I went into this not knowing it was the fifth in a series, so I don't have the same long-standing relationship with the characters as others who have read the previous books. There is a bit of exposition in the first few chapters to get you up to speed, but it's somewhat abrupt and there's a lot of plot holdover that you're expected to swallow if you're just jumping in. In hindsight I would have started at book 1, but it didn't make the experience impossible to deal with.

More than just past events, there's established character relationships that, for me, didn't really come together. Luc and Ava's relationship makes zero sense to me. She's his boss, but he is incredibly condescending, controlling and at times creepy to her. Some of their interactions are too inappropriate to be believable for even a workplace romance, so as a reader to be asked to believe they're not romantically involved, but just have a really close friendship, is too much. Maybe they earned this in the previous books, but there was no payoff with them as a standalone.

Luc isn't the only one who is weirdly territorial about his boss. Apparently another officer and a witness just can't help themselves and immediately have to try to disrupt a working relationship with her and act on their attraction to her. Between the two cops white-knighting for her favor and the doctor hitting on her mid-interview...there's a lot of below the surface misogyny to take in. And Ava chides herself for "giving off signals" to these men--No girl! Don't say that!

As for the murders and premise itself, I thought it was a really interesting idea. A killer targeting people who had failed suicide attempts like a bitter grim reaper--very intriguing! I liked how there were entire chapters devoted to going into the mindset of the suicidal victims before they died. You really get to see them as people instead of as just bodies waiting to be discovered. And the psychological unravel of the killer is something
I definitely didn't see coming.

I liked it on the whole, but the investigative angle more so than the interpersonal conflict.

What a brilliant addition to the series . Dark and twisted while action packed as always . Brilliant delicious dark story that draws you in and doesn't let you go . Can't wait for more from this series

I enjoyed reading this book. It had a good story to it. I liked the variety of characters in it. It is my first book read by this author. I hope to read more books by this author.

Helen Fields is fast surpassing her peers in the thriller field if you excuse the pun! Her DI Luc Callanach series gets better and better and Perfect Crime will not disappoint. Our killer is targeting would be suicide victims and murdering them in unusual and gruesome ways. Meanwhile, Luc is implicated in the death of a nursing home resident. A man he believes raped his mother and may as a result even be his own father. Trouble follows Luc Callanach but that's why we like him. An excellent read. Thank you Netgalley for my advance copy.

4 and 1 / 2 stars

DI Luc Callanach is back in his latest adventure in seeking a killer. His boss DCI Ava Turner is there to assist him in his investigation.

Stephen Berry is about to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge, but a kindly suicide prevention officer talks him down. Now a mere week late, Stephen is dead by falling from a cliff top. Suicide or was he pushed? Luc and Ava are assigned to look into the case. What they discover is far worse than just one person’s death – or murder as it was later discovered.

Luc and Ava begin their investigation and soon it grows very serious indeed as more suspicious “suicides” turn up. Some methods of death are so outrageous as to hardly be believed. As they follow leads and clues, they zero in on a suspect. Newspaper journalist Lance Proudfoot joins the team doing surveillance and notices some very interesting things about a potential the suspect.

In an exciting and action-filled denouement, the case is drawn to a conclusion. A near tragedy is averted.

And a real bombshell is dropped at the close of the book…

Ms. Fields’ books just keep getting better and better. This is perhaps the best one yet. I do recommend that they be read in order of the publication to get the full backstories of the individual characters. There were some surprises in this book, the biggest one being the identity of the killer. Caught me out on that one! The book is well written and plotted and although it started out a little slowly, it picked up nicely as the police investigation got going. I like Luc and Ava but they really need to work on some issues if they are going to continue to work together. The team, for the most part gets along well and I appreciate that. I don’t like stories in which the police officers are backbiting and lying to one another. Well done, Ms. Fields and please write another in this series soon!

I want to thank NetGalley and Avon Books UK/Avon for forwarding to me a copy of this great book for me to read, enjoy and review.

I started this book on 3/1 and finished it on the same day. I just had to keep reading it.

I was so thrilled to get this as an ARC and couldn’t wait to get my teeth into the story. The characters are one of my favourite duos, lovely Ava and the dark, handsome Luc. Over beck I think her bark is worse than her bite. She did make me laugh a few times.

The team are faced with suicides, but they are not all that they seem. They are carefully executed murders with no forensic evidence. I have to say though, from the outset I knew who the perpetrator was, I’d worked it out, but I’m not saying any more!

There is a lot going on in this book, and having read all the others, some outstanding matters were addressed, but again I’m not saying any more.

My thanks to Helen and to Netgalley for the ARC, can’t wait for the next one Perfect Dark. Hope it’s out soon 😊

I read this in less than a day! I couldn’t put it down. I’m a massive fan of this series and so thankful to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this. It’s another installment for Ava Turner and Luc Callanach, who are investigating the sudden death of a man who falls from a cliff....or did he? Helen Fields is right at the top of my favourite authors list! Ava and Luc are such great characters, I’m already desperate to read the next one’

Nooo... you can't do that to Luc and Ava. Honestly three steps forward and two and a half back. There are two separate cases here and both have the propensity to end careers - if not lives - in the Scottish MIT.

As usual an exciting and nail biting time in Edinburgh. This series gets better with each instalment.

