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Until I Find You by Anna Smith (Billie Carson 1)

Synopsis: WHEN YOU’VE LOST EVERYTHING, YOU’LL STOP AT NOTHING

Billie Carlson left the police force under a cloud. Once a promising young officer she now works as a private investigator, rooting out insurance scams and spying on cheating spouses.

One morning a distraught young woman comes into her office saying that her baby has been stolen. Her story seems unbelievable, yet something about her makes Billie want to help – Billie knows what it’s like to lose someone too.

To get to the bottom of the case Billie must rattle some dangerous cages and rely on old police friends for inside help. Soon she discovers a network of crime deeper and far more twisted than she ever could have imagined. But is she in way over her head?

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Kat’s Review: I was devastated when Anna Smith’s series featuring Rosie Gilmour finished, that was until she released her Kerry Casey books, and now I am thrilled to add another amazing character and series to my list of ‘must read’ books. This new series features Billie Carlson. Billie used to be a copper until her boy disappeared and her life changed. Now she is a private investigator and when a woman comes into her office saying her baby has been stolen it’s a story that’s too close to home to let go.

There is plenty of action in this book from the outset pretty much through until the end. There is plenty to the plot including drugs, people trafficking and murder to name a few. The only downside to a new series is that it takes me a while to catch onto the additional characters that will feature as the series progresses. I absolutely loved this book and devoured it in close to two sittings. I am even more thrilled to realise that the next installment is due out in under a year. Another belter of a book from Anna Smith and an author that I would highly recommend you try!

Something to Tell You by Lucy Diamond

Synopsis: When Frankie stumbles upon an unopened letter from her late mother, she’s delighted to have one last message from her . . . until she reads the contents and discovers the truth about her birth. Brimming with questions, she travels to York to seek further answers from the Mortimer family, but her appearance sends shockwaves through them all.

Meanwhile, Robyn Mortimer has problems of her own. Her husband has become distant, and she begins to wonder exactly what he’s keeping hidden. Dare she find out more?

As for Bunny, she fell head over heels in love when she first arrived in town, but now it seems her past is catching up with her. She can’t help wondering if her relationship will survive when everyone discovers who she really is – and what she did.

As secrets tumble out and loyalties are tested, the Mortimers have to face up to some difficult decisions. With love, betrayal and dramatic revelations in the mix, this is one summer they’ll never forget.

Kat’s Rating: 3/5

Kat’s Review: I would definitely say I am a fan of Lucy Diamond and as much as this book was very enjoyable and passed the time it certainly wasn’t one of my favourites from this author. We meet Frankie who has found a letter from her late mother and it’s a gift and a curse all in one. The letter explains about her father along with his name and all of this comes as such a surprise her impromptu trip ends up not going quite as she expected it to.

Frankie takes a chance and travels to York and ends up stumbling into the middle of a party to celebrate the wedding anniversary of Harry and Jeanie Mortimer. Of course this becomes an instant bombshell among the Mortimer family and as such the dominoes start to fall. I actually liked reading about the various Mortimer family members however there are a lot of threads to the story which normally doesn’t bother me too much but for some reason it seemed a little too much with this story.

It was certainly an enjoyable read and an author that I will continue to read, however this one just wasn’t one of my favourites

I’ll Never Tell by Casey Kelleher

Synopsis: When we were young, Sarah and I did a terrible thing – but it was only me who paid the price. Now, just when I thought no one from my old life would ever find me, a note is slid under my door: I haven’t forgotten. I haven’t forgiven. FOUND YOU.

My best friend Sarah and I used to spend all our time in a place we called the Doll House. It was just an old, abandoned cottage in the woods behind our house but it was heaven to us. Until one of our games went wrong. And someone ended up dead.

It was an accident, or at least Sarah told me it was. But when I tried to tell the police that I wasn’t involved, they didn’t believe me. When the Doll House Girls were splashed across the newspapers, it was my face they showed under the headlines. I’m the one who stood trial.

Now, twenty years on, I’ve made a new life with a new identity. I have a wonderful husband, Carl, and Jacob, our adorable son. Despite everything in my past, I’m happy.

