Thank you Storm Publishing, Netgalley and the author for an early read of 'A Cold Heart'. This is the 4th DS Malkie McCulloch book and in my opinion the best one yet. It's got everything a great police procedural needs...a brilliant cast of characters and a brilliant story line. It is brutal, hard-hitting and full of emotion. A worthy 5 star read! Can't wait for the next book - hopefully soon!

Love, love, love this book!
This Edinburgh-set police procedural delivers tension and character in abundance!
We have Detectives Malkie and Steph, grappling with their personal demons, plunged into a desperate search for Liz, a kidnapped woman brutally taken by a truly menacing family seeking the ultimate revenge.
Liz's fierce love for her teenage daughter and sick husband fuels her will to survive, making her plight all the more heartbreaking.
The suspense builds relentlessly with each turn of the page, while the intricate team dynamics add another intriguing layer to the narrative. With a perfectly tied-up ending that leaves you craving more, this is a must-read for all crime fans. Highly recommended and a well deserved 5 ⭐ from me. I can't wait for the next instalment.

3.5* Misleading blurb, brutal scenes that I didn't expect or stomach too well, but a not-bad tale.

I've only read the predecessor to this book, not the first 2 in the series, but wasn't lost in either. This one follows immediately from book 3, with some personal stuff for Malkie some possible closure, a possible future with someone he loves, and a case that works, though Elizabeth really didn't have a very good head on her shoulders, nor care much about her daughter, it felt. I mean, doing what she did, handing the offending item to her daughter to be seen with it, risking the adverse publicity that would come with her being found out, risking her daughter now being bullied for 2 things instead of 1 - I mean, really, lady?

The brutality in this book was shocking, especially as it's explicit and against females. There really needed to be a warning about it. But, the events leading to the involvement of the bad guys was mostly plausible (other than who employs someone with a police record as a security guard?) snd the tale worked with some decent policing. But it ended without the issue of Elizabeth's daughter and the consequences of her mother's actions being answered, and because of possible involuntary manslaughter charges realistically being brought, unsatisfyingly.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my reading pleasure.

A Cold Heart by Doug Sinclair is book 4 in the DS Malkie McCulloch series. It is published on 7 August. Thank you to Storm Publishing, Netgalley and the author for the advance copy to read and review. Malkie is pulled into a traffic incident he witnesses when he is on his way to meet a new member of his family. This traffic incident has far-reaching tentacles and complications. What would a mother do to help her daughter. Also, with new evidence emerging about the devastating fire that destroyed his life, all the heartache is brought back for both Malkie and his Dad. Malkie carries out some great conversations with himself at various times trying to work out what to do. He always seems to get so emotionally involved in cases. He is so conflicted at times, but his growing relationship with Deborah is something good in his life. There is bullying, self-harming, self-doubt and kidnap and with all this the tension increases as well as the pace of the story. An excellent continuation of the series.

Great detective series with solid characters, complex and tense plot and overall a lot of heart! The good "guys" you root for and really evil bad guys that will have you holding on to your seat for them to be stopped. Malkie is quite the character and you can't help but like him, imperfect as he may be! Case solved, and a few lingering bits for next time ...

My first Doug Sinclair book but definitely not my last! This one grabbed me early on and just didn’t let go. Fantastic characters kept me flipping pages long into the night. Secrets, lies and family ties.
Thank you NetGalley, Doug Sinclair and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.