A real page turner just wish I’d read other books in series first will have to go back to them. Really enjoyed it would recommend to anyone.

This was a pretty gruesome read. The descriptions of the murders was pretty grim but I enjoyed that it was so dark. The main characters were great and the story held my interest throughout. About half way through I guessed who the culprit was but it didn't stop my enjoyment of the book.

I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review

This one was just OK. People who are fans of the series seem to love it but since I came in at number five and didn’t have a deep connection to the characters, I couldn’t really get into it. It seemed to be more about the characters personal development and less about the actual crime in Sociopath – and I definitely came for the Sociopath. For diehard police procedural fans only

An excellent novel. This series keeps getting better and better. Excellent plot, and character development. A real page turner.

Looking toward to the next one

Helen Fields never fails to disappoint and this latest instalment of the Callanach and Turner series is no different. There are two investigations one of that death of Stephen Berry who looks on the outset that he committed suicide after his failed attempt from a bridge previously but when other bodies turn up in similar circumstances ie appears they committed suicide but is that actually the case?

The perpetrator of Callanach's mothers rape was found murdered, Callanach becomes the main suspect after he has visited him at the nursing home where he is suffering from dementia.

Again another gritty mystery to get to grips with and the relationship between Luc and Ava is built on, getting to know more about both of them, I really like their characters and feel like I know them personally.

As is the norm, Helen Fields builds you a picture and a mystery of who dunnit, can you figure it out, its standard that you will be left guessing until she is ready to reveal, another fantastic instalment.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

'Perfect Crime' is the next story in a long line of books featuring DCI Ava Turner, DI Luc Callanach and other members of the Major Investigative Team. Gruesome murders of people who have had suicidal tendencies/attempts in Edinburgh mean a busy time for the Team but this particular book concentrates more upon the developing relationship between Ava and Luc. This is dragging on to a degree now and, obviously will continue to do so in future books. The detective side of the story is as good and detailed as all of Ms Fields' stories with enough twists and turns to keep the reader engaged. I like the new DI Graham ("cartoon character of an eighteenth century Scot") and have always felt that DS Lively was a dark horse with all of his apparent fooling around. The characters are believable and mostly developing nicely; the humour between the team members feels very real. Descriptions of Edinburgh are excellent - grim tenements and posh areas side by side. I think that it does help to have read the previous stories as they have put meat on the characters but it would be possible to read as a standalone, just without as much depth. I'm certainly looking forward to future stories with this team. I thank NetGalley and Harper Collins for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Stephen Berry was about to jump off a bridge with a suicide barrier on it but was talked down by a suicide prevention counselor. Days later he is found dead, believed to have jumped off a castle. DI Luc Callanach and his superior DCI Ava Turner are assigned to the investigation. Did Stephen jump or did someone help him off the castle walls.

Edinburgh seems to have a rash of suicides - a woman taking a bath in her home, a man electrocuted. Are these deaths linked? Are they suicides or is there something more sinister in the works?

The story could have moved along at a bit of a faster pace but otherwise it was an engaging thriller.

I was excited to receive a copy of Helen Fields newest book Perfect Crime!
She is on of my favourite authors....and this book did not disappoint.
Hooked me from the first page, I enjoy the main characters of this series, Ava and Luc...I feel like I know them, that’s good writing.
The book kept me guessing throughout,...until the end!
Thank you netgalley. I loved this book. Will be patiently waiting for Helen Fields next book .... love the sneak peek at the end of this one.

Wow, yet again another brilliant book from Helen Fields. I have read all of the books by her and they just keep getting better. I love the way the story of the detectives follows on throughout the books, and her ability to bring back previous characters when you are least expecting them. Throughout this book I had my suspicions about the villain's identity but I wasn't prepared for the reveal. Can't wait for the next one.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this arc.

I have enjoyed all the previous books in this series very much and do recommend reading them in order. The criminal elements and hunt for the killer(s) was excellent as always. The pacing was somewhat choppy with the developments of Ava's and Luc's personal relationship intruding into their working relationship. Seems like they both have some maturing to do. The new characters to Ava's team are very interesting and I look forward to more of them in future books.

4.5 stars

Tense dark multi layered a rash of suicides an investigation that has twists and turns.This book drew me in kept me racing through the pages unputdownable.Highly recommend an author I will be following.#netgalley #perfectcrine#avonuk,

I have enjoyed all of the previous novels by this author so I was delighted to receive my ARC in return for my honest review. This is my favourite so far.

DI Luc Callaghan and DCI Ava Turner return to investigate murders that have been disguised to look like suicides, that is until the murderer gains more confidence and escalates the crimes. Ava continues to get into scrapes, being rescued by Luc.

During the story Luc, visits an old man with Alzheimer’s in a care home. The man is murdered shortly after Luc’s visit and Luc is less than honest about his reason for the visit. When another man, connected to the first, is murdered as well, Luc is under ‘administrative leave’ but it is his nemesis who has returned.

The relationship between Luc and Ava has been called a ‘friendship’ by them both but, as a reader, I can see this could easily develop into more. Two new people join the team to add different dimensions and all characters are well developed and portrayed.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books, UK and Helen Fields for this ARC of Perfect Silence in return for my honest review.

Simply an awesome read. Highly recommended.