A Fragile Mercy

DS Malkie McCulloch #5

by Doug Sinclair

Behind closed doors, everyone has something to hide…

The fifth book in the gripping DS Malkie McCulloch crime thriller series. Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, JM Dalgliesh and JD Kirk.

Sebastian Beauchamp is found savagely attacked in his own home – the assault is intimate and deeply personal. Someone wanted him to suffer.

As DS Malkie McCulloch investigates, Beauchamp’s polished surface quickly fractures. Beneath the charm and power lies a pattern of cruelty – and a trail of women whose lives he destroyed.

Then someone confesses. The case should be closed.

But Malkie isn’t buying it. The real truth is far more heartbreaking.

With his partner, DC Steph Lang, fighting to protect the career she’s given everything to, and a devastating new development in his mother’s unsolved murder pushing him towards a truth he may not be ready to face, this case will test everything he thinks he knows about guilt, innocence and the people caught between them.

Read this if you like…
- A detective haunted by his own cold case
- A partnership pushed to breaking point
- A suspect who deserves protection, not a cell
- Villains who hide behind power and charm
- A series that keeps pulling you back

Readers can’t stop talking about the DS Malkie McCulloch series :

‘I absolutely devoured this book…What a complex, loveable character… the author is fast becoming one of my favourites in the genre and up with the best. Please bring us more Malkie soon!’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I dove into this book without having read the first in the series and finished it in one sitting! A resounding 5 stars.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I was definitely not disappointed! Another fantastic book and it’s safe to say Doug Sinclair has earned himself a fan in me!’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This book had suspense, intrigue, action, murder, mystery, serial killers, a fantastic who-done-it and some crazy twists and turns! The storyline had me glued to my Kindle! I highly recommend reading this book and series!’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A fast-moving, edge-of-the-seat novel you won’t be able to put down.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Oh wow… a twisty, turning story involving a senior officer in Police Scotland. Revenge is best served cold.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I had to finish this entertaining story in one sitting…an immersing tapestry of justice, revenge and murder.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Kept me guessing for a very long time.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘An exciting and well-thought-out murder mystery that keeps your interest to the very end.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genres: Mystery

316 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 2, 2026

Reviews

[Nicky Mottram]

Book 5 in the DS Malkie McCulloch series. A good storyline that shows the hardships that the police have to deal with in today’s society, a good thought provoking read .A good addition to the series .

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review

[Deanna Loves to Read!!:)]

This is the fifth book in the DS Malkie McCulloch crime series. I have read them all, and feel that this one takes a deeper turn and had me thinking about it after I had finished. It is best if you read the series in order!

Sebastian Beauchamp has been savagely murdered in his home. The crime seems personal. As Malkie and his team investigate Sebastian's life, they discover secrets and abuse based on his position of power- and the women that were the victims. Then one of the women confesses. However, Malkie is seeing discrepancies in her confession, and wants to help her. But she is insistent that she, alone, was the murderer. And what he discovers is heartbreaking, devastating and has one wondering if justice was truly served for the surviving victims.


Meanwhile, his partner Steph is on a bit of leave, trying to save her career and discover the truth about who her real father is and the part he played in her mother's life.

Malkie is also delivered a shock when evidence is found that supports his idea that his mother's death the previous year was not an accident.

This was a bit different than the other books, but in a good way. I have really enjoyed the books so far, but this has a layer of depth to the characters that lets the reader really get to see the emotions, trials and traumas that they are each facing while still doing the job. And when the final reveal happens, I found that I could understand why this had to be, but really hurt for the two characters whose lives would change due to the brutal nature of the victim.

This is very well written, drawing on your heartstrings, feeling anger, then giving glimpses of humor, which make all the characters seem real. I sincerely look forward to continuing this series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Ashley]

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the eARC.

This was my first Doug Sinclair novel, and it definitely won't be my last.

Even though this is the fifth book in the DS Malkie McCulloch series, I was able to follow the main investigation without feeling lost. That said, I do think readers would get even more out of the emotional storylines and character relationships by reading the series in order.

