Came across Helen fields books..not sure if I read them in order but didn't matter..enjoyed all of them and hopefully will be another soon.

Perfect Silence is the 4th book in the Turner and Callanach series by Helen Fields and it is an excellent addition both to the series and to the police procedural genre.

The story is set in Edinburgh and has two separate investigations which stretch the MIT to their limits.

The story is very well written with all the strands excellently woven together whilst keeping you hooked.

I hadn't read any of the previous books in the series but that wasn't a problem to fully understanding and enjoying the book.

Thoroughly recommended.

Even though this is part of a series and I had not read the other books, I really enjoyed this and did not feel like I was missing anything by not having read the other books. The plot was great and moved along at a good pace and the characters were well developed.

Gritty, dark and intense, the fourth installment of the DI Callanach series delivers the usual drama, danger and pace you come to expect from this series. Two serial attackers are wreaking havoc through the city of Edinburgh - one focusing on the drug-addicted homeless, who are being carved with a mysterious "Z" on their faces while zoned-out on Spice; the other snatching young women off the street and dumping their bodies afterwards with a gory and hideous calling card left behind.

As always, the book starts with a bang and doesn't let up. Ava is not only dealing with two high-profile cases in her position as DCI, but she's also got plenty of personnel issues to keep her busy and concerned in her own team. This book actually felt like it was focusing more on Ava than Luc, which I am more than happy with but makes me question where the series is heading. I enjoyed the developments and new tensions in their relationship - professional and personal and everything in between - and I can't wait for the next book to see what happens next.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Helen Sarah Fields, and Avon Books UK for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Helen Sarah Fields has been developing this strong police procedural series over the past few years, which mixes some unique characters against the backdrop of some vicious murders that will keep the reader wondering well into the story. When a young woman is discovered murdered, her body dumped like a pile of rubbish, DI Luc Callenach and DCI Ava Turner are understandably concerned. However, when the body is shown to have a doll-like piece of skin carved from both the abdomen and back, things get a little more concerning. Thus begins a panicked search for a killer that Police Scotland can only hope will be brief. When a second woman goes missing, she is seen to have left her baby in a pram. The baby is eventually located, with a raggedly stitched doll of human skin tucked next to her. Callanach and Turner think that this may be the start to a gruesome killing spree and it is only getting started. Meanwhile, there is a new drug on the streets named Spice, which turns its users into zombies, at least for a time. Those in the homeless population are turning up carved with a ‘Z’ on their cheek while under the influence. Turner and the rest of her team are trying to see who might be targeting this vulnerable population, finding a clue that takes them on a goose chase through the richer families of Edinburgh. DCI Turner must not only wrestle with these two cases, but a superior who will stop at nothing to meddle and cut her down. Edinburgh is rocked by these crimes and the killer may be trying to push a religious extermination of their own to cleanse the streets. Fields continues with her stellar writing that will have series fans begging for more. Recommended to those who have been intrigued by the DI Callanach novels to date, as well as those who like a well-paced police procedural that does not lose stream throughout.

While there are many police procedural series on the market today, Helen Sarah Fields has found a way to produce unique stories with a handful of strong characters. Using Edinburgh as an interesting backdrop, the stories exemplify the strength of Police Scotland as they face a number of bone-chilling cases. Fields again turns her focus on DI Luc Callanach and DCI Ava Turner, developing their characters as well as abilities to solve crime. Callanach continues to impress since his move from INTERPOL, showing that he has a strong dedication to the police work required to solve these complex cases. As with the previous novels, Callanach’s struggles with issues in his personal life bleed into the present through a well-paced narrative that highlights these struggles. The series reader will know precisely what is going on and find much interest in how it is handled herein. Turner is forced to continue her struggle with being catapulted up the ranks, where she is now able to oversee the Major Investigations Team (MIT). However, this has led to a number of other issues, including trying to define her relationship with Callanach, who now answers to her, as well as the issues of being put under the microscope by an equally determined Superintendent. Fields effectively shows how Turner seeks to find a balance in a position that is rife with controversial decisions. The story is strong and Fields is able to weave together a powerful crime thriller with clues and dramatic case development peppers amongst the ever-intensifying chapters. These cases are full of dark criminal elements and will surely keep the reader up well into the night. Another strong effort by Fields will keep me reading as long as she has ideas put to paper.

Kudos, Madam Fields, for another wonderful novel in this series. I cannot wait to see what else you have in store for your fans.

