The beginning of the book is slow with the police investigation basically absent. The backstory adds an emotional component which is lacking in the story. The usual pace and twists are not found and Ava and Luc feel robotic. The concept of stalking and obsession and the pitfalls in the judicial system make for a worthy read. As for the main characters, the previous books were better.

Wow! What a brilliant book. Totally had me gripped from the first and held my attention all the way through. Such a roller coaster of emotions and horrors and tense moments. Wonderful storytelling.

A mad man is on the loose in Edinburgh. He's kidnapping random people and then using these victims to stage elaborate situations, drawing as many first responders as possible so that he can blow them up. It is up to DCI Ava Turner and DI Luc Callanach to try and put a stop to him. They are racing against time to figure out who the Edinburgh bomber is and what is driving him on.

This is the seventh book in the DI Callanach series, a series which has passed me by so the characters are completely new to me. Being new to such a well established series did not spoil my enjoyment at all as you are immediately gripped by the story.

The opening is very sombre but the author then goes straight in to two explosives scenes that have your heart racing. As the story develops the reader feels as if they are part of the investigation team, questioning exactly what has happened but more importantly, why?

Alongside the current day action is interwoven a backstory which eventually explains the motivation behind the bombings. You cannot help but feel a mixture of disbelief, sadness and anger as this backstory unfolds.

Even when you've figured out "who" is responsible the author keeps pulling the rug from under the readers feet, making you literally gasp in disbelief. Nerves are fraught and emotions left in shreds right until the last page.

First of all, thank you so, so much Avon books for sending me this book. It was through Netgalley and Avon books that I first came to discover Helen Fields and she's been my favorite author ever since.

This book was absolutely fantastic, absolutely amazing! From the complexity of the story, character analysis and plot to ideas and themes discussed, this book blew my mind. I read this in one sitting, going to bed at 2 am on a Sunday. Don't know what more to say to make you understand my appreciation for this book or for Helen Fields.

The book follows a serial bomber who seems to have a vendetta against the police&comp. The story is told in parallel timelines following both the search for the bomber and the story that led to the existence of the murderer. It was at no point predictable, even when you think you know whom it was, it isn't.

She touches on matters of rape, the inadequacy of procedures, how to deal with the feeling that you're letting everyone down, the difference between being crazy and crazed, how the world is never black and white and it would be foolish to assume so.

It's only fit to have this part of the "Perfect" series. It was a perfect book.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Avon Books UK for an advance copy of One for Sorrow, the seventh novel to feature DCI Ava Turner and DI Luc Callanach of the Edinburgh Police.

A lone bomber is wreaking havoc in Edinburgh, but with no idea of the motive or any clues to link the events Ava ans Luc are struggling to solve the case.

I thoroughly enjoyed One for Sorrow, which is a tense, difficult read full of twists and turns. The novel is mostly told from Ava’s point of view with Luc’s added at strategic moments and is intercut with the story of a young woman, Quinn, and her difficult relationship.

The bombings are gruesome and only for readers with a strong constitution because they have a high body count and some warped and fiendish delivery systems. Still, it is extremely well done and the reader can feel Ava’s tension and stress as she tries to progress the case. I also liked the misdirection in the second half, where all is not as it seems. This part of the novel is a bit over the top in terms of what is realistically possible, but so what? It’s exciting, entertaining and pushes the reader to keep turning the pages.

I had no idea where the author was going with Quinn’s story, but I think it is almost better than the bombing thread because it is so realistic. I found it harrowing and all too believable as it closely resembles an article I was reading today by coincidence.

There are no winners in this novel and the solution is tinged with sadness and what ifs. This can also be said of the conclusion which ends in a massive cliffhanger. The next novel will be interesting.

One for Sorrow is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Wow. Now I’ll admit that the DI Luc Callanach series is one of my favourite crime series and the tension is ramped up in each book. Helen Fields has surely surpassed herself with this, which is an adrenaline packed page turner.

Book 7 is explosive and gripping. It also leaves us on a major cliffhanger - I could not help exclaiming “Oh My God!” at the ending of this.

Dear Ms Fields, please don’t leave us in limbo too long and those characters we know and love, you know, can we have a happy outcome for them?

I’d like to say thank you to Avon and Netgalley for kindly giving me an electronic arc of this story in exchange for my review.

I’ve been a fan of Helen Fields and the ‘Perfect’ series from the start, and this latest instalment was incredible. Shocks and twists from the start with moments of genuine out loud gasps of horror. No spoilers here but just a wholehearted recommendation for fans of the police investigation/ crime thriller genre. I hope it’s not long to the next one because the ending is begging to be resolved!