The mystery grabbed my attention right away. What initially looks like an open-and-shut murder quickly turns into something far more layered as secrets, blackmail, and hidden motives begin to surface. I loved how each new revelation made me question what I thought I knew, and the investigation kept me engaged from beginning to end.

What really stood out to me was that this wasn't just another police procedural. It tackles difficult topics like justice, guilt, grief, and how society treats neurodivergent individuals with compassion and thoughtfulness. Those emotional layers gave the story more depth than I expected.

I also enjoyed getting to know DS Malkie McCulloch and his team. Their relationships felt authentic, and even as a newcomer to the series, I found myself invested in both the case and the personal lives of the detectives.

If you enjoy character-driven crime thrillers with steady pacing, meaningful themes, and twists that keep unfolding until the end, this is one worth picking up. I'll definitely be going back to read the earlier books in the series.

[Anne]

A Fragile Mercy by Doug Sinclair is an entertaining Scottish police procedural. It features a squad led by Detective Sargent Malcom McCulloch, known as Malkie. There is a decent, in fact, scary, plot but there are several multi-book arcs going on also. One of those is Steph, who is another DI, who is accused of murdering her stepfather. She is on a gardening break, able to choose between time off or desk work, until internal affairs completes their investigation. It is more complicated than it seems. There is also the death of Malkie’s mother ten months earlier. It had been fire and is looking like murder. Obviously someone else is leading that investigation. The major story is about a man murdered, his genitals mutilated. It turned out to be much more complicated than it was in the beginning.

Maklie is irreverent and close to insubordinate, but not to the people he works with daily. They all love and respect him. He is an entertaining guy, and for a cop, filled with empathy. He knows how to make the system work for him. That’s how he protects himself. The murder and the murderer provide a multi-pronged story, including blackmail, sexual abuse, and the treatment of members of society on the spectrum. It was engaging and interesting. I’ve not read this series before but it took nothing to get into it and I will read more. Good read.

I was invited to read A Fragile Mercy by Storm Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StormPublishing #DougSinclair #AFragileMercy

[Judy]

A Fragile Mercy by Doug Sinclair is the fifth book in the DS Malkie McCulloch series and is another home run for Mr. Sinclair. Malkie is tasked with finding the killer of Sebastian Beauchamp, who is found attacked in his home. Right off the bat you feel Beauchamp deserves to be maimed when you learn about the way he treats women and people in general.

Malkie’s investigation eventually leads him to four women, one of whom confesses to the crime. You just know she is lying and why, and Malkie works to untangle fact from fiction in this thriller.

I find Malkie to be a flawed character, although lovable in the way he goes through life. He is rough around the edges and has no idea that his coworkers actually like him. I found him realizing this to be endearing. He gets some news about his mother’s death that is hard to deal with, especially since he always wondered about the fire.

His partner, DC Steph Lang, has her own struggles in this book as it looks like she may be responsible for the death of a man who abused her mother. Her temper is hanging on by a very thin thread in this book, and can she keep herself in check to weather the investigation against her?

This book is a thrill ride from beginning to end and I enjoy the characters, including Malkie’s police team who work with him. Here’s hoping for more future Malkie books!

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Texas]

DS MALKIE MCCULLOCH SERIES: Source: NetGalley and Storm Publishing.
A FRAGILE MERCY, #5 - I absolutely enjoy this series. I love all of the main characters, although there's always the fecal matter that rises upwards regardless of ability and has to harass his insubordinates. This book is heavy on the emotions, which adds to the lives of what "coppers" deal with in their careers. 5*

LAST TO DIE, #2 - 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. 15*

A DEADLY FLAME, #3 - Interesting story lines and good characters made this a difficult to put down read. The intensity of emotions and the effects of horrible happenings on the police and the firefighters in their daily lives added to the depth of this immersing story. 5*

THE COLD HEART, #4 - This book has everything: a variety of characters; good story lines; a gamut of emotions; hope; and plenty of evil. A bit heavy with the personal problems at the expense of police work. 4*

[Alison]

Malkie gets called in to a vicious murder, Sebastian Beauchamp, a high-ranking Special Advisor to a Scottish Minister, has been brutally stabbed multiple times in his own home with a broken wine bottle. It is clearly a personal murder.