DCI Ava Turner and DC Luc Callanach are back with a fourth instalment of the series.
A body of a girl is found on the side of the road, when the pathologist Jonny examines her he finds the silhouette of a doll carved in the front and back of the victims skin.
A doll soon finds its way into an abandoned pram with a baby inside but where is the baby’s mum? As the girls go missing, Turner and Callanach soon realise the babydoll killer is playing a sinister game and they have to race against time to solve the case.

I have read all the books in this series and I have to say this is the best yet! The story drags you in straight away and doesn’t let go of you until the very last page. I love the MIT team, Turner, Callanach, Lively, Salter and Tripp. They make a brilliant team together. I miss them already and am eagerly awaiting book five!

Many thanks to Helen Fields and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this wonderful book in exchange for my honest review.

So in this latest instalment there are two crimes, both as brutal as the other but in different ways and for ultimately different reasons. A young woman found dead with skin removed from her stomach and back. The second is the use of new drug Spice that leaves users zombified and open for attack.

I have read all the 'Perfect' books and always eagerly await the next in the series. This is where I say, yes each could be read as a stand alone but, in my heart of hearts I know that a series read in order works so much better for getting to know the characters and their dynamics within the group settings. 

Perfect Silence for me had a slightly different feel to it in the respect that Ava seemed to take more of a lead in the story itself. She had been promoted, she is feeling her way in her new role and finding her feet. She also discovers that protocol and procedure falls directly to her to deal with. She is no longer part of the group as such because she is answerable to her own boss and responsible for the actions of her team. This actually made a lot of sense to me as far as her character development goes and in someway helps to stamp her authority. 

So not only is Ava having to deal with a change in role she is also in the firing line from the powers that be, Overbeck in particular has been the proverbial 'pain in the rear' and it is a chance to get to know this one a little better. Good old, borderline cheeky / rude Lively is back and is another one I got to see a bit more of. There is a newcomer in the form of DS Graham, and what a nice form he has.

The story or should I say stories are of a bloody and gruesome nature, the authors descriptions does a great job of giving enough information to let your imagination do the rest. The cases are very different in the reasons for the attacks, they are not straightforward and the tension and frustration definitely start to mount.

As I mentioned earlier this for me was more about Ava rather the luscious Luc Callanch, I do have such a spot for him and as much as love his character I was more drawn to Ava. Don't panic though he is still around and is as supportive as ever. But also he has his only little story going on, it is something I am not going to delve into as I am not as sure about this development in his character yet, but I'm interested to see where that part of his life will go.

So to kind of sum up a little, it is a fantastic next instalment in the Perfect books. If you have not read this series then you need to if you like dark, gritty, compulsive and addictive twisted story-lines. Ideal for crime, thriller, murder, mystery and tension filled suspense readers, its not all about the crime as there are things within some of the characters lives that are being brought out more as well.

A book and series I would highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley, Helen Fields and Avon Books UK for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

When a young girls body is found in the middle of a country road, nothing can prepare detectives Ava and Luc for the gruesome nature of the kill. The young girl, Zoey was taken captive and doll shaped cut outs were taken from the skin on her front and back, leaving her no chance of survival. Then the doll is found inside a pram of the next victim’s baby, Ava and Luc realize they are looking for serial killer. While this is going on, someone is brutally mutilating the faces of Spice users around town. The team is split into two trying to solve two major crimes at once.

I read the first book in this series, so I was familiar with the characters but I didn’t realize so much had happened in the two I skipped. Nothing that make this book unreadable or confusing for those just coming onto the series, but I would recommend starting at the beginning. I love the Ava and Luc characters and their relationship and I also really enjoyed the antics that some of their detectives get up to. I found this a slightly long read because there were two crimes going on and so the book visit more crime scenes and has more suspects. It was mostly interesting and of course I had my own ideas on who was guilty of both crimes, but I was shocked to find out who was killing these women.

I loved the ending to this one and I loved that justice is going to be served. I also like how it ended between Ava and Luc! I want them to be a couple, but they seem to be just missing each other relationship wise. I do think that the book could have been a bit shorter, but overall I did find it an easy read. I do enjoy this series and all the characters and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!

Pick it up August 23rd!

Helen Fields just keeps getting better. this book is, to my mind, the best so far. It is truly gruesome in places but a total page turner. It seems at the moment that UK female crime writers are really leading the way.
This book is totally brilliant and the twists are there - just when you think you have it solved you are wrong. I will not give too much away as the possibility to spoil such an amazing book is really possible,
I have recommended Helen to my mother-in-law who is a very discerning in who she reads. She read all of the previous books in two days!
Read this at all cost it is the best so far with great character development.

