Having previously enjoyed the other books of this series, I was looking forward to catching up with the detectives and following their latest case but something about this book just didn't work for me. I've picked it up and put it down several times, trying to force myself to read more than a page or three at a time but I cannot seem to connect with it this time. I think therefore that it's only fair to shelve this book for the time being and move on to something else.

I really enjoyed this book, I seem to dip in and out of the series, I read this one a while ago and I can still remember the exhilaration that I felt as I was getting further and further into it. 
I really like the main character, she's got definite edge but also compassion and understanding. 
I can imagine this series appealing to both men and women, which sometimes isn't that easy. 

The story was good and I thought that the plot was well executed.

This is the fourth book in the D.I Luc Callanch series. Although I have not read any of the others I soon found myself gripped by this book. I will read the others as it seems like there are some great characters with their own backstories that I have missed out on. 

This is a great story, young girls are being kidnapped, they are kept tied up and they all have a doll like shape carved from their abdomens, before they are abandoned left to die on a road. Their skin and hair is made into a gruesome doll. 

The other case is of a new drug ”‘Spice” which is popular among the homeless and turns the user into a zombie. Whilst they are under the effects of the drug a few have been attacked leaving them with a carved  Z on their cheeks. 

Luc and DCI Ava Turner are desperately working both cases before there are more victims. Are the 2 cases related?

I am going back to the beginning of this series and will enjoy finding out more about these great characters.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

This was my first read into this series. I found that the reading experience was enjoyable, but I would have appreciated this book more if I had started at the beginning of the series. A main point of this book is the ensemble cast that all work within the police department, and while I liked the characters and their personalities, I couldn't follow the characters as much as I would have liked. I really liked the two main detectives and would definitely read this series from the beginning to get to know them and their history.

What really drew me in was the overall premise. There's a serial killer who is kidnapping women, cutting their skin off, and dropping them in the middle of nowhere to let them die. This case was creepy, dark, and fascinating. I liked how the women each got to share a window into their stories and these chapters stuck out the most to me. The case itself didn't pan out as I expected and the end let me down a bit, but for the most part I enjoyed the case.

Helen Fields has created a gem of a world with Luc and Ava. Their friendship and budding romance is superbly well written and it balances perfectly with the dark crimes they investigate. This was definitely one of the most harrowing crimes they've dealt with and it was written so well. I absolutely love this series of books.

Descriptive, thrilling, gory and mysterious - this novel had all the hallmarks of a great mystery/ thriller novel.  Coming in i did not realise i was reading book 4 in a series, but that didn't really matter, as the author made me feel like i knew the characters already, without having read the previous 3.  Definitely recommend.

WOW........actually felt as if I’d stepped into one of my favourite crime dramas.
Absolutely brilliant book,fast paced enthralling and absolutely believable this is a book not to be put down.
Set in Scotland the race is on to find what the media is dubbing this serial killer  “the babydoll killer “ before it’s too late and  another woman is found dead on another roadside.
This had me gripped and on tenterhooks.....cannot wait for the next instalment in this series.
Cannot recommend it enough...5 stars.

This is the fourth book in the series and I loved catching back up with Luc and Ava! The plot in this book is great, I was gripped from the beginning and it kept me fully engaged right to the books brilliant ending.

I love the writing style in this series it is addictive and I love the interaction between Luc and Ava as they try to crack the cases that they find themselves attached too.

This book has the same dark themes as previous books and some could find it a bit gruesome in places but for me it is completely in keeping with the books theme and plot and it makes for a very enjoyable story that had me hooked.

Really looking forward to the next book - A great addition to the series and a 5 star read for me!! Brilliant book!!

While I hadn't read the previous three books in this series, I really enjoyed Perfect Silence nonetheless. 

The story started strong with the body of a young woman found near Edinburgh.

Soon, the detectives will realize that they are looking at a serial killer while someone else, or not, is attacking homeless people in the city.

This thriller was suspenseful and surprising. I loved following the detective work while being able to see the story unroll through some of the victims' eyes.

I thought Perfect Silence was a great return to form for Helen Fields after a slightly disappointing book 3 (Perfect Death). The two cases being investigated by the team were gripping and I liked that we are starting to see more interaction between Ava and Luc again. I couldn’t put the book down and am very much looking forward to book 5.

I received a copy of the book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

When you dip into a series halfway through, you’re not supposed to really realize until you Google the book. For me, that was mostly the case with Perfect Silence. Things had happened before the book started, clearly, but they were never an obstacle and when they came up they made perfect sense to rationalize a character’s actions. That’s what I want to see! Books playing into each other without being co-dependent. I do also have to say that part of what attracted me to this book was that it was set in Scotland and I kind of miss Edinburgh at the moment. But leaving my sentimentality behind, let’s get into it! Thanks to HarperCollins and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.
 
