Member Reviews
I have loved all of Helen Fields’ books, but, unfortunately, I didn’t like this one. I think some of it was due to the fact I ended up listening to some of it and the Canadian narrator wasn’t my cup of tea. I also wasn’t that interested in the story, it seemed a bit far-fetched to me and I wasn’t a fan. That said, I am still looking forward to the next one as, as I said, I have loved the previous books. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book.
This book was right up my alley and I was so excited to dive in. It didn’t disappoint. I found myself immersed in the story and the atmosphere was incredible. The beginning was a little slow, but the premise hooked me enough for me to continue on, and I’m so glad that I did. The rest of the book blew me away, and the pace picked up and I was utterly absorbed.
The mystery was intriguing, and I was interested in learning what really happened. There were some fantastic descriptions (especially gruesome ones which were also right up my alley), so if you are squeamish, be prepared! Brilliant! I can’t wait to read what the author writes next.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher, for a chance to read and review this book.
WOW! What a book! The Last Girl to Die is a book I will be recommending for a very long time. It is filled with mystery and intrigue that hooked me from the start but it is the razor-sharp plotting that makes it a memorable read.
When an American teenager goes missing on the Isle of Mull, her parents hire a Canadian private investigator, Sadie Lavesque. This invasion of foreigners on Mull creates a claustrophobic and tense atmosphere for Sadie as she is faced with the suspicion and mistrust of the islanders. Sadie can't count on the local police to help her and things only get worse for her when she finds a body...and then another...
I cannot even begin to tell you how good this book is and no review I write will go anywhere near to doing it justice. It's a book that you just have to read and experience for yourself. Helen Fields intricately weaves mysteries and folklore of ancient Mull into this gripping and atmospheric thriller making it a completely unforgettable novel.
Shocking, disturbing and jawdropping, The Last Girl to Die is an impressive and completely haunting thriller. Helen Fields is my newly crowned Queen of Twists and I felt like my brain had gone 12 rounds in the boxing ring as the twists and shocks pummelled me from all angles. Very highly recommended - don't miss this one!
I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Helen Fields really knows how to twist and turn with her plotting. By the time I finished The Last Girl to Die I partly wanted to throw this book away or worship her for refusing to let her books end with predictability (see One for Sorrow). This is a tautly plotted mystery, though while I am in two minds about that ending, the basis for which that character ended up there made me want to yell ‘what the hell? You said at the start you are always cautious so why are you doing this?’.
So yes I was frustrated but boy is Helen Fields one of the best crime writers out there,
A classic thriller that leaves the reader wanting to keep reading, one to enjoy as the dark nights draw in and you’re looking for your next read
In The Last Girl to Die Adriana Clark and her family have recently moved to the Scottish island of Mull from the United States. There is a mystery surrounding their past. After she goes missing, the police investigation seems to be going nowhere, so her parents hire a Canadian private investigator who specialises in finding lost teenagers. Sadie Levesque finds Adriana’s body, but encounters only suspicion, hostility and lack of co-operation from both police and locals. Despite this reception, she is not easily put off, and is determined to find answers for Adriana’s family. The relationships she forges with the pathologist from Glasgow and the journalist from Edinburgh help to offset the atmosphere of foreboding and danger.
Told mostly from Sadie’s point of view, there are occasional chapters headed The Island that give a different perspective. The picture Helen Fields paints of Mull and its inhabitants takes a bit of getting used to as this is not the place or the people I recognise, but it serves its purpose in providing the backdrop for this haunting and disturbing tale that is steeped in ancient superstitions and folklore. The ending is truly shocking, and she does not hold back from depicting the violence especially towards women. I have previously read (and enjoyed) only a couple of books by Helen Fields, The Shadow Man and One For Sorrow, which means I have lots more to look forward to. Thanks to Avon Books and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.
I absolutely love Fields DI Callanach series so was really excited to read this standalone.
