The Last Girl to Die by Helen Fields

Halfway through my binge read of this fantastic new thriller from Helen Fields, I had to look it up and check that it really was a stand-alone novel. Sadie Levesque is a compelling central character: brave, resourceful, determined, intelligent and ever so slightly impulsive. I could easily imagine her as the backbone of a great crime series. Sadie is a private investigator based in Canada where she’s about to be the birth partner for her sister. She has time to fit in one last job, which takes her to Scotland and the atmospheric island of Mull. The Clark family recently moved to Mull from the United States to start a new life, but their new life has been derailed by the disappearance of their seventeen year old daughter Adriana. With her American accent and dark Latino looks, Adriana caused a stir among the teenagers of Mull and was very noticeable in her job at the local pub. Her desperate parents feel the local police force are doing very little to look for their daughter, possibly because they are outsiders. When Sadie finds the girl’s body while searching local teen hang outs, the police become hostile. Adriana has been drowned. The killer has sexually assaulted her, adorned her with a seaweed crown and filled her mouth and throat full of sand. Sadie’s immediate thought is she’s been silenced. Without police cooperation, Sadie must find the killer and is drawn into local folklore, witches, a misogynistic priest and a community that looks after it’s own. Will Adriana be the last girl to die?

The island is definitely a character in it’s own right here. It even narrates it’s own chapters. Nature is in every part of the book, starting with Sadie who seems more comfortable outside than in. She feels more powerful out there, sleeping in a tent and lurking around in the dead of night, observing the islanders. For the island’s teenagers, the beaches and stone circles become the backdrop for their vigils and parties. Of course Adriana is found outdoors, in a cave adorned with the plants and products of the sea. There’s something folkloric about the way she is posed and especially the sand, which Sadie finds out is part of ancient lore dating back to the 16th Century if not further. It is part of a ritualistic killing, if her mouth is full of sand she can’t utter the truth about what or who killed her. The outdoors and the sea is in these people’s DNA for generations, many are fishermen and one of the island’s legends is of a ship from Spain that was wrecked on the coast of Mull. On board was a Spanish princess who had dreamed of a beautiful man on a Scottish island and saw him as they reached the shore at Tobermory and fell instantly in love. The man’s wife saw the look in the princess’s eyes and called on the Mull witch who destroyed the vessel, killing all 300 souls on board. History tells us that the islanders sank the vessel, a terrible end for the sailors who were seeking help. These deaths, from the 16th century to the present leave their mark. The island is a living thing, we are told, it feels everything.

‘Sea deaths bring furious tides. The waves slap the sides of boats, knocking the sailors from port to starboard, and the fish thrash so hard they break nets. Shells smash, scattering vicious fragments on beaches to slice careless feet. Salty tears form an ocean.’

It’s following her instinct and looking into the death of a young woman years before that first sparks the idea of witchcraft. Flora Kydd’s father laments in the village pub that his daughter’s death was glossed over by the police. Her killer had never been found. Sadie finds the Kydd’s house covered with posies of flowers to deter witchcraft and dark symbols burned into the beams to ward off the evil eye. I loved the way the author paired witchcraft with feminism, showing a deep seated misogyny in some of the islands men, particularly the local priest. Sadie stumbles across a group of women in a forest clearing, late at night. They are naked, but covered in clay, dancing around a fire. Their leader, Hilda, talks to Sadie at length dismissing the idea of darker witchcraft and claiming to be a women’s group, offering support and learning the old healing ways of nature. Sadie’s thoughts are going in two different directions. Could Adriana have been killed by unscrupulous members of Hilda’s group who were pressuring her to join in? Or had she become one of the women dancing around the fire and been killed because she was deemed a witch? There are some twists to the final stages that came as a huge shock. I love to be surprised and I really was here, with my heart sat in my throat at times. Could the truth be more prosaic than the legends? That men kill and could use the excuse of ancient folklore and witchcraft to cover their tracks. I was torn between this more logical explanation and the sense of an ancient evil at play on this remote and wild island. If anyone knows, the island does.

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.

Always a fan of Helen Sarah Fields, I was eager to get my hands on this book. Fields has developed a masterful police procedural series set in Scotland, but this is one of her equally powerful standalone novels. Fields uses her knowledge of the Scottish countryside, love of mysteries, and ability to cobble together a great procedural novel to provide the reader with something entertaining and highly addictive in equal measure. Not to be missed by those who love a ‘wee great mystery’!

Adriana Clark had been missing for days; eleven to be exact. While the police did not seem to be taking much of an interest, her family decided to hire a private investigator to uncover the truth. Enter Sadie Levesque, who arrived on a small Scottish island off the coast with little to go on but her instincts. However, it was enough to spark a fire in her belly.

While wandering around the island, Sadie could not help but wonder if there was a reason for the lack of police interest. She also had to wonder if her being a foreigner—from Banff, in the Canadian Rockies—could be playing into the cold reception she received. All that changed when Sadie found Adriana’s body in a cave, penetrated with a shell and mouth filled with sand. The authorities took note, but even then it was an investigation they had no interest in sharing with Sadie.

