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The Last Girl To Die
The island watched and wept…
In search of a new life, sixteen-year-old Adriana Clark’s family moves to the ancient, ocean-battered Isle of Mull, far off the coast of Scotland. Then she goes missing. Faced with hostile locals and indifferent police, her desperate parents turn to private investigator Sadie Levesque.
Sadie is the best at what she does. But when she finds Adriana’s body in a cliffside cave, a seaweed crown carefully arranged on her head, she knows she’s dealing with something she’s never encountered before.
The deeper she digs into the island’s secrets, the closer danger creeps – and the more urgent her quest to find the killer grows. Because what if Adriana is not the last girl to die?
In search of a new life, sixteen-year-old Adriana Clark’s family moves to the ancient, ocean-battered Isle of Mull, far off the coast of Scotland. Then she goes missing. Faced with hostile locals and indifferent police, her desperate parents turn to private investigator Sadie Levesque.
Sadie is the best at what she does. But when she finds Adriana’s body in a cliffside cave, a seaweed crown carefully arranged on her head, she knows she’s dealing with something she’s never encountered before.
The deeper she digs into the island’s secrets, the closer danger creeps – and the more urgent her quest to find the killer grows. Because what if Adriana is not the last girl to die?
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2022
About the author
Helen Sarah Fields
18 books2,170 followersAn international and Amazon #1 best-selling author, Helen is a former criminal and family law barrister. Every book in the Callanach series claimed an Amazon #1 bestseller flag. Her next book, the sixth in the series, 'Perfect Kill' is due out on 6 February 2020. Helen also writes as HS Chandler, and last year released legal thriller 'Degrees of Guilt'. Her previous audio book 'Perfect Crime' knocked Michelle Obama off the #1 spot. Translated into 15 languages, and also selling in the USA, Canada & Australasia, Helen's books have won global recognition. Her first historical thriller 'These Lost & Broken Things' comes out in May 2020. A further standalone thriller published by HarperColllins will come soon. She currently commutes between Hampshire, Scotland and California, where she lives with her husband and three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 629 reviews
September 14, 2022
The Last Girl to Die is a chilling thriller set in a small town in Scotland.
When sixteen-year-old Adriana Clark goes missing, her family hires a private investigator from Canada named Sadie Levesque to search for her.
In a matter of days, Sadie discovers Adriana’s brutally murdered body in a dark cave. The more Sadie investigates, the more hostility she feels and the sense that everyone is hiding something, including the police and the family that hired her.
This atmospheric thriller primarily follows Sadie’s pov. The author seamlessly weaved Scotland’s ritualistic/spiritual history into this contemporary narrative.
A word of warning that there are very graphic and gruesome descriptions early on in this story. It almost put me off, but I decided to push through, and it wasn’t so bad after that.
The writing was good, and I enjoyed Sadie’s characterization, even though she made a few hasty decisions.
And that ending! It wasn’t what I was expecting, but should have guessed was coming. And it did fit with the rest of the story.
Thank you to Avon Books for providing me with an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://booksandwheels.com
When sixteen-year-old Adriana Clark goes missing, her family hires a private investigator from Canada named Sadie Levesque to search for her.
In a matter of days, Sadie discovers Adriana’s brutally murdered body in a dark cave. The more Sadie investigates, the more hostility she feels and the sense that everyone is hiding something, including the police and the family that hired her.
This atmospheric thriller primarily follows Sadie’s pov. The author seamlessly weaved Scotland’s ritualistic/spiritual history into this contemporary narrative.
A word of warning that there are very graphic and gruesome descriptions early on in this story. It almost put me off, but I decided to push through, and it wasn’t so bad after that.
The writing was good, and I enjoyed Sadie’s characterization, even though she made a few hasty decisions.
And that ending! It wasn’t what I was expecting, but should have guessed was coming. And it did fit with the rest of the story.
