Wow! That was a stunner of an opening chapter and I couldn’t wait to read on. This is a very well written and planned story line with a number of threads coming together seamlessly. Set in a village on the island of Mull, off the coast of Scotland, this thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat. The story is told largely from Sadie’s POV but there are a few chapters narrated by the island itself - frankly the first of these I found really strange and couldn’t quite understand it, however, much later on in the book it becomes very clear!

Briefly, Canadian private investigator Sadie Levesque is called to Scotland by the parents of Adriana Clark, who is missing. The local police have been less than helpful and Sadie soon finds a body in a nearby cave. When it’s confirmed that the body is that of Adriana her parents ask Sadie to stay on and try and find the killer. She agrees but when she starts her enquiries the hostility level from many of the locals and some of the police moves up a level. The more she digs into the people in the village and the myths and legends surrounding the island the more she becomes concerned about the safety of other girls, and her own safety.

I couldn’t put this book down once I started it. The islanders largely came across as very insular and quite threatening and Sadie seemed to take chances that most wouldn’t dream of. I enjoyed the inclusion of a character from the authors police detective series, which is one of my favourite in its genre. Yes, a very good read with a completely shocking and totally unexpected climax ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (rounded up to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)

I’m gutted that I didn’t like this one more because I love Helen Fields’ series. However I really struggled with this book. I didn’t overly love the storyline and it was hard to stay interested. The thing that made this a 3 star instead of 2 is the ending. It wasn’t what I expected, so I was surprised. But up until the ending it was going to be a 2 star read for me. I liked the main character but didn’t love her or feel very connected - which is a big difference between this book and Fields’ series. I’m so used to loving this author’s characters so I was a bit disappointed. I wanted to love this book because it was an interesting storyline idea, and I did love the writing as it was easy to read. I would recommend this one but unfortunately it just wasn’t for me. However I will definitely be reading future books from Helen Fields.

I'm really enjoying this book so far. I tend to pick my NetGalley reads based on their cover (I know, you shouldn't!) so I hadn't read the blurb when I started. I love that it is written from the POV of a Private Investigator and like how er are learning bits of Sadie's personal story as we go.
As we get into the story the history of The Island is being brought back into the current day as we see how the past can influence the future. I am yet to finish but have been enjoying so far.

Called to the Isle of Mull by the Clarke family following the disappearance of their daughter Adriana, Sadie, a private investigator, is soon caught up in island life. She finds Adriana's body, posed and staged, and soon falls out with the local police as she questions why they didn't search properly. The islanders are hostile towards her and old paganistic routines are still being followed. Will Sadie be able to help the Clarke family find out who killed Adriana before anyone else loses their life?
I found the intruige and mystery compelling and the descriptions of the island were stunning. I questioned some of Sadie's decision making at time, especially the latter part of the book but it all pulls together by the finale, which I certainly didn't expect
Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the chance to read this advanced copy, I am under no obligation to leave my review

The Last Girl to Die follows Sadie Levesque, a Canadian private investigator in her pursue to solve Adriana Clark's murder on Isle Of Mull, Scotland. The investigation proves difficult as the community are not extractly keen on foreigners -especially those painting their beloved light in a bad light. Things get complicated as it turns out the Clarks had actually just emmigrated from America under less than clear circumstances and the local police are seemingly not interested in helping solve Adriana's disappearance. When more women start to disappear, Sadie's arrival is blamed for it. Will she solve the crimes before she is forced out? Will she be another victim?

This was a great book! Very atmospheric, eerie and sometimes downright scary! I really liked the character of Sadie Levesque and hopefully we'll get more books centred around her.

The ending was absolutely shocking and extremely sad. This is to be expected in a mystery thriller but there was something about the way Helen Fields writes that makes you feel completely engrossed in her words and feel as if you knew the characters in her books!

Recommended

goodreads.com/booksireadandliked
Disclosure: I would like to thank the publisher and author for my advanced review copy of the book. This is my honest review

An incredible story full of mystery and magic. The ending was completely unexpected and has left me heart sore. I will be thinking about this book for a long time.

Helen Fields does it again. I must admit every time a new book by this author comes out I am straight on it as I know it is always going to be a brilliant and read and this one is no exception. It is a stand alone book away from her usual perfect novels but do not let that put you off. The story twists and turns right up to the last page.
As ever with everything Helen writes I highly recommend this new book you will not be disappointed.

This was a great thriller with a great setting. A story of a family who faced a tragedy and fled America for an island in Scotland....lots of twists, turns and unexpected things made this book hard to put down. A strong female character Sadie really made this story memorable.

Name of Book: The Last Girl to Die
Author: Helen Fields
Publisher: Avon Books UK
Genre: Crime Mystery/Suspense
Pub Date: September 1, 2022
My Rating: 3 Stars

I have only read two [Helen Fields novels. They were both in the DI Callanach series.
One of the comments I made regarding her novels ~ “She has a very creative mind; stories are original and creative!”
Yep I have been looking forward to another of Ms. Fields’ stories

In this story, Sadie Levesque is a private investigator hired by an American family living on “Isle of Mall’ (an island off the coast of Scotland) to help find their missing teenage daughter Adriane Clarke.
Sadie gets pulled into a series of murders and uncovers secrets about the island and its inhabitants.
Story is told from the POV of Sadie’s as well as the island (This is something author, Elin Hildebrand often does in her ‘Beach Read ~ Nantucket novels’ as she would have several POVs included Nantucket’s.)
Trust me this is NOT a light ‘beach read’. In fact, it is difficult for me to rate. There is no doubt Ms. Fields is a great writer but this is not an enjoyable story ~ it is a disturbing crime investigation.
I was curious whodunit and so stayed with it but ~I am ready for a nice cozy mystery!

