Many thanks to NetGalley and to Storm Publishing for letting me see an advance reader’s copy of A Deadly Flame by Doug Sinclair.
This is Book 3 in the DS Malkie McCulloch series set in the Pentland Hills of Scotland. I thoroughly enjoyed the first 2 books in this series, and Book 4. But this one fell for me, I’m afraid.
I do enjoy the writing, especially the setting, and, of course, the characters. But I felt the characters were taking over on this one. A lot.
I know new readers to the series need a few blanks filling in, but not really quite so often. Just once would have done. But oh, everyone is so miserable and I got completely lost with the Steph back story.
***mild non-plot spoiler alert***
For example, she originally said her mother was married to who turned out to be her non-biological father. When he went, he was replaced by her step dad. Then she finds out that her step dad’s best friend is actually her biological father. This would work so much better if her biological father is actually her non-biological father’s best mate and not her step dad’s. The chronology just didn’t work.
***end of spoiler***
Aside from that, the crime scene at the start of this book went on for days and days and days. It’s probably the longest crime scene in the history of modern commercial fiction.
It’s still good to catch up with Malkie and the gang and to revisit the Pentland Hills again. And the books are beautifully produced.
Three stars.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