Thank you to Avon Books for providing me with an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://booksandwheels.com
September 1, 2022
I sincerely thank Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the Arc of Helen Fields' upcoming book. This vividly atmospheric thriller is due to be published on September 01, 2022. This haunting, complex psychological mystery contains breathtaking shocks, horror, unforeseen twists, and an emotionally shattering conclusion.
I was slow getting into the story, but soon I couldn't put it down and became utterly absorbed in the plot. There was intense danger and suspense, with events moving rapidly. The Clark family consisting of the parents and two teenage children, have fled city life in America for reasons they are reluctant to disclose. They now live on the ancient, windswept Isle of Mull off the Scotland coast. The community does not welcome newcomers. The teenagers have difficulty fitting in with the locals of the same age. When their 17-year-old daughter, Adriana, disappears, the police are disinterested in pursuing the case, not taking the matter as seriously as if it were one of their own local teenagers.
Frustrated and desperate, the parents know that it is not in the girl's nature to go off on her own, as suggested by the police. While searching the internet, they find a specialist in discovering lost, taken, or runaway teenagers. She is private investigator Sadie Levesque from Banff, Canada.
Sadie arrives on Mull and finds the police rude, hostile and unwilling to cooperate. She is feisty, tough, and athletic, and she reassures the parents that she will be relentless in her search to find out why Adriana disappeared and what happened to her by any means necessary. We learn that Sadie can be impulsive and reckless, disregarding the consequences of her actions. After four days of searching, she finds Adriana's body partially hidden in a cliffside cave. There is evidence of brutal torture, and she has been suffocated by sand stuffed down her throat. There is a crown made from seaweed on her head.
Sadie learns there has been a long history of pagan rituals, rumours of witchcraft, and a similar murder that occurred decades ago. While hidden in the woods, she observes one of these rituals led by an older woman and attended by teenage girls. They bury dead animals and set them afire. Leaving this eerie scene, Sadie wonders if supernatural beliefs are involved. She has already found a seaweed wreath in her bed at the hotel and takes it as a warning sign. After viewing the unsettling ritual, she is almost murdered while returning.
Two more women are murdered, and Sadie is first on the scene. There are many suspects, but the police accuse her. She is arrested as the prime suspect because she found all three bodies before the police did, and to them, her actions are suspicious. As Sadie draws nearer to the truth, her life is in peril. Will she be able to solve the mysteries and reveal motives and perpetrator(s), or will there be a Last Girl Killed?
A powerful, emotional story of dark deeds and ancient superstition and folklore. There is a distressing, unanticipated ending after twists and turns in the investigation. Recommended!
I was slow getting into the story, but soon I couldn't put it down and became utterly absorbed in the plot. There was intense danger and suspense, with events moving rapidly. The Clark family consisting of the parents and two teenage children, have fled city life in America for reasons they are reluctant to disclose. They now live on the ancient, windswept Isle of Mull off the Scotland coast. The community does not welcome newcomers. The teenagers have difficulty fitting in with the locals of the same age. When their 17-year-old daughter, Adriana, disappears, the police are disinterested in pursuing the case, not taking the matter as seriously as if it were one of their own local teenagers.
Frustrated and desperate, the parents know that it is not in the girl's nature to go off on her own, as suggested by the police. While searching the internet, they find a specialist in discovering lost, taken, or runaway teenagers. She is private investigator Sadie Levesque from Banff, Canada.
Sadie arrives on Mull and finds the police rude, hostile and unwilling to cooperate. She is feisty, tough, and athletic, and she reassures the parents that she will be relentless in her search to find out why Adriana disappeared and what happened to her by any means necessary. We learn that Sadie can be impulsive and reckless, disregarding the consequences of her actions. After four days of searching, she finds Adriana's body partially hidden in a cliffside cave. There is evidence of brutal torture, and she has been suffocated by sand stuffed down her throat. There is a crown made from seaweed on her head.
Sadie learns there has been a long history of pagan rituals, rumours of witchcraft, and a similar murder that occurred decades ago. While hidden in the woods, she observes one of these rituals led by an older woman and attended by teenage girls. They bury dead animals and set them afire. Leaving this eerie scene, Sadie wonders if supernatural beliefs are involved. She has already found a seaweed wreath in her bed at the hotel and takes it as a warning sign. After viewing the unsettling ritual, she is almost murdered while returning.
