On a personal note, being married to a former firefighter, the synopsis for ‘The Burning Men’ both intrigued and horrified me at the same time, and I know only too well the camaraderie that they share - that unbreakable bond that ensures that no matter how dangerous a situation is, they know without question that each one of them has the others’ backs.

However, for a team of London firefighters, called out to a fire in a partly constructed building, with the intention of rescuing a man seen on one of the upper floors, it’s the night that the camaraderie stops for five of the crew members, and the bond that they have shared will be a thing of the past. They never did rescue the man, didn’t manage to retrieve his body, which would have brought some sort of closure for his family. In the next few months all of them will have left the fire service, and vow never to speak of that night again - and there’s a very good reason for that decision.

Five years later, one of the men is set alight at his own wedding reception, and shortly after, another of them is discovered, having been burnt to death with the aid of accelerants. Someone is clearly out to get this team of former firefighters, but who and why? All I know is I didn’t guess who it was!

DI Alex Finn and his new partner DC Mattie Paulson are in charge of the investigation, but this isn’t going to be an easy working relationship - Finn has recently lost his wife Karin, and is still mired in the depths of his grief, and Paulson clearly has anger issues, from problems that she has yet to resolve. Nevertheless they’ll have to put their personal problems to one side to get to the bottom of this very complex case.

The first in the DI Alex Finn series, is a unique and cleverly written storyline which ratchets up the narrative tension to screaming point, as it explores firefighters’ innermost fears. Like the motif of observation, this novel is a truly visual and frightening story, and I can’t praise it enough. Excellent!

A gripping and thrilling read that kept me on the edge till the end.
I loved the solid mystery, the interesting cast of characters and the excellent storytelling.
It's the first book I read by this author and won't surely be the last.
An entertaining and excellent read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Thank you Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for the ARC of this book

Wow, this had me gripped from page 2. A great cast of characters and I kept guessing who the perpetrator could be.

I liked the fact that it involved two of the emergency services – fire and police and had a great edge too it without being too over the top.

The detectives were sympathetic and a good pair – the chemistry between them was interesting.

A really well written first novel and I look forward to more in the series please

I first became aware of this book at last year's Harrogate Crime Festival, where, in a genius piece of marketing, Hodder & Stoughton bought an ACTUAL FIRE TRUCK along to give away copies of the proof to. Sadly, owing to the notoriously late nights that come with attending Harrogate, I was too late to grab one of the proofs, but as soon as it came up on NetGalley I knew I had to read this.

Police procedurals have always been my favourite genre of crime fiction, and I always enjoy trying a new series, but add in the use of fire as a weapon to the mix and I was immediately prepared for an explosive introduction for the characters of DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Paulsen. The book most certainly did not disappoint.

The story follows a group of firefighters, called to a blaze at the construction site of a new office development in South London, where they discover a stash of money and an unconscious man. With mere seconds to decide what to do, the group settle on stealing the money - it was only going to go up in flames anyway so what's the harm? - and, arguing that he was probably already dead from the smoke, leave the body to burn.

Five years later at a wedding in South London, the groom, one of the firefighters, is found aflame in a toilet cubicle. Everyone assumes it's a freak accident - a cheeky cigarette gone wrong - or an isolated incident, until another of the firefighters is next...

Enter DI Alex Finn, recovering from the very recent death of his wife, and new cop on the block, DC Mattie Paulsen, who is fleeing her former station and her own tragic past. Tasked with solving the murders, Finn and Paulsen quickly find themselves drawn into a web of secrets spanning dirty cops, long-unsolved heists, long-held grudges and the fringes of organised crime. Can they find the killer before all five of the firefighters go up in smoke?

I want to start by saying that I loved this book. Loved, loved, loved it. I raced through it in just a couple of days, compulsively hurtling through the last quarter in a desperate need to find out the culprit. The pacing is brilliant, never letting up but with bursts of rapid developments scattered neatly throughout, and it's very well written - enough description to paint vivid pictures of the characters and scenes (almost too vivid when describing the smells of some of the victims!) whilst not detracting from the pace.

