A mystery thriller very well written with good pace and rounded characters. Kept me guessing! I liked it
This is a new author for me but I would read him again

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. I absolutely loved it, it drew me in from the first page and didn't let go until the end. The characters were well drawn especially Finn and Paulsen, and their backstories were very good too. It had lots of twists which I love and I cannot wait to read the next book by this author.

The book opens with a group of fire-fighters going into a burning building at Pacific Square, they bring out the body of a man who they saw at the window, but couldn't save, he is found to have been a money launderer, and was nicknamed 'The Handyman' by the press.

The story then jumps 5 years when one of the ex-fireman is found burnt to death at his own wedding reception, is there a connection?

We meet Detective Inspector Finn, who has just buried his wife, Karin after she dies from brain cancer, he is asked to work with DC Mattie Paulsen who has been transferred from after dealing with a case involving a paedophile.

This is the first of a new series and I really enjoyed it, liked the characters, they were engaging, interesting and made mistakes. Good strong story, and liked the way it evolved.

Highly recommended and look forward to reading more in the future

Really interesting prospect, but a rather flat delivery. I finished the book about five or six days back and it’s rapidly faded from memory in all honesty! The main character, DI Alex Finn is grief-stricken but, rather unrealistically, is straight back to work to be given a new partner with a ‘mysterious past’ that she isn’t revealing. All variations on a cliche i’m afraid, but without the spark of something new to bring it together. Shifting perspectives give the reader more clues than the detectives, which rather kills the suspense too - there are ways of managing multiple viewpoints that keep the reader guessing.
I realise this is all rather negative, and there were some positives - the central conceit is strong but it just didn't deliver for me. Others will, I’m sure, but i won’t be pursuing the sequels

I must say that this book may not be for the feint hearted, but it is a cracker, and I loved it.The action was relentless, the characters were well drawn and the plot was complex.I stayed up way too late for 2 nights to read it,its that sort of book.I had my theories about who had done what but the story kept me guessing, and I really enjoyed it.I also liked the main police characters,and look forward to seeing them in future books.Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for an ARC.

My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC.
What a thoroughly good start to a new detective series featuring DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Poulsen, supported by DS Jackie Ojo and DCI John Skegman at the Cedar House Murder Squad.

The story starts in a blaze of activity (pun intended) when a high-rise office building development - Pacific Square - catches fire in London. Hundreds of fire-fighters eventually fight the conflagration but the first responders - Red Watch - entered the building initially because a man had been spotted at an upper-floor window; they were on a rescue mission. However, they were unable to bring the body out. Erik Whitlock had died.

Within 18 months all 5 members of Red Watch had retired early from the Fire Service.

Five years later, DI Alex Finn is mourning the death from brain cancer of his wife, Karin. A private, reserved and thoughtful man, with few real friends, he now lives for his work; he convinces DCI Skegman to let him return to work barely a week after Karin's death. Mattie Poulsen has transferred into his team - DS Ojo has her hands full on other investigations.
Their first investigation together involves a groom being burned to death in a toilet cubicle at the hotel where his wedding was performed. Adesh Kaul was a member of Red Watch.
Subsequently other members of that Fire Watch meet similar fates. (Not for the feint-hearted). How can they be protected?

What has a substantial monetary robbery known as the Stansted Heist, and the investigation team which, 5-years on, are no further forward in identifying the perpetrators, got to do with the death of the fire-fighters? Is "The Handyman" - the supposed Mastermind of the heist real or myth?

DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Poulsen intend to find out.

This is a complex detective story; a complex and, at times, unpleasant narrative; but the story-lines are so well-drawn you just have to keep reading.
Mattie Poulsen is a complicated person and I feel actually complements Alex's own personality, I look forward to that relationship developing, as that I am sure between Mattie and Jackie Ojo.

So looking forward to the 2nd in the series. I'm a big fan now.

Thoroughly recommended.

The story opens with a fire at a prestige office development under construction in Pacific Square, London. A team of five firefighters are first on the scene and 4 of them run inside to save a man seen waving from a 3rd floor window. They emerge from the blaze with the body of a man who turns out to be a known criminal - a money launderer. Shortly afterwards, the 5 firefighters quit their jobs.
Fast forward 5 years and one of the ex firemen is burned alive at his wedding reception. The investigation into his death shows he was murdered. Detective Inspector Alex Finn is given the job of heading up the investigation, despite the fact that his wife has recently died of cancer and he's supposed to be on compassionate leave. His new partner is Detective Constable Mattie Paulsen, recently transferred after investigating a paedophile - and investigation which has left its mark on Mattie.
Soon after their inquiries begin, another of the ex firefighters is murdered - burned alive in his Maserati car. Everything points to something which happened on the night of the blaze at Pacific Square. Someone knows what happened to the firemen that night, but the 3 left alive are saying nothing.
In the background, a major criminal is using corrupt cops on his payroll to check on Finn and Mattie's investigation.
This is a solid police procedural that grips from the start. Alex Finn and Mattie Paulsen are an unlikely pairing, both working hard to overcome problems in their personal lives. Both are experienced investigators who work well together.
Gradually, we learn what really happened on the night of the Pacific Square blaze, but there are many unpredictable twists in the story as it unfolds.
This is the 1st in a series and is fine crime thriller debut from author Will Shindler. I'll be looking out for more stories featuring Finn and Paulsen. Although it's fiction, the author isn't averse to detailing some of the real life problems currently faced by Britain's police officers.
My thanks to publishers Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.

If, like me, you are the kind of reader who likes to be in on the ground floor of a brand new series, then get The Burning Men on your pre-order to be read lists because this is one of those times…

This is a police procedural but also has psychological elements that are highly intriguing, a great hybrid that also has the benefit of being an extremely well written page turner.

Main protagonists Finn and Paulsen are indeed an unlikely partnership but a genuinely engaging one – both bringing personal demons to the table- the developing and ongoing relationship between them is one of the strengths of this story, playing into the riveting mystery element pitch perfectly. The supporting cast all add their own intrigues so the set up for future books is cleverly achieved.

On this particular case, there are plenty of twists and turns, a central “villain” who I rather adored, a layered mystery that is compelling and unpredictable. The author has a great descriptive sense of place and personality that keeps you involved throughout and there’s a great edgy feel to it that works really well.

I thoroughly enjoyed it. An intelligent police drama with an excellent and realistic plot, no annoying loose ends but plenty of future possibility.

Yes. Good then. Count me in.

Recommended.

Thank you to Netgalley for this advanced ARC.

This is the first book I’ve read by Will Shindler. I really enjoyed it, felt it was a very good story with a good background history, and many twists and turns in the plot as I got further into the book. The book introduces two police detectives, DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Paulsen - both likeable characters who are working together for the first time investigating a murder. More similar murders follow and they find links to a fire 5 years before, and another unsolved crime. Without giving too much away I found this a thrilling read. I couldn’t work out who the killer was, and the reveal at the end shocked me. All in all, would recommend this book for those who like police procedurals. I hope this is the start of a series of books for these characters, and I would definitely read more books by this author.