Another excellent and exciting read in the DI Callanach series, set in Edinburgh. I love the strong characters and unique plotting, as well as the team dynamics. This latest episode was a bit scary, which kept me totally engrossed until the last page and I can highly recommend the read. My thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Hold onto your hats, fellow bookworms, because we're diving into the twisted world of murder and mystery! Picture this - a young girl's body found dumped by the roadside, with a creepy doll outline carved into her skin. And who's on the case? DCI Ava Turner and DI Luc Callanach, a dynamic duo with a knack for solving gruesome crimes.

But wait, there's more - another victim is taken, leaving her baby behind with a skin-made doll in the pram. Yep, it's clear we're dealing with a twisted serial killer here. And just when you thought that was enough, a string of homeless people starts getting attacked, with their faces cut while under the influence of Spice. It's like a wild puzzle, and the police are racing against time to catch this maniac.

Now, this book is the 4th in a series, but don't worry if you haven't read the others yet - it stands on its own just fine. And let me tell you, I was so pumped to read this as part of a blog tour. It's like a thrilling rollercoaster ride, and I couldn't wait to see how it all played out.

Helen Fields has created some top-notch characters, like Ava and Luc - dedicated to their jobs but also dealing with their own personal issues. Ava is a fierce female lead, surrounded by other strong women in the story. The murders are gruesome and shocking, and the plot moves faster than a squirrel on caffeine - you can practically feel the police racing to solve the case, just like I raced through the book!

And here's the best part - the details of police procedure and pathology are fascinating! It's like getting an inside scoop into the world of crime-solving. Who knew it could be so darn intriguing?

So, my fellow mystery enthusiasts, this book gets a big fat five stars from me! Helen Fields knows how to hook her readers with compelling characters, shocking murders, and a plot that keeps you on your toes. If you're ready for a thrilling ride, grab this book and hold on tight. You won't be disappointed! Happy reading, folks!

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

This was a brilliant read. As soon as I started reading this book I just knew I was going to love it. Highly recommended

Thank you for the opportunities to read this book. I have attempted it on a number of occasions but unfortunately I haven’t been able to get into it.

I really enjoyed this book, I seem to dip in and out of the series, I read this one a while ago and I can still remember the exhilaration that I felt as I was getting further and further into it.
I really like the main character, she's got definite edge but also compassion and understanding.
I can imagine this series appealing to both men and women, which sometimes isn't that easy.

The story was good and I thought that the plot was well executed.

This is the fourth book in the D.I Luc Callanch series. Although I have not read any of the others I soon found myself gripped by this book. I will read the others as it seems like there are some great characters with their own backstories that I have missed out on.

This is a great story, young girls are being kidnapped, they are kept tied up and they all have a doll like shape carved from their abdomens, before they are abandoned left to die on a road. Their skin and hair is made into a gruesome doll.

The other case is of a new drug ”‘Spice” which is popular among the homeless and turns the user into a zombie. Whilst they are under the effects of the drug a few have been attacked leaving them with a carved Z on their cheeks.

Luc and DCI Ava Turner are desperately working both cases before there are more victims. Are the 2 cases related?

I am going back to the beginning of this series and will enjoy finding out more about these great characters.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

This was my first read into this series. I found that the reading experience was enjoyable, but I would have appreciated this book more if I had started at the beginning of the series. A main point of this book is the ensemble cast that all work within the police department, and while I liked the characters and their personalities, I couldn't follow the characters as much as I would have liked. I really liked the two main detectives and would definitely read this series from the beginning to get to know them and their history.

What really drew me in was the overall premise. There's a serial killer who is kidnapping women, cutting their skin off, and dropping them in the middle of nowhere to let them die. This case was creepy, dark, and fascinating. I liked how the women each got to share a window into their stories and these chapters stuck out the most to me. The case itself didn't pan out as I expected and the end let me down a bit, but for the most part I enjoyed the case.