Shindler also makes an interesting choice by subverting one of the tropes of police procedurals. Often in books of this genre, the reader only knows as much as the detective, unveiling twists and turns in stereo with them. Here, Shindler throws this idea out of the window, with the majority of reveals and plot developments revealed to the reader before the protagonists, usually from the perspective of a villain or peripheral character. It adds a whole new level to the reading experience as the reader finds themselves in on the secret and desperately hoping that Finn and Paulsen will discover the truth before it's too late. It's like watching a horror film and shouting at the screen when something bad is approaching in the hopes that you can avert the character's fate, but alas, you're helpless. It's a fascinating angle to take and one I thoroughly enjoyed.

As a Northerner, I do sometimes find myself groaning at another book set in London, but in this case much of the action actually takes place very near to my own home in South London, and I enjoyed the local nods, though I would also say that it's subtle enough not to be off putting to those who don't know the area.

The characters are generally strong, though this is perhaps where I do have a few little nitpicks. Paulsen is a great character, but the reveal of her past isn't hugely effective. The actual incident that happened to her is an interesting development for the character, but the way it's revealed falls a little short of the mark, and doesn't deliver the emotional impact I might have hoped. That said, I very much look forward to exploring both her and Finn in more detail in future books.

One of the highly commendable aspects of this book is it's unashamed tackling of sexism in the police. A lot of books have touched on this over the past few years, but this is the one I've met that most centrally incorporates this into the plot. As both the new officer in the unit and a woman, Paulsen finds herself doubly scrutinized when she first starts, but what really makes it stand out is the freshness and aloofness that her character approaches this with. Similarly, another of the detectives in the team, DS Jackie Ojo, has several discussions with DI Finn about the unique difficulties that women face coming into the force, and the ways that he should be more understanding of Paulsen's position. This plot thread is revisited regularly - sometimes as often as every other chapter - and, while it may feel a little like overkill at some points, it's commendable to see a crime novel tackle this so strongly without it needing to be the whole concept of the book. It's not a police procedural about sexism in the police, it's a cracking whodunnit thriller that makes a strong case in this area in the process.

Overall, I found this a highly enjoyable read from a very promising new author in the genre. It combines a brilliant hook, a rounded and surprisingly broad cast of characters, and a blazing energy (sorry, I couldn't resist) that powers it through to a satisfying conclusion. Very impressive stuff indeed!

I received an advanced review copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for approving my request.

A major fire. A fire crew, with a 'dead' body, and money that's not supposed to be there. Decisions are made. Where does this all lead?
Some years later and the repercussions begin.
A plot which engages the reader, and keeps their attention until the end.

Thank you to Hodder and Stoughton, and NetGalley for an advance copy.

Another new author for me and a debut. OMG WHAT A READ. Hooked from the first page, I could not put this book down. A brutal and graphic police procedural. Fast Paced with plenty of heart in your mouth moments. Tense and so gripping. A new light in this genre and I can't wait to read more. So highly recommended.
Thanks to Hodder and Stoughton and Netgalley for the ARC.

OOOOOH - if you like police procedurals or gripping crime books then believe me when I say you NEED to read The Burning Men by Will Shindler which is the first in a brand new series and it starts with a real BANG.

Five years ago a group of fire fighters attend a major fire scene in London - a new development is on fire and they spot a man waving from the third floor window.  Something happens that night that changes their lives for ever and within months all five have quit the service and have vowed never to speak to each other again.  Five years later one of them is horrifically murdered at his own wedding and soon the rest of the group are fearing for their own lives, but why and who is trying to kill them?

Enter DI Alex Finn, a man who is grieving the death of his wife by returning to work during his compassionate leave to track down the killer.  He is assigned a new DC, Mattie Paulsen who has her own demons and secrets having left her previous job due to a trauma from a previous case which she won't deal with.  Putting these two damaged, but determined police officers together initially result in fireworks, but they are determined to find out who is behind these murders and stop any more killings.

The Burning Men is a brilliant debut with strong characters and a fast paced story line which kept me guessing throughout.  Will Shindler is definitely an author I will be watching out for and can't wait to read the next book in this brilliant new series.

Wow! what a debut this is from Will Shindler. The Burning Men is the story of what happens when 4 firefighters faced with a life changimg decision and the consequences of that decison.

This is a fast paced, and at times brutal police procedural. The main protagonists are both interesting and have trauma and past problems weighing on them heavily and they leave you with a sense of more to come.

