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.

The third book to feature Malkie and his partner Steph is another great read! The character development shows their vulnerabilities, I just want to hug Malkie! They are very much alive through Doug's excellent writing and there is so much going on in this multi-layered read. As always, I was totally immersed in the read from the first chapter and the author is fast becoming a favourite for fans of crime thrillers. Dive in and enjoy the series, I can't wait to see where Malkie goes next! Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

I enjoy all the books I have read from this author. A solid four star read. Great premise. Well written. Good characters. Page turner. Plenty of suspense to keep me guessing. I wouldI definitely would read the next novel. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

A Deadly Flame is another phenomenal book in the DS Malkie McCulloch series though it could be read as a stand alone.

Once you read this one you will quickly go back and start with the first book Blood Runs Deep .

I love Malkie and Steph.

They are so much more than detectives: they care, they want justice but not at any price, they both break and yet follow the rules.

When the local distillery is burnt to the ground and the result is two dead, the team quickly goes into action .

They are suspicious of the fire .

Malkie is dealing with his own demons as is Steph and this makes them fallible and real.

Doug Sinclair cleverly builds the suspense with every book and A Deadly Flame is no exception.

This series is quickly becoming one of my all time favourites and I cant wait for the next case that faces Malkie.

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the privilege of reading and reviewing A Deadly Flame.

Another excellent book in the Malkie McCulloch series although it can be read as a standalone if you haven't read it before.

As it is the 3rd book, you already know the main characters well so it was just the ones for this book that you needed to get to know. Good to see that it again sticks to Livingston rather than going into Edinburgh! While the fire storylines were the main ones, it was good to see some of their personal woes/issues being covered and good to see that there was less of Malkie/his dad this time and more instead of Steph. Nice that we still had Deborah and Dame Helen in it too - I really like those characters!

Definitely a very enjoyable book to read and I so didn't want to put it down before finishing it - my sign of a great book!

Although this is part of a series, it still works as a standalone book. Traumatised after the loss of his mother and family home in a fire, Malkie is confronted by another fire and dead body in a whisky factory. Added to this is the suspicious death of one of the firefighters, and subsequent attacks on another firefighter. This is a richly layered novel, with several themes going on at once. What I really liked was Malkie and Steph's acknowledgment of their weaknesses, yet their actions to overcome these. Both characters are ones I would like to read more about, as well as Deborah. The ending was very poignant. On a side note, in Australia it is easy to get the audiobooks of the first two books, but hard to get ebooks. Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for a copy to read and review.

Instalment 3 of the DS Malkie McCulloch series and the stories are getting better and better!

Once again Malkie is caught up in tragedies and events that test his complex character. With his trusty sidekick DC Steph Lang having her own personal issues, it takes the pair all their fortitude to keep up the high octane needed to solve this latest case. With some cracking one liners, this is DS McCulloch at his best.

From a poor first offering, this series has now got itself on track to become a favourite of mine. The second book was such a marked improvement, and this one follows on from that. I would say that books need to be read in order as there is such a lot of background.

The only issue I have with this book is that there is a lot of reiteration (ok, we get the idea about who Steph’s biological father is, and Malkie’s mother’s untimely death), with a fair amount of repetition too. Cut back on all that unnecessary filler and this series would easily be a 5* rating.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing.

A Deadly Flame by Doug Sinclair is a Scottish crime thriller featuring DS Malkie McCulloch, a brilliantly complex detective who will risk everything to protect the innocent, set in the shadow of the Pentland Hills, which adds such an interesting element to the story.

Anna Galbraith's world shatters when she hears the devastating news: her husband’s whisky distillery has burned to the ground and a body has been found inside. But her husband wasn’t the only victim, a young firefighter perished too, leaving behind a grief-stricken fiancée only weeks away from their wedding day.

DS Malkie McCulloch discovers their financial struggles as he delves into the Galbraith family. Was their marriage less perfect than Anne had made out?

Quite a lot going on in this book and the suspense and action is intriguing. Malkie is a flawed but likable character. I really enjoy his relationship with Steph.

I would recommend this book, this series, and this author.

#ADeadlyFlame #NetGalley @Stormbooks_co

This was a pretty good book! I read it as a stand-alone book so I didn’t get the most out of it. If I had read the other books in the series I think I would’ve gotten more context and would have enjoyed it more. I think the overall writing is good, and I enjoyed it

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and especially the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review of the book!!

Thank you to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for the arc of this amazing read.
Book3 of the DS Malkie McCulloch series which I'll have to go back and read.
This book is about a distillery that goes up in flames and a body is found plus one of firefighters dies due to faulty BA.
DS Malkie McCulloch has to discover who is behind the crime when another fire breaks out.
Fantastic read, a binge read to discover who is behind it.
The author has you hooked from the very start all the way through, the characters are well developed and executed. This work is gripping and exciting and I had huge empathy for McCulloch whose mother died in his parent's house fire.
This is such a good read that it'd be a shame to miss out on it, especially if you love a crime thriller

Wow scottish thrillers are really being churned out excellently. The pace is thrilling and exciting and the drama doesnt cease. Four stars from me enjoyed this.

A Deadly Flame by Doug Sinclair is book 3 in the DS Malkie McCulloch series. It is published on 31 October. Thank you to Storm Publishing, Netgalley and the author for the advance copy to review. I have enjoyed the previous 2 books in this series so was looking forward to reading this. I wasn’t disappointed. DS Malkie McCulloch and his DI, Susan Thompson, are in the office late one night when a call out comes in. It’s for a warehouse fire which takes him straight back to the fire which changed his life. DC Louisa ‘Gucci’ Gooch attends the fire with him, and she has his back. From the moment they get there, Malkie has his suspicions something is not right. I could feel so many emotions as Malkie steels himself to enter the building and the memories that the fire evokes in him. The descriptions of what confronts him in the badly burnt warehouse, placed me right in the thick of the destruction. It was a fast-paced read and thrilling, keeping me engrossed right from the beginning. I love reading about Malkie and Steph, another DC, as well. Their interaction is quite funny at times and adds to the enjoyment of the book. A fabulous read.

Malkie and Steph are back, and this third installment is the best yet. Taught and addictive investigation with multiple sub plots that will keep you up to the wee hours to finish. Can't wait for the next one.

This was a strong third book in the DS Malkie McCulloch series, it had the crime thriller element that I was looking for based on the previous two books. I was in suspense and thought the characters were in a realistic situation. It was everything that I wanted and hope there is more.