Scan barcode
A review by _onemorechapter_
Perfect Silence by Helen Sarah Fields
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
๐ป.๐พ: Domestic Abuse, Homelessness, Drug Use, Self-Harming, Rape, Drug Dealers, Incest, Racism, Religious Extremism, and Prostitution
๐ญThis is the fourth book in the D.I Luc Callanach series and my least favorite till now with a rating of 3.5 stars(Also my first Helen book with a rating lower than 4 Stars)
This book in the series has all the ingredients of a satisfying crime thriller- well-written, decent plot, interesting characters, religious fanatics, a smattering of despicable people and fair police procedures. However, it was let down a little by an unnecessary sub-plot and one of those โloose thread endingsโ.
As in every book, two issues are interwoven, but here there was clearly a main issue and a secondary issue, where the second issue mainly concerned the effects within the team and the relationships between them.
The major story going on here is that 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 and left to die on a road. Their skin and hair are made into a gruesome doll.
The minor case is of a new drug "Spiceโ 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.
It all sounds like an addictive read but here's the thing for me, it really wasn't. In previous books, I had been totally captivated by Callanach, Turner and the rest of the team and their cases but here it just didn't quite connect for me. The story itself is well put together, but for me, it just lacked the tension to want to keep reading. It took me a while to read which was disappointing in itself and perhaps in places it dragged out a bit.
Ava is increasingly taking the lead in this series, while I actually find Luc a more interesting character. Ava and Luc haven't changed much over the series and the will they/won't they scenario continues apace(now it's kind of boring). Ava is hotheaded, compassionate and determined on justice whereas Luc is just there in this novel without offering much apart from support and strong investigative skills.
There was great character development of the secondary characters and it was nice to see some recurring characters returning. Last book, we saw Lance, and this time it was Ben Paulson's turn. Salter also came back from her leave. Ailsa has taken a brief break, and been replaced by Jonty for this book. Tripp didn't get as much space as the last book, and neither did Lively. Of course, Detective Overlord Overbeck was back and made a nuisance of herself. But, I actually like Overbeck's no-nonsense attitude. I loved seeing Natasha back, and getting a bit more page time, though I like her best when she's being feisty and she wasn't that, here. She feels exactly how I feel about Callanach and Selina, though, which got her major bonus points from me. Even the Rev. Jayne Magee makes a quick, but vital appearance. I loved her small cameo. Newcomer DS Pax Graham is introduced. Now thereโs a man who knows how to make an entrance.
Throughout Perfect Silence, there are a few chapters that are told from the victim's perspective. These add to the overall story, allowing you to witness first-hand the dire situation that the victim is in, their thoughts and how they handle, react and respond to the ordeal. Helping build a picture of the isolated horror that the victim is going through.
The chapters from the victim's perspective also serve to highlight the serial killer. Revealing the twisted motivations (which are both well incorporated into the storyline and suitably warped) behind how they choose their victims and the sinister means of torture and the premeditated death that they inflict upon them too.
Bottom line, Helen's writing flows smoothly, her plots are compelling, and the dialogue and characters are โrealโ. There is always a lot going on, both on the crime level and in the lives of her characters.
Overall, Not my favorite in this series but not bad. It just seemed as though the story was repeating itself within the different girl's cases. Iโd continue to read the series.
๐.๐ I'm growing increasingly annoyed at how much page time Ava is getting. This series feels far less like a D.I. Callanach series, and more like the Ava Show. Luc Callanach was at best a secondary character. The primary protagonist was Ava Turner, the DCI, and I fully expected this to be the DCI Ava Turner series. If youโre a big fan of Luc Callanach and you read this series because of how much you love Luc, I think youโre likely to be pretty disappointed here.
๐.๐.๐ There are SO MANY unanswered questions surrounding Callanach's personal life like We still know NOTHING about what happened to Astrid after she was revealed to be working at Police Scotland. We know nothing about how his mother is coping after confessing to her rape, or whether he's done any more investigation into finding out who his real father is. That has all been ignored and fallen by the wayside because Ava is apparently taking over the series.
I seriously hope in the next installment we get some answers and Callanach feels like the main character rather than a supporting one!
๐ธ๐ด๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐๐: โญโญโญ.5
๐ธ๐ฎ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐๐: 4.40 (6385)
๐ธ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐: Crime Fiction, Thriller and Police Procedural
๐ธ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐: D.I. Callanach (Book 4)
๐ธ๐น๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐: Yes
This is a good book and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys police procedurals, or just a good mystery.