This book is grim, but I loved it. I did feel that the closeness between Luc and Ava was missing this time, I know she recently got promoted, but they didn’t seem to bounce off one another like in the other books. The other members of the team were brilliant as usual, especially Lively, who I did laugh about with his antics, but I won’t spoil it for other readers. Just say, he’s a bit of a Jack the Lad! Good to see Christie Salter back after her awful ordeal in the last book.

These murders are dreadful, and the way the dolls are made from the previous victims skin is just horrible, but I must say it keeps you turning the pages. There seems to be no breakthrough at all, and there’s someone maiming the local drug addicts too, but are the cases connected?? You’ll have to read to find out.

I’m still hoping Ava will get together with Luc, I think they deserve each other.

My thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Hi màirneal,

Ava and Luc are back again in Helen Sarah Fields new book Perfect Silence, I enjoy the third book in the series Perfect Death, loving the story telling and the characters meant I had to place this book on my TBR wish list.



D.I Callanach and D.C.I Turner are called out earlier in the murder when a young girl body is found. When her body is examined they make a gruesome discovery, skin in the shape of a doll had been removed from the girl stomach and back, when she was still alive. When she bleeding to death  she was dumped on the side of the road. This was bad enough until a young mother goes missing, and left with her daughter is a doll made out of the first victim skin. Now the clock is ticking for the to find the young mother before she is made into another doll.

This is not the only case MIT are investigating, as the homeless and drug users are being attacked they face cut with the letter Z, Ava and Luc must put everything at stake to find out if these attacks are connected to the missing/murders girls, or is their another criminal lose in Edinburgh.



This story is captivating and sinister in equal measure, I willing sacrificed my sleep as I didn't want to put the book down as I  wanted to finish the book that night. It was well worth the lack of sleep.

Both cases are very different and interesting in their own way, I respected the way in which Ava treated the homeless, she cared for them and wanting to find the truth even when she felt pressured to give up certain lines of enquire due to people connections.

One of my favourite part of the book are Ava boss Detective superintendent Overbeck rants, the below one I think is my favourite.

"If you ever, ever, use my Flowery fucking first name again, Detective Chief Inspector, I will not be responsible for using extreme violence against you, and I don't care about your expertise in the martial arts, or your tenacity, or your relative youth, I will destroy you."

Luc and Ava are a great crime fighting duo and I can't wait to see what cases they get next.

I give this book 4.5 out of 5.



Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for supply me with a copy of the book for a fair and honest review.

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Thanks for reading,

Gem x

Perfect Silence is book 4 in the Turner / Callaghan series and it's a good read. It's worth having read the previous books, particularly so you understand the relationship dynamics in this series of police procedurals.

The story has 2 threads, one is of women disappearing and being found mutilated and the other is about attacks on homeless men and women. Set in Edinburgh it's a raw, grisly tale, not for the fainthearted.

The ongoing relationship dynamics continue and I particularly enjoy the friction between Ava and Overbeck, as well as the 'will they/won't they' Ava and Luc relationship.

There were times in this book when I lost interest and found myself flicking through, particularly during the drawn out explanations between characters. However, overall, it delivers. A solid 3.5 from me.


Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for the opportunity to preview in exchange for this honest review.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Let me take a breath and compose myself before reviewing this one! Without a doubt this was Helen’s best book of the Callanach and Turner series! 6 stars would be given if I could! A young girl is found mutilated and dead on a road, a second body turns up a week later having suffered the same grizzly fate! Who is behind this senseless, disgustingly violent series of murders? By far it was so gruesome and heart pounding I loved it!

Helen Fields has done it again. Perfect Silence is the fourth in D.I. Callanach series (you can read this without reading the others)

What a gruesome read as women are being found dead or nearly dead . A big patch of skin has been removed from them and then a doll shows up made from their skin.

The police work hard, DCI Ava Turner and Luc Callanach have a long road ahead them to find out who could be so sadistic. They are racing against the clock and they don't always win.

These characters continue to grow on me and I look forward to reading the next installment

If you have not read one of this series, don't wait , get your copy now.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an advanced copy.

I am already a huge fan of the Luc Callanach/Ava Turner detective duo and so was delighted to receive an e-arc of Perfect Silence for review.