In Perfect Silence one theme stood out to me and that was that of “vigilante justice”/ ”punishment of the immoral”. The book revolves around two different cases but they are united by the shaed ense that someone out there is trying to clean up the streets, get rid of those they deem unworthy and enforce their own set of morals. It is a notion that has always fascinated me when it came to superhero characters like Batman or Daredevil, these deeply tortured men we root for because they only get rid of the bad guys. The main criticism they face in their own stories is that no one gave them the right to decide, even if flawed policing or legislating gave them the opportunity. In Perfect Silence Helen Fields puts us on the side of those who are being punished, who aren’t considered good, as well as on the side of the police officers trying to save these people, no matter who they might be. It was a thought I found really interesting and although Fields doesn’t dig into it very deeply, focusing rather on solving the crimes at hand, I helped keep me intrigued.

In Perfect Silence, the body of a young girl is found just outside of Edinburg. Shortly after, a doll fashioned out of the girl’s skin is discovered next to an abandoned baby. So begins perhaps one of the most macabre mystery/detective books I have read in a while. Fields puts you both inside the head of the victim, as well as inside her investigators, DCI Ava Turner and DI Luc Callanach. Knowing the victims means that each crime packs even more of an emotional punch, as we see how hard they try to survive. Similarly, Ava and Luc are battling their own demons while chasing the real ones. Supported by a cast of great character, Fields’ protagonists race against time to save whomever they can. Perfect Silence is unapologetic in its harshness, and for some readers it might be a bit too much, but I found that Fields still treats it with a kind of dignity. It is not gory or painful for sensationalism, but to make a point. In the end I found myself enormously invested in the characters and the novel, so I will definitely be looking up the rest of the series soon!

Helen Fields hardly needs praise from me but I’m going to give it to her anyway. Fields shies away from the simple black and white, and it is within the grey area that Perfect Silence triumphs. The plot is complex, with different narrators and two different story-lines, but Fields brings it together seamlessly, allowing one crime to inform the other. The personal lives of her protagonists don’t distract from the plot but rather add to it. Another thing I liked about Perfect Silence was the way Fields captured a different side from Edinburgh than you usually see. It’s not touristy or medieval, it is a modern city dealing with a dark underbelly. Finally, Fields manages to let the reader in on information before the main characters, but without giving away the actual identity of the killer. It will throw you for a loop and somehow make it all much more horrifying.

Perfect Silence kept me captivated throughout and on the edge of my seat. You can’t help but get attached to Fields’ characters and she crafts her novel so clearly that you never once lose the thread. Everything comes together in the end in a way that is very rewarding for a reader constantly looking for clues. I’d recommend this novel to anyone with an appetite for Mystery, but prepare yourself, this one is a hard pill to swallow.

Thank you Avon & NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book - all opinions are my own.

What else is there to say except I love Helen Fields, and I have no idea how she does it, but she writes the most perfect, sinister, diabolical, terrifying suspense novels, and I LOVE THEM.

While this is the fourth book in the DI Luc Callanch series, you can arguably read any as a stand alone (although why you would want to miss out on three other near perfect books is beyond me).   This book lands us right back in the middle of a spring of grisly murders on the outskirts of Edinburgh, with Luc and Ava desperately trying to figure out who is responsible before more bodies pile up.

Helen Fields is the queen at writing deeply terrifying, atmospheric tension into her stories, that make the books literally impossible to set down once you start.  You have to find out what will happen.  I have yet to be able to pause reading any of her work.

I also love continuing to read the stories of Luc and Ava - I love characters that feel grounded in reality, who you feel you could probably grab a beer with in a local pub.  Most importantly I love that Helen writes them as human, flawed characters who are by far not perfect, but who are trying hard to be good at their jobs.

I can't actually talk more about this book, because I think every reader should enjoy these books completely spoiler free - but I will say that EVERY thriller lover out there should have this series on their TBR, or you are seriously missing out.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This is the 4th book in the DI Luc Callanch series by author Helen Fields. It is a strong, fierce police procedural series filled with unique characters and heinous crimes.  DI Luc Callanach and DCI Ava Turner are the main investigators. Callanach has moved over from Interpol and is a dedicated officer whose personal struggles impact his professional life. Turner tries to deal with her promotion and her relationship with Callanach, as well as make some tough decisions in the field. A well-rounded, consuming story with some dark and nasty criminals. I look forward to reading the first three novels as well.

Besser als der erste Band der Serie - hier gibt es wesentlich mehr Schwung in allem, Spannung und seht gut gezeichnete Charaktere. Solide Handarbeit.

This is the 4th book in a series but it is strong enough to hold its own.  You don’t have to read the previous ones to enjoy this.  But I think you will seek them out, I know I will.
I really liked the main character, Ava.  She’s a powerful female lead who is compassionate.  The plot is solid and moves pretty quick so there are no lulls in the story and no reason to get bored.  The crime is creepy enough to hook you in and make you want to stay to until the killer gets caught.  There is a hint of romance between the main characters but it’s small enough that you can ignore if you don’t like romance in your murder mysteries.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A well designed cover which perfectly reflects this story. Victims who are chosen as sinners, but baby dolls are cut out of them. These dolls are baptised as the perfect creation with a new beginning. An immensely uneasy scenario but works brilliantly. There are many layers to this book, even within the personal relationships of the staff. A very satisfying read. I will be going back and checking the rest of this series. Well done!