๐ญThis is the fourth book in the D.I Luc Callanach series and my least favorite till now with a rating of 3.5 stars(Also my first Helen book with a rating lower than 4 Stars)
This book in the series has all the ingredients of a satisfying crime thriller- well-written, decent plot, interesting characters, religious fanatics, a smattering of despicable people and fair police procedures. However, it was let down a little by an unnecessary sub-plot and one of those โloose thread endingsโ.
As in every book, two issues are interwoven, but here there was clearly a main issue and a secondary issue, where the second issue mainly concerned the effects within the team and the relationships between them.
The major story going on here is that 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 and left to die on a road. Their skin and hair are made into a gruesome doll.
The minor case is of a new drug "Spiceโ 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.
It all sounds like an addictive read but here's the thing for me, it really wasn't. In previous books, I had been totally captivated by Callanach, Turner and the rest of the team and their cases but here it just didn't quite connect for me. The story itself is well put together, but for me, it just lacked the tension to want to keep reading. It took me a while to read which was disappointing in itself and perhaps in places it dragged out a bit.
Ava is increasingly taking the lead in this series, while I actually find Luc a more interesting character. Ava and Luc haven't changed much over the series and the will they/won't they scenario continues apace(now it's kind of boring). Ava is hotheaded, compassionate and determined on justice whereas Luc is just there in this novel without offering much apart from support and strong investigative skills.
There was great character development of the secondary characters and it was nice to see some recurring characters returning. Last book, we saw Lance, and this time it was Ben Paulson's turn. Salter also came back from her leave. Ailsa has taken a brief break, and been replaced by Jonty for this book. Tripp didn't get as much space as the last book, and neither did Lively. Of course, Detective Overlord Overbeck was back and made a nuisance of herself. But, I actually like Overbeck's no-nonsense attitude. I loved seeing Natasha back, and getting a bit more page time, though I like her best when she's being feisty and she wasn't that, here. She feels exactly how I feel about Callanach and Selina, though, which got her major bonus points from me. Even the Rev. Jayne Magee makes a quick, but vital appearance. I loved her small cameo. Newcomer DS Pax Graham is introduced. Now thereโs a man who knows how to make an entrance.
Throughout Perfect Silence, there are a few chapters that are told from the victim's perspective. These add to the overall story, allowing you to witness first-hand the dire situation that the victim is in, their thoughts and how they handle, react and respond to the ordeal. Helping build a picture of the isolated horror that the victim is going through.
The chapters from the victim's perspective also serve to highlight the serial killer. Revealing the twisted motivations (which are both well incorporated into the storyline and suitably warped) behind how they choose their victims and the sinister means of torture and the premeditated death that they inflict upon them too.
Bottom line, Helen's writing flows smoothly, her plots are compelling, and the dialogue and characters are โrealโ. There is always a lot going on, both on the crime level and in the lives of her characters.
Overall, Not my favorite in this series but not bad. It just seemed as though the story was repeating itself within the different girl's cases. Iโd continue to read the series.
๐.๐ I'm growing increasingly annoyed at how much page time Ava is getting. This series feels far less like a D.I. Callanach series, and more like the Ava Show. Luc Callanach was at best a secondary character. The primary protagonist was Ava Turner, the DCI, and I fully expected this to be the DCI Ava Turner series. If youโre a big fan of Luc Callanach and you read this series because of how much you love Luc, I think youโre likely to be pretty disappointed here.
๐.๐.๐ There are SO MANY unanswered questions surrounding Callanach's personal life like We still know NOTHING about what happened to Astrid after she was revealed to be working at Police Scotland. We know nothing about how his mother is coping after confessing to her rape, or whether he's done any more investigation into finding out who his real father is. That has all been ignored and fallen by the wayside because Ava is apparently taking over the series.
I seriously hope in the next installment we get some answers and Callanach feels like the main character rather than a supporting one!
๐ธ๐ด๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐๐: โญโญโญ.5
๐ธ๐ฎ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐๐: 4.40 (6385)
๐ธ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐: Crime Fiction, Thriller and Police Procedural
๐ธ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐: D.I. Callanach (Book 4)
๐ธ๐น๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐: Yes
This is a good book and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys police procedurals, or just a good mystery.