*My apologies for the delay in writing this review as I was rushed to hospital two weeks ago and then had surgery last week and now I have clots in my leg and lumgs, and I haven't been up to reading or reviewing since.*

When I requested this book I didn't realise it was part of a series. In fact upon requesting, I had this author mixed up with another "Helen" and thought it was her latest release, so I was a little confused when I began to find I was in Scotland rather than the Lake District...with totally different characters. The fact this is the sixth book in a series made it a little confusing to connect with the characters because they already have so much history that I was not privy to. But it was an interesting premise, to say the least.

Set between Edinburgh and Paris, PERFECT KILL focuses on two cases that are drawn together, seemingly somehow linked when a DNA test returns a result to a missing Scottish boy. Bart Campbell wakes in a completely dark place with no idea where he is. Bound but not gagged, he has been kidnapped after finishing his shift the night before and when his mother wakes in their flat, she is puzzled to find he hasn't returned home. He is then reported as a missing person when he fails to return.

A young woman escapes her prison, running through back alleys and banging on doors for help. Only to find the door that opens to her is one that is on the payroll of her captors and she finds herself dragged back to the life she had not come to Britain for.

DCI Ava Turner wakes next to a colleague she had taken to her bed on a whim, regretting it instantly, while still pining for Luc Callanach. She receives a call to attend the scene of a very gruesome murder, shortly followed by a call from Luc. DI Luc Callanach was seconded to Interpol in France as part of an ongoing investigation into human trafficking and black market organ transplants.

Luc and Ava soon discover that their cases are linked, bringing Luc back to Scotland where the two are faced not only with their respective cases, but their feelings for each other.

I think I would have best appreciated PERFECT KILL had I read the previous books in the series, although the crime is a standalone story, the backstory to the characters are not.

In all, PERFECT KILL is a gritty thriller that is gruesome and graphic and suited best to those who like their crimes on a more distubring scale.

I would like to thank #HelenFields, #NetGalley and #AvonUK for an ARC of #PerfectKill in exchange for an honest review.

It’s been a while since I’ve read a police procedural type novel and it took me even longer to get round to reading this one. All I can say is shame on me - this was a brilliant entry back into this genre as well as Helen Fields’ works and I’ll definitely look out for her others. Given this is the sixth instalment of this series, I did feel that I wasn’t as connected to the characters and aware of their backstories as I could have been, so perhaps it would be better to start at the earlier novels in the series, but other than feeling less engrossed in Luc, Ava and Natasha’s lives, this did not prevent me from poring over the case. The storyline is amazing (although it feels somewhat questionable to say that about one so wretched). Perfect Kill is an engrossing, gritty and, unfortunately, accurate insight into the world of trafficking; it is hard-hitting, making it easy to feel compassion for each and every one of the victims. Fields’ knowledge of both the subject matter and the locations covered does not go unnoticed and adds so many realistic layers to the plot. Other than it all coming oh-so-cleanly together at at the end (but would we want it any other way?) I really enjoyed this book - 4 big stars. 

*I received an advance review copy of Perfect Kill from the publisher through NetGalley.

What can I say I will read anything Helen Fields writes I love the perfect series and have recommended them to anyone that would listen - and many listened and are also hooked.
I love the two central characters and how they have developed over each book.
Needless to say Perfect Kill does not disappoint. I know the word page turner is banded about so much but in the case of this book (and the previous) it is totally true. To say much would give it away but  grab a copy and read the only warning is you will not be able to put it down!

The Luc Callanach series is one of my favourites  and I always look forward to the next instalment.
This one didn’t disappoint - a brutal and sometimes uncomfortable story of prostitution and organ harvesting.
Luc is still in France with Interpol and Ava in Scotland. When a young Scottish man is found dead  in France with all of his internal organs missing, Ava and Luc have the task of finding out what has happened.
Alongside this is the story of Elenuta, who has been lured from her homeland with promises of a good job and the means to provide for her family, but has in fact been trapped in a world of prostitution and misery.
The story was very cleverly told, intertwined with the on off relationship between Ava and Luc - this time however, they are united because of Natasha and a devastating illness.
Looking forward to the next one already!

I'm a fan of Perfect Crime but Perfect Kill made me hands down to you, Helen Sarah Fields!

I was not prepared with the twist of this thrilling and gut-wrenching story. Wow! 

The plot was unbelievable mind-blowing! Ava and Luc is still the best tandem! 

Hopefully, in the seventh book, our hearts will finally be joyful.

Thank you to Avon Books and Netgalley for the ARC!