Then the first note arrives. FOUND YOU. Soon other threats start coming, and the person behind them is clear they’d be willing to hurt my family – to hurt Jacob – to get to me. I know who they are. And I know what they’re capable of. The other doll… The girl who got away with murder.

Kat’s Rating: 3/5

Kat’s Review: I am a huge fan of Casey Kelleher books and was looking forward to the latest one however I have to be totally honest and say this wasn’t one of my favourites by this author. It is absolutely NOT a bad book it’s just a slight departure from her normal type of storyline. The story is based around Alessia who is married to Carl and has a young son Jacob. Alessia is extremely happy with her life until a brick through the window with a note saying ‘I Found You’ kicks off the start of some awful things happening. Alessia is convinced its her old school friend Sarah. It is hard to be very specific about the book without inevitable spoiling it for people so I will say little about the actual storyline. However, what I will say is that the narrative is split between now and then which although it works, just didn’t have the same flow as previous books have had. I think this book is definitely a great psychological thriller and it’s certainly well written however for me I just didn’t gel with the story or characters like I normally do with this authors books .

One for Sorrow by Helen Fields (DI Callanach 7)

Synopsis: One for sorrow, two for joy

Edinburgh is gripped by the greatest terror it has ever known: a lone bomber is targeting victims across the city, and no one is safe.

Three for a girl, four for a boy

In their jobs, DCI Ava Turner and DI Luc Callanach deal with death every day. But when it becomes clear that every bomb is a trap designed to kill them too, the possibility of facing it themselves starts to feel all too real.

Five for silver, six for gold

With the body count rising daily and the bomber’s methods becoming ever more horrifying, Ava and Luc must race to find out who is behind the attacks – or pay the ultimate price…

Seven for a secret never to be told…

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: Okay, hands down the best of the series. That’s it. Seriously this book had me (literally) perched on the edge of a seat shouting ‘NOOOOOO’ within the first few pages. Even when I realised what was actually happening I was still shouting ‘NOOOOOO’.

So as my binge on this series continues I am onto book 7. The books opening is in itself an eye opener (that’s all I can say for fear of spoilers) but the upshot is that there is a bomber that is targeting what seems like innocent people. DCI Ava Turner and DI Luc Callanach have to work out who is behind these bombs but it’s pretty clear that every bomb is also designed to kill them too.

I’m going to say that Helen Fields has a very dark and macabre way of writing (which I love) but she even outdoes herself with this book. Nothing is off limits and the terror that not only the General Public are feeling but which every member of the MIT team is feeling is blatantly clear. The story is frenetic but awesome. There are major personal links to many characters for this book so it’s hard to expand on the storyline without ruining it for people that maybe haven’t read these books. What I will say is that this book I finished on the same day I started it and think it’s an absolute belter of a book. If you haven’t read this author or series I would recommend binge readint them all like I have in order…..these book s are definitely worth the time!!!

Perfect Kill by Helen Fields (DI Callanach 6)

Synopsis: He had never heard himself scream before. It was terrifying. Alone, trapped in the darkness and with no way out, Bart Campbell knows that his chances of being found alive are slim. Drugged and kidnapped, the realisation soon dawns that he’s been locked inside a shipping container far from his Edinburgh home. But what Bart doesn’t yet know is that he’s now heading for France where his unspeakable fate is already sealed…

DCI Ava Turner and DI Luc Callanach are working on separate cases that soon collide as it becomes clear that the men and women being shipped to France are being traded for women trafficked into Scotland. With so many lives at stake, they face an impossible task – but there’s no option of failure when Bart and so many others will soon be dead…

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: The general theme of this latest book is people trafficking. The reader gets to meet Bart during the darkest hours of his life when he is kidnapped and transported in the dark. Luc and Ava are once again tasked with the case, except this time around they are in different countries with Ava leading the team in Scotland and Luc back in France.

It was an interesting take to see Luc back with his old partner from Interpol in France and I love how his history and story is slowly unfolding with each book. There are clearly old wounds between Luc and his old friend Jean-Paul but this book tackles that brilliantly.