Set in Edinburgh, young women are being kidnapped, held for several days and then dumped in remote streets, bleeding profusely, unlikely to survive their injuries. The killer is targeting young women with troubled pasts. He holds them for several days, slicing their abdomen and backs to create a "rag doll" fashioned from their skin, in between the folds of which the killer posts a fervent religious message full of fire, retribution and brimstone. The clock is ticking for Ava and Luc to find this crazed killer before someone else is killed.

A side line story of a slasher targeting homeless drug users lets us know that most police detective units are not just following lines of enquiry in one case, but in several or more.

From the first page, this story had all the hallmarks of a Criminal Minds-esq storyline. It is dark, nightmarish, chilling, gruesome and very, very creepy. There is non-stop action with twists and turns galore. The side story just makes the overall story far more believable and interesting.

The characters of Luc and Ava are very interesting. They are flawed human beings, struggling sometimes with the gore and evil people they encounter every day whilst doing their job, yet they carry on for the common good. You feel as though you know them. You don't have to have read any of the previous books in the series as a lot of the information that passed previously is touched upon and you have the sense of what happened. However, I would recommend reading the previous books as they are fantastic reads also in themselves.

I love the "Ross/Rachel" "will they/won't they" thing going on between Luc and Ava. They are good friends but clearly there is an undercurrent there between them, I especially got a feel that Luc's feelings are stronger in this book and I can't wait to see if they will progress their relationship beyond colleagues/friends.

This book gets a whopping 5* from me. If you like darker, more chilling police procedurals done a la Criminal Minds style or are a fan of Chris Carter's books, then you will love this book. It is Helen Fields' best yet, in my opinion. I can't wait for the next installment.

This series keeps getting better and better. Helen Fields is one talented, imaginative and resourceful author and she never disappoints. With well-sketched characters and clever, dark, bone-chilling and compelling story-lines, D.I. Callanach series have easily become one of my top favourites.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and Helen Fields for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of Perfect Silence.
This book was really good. I have read previous work from this author and loved them. This book is no exception. The storyline was well thought out and the characters were engaging.
If you enjoy psychological thrillers, you will love Helen Fields.

“Human beings don’t have any limits when they’re broken. It’s the damage you can’t see on the surface that’s the most dangerous.”

This series keeps getting better and better. Helen Fields is one talented, imaginative and resourceful author and she never disappoints. With well-sketched characters and clever, dark, bone-chilling and compelling storylines, D.I. Callanach series have easily become one of my top favorites. All of her books are emotionally-charged and I feel at home with all the characters. Even the rude Superintendent Overlord, oops sorry Overbeck redeems herself in Perfect Silence.

Two different cases. Each as horrendous and gruesome as the other.
-Young women are being kidnapped, mutilated and left to die on remote roads. Each future victim is sent a doll made of the skin of the previous one. All the women have had troubling pasts. All the women have one thing in common…
-The homeless are under attack. A psychopath slashes the letter Z on their faces. Each attack becomes more violent until the last victim dies from her injuries.

I already miss Luc, Ava and Lively and impatiently wait for the 5-th book in the series.

Thanks to Helen Fields, Avon and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy.

This is the 4th book in the Turner & Callanch series by author Helen Fields. I LOVE THIS SERIES, if you thought it couldn’t get any better….. WHOOP she does it again!!!

In this instalment, Turner & Callanach are on the hunt for a serial killer with an unusual MO who has been labelled “The Babydoll Killer” by the media. The killer kidnaps women, keeps them for a week and then abandons them in areas “still alive” where they most likely won’t be found until its too late, the girls are found with a portion of their skin both front and back missing and discovered later after the first victim, a doll created from the skin of the victim which looks like them and inside a scroll of religious testament!!!! What monster are they up against? As a side line story also, a drug called spice is rife in Edinburgh especially amongst the homeless (nicknamed the Zombie Drug) who have started being randomly attacked and branded with the letter “Z” carved into their face. Is this the act of the same person, the serial killer? There are certainly similar traits! With the body count rising, Turner is under pressure, can she stop this maniac?

This book is fast moving, there is so much going on, it had me hooked from page 1 and I literally did not stop til the end… read it in a day, heart in mouth, its stomach churning and chilling to the core. Can’t recommend this book enough, it’s a must must read! WHEN’S THE NEXT ONE #5?

Thank you to Helen Fields, Netgalley & Avon Books for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you for letting me review this book. It’s just the type of book I love, a crazed killer and a killer detective. It was quite heavy going, in terms of action. There never seemed to be a break in the reading, if that makes sense. However, I loved it! I will be catching up on the series from the beginning!