I love to read the 'Author’s Acknowledgements' as well as "The Author’s Note”
In this case, Ms. Fields has her ‘Acknowledgements’ in the beginning of the story. She tells us readers that she thinks of us readers when she writes. She imagines our faces when she kills off a character!
I thought of that when I stared into space after reading some of the horrible crimes.

Her “Author’s Notes" are at the end and she tells us that this story is, of course, fiction but the Isle of Mull is real and the folklore of the Mull witches is also a part of the island. She encourages us to visit and ‘no’ do NOT expect any murders but will find an intriguing place.

Want to thank NetGalley and Avon Book UK for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for an honest professional review.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for September 1, 2022

There were so many twists and turns that I could not figure out who the perpetrator was. The story is based on an island off the coast of Scotland only accessible by ferry. Legends and witchcraft play a huge role in in the book. I was completely engrossed in the story and recommend this book

Brilliant read !
Sadie is a Canadian private investigator. She has been brought in to the Isle Of Mull Scotland -to look into the disappearance of a young girl . Her job isn't made any easier by the locals who are not keen on foreigners poking their noses into their lives and the traditions of the Island.
When the bodies start piling up Sadie realises she may have bitten off more than she could chew .
Lots of twists and turns with an electrifying ending -Fabulous

Thankyou NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review

I was excited to read this book, and as with Helen Fields’ other novels, the twists and turns keep coming and quickly hook you in. I found myself thinking there were too many coincidences for the story to be feasible at times, but who needs fiction to be feasible, right?! Overall I really enjoyed it and didn’t see the ending coming, which is always a positive.

An unusual storyline written in the first person. It was quite a departure from previous books, using a Canadian female main character. It was a very interesting read when you did not know who to trust and who not to trust, and we were introduced to several characters. It was a little slow in places but well worth sticking with as the ending does not disappoint.

I am fast becoming a fan of this author!

A teenager goes missing and the parents feeling helpless decide to hire Private Investigator Sadie Levesque. Sadie arrives to the Isle of Mull, a small island far off the coast of Scotland where the police are rude and the locals are unwelcoming. This was a great atmospheric read with twists and surprises along the way. Very well written with great character development I really liked Sadie's character.

My first book by this author was "One For Sorrow" and I absolutely loved that book so I was thrilled to be approved for this ARC.

This was a good read and I loved that the ancient myths and legends associated with the island were tied in with the storyline. I will be looking into Helen Fields' other books. Definitely recommend!

A big thank you to Avon UK and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

Brilliant!! Couldn't put it down! I was gripped right through to the very end. I was genuinely surprised by the ending and was devastated when it finished!!

Thanks for letting me review this book to the publisher and Netgalley.
I loved this cracking good mystery and loved the setting on th Isle of Mull . The author is at the top of her game . I loved that the plot kept you engaged and guessing.

When Sadie, a Canadian PI is called to (the real, but in this case fictional) Isle of Mull, to investigate a missing American teenager, she has no idea what lies in store… From hostile islanders, suspicious, secretive family (especially the missing girl’s twin brother) who are clearly hiding information and a local, irate police force, Sadie is facing an uphill battle to work out what’s going on. She has only Nate, the pathologist and Lance Proudfoot (a journalist interested in a murder on the isle 40 years ago) to guide her through the confusion. When Adriana is found dead and further issues arise, Sadie begins to question everything and everyone.

With the remote island setting, closed, unwelcoming, suspicious locals and a wonderful dash of myths and folklore, this is a page turner of a book, it really has everything and I was gripped throughout.

There are the usual, wonderful twists and turns to be expected with a Helen Fields book but “The Last Girl to Die” is written not only to grip the reader but with an almost poetic quality that draws the reader in and stays long after the last chapter is finished. The chapters from the POV of the Isle are simply insightful. Just beautiful.

I’m a big fan of Helen Fields’ ‘Perfect’ series of books, and was eager to read her latest stand alone novel.

I found the book to be intriguing, though I did not completely enjoy the mythical theme that ran through the story (I don’t want to give any spoilers away).

This book was just ok for me. It centers in Sadie, a private investigator hired by an American family living in Scotland to help find their missing teenage daughter. Sadie gets pulled into a whole string of murders and uncovers secrets about the small island and its inhabitants. The book is mostly told from Sadie’s POV, but there are some chapters narrated by the island itself to tell the reader more about the history, which honestly I thought was strange and unnecessary.

I had a really hard time getting into this book and considered abandoning it for the first quarter or so. I can’t exactly figure out why- there was a lot happening but there was also a lot if detail, and I just wasn’t fully engaged. I powered through and did find the pace to pick up as it continued, though. Sadie was not an unlikable character but I still didn’t really connect with her; I thought she made reckless choices to which I couldn’t personally relate. The story itself ended up being pretty good and I was surprised a couple times as the mystery unraveled. The end was really weird and although I didn’t love it, it was memorable.

Overall, I’m glad I finished the book but it wasn’t my favorite. Good mystery and memorable ending though. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A crime story with a strong female lead. A modern day murder interwoven with myth and history from the island of Mull