My debut novel is due to be published in Febuary 2024. Details here.
Book One tells the story of a West Lothian detective, once a DI but demoted back to DS, Malkie McCulloch, who is recovering from PTSD following the death of his mother in a house fire. The cause of the fire was proven to be accidental, but Malkie carries an insidious certainty that he, somehow, bears some responsibility for the fire and her death. Following enforced leave, his comeback case looks like an accidental hit-and-run, but Malkie’s instincts tell him prime suspect Walter Callahan, an ex-Squaddie, is innocent. Despite pressure from all sides, he cannot accept the overwhelming evidence. With support from long-suffering (and long-suffered) DC, Steph Lang, he sets out to vindicate Callahan and, he hopes, redeem some small scrap of self-belief for himself.
In Book Two (due out in May 2024), Malkie & Steph will hunt for a seventy-three year old woman attacked in her home and now missing. Trouble is, all the evidence indicates that the old woman turned the tables and killed her attacker in a bloody and brutal fashion. Has she been kidnapped by an accomplice, or is she on the run? And is Malkie’s determination to save her from her attackers or from herself, evidence of an obsessive fear of letting down another grey-haired old lady?
In Book Three (due out in August 2024), Malkie & Steph will investigate escalating arson attacks on the homes of firefighters, following a fatal accident during a callout. Malkie assures his superiors he’s fit to investigate house fires after the manner of his mother’s death, but can he bring himself to enter multiple fire-gutted homes, without triggering a relapse in his own fragile recovery?
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July 21, 2023 @ 10:38 pm
This is so exciting Doug, huge congratulations! Can’t wait to read them xx
July 21, 2023 @ 11:24 pm
Thanks, Gail. All a bit unreal at the moment but that’ll change when I look at my deadline again. xxx
February 6, 2024 @ 12:29 pm
Congratulations Doug, this is brilliant. My copy of your book is arriving today so I am looking forward to reading it. Best of luck with your writing. Jane
March 1, 2024 @ 9:36 pm
Just finished Blood Runs Deep and really enjoyed it. Looking forward to book 2.
February 16, 2024 @ 3:55 pm
Just finished your debut book Blood Runs Deep and really enjoyed it. I laughed , I cried mostly as it was a really emotional read.
May 21, 2024 @ 10:23 am
Have read both your books and I’m struggling to wait for the third to arrive in October! The last to die was so hard to put down your writing excels with every piece you write. It helps that Angus king narrated them too, you couldn’t have made a better choice for narrator he brings your characters to life! Love your work please keep it up and enjoy writing as much as we enjoy reading your work!
November 9, 2024 @ 11:51 pm
Excellent writing. Keeps you wanting to turn the page. Excellent characters , suspense and surprises.
Looking forward to future novels. Most impressive.
Gaynor
Pembrokeshire.
November 28, 2024 @ 8:36 am
Just finished book 3, couldn’t put it down. Thoroughly enjoying Malkies journey. Such a relatable character.
As a local to West Lothian, it’s an extra pleasure to recognise the area in fictional writing.
Looking forward to book 4.
Very best wishes.
January 8, 2025 @ 11:44 pm
Really enjoying the audiobooks via the Edinburgh library system. Great they are already in the app.
Super books. Blitzed two out of three since NYE
January 25, 2025 @ 10:33 am
Hi. Read all three this month. Can’t wait for Book 4… at least I hope there is a book 4.
February 17, 2025 @ 9:51 pm
Really enjoying following the life of DS McCulloch. Have finished listening to Blood Runs Deep and now onto the Last to Die. Excellent narration by Angus King.
February 18, 2025 @ 5:21 pm
I recently listened to Blood Runs Deep, and thoroughly enjoyed it, and am now nearing the end of A Deadly Flame. Disappointed to see that I’ve only got one book to go at the moment, Last to Die, but I very much hope you’ve got a good few more Malkie McCulloch books lined up! Keep ’em coming!
I love Ian Rankin’s Books, and also read Scottish crime novels by the likes of Stuart MacBride, J.D.Kirk, Denzil Meyrick, and I have to say that your boooks are way up there with the best of them! Thanks!
March 11, 2025 @ 5:36 pm
Just finished A Deadly Flame and hoping there will more to come from DS McCulloch
March 24, 2025 @ 11:11 am
I have listened to all three books now, just wondering if there will be a book 4 in the series? If so when might it be available on audible?
I have really enjoyed them all so much and hope that there will be more to follow. Jacqui
May 24, 2025 @ 7:30 am
I have read and enjoyed all the books and can’t wait for the next one. Thank you, thank you and thank you once more!