Helen Fields has created a gem of a world with Luc and Ava. Their friendship and budding romance is superbly well written and it balances perfectly with the dark crimes they investigate. This was definitely one of the most harrowing crimes they've dealt with and it was written so well. I absolutely love this series of books.

Descriptive, thrilling, gory and mysterious - this novel had all the hallmarks of a great mystery/ thriller novel. Coming in i did not realise i was reading book 4 in a series, but that didn't really matter, as the author made me feel like i knew the characters already, without having read the previous 3. Definitely recommend.

WOW........actually felt as if I’d stepped into one of my favourite crime dramas.
Absolutely brilliant book,fast paced enthralling and absolutely believable this is a book not to be put down.
Set in Scotland the race is on to find what the media is dubbing this serial killer “the babydoll killer “ before it’s too late and another woman is found dead on another roadside.
This had me gripped and on tenterhooks.....cannot wait for the next instalment in this series.
Cannot recommend it enough...5 stars.

This is the fourth book in the series and I loved catching back up with Luc and Ava! The plot in this book is great, I was gripped from the beginning and it kept me fully engaged right to the books brilliant ending.

I love the writing style in this series it is addictive and I love the interaction between Luc and Ava as they try to crack the cases that they find themselves attached too.

This book has the same dark themes as previous books and some could find it a bit gruesome in places but for me it is completely in keeping with the books theme and plot and it makes for a very enjoyable story that had me hooked.

Really looking forward to the next book - A great addition to the series and a 5 star read for me!! Brilliant book!!

While I hadn't read the previous three books in this series, I really enjoyed Perfect Silence nonetheless.

The story started strong with the body of a young woman found near Edinburgh.

Soon, the detectives will realize that they are looking at a serial killer while someone else, or not, is attacking homeless people in the city.

This thriller was suspenseful and surprising. I loved following the detective work while being able to see the story unroll through some of the victims' eyes.

I thought Perfect Silence was a great return to form for Helen Fields after a slightly disappointing book 3 (Perfect Death). The two cases being investigated by the team were gripping and I liked that we are starting to see more interaction between Ava and Luc again. I couldn’t put the book down and am very much looking forward to book 5.

I received a copy of the book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

When you dip into a series halfway through, you’re not supposed to really realize until you Google the book. For me, that was mostly the case with Perfect Silence. Things had happened before the book started, clearly, but they were never an obstacle and when they came up they made perfect sense to rationalize a character’s actions. That’s what I want to see! Books playing into each other without being co-dependent. I do also have to say that part of what attracted me to this book was that it was set in Scotland and I kind of miss Edinburgh at the moment. But leaving my sentimentality behind, let’s get into it! Thanks to HarperCollins and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

In Perfect Silence one theme stood out to me and that was that of “vigilante justice”/ ”punishment of the immoral”. The book revolves around two different cases but they are united by the shaed ense that someone out there is trying to clean up the streets, get rid of those they deem unworthy and enforce their own set of morals. It is a notion that has always fascinated me when it came to superhero characters like Batman or Daredevil, these deeply tortured men we root for because they only get rid of the bad guys. The main criticism they face in their own stories is that no one gave them the right to decide, even if flawed policing or legislating gave them the opportunity. In Perfect Silence Helen Fields puts us on the side of those who are being punished, who aren’t considered good, as well as on the side of the police officers trying to save these people, no matter who they might be. It was a thought I found really interesting and although Fields doesn’t dig into it very deeply, focusing rather on solving the crimes at hand, I helped keep me intrigued.

In Perfect Silence, the body of a young girl is found just outside of Edinburg. Shortly after, a doll fashioned out of the girl’s skin is discovered next to an abandoned baby. So begins perhaps one of the most macabre mystery/detective books I have read in a while. Fields puts you both inside the head of the victim, as well as inside her investigators, DCI Ava Turner and DI Luc Callanach. Knowing the victims means that each crime packs even more of an emotional punch, as we see how hard they try to survive. Similarly, Ava and Luc are battling their own demons while chasing the real ones. Supported by a cast of great character, Fields’ protagonists race against time to save whomever they can. Perfect Silence is unapologetic in its harshness, and for some readers it might be a bit too much, but I found that Fields still treats it with a kind of dignity. It is not gory or painful for sensationalism, but to make a point. In the end I found myself enormously invested in the characters and the novel, so I will definitely be looking up the rest of the series soon!