This is a very gritty thriller with graphic themes of sex trafficking and organ harvesting, that will not be for those who prefer their crime cosy. However, this is well written, gripping suspense that will have your heart in your mouth as you read about the horrors that are inflicted on the young men and women abducted and held captive and tortured by some very cruel and nasty criminals. A riveting read!

Thank you Netgalley, Avon Books Uk and Helen for the advanced copy of this book 
Totally brilliant and a really different story. I loved the way it linked together the crimes in France and Scotland. I don’t want to give anything away, but I wish Ava and Luc would sort themselves out, hopefully in the next book - I hope there will be on - things may change. Please Helen keep writing this series.

What a fantastic book! Some of the events in this one really shocked me, as I didn’t know that people were capable of having ideas like the one featured in this storyline. The main part of the storyline was shocking and a bit upsetting, but written very well. Helen Fields has an amazing imagination, and I’m now sure that she’s a fantastic writer! Definitely a new favourite author of mine and I’m really hoping that there will be another book for this series. I’m a bit gutted that some characters were missing from this book, but most of my favourites were still included. I love the relationship between Ava, Natasha and Luc, and think they may be one of my favourite trios! The characters in this series have really grown on me, and I want to know what happens to all of them next. At the start of the series I wasn’t too sure about some of the characters, but now I love them. The storylines have all been fantastic and really gripping. The chapters are all the perfect length, which makes these books really easy to read. I’ve been hooked by every book and I can’t wait to hopefully read more about Luc and Ava in the future!

I love this series of books and the latest offering was not a disappointment.  Brilliant - I can’t wait for what is in store next.

This book is part of a series.  It can be read as a standalone but the back history of the characters is referred to occasionally.  This did not affect the overall reading experience for me.  Helen Fields tackles some very unsavory crimes in PERFECT KILL.  The crimes reach into several countries where the investigating parties have developed rapport from previous relationships.  The characters work together well, their skills complement each other while they work diligently to stop the wholesale disappearance of men and women who have no connection other than being in the wrong place at the right time.  Whether taken for the harvesting of organs for sale or sold into sex trafficking, these men and women have little hope.  I have now taken a long time to tell you that this is a fantastic book that will make you squeamish in parts but will also make you cheer out loud as our heroes close in on the criminals.  Now I'm going to have to go find the other books!

I really enjoyed this thrilling story. I loved the way two seemingly separate cases in two different countries were gradually interwoven into one massive crime. I also liked the dynamic between Luc and Maggie and as this is the first book I have read featuring them I can't wait to discover their back story. I thought the character of Natasha was a good addition to the book and without giving away any spoilers it will be interesting to see how her story pans out and how it will affect Luc and Maggie. I look forward to the next instalment in this story.

Today is my stop for the blog tour of one of my favourite authors, Helen Fields. Her latest book, Perfect Kill, is just perfect. Creepy, dark, full of action, unpredictable. Perfect. And don’t forget to visit all the other stops of this amazing blog tour.

This time Ava and Luc are facing two different cases. In France, Luc is working on a case where a young man’s body is found with all internal organs removed. The body belongs to a British citizen. A woman in Edinburgh reports her son missing. A young woman same age is also missing. Two possible victims of organ harvesting mafia. Luc is running against time to save these people’s lives. And find the killer.

In Scotland, Ava is working on a different case. Human trafficking. There is a body of a man connected with local mafia. Then there are several female bodies found on a farm. It turns out that they are connected. Can Ava and her team stop the chain of human trafficking from Eastern Europe and save all those women?

In the meantime, both Luc and Ava are trying to solve their personal problems. But their friend, Natasha, is battling breast cancer. Can they both put personal thing on side and just be there for their friend?

Perfect Kill is the sixth novel in the series, but it can perfectly stand alone. It is a gripping thriller, starting from the very first sentence. You read: “He had never heard himself scream before. It was terrifying.” and the hair stands up on your head and you don’t know what to expect next. The author included the most common evil in modern days, organ harvesting and human trafficking. She goes deep into the net of the mafia who plays with human lives like they don’t worth a thing. What the victims go through, is beyond every imagination. And adding Natasha to the whole story is a perfect balance. I enjoyed reading the book, couldn’t stop till the last page. Totally recommended.

The crimes in this book could, and probably are, happening now.  Trafficking, organ harvesting - a very modern, realistic novel which you won't be able to stop reading until the very last page.  The behaviour of the criminals is appalling - no humanity, people as commodities.  The victims and police are well-written, human and flawed, but it makes the novel even better.
Would recommend to anyone.