Two more women are murdered, and Sadie is first on the scene. There are many suspects, but the police accuse her. She is arrested as the prime suspect because she found all three bodies before the police did, and to them, her actions are suspicious. As Sadie draws nearer to the truth, her life is in peril. Will she be able to solve the mysteries and reveal motives and perpetrator(s), or will there be a Last Girl Killed?
A powerful, emotional story of dark deeds and ancient superstition and folklore. There is a distressing, unanticipated ending after twists and turns in the investigation. Recommended!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2023
Sadie Levesque is a private investigator from Banff Canada who has been hired by the Clark family to look into the disappearance of their 16-year-old daughter Adriana on the Isle of Mull off the west coast of Scotland. The Clark family moved to Mull from the USA not too long ago and haven't really been accepted by the community.
I've loved all the books in this author's Luc Callanach series but, although a good book, this standalone didn't engage me as much as the series. Some of the events were illogical, beginning with why the family of the missing girl would hire somebody from Canada to search for their daughter, somebody who has never been to Mull, even if she does specialize in finding missing teenagers. Did I mention they paid for her to fly to Scotland and I assume they're paying her expenses? Then Sadie makes some reckless decisions and ends up alienating not only members of the police force but also members of the community. About 60% of the way into the book, things got a little more tense and exciting (due to Sadie's carelessness but still ...). Then, at about 80%, she did something else so reckless my eyes nearly rolled out of my head and something even more brainless after that. I must admit that the ending caught me totally by surprise and I was absolutely shocked. It was a bold move by the author and increased my final rating. 3.5 rounded up to 4.
As I was drafting my review I started wondering to myself whether I would've reacted the same if the person getting themselves into all these pickles was a man. Am I that sexist I wonder?! Never mind, don't answer!
The cover is gorgeous and the book contains a lot of interesting information about superstitions and folklore and terrific descriptions of the geography of the area but the story was a little much for me. My opinion goes against the norm though so you should read it and decide for yourself.
Readers should be aware that there are graphic descriptions of indignities to a body which some people might find difficult to read.
Bobby Lee, here's our word of the day: thaumaturgy- the performance of miracles, bewitchery.
I wish to thank Avon Books UK via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication: September 1, 2022
I've loved all the books in this author's Luc Callanach series but, although a good book, this standalone didn't engage me as much as the series. Some of the events were illogical, beginning with why the family of the missing girl would hire somebody from Canada to search for their daughter, somebody who has never been to Mull, even if she does specialize in finding missing teenagers. Did I mention they paid for her to fly to Scotland and I assume they're paying her expenses? Then Sadie makes some reckless decisions and ends up alienating not only members of the police force but also members of the community. About 60% of the way into the book, things got a little more tense and exciting (due to Sadie's carelessness but still ...). Then, at about 80%, she did something else so reckless my eyes nearly rolled out of my head and something even more brainless after that. I must admit that the ending caught me totally by surprise and I was absolutely shocked. It was a bold move by the author and increased my final rating. 3.5 rounded up to 4.
As I was drafting my review I started wondering to myself whether I would've reacted the same if the person getting themselves into all these pickles was a man. Am I that sexist I wonder?! Never mind, don't answer!
The cover is gorgeous and the book contains a lot of interesting information about superstitions and folklore and terrific descriptions of the geography of the area but the story was a little much for me. My opinion goes against the norm though so you should read it and decide for yourself.
Readers should be aware that there are graphic descriptions of indignities to a body which some people might find difficult to read.
Bobby Lee, here's our word of the day: thaumaturgy- the performance of miracles, bewitchery.
I wish to thank Avon Books UK via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication: September 1, 2022
May 15, 2022
The American family of missing Adriana Clarke who are now based on the Isle of Mull call in Canadian PI Sadie Levesque, a teenager tracking specialist when the island police failed to take the case seriously. Several days into her search Sadie finds Adriana‘s body in Mackinnons cave on the western edge of the island and it’s a gross, symbolic scene that confronts her. Will she be the last girl to die?
