkie McCulloch is based in Livingston, he is a Detective Sergeant with Police Scotland. His mother recently died during a house fire, initially he believed it was caused by a candle lit beside her bed, one he had given her, but now he realises the source of the fire, although from a candle, was from one on the windowsill, sitting beside an open window. The fire was deliberately set and his mother was murdered. The case will be looked at again.
Malkie himself, is investigating the kidnapping of a local woman, discovering that it could be linked to the serious accident where a security guard was knocked down whilst pursuing a shop lifter.
I have not read any of these books before, but did not feel this hampered my enjoyment of reading this one. My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc.

This was an overall solid read. I didn’t absolutely love it, but I also didn’t hate it — it landed somewhere in the middle for me.

The plot kept me interested throughout, especially the urgency around Elizabeth’s disappearance and how it tied into a larger web of secrets and betrayals. I appreciated the emotional stakes and the exploration of how far people will go to protect their loved ones. It gave the story depth and weight.

DS Malkie McCulloch is definitely a layered character, and while I haven't read the previous books in the series, I could still follow along and get invested in his personal challenges. That said, I think I may have enjoyed it even more with more background on his storyline.

A good crime thriller with a strong emotional core. I’ll consider picking up the earlier books in the series to see how Malkie’s story begins.

There is certainly plenty going on in this book. We are given Malkie who is trying very hard to be more normal with his team (whatever normal is !), work place bullying. school bullying and just thugs doing what they do, personal pressures of life and illnesses. In the midst of it all is Deborah, who having suffered the most, is the epitome of a survivor - someone who won't give in sometimes to her own detriment. So in among the chaos of Malkie's life, she is there for him and he for her and I am enjoying the burgeoning love story within. The book has a good solid pace and has you turning the pages wanting more. This is a very enjoyable series which is developing with each book.

Thanks to Netgalley / Storm books for the ARC to review

Gripping Scottish crime drama of love in many forms, hate—and pure evil!

The love a mother has for her bullied daughter results in actions and outcome no-one foresees. A stolen jumper worth £350, a shopping center security guard killed in the illegal pursuit of a shoplifter! The situation spirals out of control when the relatives of the security guard are known viscous drug dealers.
The love a seemingly aloof and detached detective is growing into for recovering, scarred burn victim,Flight Lieutenant Deborah Fleming, who’s undergoing treatment at a special unit.
The developing love of a father for a child he didn’t know existed until she’s an adult.
The care shown for and by fellow workers.
The discovery that his mother’s death may not have been his fault.
The relationship of a father and son following the harrowing details about their wife/mother’s death.
The hate a daughter holds for her father, her mother’s rapist.
I was glued to this complex gritty crime novel. This is so so much more than that.
There are threads here that twirl around in a vortex of feelings and emotions. Some just plain evil.
I must say this DS Malkie McCulloch novel caught me by surprise!

A Storm ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Fourth book in the series I have read and enjoyed. Another quick read. Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

An excellent thriller from start to finish. It had a good storyline and plenty of laugh out loud humour. Malkie and Steph are trying to find a missing mother, while dealing with their own demons. Elizabeth finds herself in a dangerous situation after committing a crime to protect her daughter. Great storyline and characters. I loved it.

A solid police procedural thriller bringing back the characters we have grown to love.
Fast paced with an interesting plot and obviously well written.

DS MALKIE MCCULLOCH SERIES:
A COLD HEART, #4 - This book has everything: a variety of characters; good story lines; a gamut of emotions; hope; and plenty of evil. A bit heavy with the personal problems at the expense of police work. Source: Netgalley. 4*

LAST TO DIE, #2 - I had to finish this entertaining story in one sitting. I found it predictable because this is how I would have written the story. Interesting and intriguing story lines blended with a variety of interesting characters wove an immersing tapestry of justice, revenge and murder. The last chapter was a perfect ending to this well written book. I enjoyed the fact that although this is the second book of a series, there was no rehashing of the first book, which I have not read; just an interesting story on its own. Source: Netgalley. 15*

A DEADLY FLAME, #3 - Interesting story lines and good characters made this a difficult to put down read. The intensity of emotions and the effects of horrible happenings on the police and the firefighters in their daily lives added to the depth of this immersing story. Source: Netgalley. 5*

Detective rather than case centric🤔

3-3.5🌟 stars
Not really suited to my taste. I picked it up because of the Scottish setting.

A lot of, my impression was most of, this story centers on the depressing lives of DS Malkie, still grieving over his mother's death, and his work partner who has a solid hate relationship with her family. I actually prefer police mystery and suspense where the story and drama focuses on the investigation and helping the victims, so this missed the mark for me.

The abduction case part of the story was also very emotionally draining. I couldn't see a really positive ending for the victim or her family no matter whether the police succeeded in finding and rescuing her. The level of violence meted out by the villains was pretty off-putting, too.

Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Review shared on 7/30/25 on Waterstones, Goodreads and Bookbub, and with Barnes & Noble and BAM. To be shared with kobo upon publication.

Welcome back DS Malkie McCulloch along with his team - DC Steph Lang, Dc Louisa Gooch and DC Rab Lundy and his boss, DI Susan Thompson. The story begins with Elizbeth Dune and an incident that leads to an unfortunate death. Malkie needs to piece the puzzle together following a trail of clues left by Elizabeth. Unfortunately for Elizabeth, she is abducted in broad daylight. How are all the clues connected? What? Why? Malkie is at the same time dealing with family issues and Steph is worried about personal matters as well. It was well written with lots of twists and turns with a dramatic conclusion! More please!

oh my word. Doug did it again. and then some! wow, this book knocked me over and i still gripped the book so i could carry on reading. there was no stopping me.
the story line, the characters the setting it all brings you right in to this story. we care about the detective, the team and then the characters within this book. we care about whats happening and what will happen right through to the end. i love how Malkie own life plays a part in the books so you are involved emotionally all the more so. its like we have two story lines and they both weave together perfectly. and i always enjoy getting to know and see more of Malkie's.
the book is set in Scotland and this one hit me more than the others had or maybe its just because it fresh and new im sure i said that about the others too at the time too! Malkie is investigating the abduction of a mother. it was done in broad daylight, a big risk. there is more to learn about the missing and it soon brings a darkening story to life. we are never far from feeling these books and characters with our whole hearts and this or me has whats made Dough's book stand out for me every single time. i love it. i love how much they touch my heart and grip my emotions as well as my thrills.
there is such a theme of protecting those you love in this book and the quiet but loud strength of people when faced with choices was there all the way through. i was desperate to know whether our victim could be found as i had been completely hooked by her story and why she had to do what she did.
there is also brilliant moments from the team.
all in all this book and the people draw you in and i cant give it enough praise or enough stars. i adore this series and have a sense of yippee mixed with anxiety of whats to come when each one comes out, ha.
these characters and this series keeps me gripped. hooked. emotional evolved and im here for it every time.