One chapter into this book I realised that I had a new author to add to my favourites list. This is the third book in a series featuring the main character Lambert but reads well as a stand alone.
The police operational methods described seemed a bit different to the usual set up (I liked the little bit of a nod to line of duty fans with AC19 internal affairs style involvement) and I'm not sure if the security services style connections of the NCA teams and software etc. ring that true. It didn't put me off enjoying the book though.

DCI Lambert is called in to investigate a house fire and from here on in the action in this thriller begins. On discovering the remains of two bodies, one of which is a senior police officer, the reader knows that this case is going to be far from simple.

Dead Embers, the third Lambert book, continues the story of the troubled detective as he tries to solve the investigation into the mysterious deaths whilst manoeuvring around the Anti-Corruption team who have taken an interest in his boss as well as trying to maintain some resemblance of normality with his personal relationships.

Unable to give too much away for fear of spoilers, the clever writing of Matt Brolly ensures that you are totally gripped from the beginning and led on a journey of discovery with Lambert and his team to ensure those guilty are brought to justice.

A brilliant third book in the highly addictive series... I didn't want it to end!

I do have a tiny confession; I am completely new to this series! With so many cracking series out there, it’s impossible to be up to date on them all. That being said it had no negative impact on my enjoyment of this brilliant new release. My bestie is a detective with the Met & she also works on the murder team. So I love London as a location & always find it has an added edge to a crime series. In both historical or modern crime fiction.
The novel begins with a creepy chapter one and straight away I knew it was going to be a gripping read! A suspected arson fire draws DCI Michael Lambert to the scene of a crime. Two corpses are quickly discovered and the sole survivor, a traumatised little girl of only 3 years old. It becomes clear the bodies were murdered prior to the fire and the fire was due to a series of explosions!
The investigation continues and we learn The mother of the surviving child is a serving police officer and that in her past she had an abusive relationship with her ex-husband. We learn some of DCI Lamberts past & then the plot really starts to thicken! With the victims not who they originally thought they were, an arsonist playing homage to John Orr and a reporter meddling in the case. DCI Lambert really has his work cut out for him.
I found this novel to be a fast paced and straight to the point. It flows as though it is a commuter in London City itself. I found myself comfortably going with the flow & writing some notes in my journal such as Who is thefiremen1973? What does make arsonists tick? Will the press mess things up for DCI Lambert? What is the story in Lamberts past?
When Matt Brolly obviously had other ideas and out of nowhere comes a huge twist and the plot just got a whole lot darker! What started off as one case suddenly becomes a deep web of secrecy & corruption right up to the top!
It is difficult to complete an in-depth review for fear of slipping spoilers in by accident. I will just say that this is one of them novels that is so much bigger than its synopsis! I would say it is police procedural but that the characters all have depth.
An explosive crime thriller and then some! 5*