Because it is high-profile, MIT gets involved which means the detested DCI McLeish is back in Livi, much to everyone's disgust. Then the team get a break forensics have matched prints on the wine bottle to someone in the system, a young man with severe mental health issues who is known to lash out when scared - can it be that easy?

As usual, Malkie doesn't go for the easiest option, he just keeps digging for the truth even if his superiors want this wrapped up quickly.

Meanwhile, Steph is on desk duty following the suspicious death of Lang who fell off the balcony of his flat onto the roof of a car. Finally, her story is coming to a close. May I also express my heartfelt thanks that she has stopped with the wailing and the whining about her biological father being a rapist - that got very tedious.

In previous books I have complained that there are too many ongoing story arcs which detract from the plot - this time Doug Sinclair wisely let Malkie's ongoing arcs go almost unmentioned which made for a better story (in my opinion).

Anyway, if you like you crime gritty and your detectives angsty then I recommend this series.

Available on Kindle Unlimited.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

[Meg Pearson]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Fragile Mercy was my first Doug Sinclair novel, but it definitely won’t be my last!

From the very first chapter, I was completely drawn into this gripping crime thriller. The characters felt authentic and engaging, and I quickly became invested in both the investigation and the personal struggles facing DS Malkie McCulloch and his team. Sinclair has a real talent for creating characters you genuinely care about while keeping the mystery moving at a relentless pace.

The story is packed with tension, unexpected twists, and shocking revelations that kept me turning the pages as fast as possible. Just when I thought I had things figured out, another layer of the mystery was uncovered. The investigation itself is compelling, exploring difficult questions about guilt, justice, and the truths people hide behind closed doors.

What stood out most was how well the emotional elements were woven into the crime plot. The combination of a complex case, strong character development, and plenty of suspense made this an incredibly satisfying read.

A tense, twist-filled thriller with fantastic characters and a story that keeps you hooked until the very end. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it and can’t wait to read more from Doug Sinclair.

Thank you to NetGalley, Doug Sinclair, and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Gee]

In this, the fifth book in the series, we see a different side of DS Malkie McCulloch. Normally he’s a hard talking, no nonsense old time police officer, used to dropping clangers with his language, and assumptions, and seems to almost enjoy rubbing people up the wrong way. This time, he’s thinking first before putting his foot in it, well, not all the time. Especially when DI McLeish from MIT is sent to oversee the gruesome murder Investigation that Malkie is dealing with. His sidekick, DS Steph Lang, is on gardening leave and struggling to sort her feelings out after the death of the step father she hated, so can’t be there to keep Malkie in line.

The main suspects in Malkies case touch a nerve with him, he feels more compassion than he has for almost anyone before. This makes for a great read, the story doesn’t go the way you would expect it to, and I liked this side of Malkie. At least he finally realises that not everyone hates him, and he shouldn’t beat himself up every time there’s a problem he can’t solve. I also like the story lines with his father, there is still a lot unresolved there.

All in all, a riveting read, some interesting and unexpected plot twists, and as good an outcome as you could hope for. Recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publishers and the author for allowing me to read and review this book.

[June Walters]

Number five in the series.

Once again DS Malkie McCulloch is on a stomach churning case. As ever, Malkie is grumpy, gobby and couldn’t care less for authority. Despite all the warnings from 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.

With DC Steph Lang currently a person of interest in a murder case, and consigned to desk duty/garden leave, Malkie has no one to keep him under control, though DC Louisa ‘Gucci’ Gooch does her best. Dealing with the high powered wife of the victim of a grievous assault, Scottish Parliament SPAD Sebastian Beauchamp, does nothing to improve Malkie’s behaviour, so when the dreaded DCI Gavin McLeish of MIT is assigned to the team, the Livi CID morale goes from bad to worse.

Once again a good read with a credible plot. Likeable, relatable characters that continue to develop.

It’s such a shame that the author feels compelled to constantly mention the murder of Mackie’s mother. We know, we get it, a mention once or twice is fine but not after every interaction that Mackie has.

This would be a good 5* read if not for the inevitable repetition.