Perfect Kill is book six in the D.I. Callanach series and this series keeps getting better. 

Two detectives working on two different cases in two different countries find the cases linked. 

This is really well written. The storyline is so good it sucks you right in from the start and holds you tight all the way through. Although a good sized read I read this in a day as I couldn’t put it down. Perfect Kill is a brilliant story. The author doesn’t hold back which I was delighted with. Can’t wait for this author to write more.

How can Perfect Kill be the 6th book in the #Callanach series? It feels like yesterday that I met Ava and Luc! Yet, it feels we’ve been friends forever… I will never get enough of the sense of familiarity that envelops me when I pick Helen Fields’ series. It feels like coming home after wandering through other worlds. That’s how much I love everything about those Perfect books!

Chapter one. You know something is wrong. In her precise style, the author paints a parallel. A mother, a son. It doesn’t take long to understand this is the beginning of something big, dark, and ugly. I don’t know what is it with Helen Fields’s narrative style but she always manages to plunge me into her world by transporting me through my senses as well as my emotions, in equal parts, making me an active protagonist of the book. If I don’t turn that page, who will suffer because of it? Who will escape justice? Reading becomes life and death, and this time again, I was so immersed in the novel I thought I was going to burn with all the action!!!

Imagine waking up not knowing where you are, alone, and with little food and water for only company… Where are you headed? Who is behind this? Hello Bart.

Imagine being held against your will. Promises of a better future have led you to a scary place where the hope to survive is almost as painful as the idea of dying. Hello Elenuta.

What is the link?

Helen Fields plays hard and in Perfect Kill, she reunites two of the most horrendous things it’s hard to believe are happening in our pretty societies. She doesn’t spare the reader and doesn’t sugar-coat anything. You get the reality of what no one should have to go through. And more. It was ‘easy’ for me to stomach every detail as I know the author never give you anything for free. All details have a purpose, this is one of the reasons her writing is so efficient!

DCI Ava Turner and DI Luc Callanach are not on the same case. Not even in the same country. But the terrible fates of innocent people keep them linked. I was curious about how both would feel, be like, and face each other after the events of the previous book. This is a tricky time for the protagonists, but it is made smooth and authentic by Helen Fields, who doesn’t force anything on them. After six books, as a reader, I believe I know Ava and Luc, and would be able to say if they were acting in a way that felt out of character. But don’t be afraid, they’re still very much the same old stubborn people, struggling and dealing the best way they know how to (which means not very well!!!) Their personal lives get in the way, blending with two cases that turn heavier with every chapter. There might be miles between Ava and Luc in this book, but the evil oozing from the pages bring them together in multiple ways, my heart aches and was warmed, and then it broke a little more and… Read, and see.

I have said it in the past, this series doesn’t make for a comfortable read. Perfect Kill is no exception. It is disturbing, it leaves you repulsed by the black hearts and minds you meet. Helen Fields sheds light on plagues of our society we would rather not know or not think about. When you think you’ve met the devil, grab any book from the Perfect series and see how wrong you were… Still I keep reading. Helen Fields takes crime fiction to the highest level by throwing us in the cave where demons hide.

I only have one niggle with this book. Bear with (the French part of) me. As much as I was happy to see Luc come back to France, a detail had me go ‘no!’ A bit of context: Luc and his colleague meet a woman in a prison. She is said to have been condemned to several life prison sentences. Except France doesn’t have ‘real’ life sentences. I am no specialist, I just wanted to mention it so that readers know that usually, when you are condemned to a life sentence in France, it usually means you can stay in prison for up to 30 years, with a certain amount of years during which you can’t apply for an early release (usually 22 years) It does sound like a life sentence, but it is not quite the same as in the UK so I had to say it. And from what I know, you can’t get multiple sentences. That’s it. It’s a small thing in the big scheme of things happening in this book!

Did you really think I was going to shut up? No way!

Perfect Kill is a perfectly paced crime novel with storms of action, showers of feelings, and real life nightmares. I highly recommend it!

Brutal ,believable and brilliant. Helen Fields is one of my favourite authors and does not disappoint with this latest in the DI Callanach series. I was hooked from the very beginning and the intertwining of the different strands of the story kept me on the edge of my seat. The brutality and treatment of fellow human beings was frightening but unfortunately, I have the feeling that in today’s world it is probably extremely accurate.
A well written and thought provoking book that will stay with me for a long time.
Thank you Helen Fields, Avon and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book and give my unbiased opinion.