Not wanting to let up, Sadie continued probing in the murder, only to discover that there were those who preferred the bucolic nature of the island to remain that way, hushing up any waves. After the discovery of another teenage girl, Sadie was sure that this could not be a coincidence and began looking at the possibility of a serial killer.

With one suspect catching her eye, Sadie started uncover the truth, only to realise that she was in way over her head. As the story progressed, truths Sadie could not have expected came to light, only to provide more concern for everyone’s safety. Sadie would have to act quickly to ensure there were no more bodies piling up off the Scottish coast, or at least point the authorities in the right direction. Fields does a wonderful job with this piece, sure to appeal to many who have a love for police procedurals.

I have long enjoyed how Helen Sarah Fields weaves her stories together, using local lore and idioms to keep the reader feeling as though they are in Scotland on a man (or woman) hunt. While her series work is my favourite, I can also enjoy her standalone novels, as they do not lack any of the action, narrative strength or quirky humour. There is much to be said for the versatility of Fields and her fans are sure to see that they need not worry whenever she publishes something new.

Fields make sure to get the story moving from the opening pages, This narrative technique is sure to grasp the reader from the outset and keep them glued to the story until the final pages, which is especially important with this novel. Strong characters and a plot that never seems to stay still help the shape this story as well, keeping the reader on their toes throughout the journey. I felt as though I were in Scotland from the opening paragraphs, as Fields is able to imbue such a strong sense of setting throughout the novel. If I had one point of contention, it would be that Sadie Levesque, a Canadian from my neck of the woods, speaks and narrates with obvious Scottish idioms, which appeared out of place. Perhaps it is my Canadianness that led me to say ‘we don’t say it like that’, but it is worth noting, even if it might be a minor point. Overall, one cannot fault Fields for a stellar piece of work and I am eager to see what else she has on the horizon.

Kudos, Madam Fields, for another great standalone thriller. Keep them coming, as you have a great fan in me!

Yet another great book by this author I was engrossed after a slow start, but it got better. I also liked how the island became part of the story and narrative.

Although it was a real page tutner of a book it was definitely a book that you had to ruminate on. There were false leads aplenty.

I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.

I've been a fan of Helen Fields and her DI Callanach series for a long time so I was delighted to see this standalone book from her that I quickly devour. I can now report that The Last Girl to Die is classic Helen Fields: a dark murder mystery with lots of plausible twists.

Seventeen-year-old Adriana Clark and her family have recently relocated from the US to a small island off the coast of Scotland when she goes missing. Frustrated with a lack of police progress, the family hires Canadian private investigator Sadie Levesque to come help them. Sadie quickly finds Adriana's ritualistically brutalized body in a cave on the island and raises the question as to the identity of the killer and the motive for the killing. Could there be a killer lurking among the island inhabitants ready to strike again or is the killer from off-island as the police claim? Sadie begins her own investigation at the behest of the Clark family and discovers ancient island secrets that could lead to the killer.

Once again Fields took me on a trip where every time I thought I knew who the killer was, a red herring or a twist would make me doubt myself. In the end, I was once again on the losing end of identifying the killer and the motive. In her typically fast-paced writing style, the book moved along with a strong sense of place and excellent character development. I think fans of dark, twisty murder mysteries will enjoy this book as much as I did.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an advance copy of this book. The publication date is September 1, 2022.

This is one twisty book. None of my guesses regarding the “Who done it” were correct. A rarity for me since I read so many mysteries and thrillers. The ending is a real shocker and not anything I would have predicted. Now I’ll be looking up more books by this author! It sure made me wary of traveling to Scotland but it was a great story. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the amazing ARC.

This is an absolutely brilliant, rollercoaster of a read by Helen Fields! Set on the island of Mull, a teenager is missing and an investigator from Canada is called in by the parents of the missing girl. Sadie is a PI, specialising in missing teenage girls. I loved her character, smart, brave and intuitive, she soon finds an eerie atmosphere on the island and is made to feel unwelcome by the locals. Local police are not too happy by her presence as she also faces hostility by them. This is so well written, with hints of witchcraft, full of tension and is an easy 5* read which I highly recommend. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC which I read in one sitting.

Sadie, a private investigator is hired by a family, with secrets of their own to find out who killed their daughter. This was set on an island in Scotland where mythology and superstitions still ruled the unconscious of the town. Woman, as witches, needing to be controlled. It was haunting in some ways, slow moving in other ways with an unexpected tragic ending

In search of a new life, seventeen-year-old Adriana Clark’s family moves to the ancient, ocean battered Isle of Mull, far off the coast of Scotland. Then she goes missing. Faced with hostile locals and indifferent police, her desperate parents turn to private investigator Sadie Levesque.
Sadie is the best at what she does. But when she finds Adriana’s body in a cliffside cave, a seaweed crown carefully arranged on her head, she knows she’s dealing with something she’s never encountered before.
The deeper she digs into the island’s secrets, the closer danger creeps and the more urgent her quest to find the killer grows. Because what if Adriana is not the last girl to die?
Really enjoyed this book totally recommend
Thank You NetGalley and Avon Books Uk
I just reviewed The Last Girl to Die by Helen Fields. #NetGalley

I really like Helen Fields' Luc Callanach series so didn't hesitate when I saw a standalone up on Netgalley.