The case itself brings plenty of misery, violence and grisly scenes which Fields has down to perfection. Her books are descriptive and at times eye watering but absolutely fabulous from a readers perspective. This type of narrative which is sometimes violent and graphic may not be everybody’s cup of tea but is right up my alley.

In addition to people trafficking and organ-harvesting you also get to see the characters and their lives which are so intertwined. We get to see more of Ava and Luc’s friend Natasha and it certainly makes for another worrying sub plot within this series. I absolutely loved this latest installment as I have with each book before it. I would certainly recommend this author and this series.

Perfect Crime by Helen Fields (DI Callanach 5)

Synopsis: Stephen Berry is about to jump off a bridge until a suicide prevention counsellor stops him. A week later, Stephen is dead. Found at the bottom of a cliff, DI Luc Callanach and DCI Ava Turner are drafted in to investigate whether he jumped or whether he was pushed…

As they dig deeper, more would-be suicides roll in: a woman found dead in a bath; a man violently electrocuted. But these are carefully curated deaths – nothing like the impulsive suicide attempts they’ve been made out to be.

Little do Callanach and Turner know how close their perpetrator is as, across Edinburgh, a violent and psychopathic killer gains more confidence with every life he takes…

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: Perfect Crime is the fifth instalment in this series featuring DI Luc Callanach and DCI Ava Turner. This time around s man named Stephen is about to jump off a bridge to take his own life. Luckily he is talked down but a week later is found dead at the bottom of a cliff. Now Luc and Ava have to work out whether it was in fact Stephen took his own life or if he was murdered.

There are elements to this story that are ongoing threads concerning Luc and his childhood. You don’t have to have read the books previous to this one…but why wouldn’t you? Besides it makes it so much more intriguing to have seen this story play out.

There is a lot going on in this book but the one thing that I just wish would play out is the whole Luc and Ava relationship. It’s driving me crazy but making this whole series a firm favourite of mine. In truth I have been binge reading these books but am acutely aware I need to slow down as I will be devastated at the seemingly long wait once I reach her latest release. This is a series that I would highly reccomend and I cannot wait to get stuck into book 6.

Perfect Silence by Helen Fields (DI Callanach 4)

Synopsis: When silence falls, who will hear their cries?

The body of a young girl is found dumped on the roadside on 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 DI 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 killer is playing a horrifying 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?

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: This story goes to new depths with it’s macabre descriptive narrative (which doesn’t bother me one iota) however be warned…it’s not for the faint hearted. This latest Callanach installment has two main threads running through the story. The first is young women getting kidnapped, mutilated and then murdered. The second is the attack and slashing of homeless people in the community. Both Luc and Ava have their hands full and the story puts the pedal to the metal from the very beginning.

I have absolutely loved getting into this series and each book I read makes me want to read another (which is always a good sign) and this book was another brilliant read. The relationship between Callanach and Ava is messy and complicated but draws you in, as well as (my personal favourite) seeing more of both DS Lively and Overbeck. The descriptive murder, mutilation and slashing scenes are suitably chilling and combining that with the characters and writing skill these books are the type you don’t want to put down for too long. An absolutely riveting read and a book and series I would highly recommend.

Perfect Death by Helen Fields (DI Callanach 3)

Synopsis: There’s no easy way to die…. Unknown to DI Luc Callanach and the newly promoted DCI Ava Turner, a serial killer has Edinburgh firmly in his grip. The killer is taking his victims in the coldest, most calculating way possible – engineering slow and painful deaths by poison, with his victims entirely unaware of the drugs flooding their bloodstream until it’s too late. But how do you catch a killer who hides in the shadows? A killer whose pleasure comes from watching pain from afar? Faced with their most difficult case yet, Callanach and Turner soon realise they face a seemingly impossible task…

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: I have read the last two in the series back to back and HAD to move straight on to book 3 especially after the ending of book 2. If you plan on reading the books in order maybe don’t read on as there will inevitably be some spoilers! In this latest book Ava has been promoted to DCI meaning the relationship between her and DI Luc Callanach is no longer the same. Not only does Ava now have a whole new set of responsibilities but she has to adjust to this new chain of command. What may have once been a potential blossoming friendship or even better a relationship, just got a little further away for both of them.