WOW What a great read this book was.
A lone bomber in Edinburgh is targeting victims but the link is unknown its left to DCI Ava Turner and D I Luc Callanach to solve the case.
With every tip off they are walking towards danger.The body count is growing and they have no idea who the killer is.
Told from the now and before prospective.
The writing is so good you feel what the characters feel at each turn.
From the first page I was hooked and the last chapter left me shouting "NO DON'T STOP NOW".
Can't wait to read more in the series,
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books for the ARC

This is the 7th book in the DI Callanach series by author Helen Fields and I haven’t read the previous 6 but that’s no problem, it works beautifully as a stand alone novel. That said I can’t wait to read the rest of the series in order. Set in Scotland its a real page turner. Lots of drama, heart stopping tension and a page turner from start to finish.

This is the 7th book in the DCI Turner/DI Callanach series, they can be read as a stand-alone, situations are explained as they go along!

Ava Turner is attending the funeral of her dear friend and pathologist, she then has to go and watch the video of how the death happened.

This book is not for the faint-hearted! It is very gruesome and graphic but wow, what an absolute roller-coaster. I could not put it down

Highly recommended

Wow! I love the D I Callanach series but Helen Fields has outdone herself with this one. Full of twists, turner and reverses. I absolutely loved it. Where now?

I just finished One for the Sorrow and it was just brilliant, I feel like all my emotions were put in the tumble dryer on high speed spin for 8 hours, what a ride that book was. From the first pages my heart was in my mouth, phenomenal read, the characters are perfectly written, everyone of them a star, cannot wait for the next book.

Tons of typos in the early edition I read, but otherwise pretty darn fantastic. The author did a great job representing everyone without making everything black and white.

Heck, this one certainly grabs you by the throat! No need to repeat the story as others have, in fact I always think it’s best to read a book knowing very little about it. I have not read any of the previous books in this series so didn’t know anything about the characters, but for anyone else in the same situation it really doesn’t matter. This is an excellent standalone story and there are useful references to what has occurred previously. It’s a proper thriller, and brings out every emotion that you can think of. It’s full of unbelievable horror, excitement, anguish, fear and, at times, extreme sadness. If I had to sum it up in just one word it would be harrowing. I preferred the first half of the book to the second, probably as I’d half-guessed what was going on by then and the pace seemed to slow a little. The only reason I’ve given 4 stars and not 5 is that it was just a tad ‘over the top’ for me. It was very well written, and I’ll definitely be reading the next instalment.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

DCI Ava Turner and DI Luc Callanach return in this 7th instalment of the series. Ava is mourning and investigating the death of her close friend and team pathologist when events lead to another fatal bombing situation. Then a whole series of attacks follow and the pressure is on to find the attackers. A fast paced and adrenaline filled time for Ava and the team which is reflected brilliantly in the writing. A sub plot, which occurred a few months earlier is also instrumental to the events taking place in the present.
The last chapter really choked me up. I am anxious to read what happens next.

The latest book in the Luc and Ava series by Helen Fields, which is one of my favourite crime series.

The premise is so clever and seriously dark – it pulls no punches – and the dual timeline narrative, the BEFORE that starts to work up to the "why" of the crime is so well written, and utterly heartbreaking.

I felt like I had my pulse in my throat from about half way through, and it stayed there all the way up until the end.

It is an incredible, heartbreaking, terror-filled, pulse-in-throat thriller. So brilliantly plotted, clever and slick and so, so dark. You will struggle to put it down, and then when you run out of pages you’ll be absolutely bereft.

And that ending . . . No spoilers, but I'm still not over it.

Wow. Having ended the previous book in this series with Natasha seriously ill with cancer, we open this one with a funeral. A very upsetting start and we finish with yet another cliffhanger. Hope the next book comes soon !
From beginning to end though it's top quality and while it's pretty obvious what the motivation is there are plenty of twists and turns. Very enjoyable as was the appearance of Dr. Woolwine from The Shadow Man.

This book is the 7th in a series which features DCI Ava Turner and DI Luc Callanach it is set in Edinburgh. It does not disappoint, Helen Fields has not lost impetus with this story, it starts with a killing of a member of the team and it becomes apparent that there is a serial bomber loose in Edinburgh. I couldn't put it down!!The cast of characters are fantastic and well observed. The dynamic between Ava, Luc and their flatmate Natasha is well written. The plot is so devious and twisted a page turner until the last page which left me open mouthed. I loved it !!!

Another great edition in the Ava & Luc series. Gripped from the first page as always with Helens books and didn't let go, plenty of twists and turns with a very tense suspenseful story at times. This book can be read as a stand-alone but I would recommend reading the series from the beginning to get the background of the great characters. I highly recommend this book, series and author.

Firstly I would like to thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read this title by Helen Fields, as a huge fan of all her books I knew I was going to love this one and I was not wrong!!
Wow!! I could not put it down, totally chilling yet expertly written to keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish! Have tissues at the ready it’s going to get you in the feels for sure! Already cannot wait for the next offering in 2022 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️