Many thanks to NetGalley and to Storm Publishing for letting me see an advance reader’s copy of Blood Runs Deep by Doug Sinclair.
This was my first introduction to Doug Sinclair, and I had no idea was I was letting myself in for. It was also readers’ introduction to DS Malkie McCulloch in the detective’s debut crime novel set in the Pentland Hills.
And oh, what a troubled detective he is. I’m hoping he grows with the series, though, stops moaning about everything, and learns from his mistakes, all of which, in my opinion, is good characterisation.
The story opens with what looks like a hit-and-run. Everyone involved would just like it to have been a genuine accident, but that would make the book far too short. And the investigation follows all the necessary twists and turns while our main character is also fighting his own demons.
We don’t find out the source of the copper’s depression until well into the book, so no spoilers here. Personally, I thought this was leaned on quite heavily, but it was okay. It’s a debut after all. I thought Malkie was a bit miserable and needed to get over himself.
Here’s my pet peeve: Too many characters whose names start with the same letter: Malkie, McCulloch, Munro, McLeish, Marie, Markham, Middleton, McGuire…I know it’s set in Scotland, but other letters of the alphabet are available.
But the story was great, the setting came to life, and the characters were wonderful – are wonderful, because some of them continue through the series with the detective.
This book was shortlisted for The Bloody Scotland Scottish Crime Debut of the Year award and longlisted for the McIlvanney Scottish Crime Book of the Year, and it’s easy to see why. I certainly liked it and thought it was an excellent start to what I hope will be an excellent series. If you like your tartan noir, you’ll enjoy it too.
I’m looking forward to reading Book 2 in the series.
Five stars.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