Helen Fields hardly needs praise from me but I’m going to give it to her anyway. Fields shies away from the simple black and white, and it is within the grey area that Perfect Silence triumphs. The plot is complex, with different narrators and two different story-lines, but Fields brings it together seamlessly, allowing one crime to inform the other. The personal lives of her protagonists don’t distract from the plot but rather add to it. Another thing I liked about Perfect Silence was the way Fields captured a different side from Edinburgh than you usually see. It’s not touristy or medieval, it is a modern city dealing with a dark underbelly. Finally, Fields manages to let the reader in on information before the main characters, but without giving away the actual identity of the killer. It will throw you for a loop and somehow make it all much more horrifying.

Perfect Silence kept me captivated throughout and on the edge of my seat. You can’t help but get attached to Fields’ characters and she crafts her novel so clearly that you never once lose the thread. Everything comes together in the end in a way that is very rewarding for a reader constantly looking for clues. I’d recommend this novel to anyone with an appetite for Mystery, but prepare yourself, this one is a hard pill to swallow.

Thank you Avon & NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book - all opinions are my own.

What else is there to say except I love Helen Fields, and I have no idea how she does it, but she writes the most perfect, sinister, diabolical, terrifying suspense novels, and I LOVE THEM.

While this is the fourth book in the DI Luc Callanch series, you can arguably read any as a stand alone (although why you would want to miss out on three other near perfect books is beyond me). This book lands us right back in the middle of a spring of grisly murders on the outskirts of Edinburgh, with Luc and Ava desperately trying to figure out who is responsible before more bodies pile up.

Helen Fields is the queen at writing deeply terrifying, atmospheric tension into her stories, that make the books literally impossible to set down once you start. You have to find out what will happen. I have yet to be able to pause reading any of her work.

I also love continuing to read the stories of Luc and Ava - I love characters that feel grounded in reality, who you feel you could probably grab a beer with in a local pub. Most importantly I love that Helen writes them as human, flawed characters who are by far not perfect, but who are trying hard to be good at their jobs.

I can't actually talk more about this book, because I think every reader should enjoy these books completely spoiler free - but I will say that EVERY thriller lover out there should have this series on their TBR, or you are seriously missing out.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This is the 4th book in the DI Luc Callanch series by author Helen Fields. It is a strong, fierce police procedural series filled with unique characters and heinous crimes. DI Luc Callanach and DCI Ava Turner are the main investigators. Callanach has moved over from Interpol and is a dedicated officer whose personal struggles impact his professional life. Turner tries to deal with her promotion and her relationship with Callanach, as well as make some tough decisions in the field. A well-rounded, consuming story with some dark and nasty criminals. I look forward to reading the first three novels as well.

Besser als der erste Band der Serie - hier gibt es wesentlich mehr Schwung in allem, Spannung und seht gut gezeichnete Charaktere. Solide Handarbeit.

This is the 4th book in a series but it is strong enough to hold its own. You don’t have to read the previous ones to enjoy this. But I think you will seek them out, I know I will.
I really liked the main character, Ava. She’s a powerful female lead who is compassionate. The plot is solid and moves pretty quick so there are no lulls in the story and no reason to get bored. The crime is creepy enough to hook you in and make you want to stay to until the killer gets caught. There is a hint of romance between the main characters but it’s small enough that you can ignore if you don’t like romance in your murder mysteries.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A well designed cover which perfectly reflects this story. Victims who are chosen as sinners, but baby dolls are cut out of them. These dolls are baptised as the perfect creation with a new beginning. An immensely uneasy scenario but works brilliantly. There are many layers to this book, even within the personal relationships of the staff. A very satisfying read. I will be going back and checking the rest of this series. Well done!