[Jeff]

I try to stay away from reviewing books that are a part of a series that I have never read before. But, if the blurb is enticing enough, I will give it a go. Now, the reason I avoid them is because, not only can you feel lost because of not knowing all the background, but I also usually enjoy them so much I want to go back and read all the past books. So, to save myself some money, I try my best to avoid them.

The blurb for “A Fragile Mercy” had me hooked immediately. I had to read it. However, I found the protagonist to be annoying. Maybe that is because it was my introduction to them. But I just didn’t connect at all. Also, I found the author was repetitive at times.

You may be asking, “Well, then why 3 stars? Why not 1 or 2?” The actual mystery and overall writing is really good. I think if I had had more of a connection with the characters by reading the series from the beginning, I would have enjoyed it more. But even at that, it was still a good novel.

So, for longtime fans of the DS McCulloch series, you will probably love this one. For those of us that are new, you would be better suited to read from the beginning.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Alison Taylor-Muhl]

This is the fifth book in the DS Malkie McCulloch series, and they really do need to be read in order. Certain occurrences are referenced throughout the series, and obviously, these events are easier to understand when you’ve read the other books.

As the primary characters are now well established it’s easy to get on board with them and to understand them and their traits. It was also good to have DI McLeish from MIT back as a character to dislike! The pacing is gentle, and there isn’t an abundance of harrowing murders, however the act itself is fairly gruesome, which allows for a little snigger as we find out more about the victim and his life choices.

The investigation itself explores difficult topics: questioning what constitutes justice, how people process guilt, and how society views and treats individuals who are neurodiverse. There are many emotional elements entwined in the plot, which makes it a very interesting read. That said, I am growing weary of the repetition surrounding Malkie and Steph’s personal issues, and I am hoping that these will soon be brought to a conclusion.

[Diane Elizabeth Taylor]

The spats are legendary, the case is brutal, and DS Malkie McCulloch is officially back and better than ever.

A Fragile Mercy, the brilliant fifth book in the DS Malkie McCulloch series proves this Edinburgh-set police procedural only gets better with time.

Plunged into the brutal murder of local politician, Sebastian Beauchamp (Beecham) the team must navigate a dark and complex investigation, while an extra layer of intrigue is added as Malkie and Steph continue to battle their own personal demons.

​The suspense builds relentlessly on every page, beautifully balanced by intricate team dynamics, superb humour, and Malkie’s legendary spats with MIT officer McLeish. Malkie is classic, old-school "polis", gritty and deeply endearing, with empathy and a massive heart.

I absolutely tore through this book, reading into the wee small hours. ​Wrapping up with a brilliant, spot-on ending, this is an absolute must-read. I can't wait for the next one. Highly recommended and a well-deserved 5⭐ from me!

My thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC. This is my own opinion.

[Annie]

Another great addition to this series. Malkie is caught up in a complicated case, involving an autistic man, his sister and carer. The murdered man was blackmailing at least 4 women and we find out fairly quickly what a nasty piece of work he was. The case is complicated by the suspect disappearing when Malkie and the team were ordered to bring him and his sister in. Malkie and his team are affected by the case and Malkie's own emotions are explored when he is deciding on his approach to the women targetted by the murdered man. Some of the team are also dealing with their own personal issues which adds to the action and angst in the book.
I like this down to earth and honest series which gives a good impression of the life as a detective. There are not always neat conclusions to dilemmas which adds to the realism. Less in this book than others about Malkie's private life, though hopefully some clues which may progress the case of arson which resulted in his mother's death.
All in all a great read, thanks to Net Galley for the ARC

[Susanne]

A superb addition to the series. I've read all the books so far and the continuation of various other issues from previous books is moved along nicely in this one. The main case in this one is the murder of a politician. The attack looks highly personal and is very brutal. Malkie has to contend with a case that isn't quite what it seems at first glance, a confession that doesn't ring true, a superior officer not following protocol, and an extremely vulnerable young man in an impossible situation (which was heartbreaking to read). Malkie's also dealing with new information that comes to light regarding his mother's death. Steph has her own issues from the previous books and has to find a way to work through it. Malkie has grown on me over the series. He's rough around the edges, often only opens his mouth to change feet, and still has a lot of compassion and a good instinct for when something isn't right. Looking forward to book 6!
Thanks to Netgalley, Storm Publishing, and Doug Sinclair for the free ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Vanessa]

A Fragile Mercy by Doug Sinclair is the fifth book in the excellent DS Malkie McCulloch series and one of the best series you can read at the moment, especially as it will have you gripped from the very beginning till the very end and this book is not for the faint-hearted, this latest murder is a nasty one.

