This is the second book in the series. I totally flew throught it having read the first book. I was engrossed.

Will look out for more in this series when Doug Sinclair writes them

Thank you Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to review.

4 stars from me

This is book two of DS Malkie McCulloch who works alongside DC Steph Lang and their boss DI Susan Thompson. A case from 45 years ago comes to light after a unexpected death in the present. How does this death tie in with an incident of a body found on New Year's Day 45 years.? Well, what can I say, this book was well written and it was very descriptive. I loved seeing how Malkie interacted with Steph and Susan! We saw a bit more of his personal life and it was lovely to see how he is with his Dad. I hope there is a book 3. I will be recommending this book.

Another spot on Malkie investigation! Watch out for underdogs and senior citizens, no one is who you expect and you won't see them coming. The past sometimes just wan't stay there and who you least expect will save the day. A so,id police procedural.

I read the first book in the series, Blood Runs Deep and I could not wait to get my hands on book number two to see what DS Malkie McCulloch would get up to next. I was definitely not disappointed!

A forty five year old case is brought to light again and must be re-investigated to piece together the current events. This takes Malkie and his partner, Steph, down a tough path having to investigate their predecessors in the police force which made for a very interesting read! This book is full of twists and turns that keep you guessing right through to the end. At points throughout the story I felt completely lost and had no clue what to expect but looking back I realised there are some very clever clues that point you to the outcome of the case all the way through.

I really loved that we got to see a bit more of Malkies personal life this time around. It’s so lovely seeing his character growth over the two books and I hope that continues through the third book. I was also great to see more of Malkie and Stephs friendship and experiencing a more vulnerable side to her as she opens up about revelations in her personal life.

Last to Die is another fantastic book and it’s safe to say Doug Sinclair has earned himself a fan in me! I’d like to say thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the advance copy!
Any opinions expressed are my own.

Last to Die - 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*

This was really good!! A lot of action (also many dead people!) kept me guessing for a very long time! I particularly enjoyed the main police characters because of their integrity and also because they still have the heart and courage to look for justice whatever the risks... My first book by the author, and definitely not the last one!
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.

Thank you to Storm publishing, the author and NetGalley for an advance copy of this fast paced thriller. This is the second book to feature troubled DS Malkie McCulloch. I hadn't read the first one but managed very easily to get into the story (and I've now got the first book to look forward to!! ) Set in Scotland and told from different POV's Doug Sinclair has written an exciting and well thought out murder mystery that keeps your interest to the very end. Great characters and a great book that I highly recommend.

A fast paced gripping read. With a very good storyline so many twists also.great characters in this book. Can't wait for more by this author

Thank you Netgalley and Storm Publishing for an early copy. The following comments and review are my opinion.
DS Malkie McCulloch and DC Steph Lang have been called to a scene that looks to be a home invasion. The burglar is dead and the 70 year old homeowner is missing. After more digging, the homeowner was found to be a former police officer and she and six other officers were involved in a tragic case over forty years ago. As bodies begin to pile up Malkie is even more determined in his investigation to find out what exactly happened so many years ago and why are people dying now? A twisted case that serves up revenge in a most interesting and enjoyable book.

This book was something else. I really enjoyed this fast-paced read. I didn't know, however, that this is the 2nd book in a series. But…but…but…the good thing is that I have another book I need to read. I liked that the story was set in Scotland, something different than England or the US. The characters were likeable and I enjoyed their complex layers, especially from the MMC. It's a win when a book makes me think and try to figure out the characters. The story dragged me in and I couldn't put this one down. The story was fast-paced and I enjoyed the different POVs. A nice and easy Crime Thriller that will keep you turning the pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, NetGalley, and Storm Publishing for this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my copy of Last To Die by Doug Sinclair.
The book starts great and then falters a bit before picking up speed again.
It was a good story but does DS Malkie McCulloch really have to be so damaged, and self defeating?
That spoilt the story for me.
I hope as the series goes on he’ll improve his personal life.

When Detective Malkie McCulloch is called to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a retired police officer from her home in the Scottish town of Livingston, he suspects the worst when he discovers a trail of blood leading from her home out towards a nearby river. When he follows the trail, he expects to find the woman’s body, but instead, he finds the body of a young man who is a known local criminal.
On the surface, it is a case of attempted robbery, but Malkie believes it’s something more serious. The woman escaped from the burglar, and now she is missing.
After digging into the former police officer’s past, he discovers her connection to the death of a young woman several years before. As he digs into her record as a police officer, he finds that she is linked to the death of a teenage girl several years before. When another body is found, it soon becomes apparent that certain unsolved crimes in which she was involved are now coming back to haunt the town, and several lives are now at stake.
A fast-moving, edge-of-the-seat novel you won’t be able to put down.