It was a bit of a slow burn and took me a while to get into. The pace did start to pick up though and Fields usual gory descriptions didn't disappoint. I wasn't a huge fan of the witch elements of the storyline as anything to do with witches always feels unrealistic to me. I loved Sadie's character. The ending completely floored me. Wasn't expecting that at all. Fair play to Fields for a total off the cuff ending!
Not my favourite of hers but I'd still recommend it.
I was lucky to receive an advance copy of The Last Girl to Die by Helen Fields from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review and opinion. Helen Fields is one of my go to authors as you can always count on her to have a great read! This book will not disappoint - lots of twists and turns and an ending that will throw you for a loop. I was sad to finish this as it was that good. ENJOY!
This book is mainly told by Sadie. I like how Helen weaves all her stories together. Lots of secrets. The ending was superb and made the book for me.
This was my first book by Helen Fields and now I’m wondering why! The book evoked such clear pictures of the starkness and wilderness of the Isle of Mull, a perfect companion for the horrors of the crimes in the story, whilst also capturing its magical, mystical beauty.
Written in the first person, the reader follows the challenging journey of Canadian investigator Sadie Levesque, as she investigates a difficult case. Sadie is different to the islanders and the police, tough but with a big heart & caring deeply about her case. The family of Adriana Clark, the missing girl, are also ‘strangers’ on the island, newcomers from America, with their own reasons to relocate to this remote island.
There are many local characters who capture the imagination of the reader, each with their own history and connection with the island and backstories to enrich their place in the close knit community.
Nate Carlisle, the coroner flown over from Glasgow to help investigate, added a layer of support and understanding for Sadie, a perfect foil to her, as they developed a real bond of mutual respect.
A particularly poignant view written into the book, is that of the island itself, taking on its own voice, reflecting on its history, events and community of dwellers. It adds a really ethereal quality to the plot development.
There are some harsh descriptions of some of the ‘events’ within the book, but strangely the narrative also carries with it some poetic beauty.
This plot carried me along with it, compelling me to read on. There were complex plot strands empathetically woven carefully together and an ending that stopped me in my tracks.
I would totally recommend this book to crime lovers.
Not to give away the plot but this book had so many twists and turns that the title suddenly took on a whole new meaning. Adriana Clark’s family moves to the ancient, ocean-battered Isle of Mull, far off the coast of Scotland and shortly thereafter she disappears. The family contact private investigator, Sadie Levesque from Canada to come search for their daughter. They feel the police aren't interested since they are newcomers to the island. a wonderful story and great characters in a setting riddled with ancient myths. This is my first book by Helen Fields, not sure how I've missed her previous books. If you like thrillers...
Sadie, a Canadian investigator has been requested to find a missing teenage girl on the Island of Mull off Scotland’s west coast. With previous successes behind her, she is determined to help the distraught family. Recently arrived from America this family soon find that even the most remote and beautiful parts of the world can be dangerous and evil. When their daughter’s body is found by Sadie in a cruel and horrific manner, they want no stone unturned in the bid to find her murderer. As Sadie’s determination to uncover secrets buried among this tight knit community, she begins to make enemies. As an outsider she is unwelcome and when she discovers a second body, fingers begin to point in her direction. Uncovering myths and legends lead the investigation down some unusual paths and with several red herrings, everyone in the book appears to have a motive. As Sadie gets nearer the truth, she puts her own life in terrible danger and with an incredible twist the book concludes.
Canadian private investigator Sadie Levesque is called to the Isle of Mull {Scotland} to look into the disappearance of 17-year old Adriana Clark.
She discovers the teenager's body and the circumstances surrounding the girl's death, leads Sadie to realise there is something very weird going on around these parts!
Strange locals, unusual values, mysterious murders and hint of witchcraft make this a fantastic Halloween read!
Sadie is a likeable protagonist who you really route for, the story is so well written and very hard to put down. The ending came as a complete surprise to me, the author did a great job of weaving a great deal of mystery throughout the pages! Even though it wasn't what I was expecting, it was handled really well and a good sense of conclusion.
