Many thanks to NetGalley and to Storm Publishing for letting me see an advance reader’s copy of A Cold Heart by Doug Sinclair.
This is Book 4 in the DS Malkie McCulloch series set in the Pentland Hills of Scotland. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed most of the books in this series, including this one.
Once again, this story is beautifully written and set against a marvellous backdrop. I do feel as though the setting is another character in this series.
Malkie is still a miserable old git, but he’s getting better. We’re still getting confused about Steph’s parentage as well, but that seems to be lightening up as well.
It was good to spend time with the crimes and the criminals in this book, but I do think it’s better to read the stories from Book 1 and in order, even if there are one or two contradictions.
For example, in previous books, Malkie has always said that Sandra was his only relationship. But in this book, he suddenly has an ‘old flame’ within the police force. At the end of the previous book, he was off to meet his daughter for the first time, but at the start of this book, he still hasn’t managed even that.
In this book, Malkie’s dad finally gets given a name, but even then it’s in Chapter 30. And then we have the usual gazillion or so names all beginning with the same letter, such as: Monahan, Malkie, McCullock, Morton; and Struan, Sophie, Stevie, Steph, Susan, Stevens, Sandra, Sally, Stan.
There are some little mistakes that should have been ironed out in the editing stage, such as the author mixing up the names of Drayford the duty solicitor and Renfield the rookie cop. And a few repetitions here and there.
But it’s always good to catch up with Malkie and the gang and to revisit the Pentland Hills again. And the books are beautifully produced. And I do hope both Malkie and Steph sort out their emotional baggage before the next book comes out.
Five stars.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