Oh wow, an excellent follow up to Blood Runs Deep, the first book in the series. Malkie and Steph get called to a death in a park, which leads them to an old lady with a grudge. What follows is a twisty, turning story involving a senior officer in Police Scotland. Revenge is best served cold, in this case, 45 years cold. Malkie is far less troubled in this story and its great to see him more settled. Although, he really needs to stop opening his mouth just to change feet! Him and Steph are great characters and this was a superb thriller. I look forward to more cases for Malkie and Steph to solve.
Thanks to Netgalley, Storm Publishing and Doug Sinclair for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely devoured this book, the second to feature our troubled detective, Malkie Mc Culloch and this was even better than the first read. What a complex, loveable character he is too! The Scottish setting of Livingston is brought alive with the author's descriptions, as Malkie and his long suffering partner Steph investigate a series of murders. I immersed myself in this read, I so want to be Steph and get to know how Malkie's troubled mind works, as well as giving him a huge hug to ease his hurt. The plotting and characterisation is excellent and I highly recommend the author, he is fast becoming one of my favourites in the genre and up with the best. Please bring us more Malkie soon! Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

This was a really good police procedural based in Scotland. I will say, it took me a few pages to understand some of the jargon. I did not realize this is the second in the series, so I am going to look for the first!


The story opens with Billy- a 20 something man who is going to do a job for Fisher. The job? Murder Lizzie, a seventy something woman. However, things do not go as planned- the lady has skills, and she ends up taking out Billy. Enter Makie McCulloch. He has been assigned to the case with his partner Steph. He is overcoming the death of his mother in a fire, living with his father, and has heaps of guilt and insecurity about his ability to present as normal socially. He opens his mouth- a lot!

Makie and the team have to chase down this lady- but she has disappeared. And now, there are other murders being committed on a group of elderly- each the same way.

This was pretty fast paced. It’s told from different POV’s: Makie, Fisher, an unknown voice from the past. We soon learn that all the victims used to be on the force together, and are tied to an incident in 1978 where they set Lizzie up for the fall.

I liked Marie, Steph, and Susan (Makie’s boss). I enjoyed Marie’s growth in his relationship with his father, and with woman he met through a case in the previous book (I think). This relationship development is a bit surprising- but the author really writes it well.

I found this to be a very good story. I thought I knew who the killer was- but NO! What a twist! I will definitely read the first, and the next because I want to see how the characters stories progress!

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC. This is my honest review.

DS Malkie McCulloch is back with a new case. As ever, Malkie is grumpy, gobby, unkempt and couldn’t care less for authority. Despite all the warnings from his DC Steph Lang and his boss DI Susan Thompson, Malkie can’t help but open his mouth and put his foot in it. The only redeeming feature Malkie has is his ability to be a good detective. Rooting out the truth and bringing the bad guys down is his forte, despite the actions he takes to get to a result.

This is the second in the DS McCulloch series and such an improvement on the first book, Blood Runs Deep. Sad to say I gave the first book a really poor rating, I really didn’t like it. I felt it was poorly written with unlikeable characters and a tedious plot. However, this one is good. A proper page turner and an enjoyable read. So glad that I have been proved wrong with this series, just hope the next book continues in the same way.

3.5*

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing.

Great to see that there is a follow up book to the first one and if anything, this book is better! Again, happy to see that it isn't Edinburgh based although it does get the odd mention. The characters are really enjoyable and those from book 1 you get into right away and although this is a follow up book, you could easily read this one as a standalone. The main storyline was utterly captivating - I really didn't want to put the book down until I had finished it, my sign of a great book! Highly recommended.

This is the second book in the Malkie McCulloch series about a flawed but empathetic detective . I liked the style of writing. A solid four star read. Great premise. Good characters. Page turner. Plenty of suspense to keep me guessing Would definitely read the next novel. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this Advanced Reader’s Copy of Last to Die by Doug Sinclair due to be published May 2, 2024.
After a young girl was found frozen on a park bench, another mystery happens. A trail of blood leads to a park, but instead of the retired police officer DS Malkie expected to find, he finds a burglar. The retired officer is missing. How did she overtake the burglar, and where is she?
This book was a little confusing at first as there were several stories going on at once. This was book 2 in a series but can be read as a standalone although the first book might give some backstory to the characters.
Once I got over the confusion and started figuring out the stories, it got better and much easier to follow. There was everything a good mystery needs – dead bodies, secrets, twists, surprises, and a satisfying conclusion!
I will probably go back and read the first book in the series.
#NetGalley #DougSinclair #StormPublishing #LastToDie

Great book and series!! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one! This book had suspense, intrigue, action packed, murder, mystery, serial killers, a fantastic who done it and some crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting and had me glued to my Kindle! I highly recommend reading this book and series! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!
On a cold New Year’s Eve night, a young woman lies slumped on a park bench. Snow gathers on her hair. If her glazed eyes were closed, she might be sleeping. Nobody will find her for hours… Thirty years later, in the Scottish town of Livingston, a retired police officer disappears from her home. A trail of blood leads from the pensioner’s doorstep to the edge of the nearby river, and as he follows it, DS Malkie McCulloch fears the worst. But at the end of the trail, instead of an elderly woman, he finds the body of a young man. The deceased is identified as a local criminal, and the case appears to be a robbery gone wrong. But Malkie isn’t convinced. How did the pensioner overcome the burglar? And where is she now?