An excellent October read. It's the first book I've read by Helen Fields and I will definitely lookout for her books in the future!
Honestly, I loved every book by Helen Fields and 'The Last Girl to Die' is no exception. It's a thriller, psychological, both brutal and open - it's also a great mystery with a gusty unexpected ending. I loved the backdrop and the superstitious thread that pulls into the mystery and is really engaging. Fields writes character well, and this is a highlight of the read.
Highly recommended.
I was absolutely hooked on this read, what a read from Fields it is! Everything about this is just sublime. The plot is intense, haunting and very dark. I found myself immersed in this dark, bleak world, racing through the book so I could discover the secrets of the island. There are a lot of twists in this as well which I thoroughly enjoyed and ensured the pace of the book was maintained.
I really liked the character of Sadie, she is such a strong character and I really felt for her the whole way through the book. The way this is written meant I was rooting for Sadie and could feel everything she is going through. For fans of Fields' other books there are returning character appearances which always make for fun reading.
'The Last Girl to Die' is a haunting, addictive read that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an advance copy.
Good characters. Lots of twists. Nice setting on the Isle of Mull. Read in a couple of days whilst on holiday. Love Helens books.
Sadie Levesque is a private investigator. Not exactly conventional, and not at all like the movies would have you believe!
Sadie is so good at what she does, that a family more than half way across the world requests her services.
The Clark family are living on the remote Isle of Mull, worlds away from their previous lives in America, with Sadie equally as far from her native Canada.
Her grit and determination are what makes her a brilliant investigator. But there is a vulnerability there that reminds us that she is human,
On an Island where everyone knows everyone, surely it should be easy to find the person responsible.
But Sadie is an outsider, and the locals are wary of strangers. Those who do open up to her are fearful, of her, of what the other locals may think, and what she may uncover during her investigation.
The local police also resent her appearance.
She is not welcome, but she has a job to do, and is determined to do it well.
No matter the consequences...
And then there's another frustrating, but intriguing aspect to the investigation, Mull is alive with stories of witches and witchcraft. Something that shouldn't be overlooked, no matter what some may say.
Sadie must pick through the clues to separate the fiction from the fact, but the lines may be more blurred than she anticipates, and she must do it alone, for she has no friends on the Island.
I am once again blown away by one of Helen's books. It is both beautiful and brutal. Stunning and raw. Helen draws you in with characters and community then proceeds to pull your heart out of your chest. Helen’s is a career soaring. I will gladly read any book she publishes.
It'll be no surprise to anyone who knows me that I loved this book & couldn't put it down. Helen Fields is a guaranteed brilliant read as far as I'm concerned & The Last Girl To Die was fantastic.
This story weaves together modern murder & historic mystery on an insular island where strangers are unwanted & a girl has gone missing. The Last Girl To Die is atmospheric & gripping, with Mull becoming a character in its own right. Sadie, a Canadian private investigator, is a great main character, clever, sure of herself & unafraid. By now I should be getting used to Helen ending books in her own superb style, not conforming to a standard wrap up, in doing so she makes sure the story sticks with you for a long time after.
Although it's a standalone Helen manages to weave in a couple of characters we know from her Callanach/Turner series & I especially loved seeing more of a certain Edinburgh based journalist.
I loved it & I hope we get to see some familiar faces show up in future stories.
A story jam-packed with mystery, suspense, emotions and so much more, a breathtaking and exciting storyline!
It took me a while to connect with the characters and the storyline fully, I soon became immersed in the pace and events!
An American family moves to Scotland with their secrets and finds it difficult to settle.
The storyline follows the mystery of a missing family member, within an uncaring community.
A private investigator is employed and is less than impressed with what she finds, trying to reveal the truth is a long winded struggle!
teenagers.
I was enthralled with the characters, the emotions and the depth of the storyline, twists and turns galore!
The mystery and eerie history continues to the very end, murder and mayhem galore!
Thanks to the publisher, NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.