I liked this book, I didn't love it. I felt it was slow moving and failed at times to hold my attention. I really liked Sadie, she had a great personality and her ongoing tiffs with the police seargent had me totally rooting for her. Overall, a good thriller.

The Last Girl To Die by Helen Fields
I give this book 4.25 stars

17 year-old Adriana Clark’s family move to the ancient Isle of Mull, Then she goes missing.
PI Sadie is the best at what she does. But when she finds Adriana’s body she knows she’s dealing with something she’s never encountered before.
The deeper she digs,the closer danger creeps – and the more urgent her quest to find the killer grows. Because what if Adriana is not the last girl to die?

This is a chilling standalone Scottish Crime Thriller.
A past and present murder, a community who don’t like outsiders and plenty of Mull myths and legends.This twisty mystery has an interesting and wilful protagonist, Sadie a Canadian PI who whilst looking into a missing girl finds herself caught up in so much more (no spoilers you need to read it for yourself) The descriptions of the Isle are stunning and atmospheric and make an ideal setting.A dark pulse racing read,this author has done it again!
With thanks to Netgalley ,Helen Fields and Avon Books UK for my chance to read and review this book

First time reading anything by Helen Fields and I wasn’t disappointed. I thoroughly enjoyed The Last Girl to Die. It was well written, descriptive and memorable with great character development. I loved Sadie’s character and her relationships with the other characters. I enjoyed the myths and legends associated with the island that were tied in with the storyline. The twists and turns kept coming throughout and hook you in. I was totally gripped all the way till the end, what an ending it was, so unexpected. I loved the setting of book on the Isle of Mull which is beautifully described.
A brilliant fast paced mystery thriller. Highly recommend.
Thanks to #NetGallery #AvonBooks #HelenFields for an arc of #TheLastGirlToDie in exchange for an honest review.

Another stand alone from one of my favourite authors. Atmospheric, a remote setting and a real page turner. Full of heart stopping moments and so emotional. With an explosive ending I never saw coming. It left me speechless. I really thought that this author's last book One For Sorrow was good but her latest The Last Girl To Die is on another level. This is a tour de force of a crime thriller and so much more. A must read and I promise that you will not be disappointed. Loved, loved it!!!!
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

I had mixed feelings about this book. I liked the setting, and I quite liked the main character, I didn't fully take to her, and I found the story to be quite slow .Overall, not a bad read, but it didn't really grab me.

This was such a thrilling read! I wasn’t sure what to expect, as I hadn’t liked The Shadow Man, but I was on the edge of my seat for most of the book. I really liked Sadie - I thought she was smart, tenacious, and compassionate. There were some moments where I thought she made the wrong call, but these led to some of the best shocks. I also thought Mull was a fantastic character - the isolated Scottish island had that wonderful creepy & wild atmosphere, and outsiders are definitely made to feel unwelcome. This gave me plenty of opportunities to second guess what was going on & who did it. The story has plenty of twists & turns, so I never knew what was going to happen next. And that ending - wow, I never saw that coming! This was fantastic & I really enjoyed it.

Amazing! This is such a well written, fascinating tale about a Canadian PI, Sadie Levesque, who arrives on the Island of Mull to help a family whose daughter is missing.

What follows is an incredible page turner of a read that has us doubting every character. I've read others by this author and this is an excellent stand alone thriller that honestly had me hooked from the first page to the last. I'm now in shock and may take a few days before I can consider reading another book.

The author is so skilled at drawing the characters and the atmospheric island of Mull is a perfect setting. I really don't want to say too much about the storyline as I am delighted not to have known much before I started reading.

I loved it! And if you enjoy an atmospheric, well written psychological thriller with a gripping storyline, this is for you.

Congratulations, Helen Fields! A cracker of a read. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the opportunity to preview this fantastic book.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book.

Not normally a fan of the supernatural but I enjoyed this book. Sadie was a great character.

This was an amazing book with some great twists and turns. I do not usually go for a book with a "professional " solving the crime, but I really enjoyed Sadie as a private investigator. This book was unexpected, but I am very happy that I read it!

Loved the plot and setting of this novel. First book by this author I have read, but it won't be my last. Many twists and turns, I couldn't put it down

Private investigator Sadie Levesque is asked to help when 17-year-old Adriana Clark goes missing on the remote Isle of Mull. Worried the police aren’t taking the disappearance seriously Adriana’s parents fly Sadie to Mull to find her. Unfortunately, when Sadie finds Adriana, it is clear she has been dead for some days. The police are hostile, and the locals don’t like strangers, so Sadie finds herself struggling to help the grieving family to get answers. The more she digs the less Sadie feels she knows. There is talk of witchcraft and past crimes coming back to haunt the island, but Sadie is certain the answer lies in the present not the past. How far will she go to find the truth and what will that truth cost her.
Full of twists and an ending I really didn't see coming, this will intrigue and excite right up to the end.

Another enjoyable read from Helen Fields! A pretty standard thriller in terms of plot and twists, but still kept me guessing!