In addition the latest case appears a bit of a head scratcher. A young girl is found dead and naked with no apparent injuries. This first point is a complete change from some of the grisly murder scenes in previous books. In addition to that murder, Ava and the team have to deal with the suicide of DCI Begbie. This story although not as gruesome as others, is no less thrilling. I absolutely love DS Lively as well as the appearance of Lance Proudfoot again. It’s great seeing the characters grow and become more involved as the series continues. The various plot threads were slow burners, but ones that made you wonder no less. Considering I hadn’t picked up one of these books by this author before a few weeks ago this series is fast becoming an obsession. A truly brilliant series that I am thoroughly involved in.

Perfect Prey by Helen Fields (DI Callanach 2)

Synopsis: Welcome to Edinburgh. Murder capital of Europe. In the middle of a rock festival, a charity worker is sliced across the stomach. He dies minutes later. In a crowd of thousands, no one saw his attacker.

The following week, the body of a primary school teacher is found in a dumpster in an Edinburgh alley, strangled with her own woollen scarf. D.I. Ava Turner and D.I. Luc Callanach have no leads and no motive – until around the city, graffitied on buildings, words appear describing each victim.

It’s only when they realise the words are being written before rather than after the murders, that they understand the killer is announcing his next victim…and the more innocent the better.

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: I read book one in this series and just knew it would be a back to back catch up session so as soon as book one was done I moved straight on to book 2. This time around the story starts with the murder of a man in broad daylight in the middle of a packed crowd. It is certainly a great opener for the book and we see both DI Luc Callanach and DI Ava Turner return. In addition to murder there is also a cybercrime investigation going on which brings another dimension to this story as well as a couple of characters to throw into the works.

This was an absolute belter of a book and I read it in record time with very little breaks. I felt very invested in both Luc and Ava as well as absolutely loving the character of Lance a journalist who becomes part of the story. Once again the story is told in a way that will have you feelink a little icky with how graphic it can become as well as doing a little peeking out of curtains every time you hear a noise….no? Just me then! The story doesn’t need to be expanded on because I refuse to give readers spoilers. Suffice to say I am moving straight onto book 3 and am ecstatic that I have so many books to catch up on as this series has me seriously hooked!

Perfect Remains By Helen Fields (DI Callanach #1)

Synopsis: On a remote Highland mountain, the body of Elaine Buxton is burning. All that will be left to identify the respected lawyer are her teeth and a fragment of clothing.

In the concealed back room of a house in Edinburgh, the real Elaine Buxton screams into the darkness…

Detective Inspector Luc Callanach has barely set foot in his new office when Elaine’s missing persons case is escalated to a murder investigation. Having left behind a promising career at Interpol, he’s eager to prove himself to his new team. But Edinburgh, he discovers, is a long way from Lyon, and Elaine’s killer has covered his tracks with meticulous care.

It’s not long before another successful woman is abducted from her doorstep, and Callanach finds himself in a race against the clock. Or so he believes … The real fate of the women will prove more twisted than he could have ever imagined.

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Kat’s Review: I have to be totally truthful and say I had no clue about the book or the author, all I knew was that it had been sitting along with hundreds of others on my Kindle since its debut in 2017. I promised myself I would start to read some of the older books on my Kindle and I am thrilled that I chose this one. I now have a new series to binge on…yay! Meet DI Luc Callanach who has come over to Edinburgh from France under somewhat of a cloud. He meets a mixture of colleagues including DI Ava Turner who is also a very readable and interesting character. The first thing that struck me about this book is how dark and gritty it is from very early on. The author is holding no punches when a missing persons case turns to murder. This is certainly not for the faint hearted but I have to admit I absolutely devoured it. I loved the characters, the storyline, the suspense, pretty much everything. I knew I was in trouble even before I finished as I downloaded book 2 (so much for reading my backlog books first) and just know there is a good chance I will read every book in this series until I am up to date.