The main character DS Malkie McCulloch is superb, and he will not leave any stones unturned to find out who murdered Sebastian Beauchamp when he is found savagely attacked in his own home, this assault is intimate and deeply personal. Someone wanted him to suffer and I mean Suffer in the worst form!

WoW! Superb and I ended up reading it till I had finished!

Now looking forward to Book six within this excellent series. I highly recommend all these book and you will love DS Malkie McCulloch.
Another 5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ book.

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my ARC.

[Lori Peterson]

Received as an ARC through Netgalley to read and review, this is an honest review.

Thank you to Storm Publishing for the pre-approval to read this is book.

A Fragile Mercy is a beautiful and profound mystery that makes you as a reader question everything about the brutal assault of Sabastian Beauchamp... and the author brilliantly lays out right in front of the reader that Beauchamp isn't the kind of person people think he is; and who is really a killer when it seems there's a perfect and easy suspect and a case quickly closed. But DS Malkie knows that's never how real justice works... and it means taking the case off the ewsy road and digging into shadows and secrets- and seeing the tragic sadness one prominent individual unleashed the night of a grisly assault.


Highly recommended.

[Judy Odom]

A Fragile Mercy is a perfectly paced, atmospheric book that will have you saying just one more chapter.

DS Malkie McCullloch returns in his 5th adventure that entails a brutal murder, a false confession and a missing person who is neuro diverse. Your heart breaks for him,

The tension mounts with twists and turns.

McCulloch knows in his gut that the confessor is protecting someone and the list of suspects is long.

All this and DI McLeish has been sent back to help which adds tension to the already stressed team.

The victim is a nasty piece of work and many people feel justice was served.

Doug Sinclair is a master of defining his characters, ramping up the tension and keeping you guessing.

The series just gets better and better with every book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the privilege of reading and reviewing A Fragile Mercy.

[Lyn]

This was a thought provoking book. When Sebastian Beauchamp is murdered, it is obvious who the murderer is because of fingerprints left on the bottle. But then it gets complex as the victims blackmail activities come to light, and the alleged murderer, who is neurodivergent manages to disappear after protocols were ignored by a higher up. As well, Steph and Malkie have their own personal problems to deal with. How to deal with someone who is so fragile, deliver justice and be fair is at the heart of this. It can be read as a standalone, but probably would be a better experience if the whole series was read in order. Despite that, if there is a sequel, I would love to read it as I enjoyed reading about these characters. Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my copy, in exchange for an honest review.

[Jo]

This is book 5 in the DS Malkie McCulloch series. It can be read as a standalone, but I wouldn't recommend it.

There were callbacks to previous books and some plot arcs carried over that I did not understand. I had not read this series before or this author.

This is a well written fast paced book with an interesting plot and cast of characters. I think a lot of people would really enjoy this, I did not.

I did not get on with the main character. He was abrasive and irreverent in a way that I did not enjoy. A lot of space was given to the personal problems between Malkie and Steph and I just didn't care.

However, this is still a good book. I would definitely recommend reading the series from the beginning rather than jumping in like I did.

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC

[Patricia Williams]

A Fragile Mercy is book 5 in the Malkie McCulloch series. I think I have only read three of these so it isn't vital to read all of the books in the series to enjoy each one. The characters are pretty well established now and have their own lives and troubles which co-exist around the main storyline of the book. In A Fragile Mercy the main storyline relates to rape, mysogyny, blackmail, murder and a suspect with Asperger's syndrome and related mental health problems. So not for the faint hearted! That said it was an enjoyable read and although I'm no expert I felt it was handled well. I certainly was reluctant to stop reading, anxious to find out how the next twist would work out.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

[fanboyriot]

While I haven’t read the other books in this series the synopsis peeked my interest and I requested it on NetGalley.