The queen of gripping, gutsy and grisly crime fiction is back with another nail-biting and spine-chilling instalment of her fabulous series featuring the intrepid and redoubtable DCI Ava Turner and DI Luc Callanach: Perfect Kill.

Bart Campbell is trapped in a living nightmare. Waking up alone in a darkened space, he is petrified when he realises that he is locked inside a shipping container bound for somewhere far from his Edinburgh home. Regardless of how much Bart screams or how desperately he wants to get out, the chances of someone finding him and rescuing him are very slim and when he realises that he is destined for France, little does he know that his fate has already been sealed and whoever kidnapped and drugged him has got one thing on their mind: murder.

DCI Ava Turner and DI Luc Callanach are kept busy working on two seemingly divergent cases. The investigations they are currently conducting do not seem to have any connection nor do they appear to be in any way linked- until they realise otherwise. It turns out that men and women are being shipped to France and are exchanged for women who are then trafficked in Scotland. As the two detectives find themselves chasing one lead after another down a plethora of dark and dangerous alleys, it becomes increasingly clear that there is a sick mind on the loose with a thirst for blood intent on profiting on other people’s misery and desperation who will stop at nothing until their devious ends are achieved.

Time is running out for Ava and Luc and with so many lives at stake, they face an impossible task as failure is not an option and one wrong move or a single error of judgment could result in a catastrophe of epic proportions. Are Ava and Luc up to this particular challenge? Or will this be a case which simply cannot be solve?

Dark, gritty and terrifying, Helen Fields’ Perfect Kill is definitely not for the faint-hearted. I had almost no nails left whilst reading this outstanding tale of edge of your seat suspense that pulls no punches and keeps you absolutely glued throughout. As always, Ava and Luc are on top form and you just help but be completely and utterly gripped by this fast-paced, tense, nerve-twisting and heart-pounding thriller that I couldn’t put down.

Helen Fields is up there with Val McDermid and Karin Slaughter when it comes to writing sinister crime thrillers packed with menace, malice and mayhem and her latest novel, Perfect Kill is a perfect example of her outstanding storyteller prowess.

Twisted, shocking and chilling, Perfect Kill is another unmissable read by Helen Fields.

I knew what to expect from a book by Helen Fields, especially one in her D.I. Callanach series. I had read every single one before this and loved them. As usual, Fields did not disappoint with Perfect Kill

Right off the bat this book did have a slightly different vibe than the others in this series. For one, our two favorite characters, Ava and Luc, were investigating crimes in different countries as Luc was in France and Ava was back home in Scotland working with the team. I wasn’t a fan of this vibe because I feel they play well off each other, but I get why Fields may have done it. Loose ends and all that. The story line in Perfect Kill was one of larger scale and almost seemed too big to write at first. I was confused how things were related or not related and a bit confused on what was happening. But Fields quickly started filling in the puzzle pieces and did it smoothly . Not many can write about a criminal act of this magnitude and not fumble some of the details at least once.

Our characters we have grown to love in this series were the same people and the Perfect Kill gave us an even closer look into their back stories, lives, and personalities. I love how each book Fields allows us to learn just a bit more about the character to help us understand why they are the way they are and I love how she just weaves it into her writing so seamlessly.

I’m no expert on the matter, but having read my fair share of Mystery/Thriller/Suspense novels, Fields has definitely carved herself a place at the top of the pack of the best writers in their class. She never fails to surprise us in the end and have me turning the page, ignoring all my life’s requirements just to know what happens next. If you love yourself a good crime novel, pick up Perfect Kill or any of her books in this series. You will love them!

This opens within the environs of a normal and safe family household but soon it becomes evident that one member of the family is about to become the focus of a nightmare.
Fields writes a tense detective novel embroiled in the world of illegal organ-harvésting and, to add even more tension, she intertwines a horrific plot around sex-trafficking.
I was involved from the start but perhaps the niggling problem I have is that, whilst Fields tries to make the central detective human with the personal problems she faces, I did just find myself wondering whether her friend's illness might be just one thing too many. 
Plenty in this to keep the reader busy.

Thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a first class series.   They are best read in order, so you appreciate why DI Callanach is back with Interpol in France.  When he has a case of a young man found with his organs harvested, the trail links to crimes being committed in Edinburgh and DCI Ava Turner is back working with him.

The trail switches around both countries, involving a gang abducting and using European women in the sex trade and more young people brought over to provide replacement organs for those dying.  The human exploitation is graphic and harrowing, and the reader is praying at least some of those culpable will be brought to justice.  

The book is pacy and fascinating, with good interaction between the characters.  Even DS Lively develops more, which is good to see.

A great read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.