Twists and turns aplenty in this brilliantly and tensely plotted thriller. Very Good and highly recommended. I very much look forward to more

Thanks to NetGalley and The Publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up.

This is the first book in which I'm hoping will become a series featuring DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Paulsen. Great story for their first investigation, the death of the fire-fighters years after they all attended a seriously large fire together. And a nice introduction to the characters and their flaws. It the Character development I'm most looking forward to reading more about and seeing where the author goes with that as it clear to me he can write an excellent police procedural. Looking forward to more.

The Burning Men is the first book by Will Schindler that I have read and the first in a new series featuring DI Alex Finn and his new colleague DC Paulsen.

The story is a very twisty police procedural novel that kept me guessing throughout as to whodunnit

The main characters are well sketched out but have plenty of room to grow and I look forward to catching up with them again in future books

I was told about this forthcoming title at Capital Crime 2019 in London. As the story revolves around five fire fighters and the dark secret they share and, as my wife and our daughter’s (soon to be) husband both work in the fire service, I was immediately drawn to the story.
Now, a few months on from that, I at last have got the chance to read The Burning Men. And the wait was well worth it.
A well told and gripping tale, this had me hooked early on. The pacing, characters and plot teases and tempts you into reading “just another chapter” until you find the book is nearly finished and you try to slow down to make it last a while longer.
Finn and Paulsen are characters that obviously have a lot more to offer and this first peek into their world is a enjoyable treat.

For a debut novel, The Burning Men sure packs a punch. With central characters who are flawed and intriguing, and a storyline which kept me glued to my seat, I can see this being a very popular book. I know I'm already looking forward to seeing more of the two lead police officers, DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Paulsen.

The story starts at the scene of an extensive building fire. We meet the five firefighters who are set to become the main focus of the rest of the book - are they to become the potential victims of a killer who is as vicious as he is cunning and who uses the very monster they once fought against them. I'm not sure if there is anything much more distressing than the thought of burning to death, and Will Shindler has certainly done a great job of making that fear come to life without ever really needing to put the reader at the heart of the violence. There is one scene, near the end, in which we are there when the killer strikes, but it provides the chills without being gratuitous, the balance just perfect.

The police team who are investigating the murder are an interesting bunch. We meet both Finn and Paulsen when they are at a turning point in their lives. Finn is mourning the very recent loss of his wife, Paulsen is trying to start again after a case which had a profound effect on her mental state. They are as different as they can possibly be - Finn quite straight and contained while Paulsen is fiery and quick to react - and yet they work. Both are hard to get to know, Finn because he is so guarded and Paulsen as she is scared to be honest, but you can tell that behind both facades, there are two very intelligent and capable individuals. It takes some time for them to find their balance as a pair, that point of harmony where they can trust each other, but you see the gradual thawing of their relationship to a point where they make a brilliant team, and you the respect begins to grow on each side. The way in which the author has portrayed Finn's leadership style and his management of the angry Paulsen, is spot on and very believable, as is Finn's expression of grief and the way in which it impacts on his working life.

The story is full of twists and turns, the suspect pool limited but all very viable. This is not so much a how or why-dunnit as the potential reasons for the attacks are revealed throughout the course of the book. Finn may well have a clear suspicion of what has made the men potential targets, but proving it is an entirely different matter. And yet, despite the revelation and the underlying threat, there is far more at play in this book than you may think. There is a secondary investigation that is inextricably linked to Finn's case and which informs the story and adds more than a few surprises and twists and turns of its own.

There are moments of real tension throughout the book that kept me wanting to read onward, as well as a clear expression of the emotions that drive the central characters. This is a story of principals - both those upheld and those which are compromised for varying reasons. Sometimes I felt that I could understand why people behaved the way that they did, even if I didn't condone their actions. It is certainly an interesting moral dilemma and a look at how one decision, made in the of the moment, can have untold and devastating consequences for the future.

Tense, suspenseful and satisfying, I thoroughly enjoyed the book, really liked the central characters, and can't wait to catch up with the team again.

This is a great debut novel, with strong characters you want to learn more about. It has a believeable plot which allows the protagonists to develop. I love a book with a surprise at the end and this one didn't disappoint.