Honestly, there were parts that I really enjoyed and other parts that I didn’t care for as much. It was a bit repetitive at times and the introduction of the protagonist wasn’t really my thing. But there was a good scene of mystery to it and it had some good twists to the plot.

(Note: I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity.)

POV: Third Person
Sad Level: 💧💧💧💧
Would I Recommend? Maybe
Favorite Character(s): Malkie
Emojis Based on Vibes: 🕵️‍♂️🏠⚰️

⚠️ CONTENT WARNINGS
Moderate: Death, Violence, Murder
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault

[Ruth Matheson]

The story opens with the old rivalry of McCulloch v McLeish who has been brought back into MIT to help out with the murder of a prominent wealthy man and although a woman comes forward to plead guilty, McCulloch isn't convinced. The story also deals with fallout from mishandling the woman's brother who is autistic and then goes missing which is also used as ammunition against McLeish for his insensitivity. Steph who is on personal leave is still having issues with her dad/uncle which finally are resolved in a way. Not so much about Jennifer or Debs in this story but there is still plenty going on to keep you page turning! Overall 4.5*

Thanks to Netgalley/Storm for the ARC to review

[Claudete Takahashi]

Another story full of raw feelings and Melkie doubting himself about his competence as a Detective and a human being. His team is invested in discovering the truth about the death of a prominent person in their town/politics. They'll have to fight with the assigned supervisor who will be dealing with the case, and who they despise, as well as working with women who want to conceal the truth to protect a man in autistic spectre. There are heartbreaking feelings from Malkie who needs to comply with the law but feels for the brother and sister who might be indicted for the crime. A great addition to the series!
I thank the author, his publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

[lara]

Thank you for letting me review this book. I had read the previous books in the series. So was already familiar with the main characters. They continue to develop through each new storyline. The victims in this story of Patricia and Remi were very well written. The author has shown a good understanding of severe Autism and it's affect on the patient and the family. The investigation into the murder of a high profile man was good. I was gripped by the story and keen to read to the end. I can recommend this book yo those who enjoy crime fiction.

[Martha Brindley]

This is such a good series, it goes from strength to strength due to the author's writing style and empathy with his characters. This latest read really tugs at your emotions, with Steph on leave, Malkie struggling with his own personal conflict and the disappearance of a vulnerable man. I have enjoyed every one of the books in the series and highly recommend them to lovers of crime fiction. The author is up there with the best in the genre and never fails to deliver. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

[K]

I have not read all the previous books in the series, but I read the 4th and now this one, I don’t think my enjoyment of the book was hampered in any way by not having read them all.
DS Malkie McCulloch is back and is investigating a brutal murder, the more he digs into the victim’s background the less he likes the man.
A well written fast paced book with plenty going on throughout, there is good character and plot development making this a really good read.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc

[Maggie]

Sebastian Beauchamp is found murdered in a particularly grisly fashion. Well known and seemingly charming he has a dark side. Detective Malkie McCulloch once again has to battle his way through the vagaries of his superiors as well as coping with his own demons to make sure that they have the right killer and not just something that makes things easy.

I do like Malkie- he really goes through the mill but he does struggle to do the right thing. This was an enjoyable red & I'm now caught up with the series-until the next one!

[Christine]

A good investigation with a very pleasant police team. The plot was highly interesting, but having to do with special needs kids, I found Remi's inner discussions a bit too far advanced in his reasoning. It did not feel realistic to me. Even though I really like the police team, their own problems took a bit too much room, relieving the novel of tension. However, I still enjoyed the plot!
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.

[Mike Stafford]

This is the fifth book in the Malkie McCulloch series but the first I've read. A Fragile Mercy left me wanting to read more of the DS McCulloch books. This is a solid and satisfying read from Sinclair. I've been impressed with the writers Storm has and Sinclair is just the latest example of the quality they have. McCulloch is an interesting character and the book features a good cast. It's an engaging mystery.