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon books UK, Avon and Helen Fields for the chance to read and review this book. 

"Death was a slowly creeping monster, and the terror was almost unbearable." 

The body of a young girl is found dumped on the roadside in the outskirts of Edinburgh.  When pathologists examine the remains, they make a gruesome discovery: the outline of a doll carved into the victim's skin. 

DCI Ava Turner and DC Luc Callanach are struggling to find leads in the case, until a doll made of skin is found nestled beside an abandoned baby. 

After another young woman is found butchered, Luc and Ava realise the babydoll like is playing a horrifyingly game.  And it's only a matter of time before he strikes again. Can they stop another victim from being silenced forever - or is it already too late? 

Wow! Helen Fields blew me away with this book. It was her best yet and contained some of the most sickening killings and a serial killer that is among the most sadistic you'll find. After finishing this book I was sat in shock and awe at just how brilliant it was. This was truly the perfect read to help me out of a reading slump.

Perfect Silence is book four in this series and bring back with DI Luc Callanach and DCI Ava Turner in Scotland feels like reconnecting with old friends.  By this point you know the Team but for anyone reading this as their first book in the series enough information is given for it to make sense and work as a stand alone book. Though I can't imagine you not wanting to read the previous books after such a fantastic story and I would highly recommended the previous novels. 

The horror faced by the first victim, Zoey, as her life ebbs away is a riveting and captivating start to the book. We witness her desperate battle to escape and survive the madman who kidnapped and butchered her, get a glimpse into her tragic life as she reflects on what led her to this moment, and feel her finally accept her cruel fate as she embraces the sweet release of death. 

As Ava, Luc and their team hunt for the person who is kidnapping young women, killing them and making macabre skin dolls they find they come up with very few clues. How is he choosing his victims? Why is he killing them? Why make the dolls? 

It isn't until victim four is taken that they finally get some answers and as the police are closing in on their suspect the minutes are ticking by, my heart pounds and the switches in narration between the Ava and the woman being held make the wait agonising. Will they get there in time to rescue her or will a final victim be claimed? Will they capture the dollbaby killer or will they elude them? It is almost too much to bear as we race to the finish line with what seems to be the speed of a tortoise. 

Right up until the police are about to knock on their door I'd had no idea as to the killer's true identity other than the snippets the writer had teasingly fed us along the way. This made the big reveal satisfying for both the reader and fictional detectives. 

The tension from the opening chapter is maintained throughout this book and I couldn't put it down. I love how this author writes: her vivid descriptions, the apprehension that grips you from the first page, the horror mixed in with human empathy and kindness, the awfulness of meeting your fate at the hands of a maniac and knowing you are powerless to change it and the hope you can't quite lose until that final moment death comes. These things blended together and set amongst the mundane details of everyday life create a story that gets it's hooks into you the minute you start reading and doesn't let go until the last sentence. Helen Fields has created one of the best Detective/Crime Series available. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Mystery, Thriller and Crime books.

"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."

DI Luc Callanach and DCI Ava Turner with MIT are busy with the Babydoll Killer. A monster who makes dolls from skin cut from the bodies of young women who are kept alive while it happens. With few clues, the investigation keeps stalling out even as the death toll mounts. The killer seems to be a religious nutcase with a peculiar mandate and each victim is selected with care. Can they find this psychopath and get justice for the dead girls?

In addition, Callanach and Turner are running a parallel case involving random attacks on homeless drug users. Because they're high on "spice", they aren't reliable witnesses to their own assaults -- but then one victim dies. When information leads the team to a surprising perpetrator, all hell breaks loose within the police. Will Turner keep her job or has she gone too far this time with her arrogant disregard of orders from higher up?

I absolutely love this series. The setting, the characters, the cases -- it all rings with the authority of an author who knows the business. The story is immediately absorbing, quite chilling and the action interspersed with great dialogue and human interaction. Both police procedural and crime drama, this fourth in the series ticks all the boxes. I love the relationships between the members of the team and enjoy glimpses into their personal lives. I've been quite happy, however, that no romance has come into full bloom and hope it stays that way!

Now, unfortunately, I have come to the end of the available installments in this series. While I wait impatiently for #5 (PERFECT CRIME) to be released, I'll just keep all my new friends in Police Scotland in mind. I think it's best to read them all in order and I highly recommend the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, for the e-book ARC to read and review.

I've previously read Perfect Remains by the same author and found it extremely gripping. I had very high hopes for this one too and I'm glad to say I wasn't disappointed. I tend to ehjoy police procedurals and don't mind them being a bit gruesome. This was one of those and the crimes being committed aren't for the faint hearted! Even more so because we follow the victims as they are attacked rather than just coming to the aftermath when their bodies are found.  I haven't read books 2 and 3 in the series but this one focused more on DCI Ava Turner rather than DI Luc Callanach. I didn't mind this and enjoyed Ava as a character even more than before. A great read and highly recommended!

Loved this - these get better and better.
Great criminal, great plot and 2 great characters. 
Excited about where this goes next