A definite 5 star read. With a great twist on the final page.
A well written, well plotted story that makes you wonder what would you have done? If you were the firemen, in that fire, and you had personal problems? And how would you have rationalised it?
We do take our firemen and first responders for granted and forget just how dangerous their work is and how little they are rewarded in the scheme of things.

Boom! What a book! After starting the year reading a couple of notsogood offerings, we're definitely back in the room with this fantastic series opener.
We start five years in the past at a fire where a team of firefighters are called to a blaze at a building under construction. After spotting a man at a window they suit up and go in. It's a traumatic time and, within a year or so, all members of the team have left the service.
Back in the present and the groom of a wedding party is fatally burned in a toilet cubicle. DI Alex Finn is called to investigate having only just returned to work after the sad passing of his wife to cancer. Whether he is fit to return has yet to be determined. He is partnered with newbie to the team, the enigmatic DC Mattie Paulson. Chalk and cheese would be an understatement although they do have the whole "wounded by something in their past" thing in common.
So, background on the deceased determines he was one of the firefighters involved in the above incident. Was being burned a coincidence? And then stakes get higher when another of the team is also murdered; again burned. What exactly happened in that fire all those years ago? Is someone out for revenge and, if so, why the wait? If they can work all that out then maybe they will be able to work out who and, more importantly, stop them before the body count rises further.
Ignoring for a moment that both the main characters in this new series are wounded - yawn, done to death - the rest of the book was extremely high quality. Hopefully with time and also certain disclosures as to what the trouble was, should mean that this wounded-ness will be less of an issue in future books, which can only be a good thing. Certain attitudes and feisty-ness notwithstanding!
The plot is intricate and well executed. There were clues along the way that I either ignored or missed but which I kicked myself over a few times along the way. Suffice to say that I didn't have it all worked out ahead of time which made for a nice change. Characterisation was also well done, especially regarding the main characters - warts and all. Pacing was darned near perfect and my attention was held nicely all the way through. The ending, when it came, delivered the punch the book promised and was wholly satisfying.
All in all, a cracking series opener which does exactly what it should which is leave me gagging for the next one. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

This is an enjoyable police procedural with some strong characters who I would be happy to see more of in later books. The plot seems simple enough but there are a couple of revelations you are unlikely to see coming. This could be the start of a solid crime series.

First of all, congratulations to Will Shindler for this impressive debut police procedural. He has created two characters in DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Paulsen that I would like to read about again and again. They are complex, carrying baggage and they feel very real. Finn is grieving after the recent death of his wife Karin and Mattie is a very able officer but can hostile, aggressive and clearly carrying a burden. In this novel we have two parallel enquiries. In 2015 a major fire breaks out at the newly constructed One Pacific Square in London. This building is meant to signify the expansion of the financial sector of the city. Red Watch of the LFB are the first fire fighters who enter the burning building with some urgency as someone is seen waving at a window, unfortunately they are unable to rescue him. The dead person turns out to be Eric Whitlock, a well known money launderer who works for an elusive underworld figure known as The Handyman who is thought to be responsible for a major robbery known as the Stansted Heist. This is being investigated with little success by a team led by DCI Warrender. What was Whitlock doing in the building? Five years on members of Red Watch who have all now left the fire service, are being brutally murdered. This is investigated by Finn and Paulsen. Do the enquiries connect? Who is killing the fire men? The Handyman? If so, why? What follows is very intriguing and at times very tense and thrilling crime story.

There is much to praise in this debut. All the characters are well portrayed and easy to picture. It is well written, it’s gritty and has intriguing twists, there’s plenty of tension and suspense, there are characters who are threatening and all this generates a feeling of danger and if you add in a bit of institutional sexism you have all the ingredients of a book that is hard to put down. There are murders, robbery, corruption, a major criminal network and a faceless mastermind. Some characters have guilt and some are seeking revenge. The plotting is solid, the storyline easy to follow and the end is good and leaves you wanting more.

Overall, this is an author I will be looking out for in the future and who has a very promising future. Highly recommended for fans of the genre.

Five years ago a new development in South London caught fire.  Five of the first responders went into the building to try and save someone they spotted in the window, but they are unsuccesful.  They leave the fire service.  The men haven't spoken sincethey left the service, until one of them is shockingly set alight at his own wedding.  Soon after another of the men is found burned alive.  DI Finn and DC Paulsen are the detectives investigating the case, and are racing against the clock to catch the killer before all five men are murdered.


This is the first book in what is planned to be a police procedural series featuring Finn and Paulsen.  It was quick to get into, jumping into the nitty gritty of the story immediately, and keeps moving at a decent pace throughout.

I liked Finn's character, he seems to be a rather reserved character, someone who takes the time to think things through rather than making leaps of faith.  I like that he doesn't fall into the stereotype that we often see in these sorts of books.  I'm unsure about Paulsen.  I like that she is also different, and that she is a strong woman, however her persona rubbed me up the wrong way at times.  For both characters the author spends time developing their backstory and really fleshing them out which is great, especially for a series.  Hopefully he keeps building on this as the booms progress.

In terms of the plot I found the premise really interesting.  Although some parts of the story became clear very early on, others weren't revealed until the end of the book.  There were times when I felt things were a little obvious, and some of the procedural aspects seemed over explained to me, but that is possibly because I have read a lot of these sorts of books and so have read about similar procedures before.

All in all the book was an enjoyable read, there was plenty going on and the story was interesting and different.  I'll be interested to see what Shindler writes next and see how the two main characters develop.  If you like police procedural books you'll definitely enjoy this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an arc in exchange for an honest review

With thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the ARC.

This is an extremely impressive debut novel from Will Shindler.
He has created some superb characters in this 1st in the series.
DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Paulsen are damaged and very complex personalities who are pushed to work together.
Finn is just returning to work after the death of his wife while Paulsen has just transferred to the unit because of...., well we don't really know.

Five years ago a major new development was engulfed in flames, one man was found dead in the building.
The first respondent Fire Fighters are now being targeted.
Finn and Paulsen are up against the clock as the team of five are picked off one by one.

Their are more than a few skeletons to come of closets before the end of this riveting and well paced thriller.
A great debut and I look forward to more from Will Shindler.

Will Shindler certainly makes his mark in his terrific debut crime fiction novel, it introduces the reader to an unusual pairing of police detectives operating out of London's Cedar House Police Station. DI Alex Finn is a bereaved widower, having just lost his wife, Karin, a lawyer to a cancerous tumour. He is not the most sociable of men, with a brusque exterior, preferring his close relationships to be with people of substance. He is a calm presence, methodical, intelligent but with a tendency to bottle things up. However, he just cannot bear being on his own with nothing but his overwhelming grief to keep him company at home, and despite really not being fit to work, returns to lead a complex case. He is to find that grief's grip is tenacious, tiring and merciless, it's hold on him unpredictable, crippling and ferocious.

Despite his objections, he is forced to take on new team member, DC Mattie Paulson, a remarkably effective and talented gay policewoman. Mattie is in a relationship with trainee social worker, Nancy Deen, and carries a mental and emotional trauma from a past case involving a paedophile which she has refused to deal with, leading to the kind of aggressive outbursts that are unprofessional, threatening the investigation and her career. She is forthright and outspoken, makes no effort to integrate and in fact is visibly hostile to others on the police team. The case begins with the burning of the groom on his wedding day. It turns out the victim was part of the Red Watch, a former fireman for the London Fire Brigade, one of five first responders to a devastating fire at a office development at 1 Pacific Square, 5 years ago, in which a notorious money launderer died. This team of 5 firemen quit the service soon after, but suddenly out of the blue they are being targeted by a killer in a manner that suggests pure hatred. Could it be that the infamous criminal underworld figure, The Handyman, suspected of masterminding the Stansted heist is behind the grisly murders?

Will Shindler's central protagonists, Alex Finn and Mattie Paulsen, both emotionally and mentally off kilter, each for different reasons, Alex struggling to handle his grief and Mattie blindly refusing to deal with her mental health issues that arise from a previous case, are the highlight of this riveting crime read for me. His complex plotting and intensely gripping storyline is what kept me compulsively turning the pages. This a dark and intense read easily drew me in and has me interested in how this intriguing police partnership of Alex and Mattie develops in the future. Great crime fiction that I recommend highly. Many thanks to Hodder and Stoughton for an ARC.