Wow wow wow. How does Helen Fields keep doing this?! Talent is how!! Once again she has me enthralled and gripped in the storytelling from the first to very last word. The plot of this defies description and in all honesty it wouldn’t be fair to spoil it for future readers. The author utilises every ounce of history, atmosphere, myths and legends in this novel with the island taking centre stage. There are some chapters simply entitled “The island“ and these are truly amazing as you feel it’s power and draw.
I love the character of Sadie, she’s intuitive and has all the smarts, she is brave and single minded and I like the strongly evident thread of feminism throughout the book not just in her character. The dialogue is smart too when she’s about, with the quick fire responses she is able to come up with which delight you and make you smile.
There are odd unsettling vibes from the beginning, there is hostility in several quarters but especially from Sergeant Harris Eggo but not exclusively so as there is resentment and jealousy combining with secrets and lies giving numerous disturbing signs which pervades the entire novel. The writing is very powerful, it is chilling as you feel and smell the evil and fear and at times the tension and suspense is so intense you can scarcely breathe. To describe the story telling as escalating is an understatement, the danger is all around and as for the ending what an emotional gut puncher that is. The final chapter is quite spiritual and although it makes you sad it’s also beautiful and feels right.
PS how great it is that Lance Proudfoot features too from the Luc Callenach series and he is another great character and I really enjoy his important role in the drama.
I’m just off to recover now and I don’t think the story will leave me for quite a considerable while. An amazing read and an easy five stars from me as I eagerly anticipate her next blockbuster!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Avon Books UK for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Wow wow wow. How does Helen Fields keep doing this?! Talent is how!! Once again she has me enthralled and gripped in the storytelling from the first to very last word. The plot of this defies description and in all honesty it wouldn’t be fair to spoil it for future readers. The author utilises every ounce of history, atmosphere, myths and legends in this novel with the island taking centre stage. There are some chapters simply entitled “The island“ and these are truly amazing as you feel it’s power and draw.
I love the character of Sadie, she’s intuitive and has all the smarts, she is brave and single minded and I like the strongly evident thread of feminism throughout the book not just in her character. The dialogue is smart too when she’s about, with the quick fire responses she is able to come up with which delight you and make you smile.
There are odd unsettling vibes from the beginning, there is hostility in several quarters but especially from Sergeant Harris Eggo but not exclusively so as there is resentment and jealousy combining with secrets and lies giving numerous disturbing signs which pervades the entire novel. The writing is very powerful, it is chilling as you feel and smell the evil and fear and at times the tension and suspense is so intense you can scarcely breathe. To describe the story telling as escalating is an understatement, the danger is all around and as for the ending what an emotional gut puncher that is. The final chapter is quite spiritual and although it makes you sad it’s also beautiful and feels right.
PS how great it is that Lance Proudfoot features too from the Luc Callenach series and he is another great character and I really enjoy his important role in the drama.
I’m just off to recover now and I don’t think the story will leave me for quite a considerable while. An amazing read and an easy five stars from me as I eagerly anticipate her next blockbuster!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Avon Books UK for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
May 10, 2022
Firstly I would like to Thank netgalley and Avon books and Helen fields for a copy of her book to read.
This is a standalone book,she has a wonderful series out which I'm still reading.This book is located in Scotland where I live, a fantastic location as visited iona abbey a ferry from oban would like to visit tobermory as it famous for having colourful houses.This author describes mull beautifully.This book starts with a murder investigation,a young girl Adriana Clark her body was found by a private investigator hired by Adriana family her name is Sadie Leveque.What did happen to her? Was it someone on the island or an outsider?A book with lots of twists A great read.looking forward to reading more of her books.
This is a standalone book,she has a wonderful series out which I'm still reading.This book is located in Scotland where I live, a fantastic location as visited iona abbey a ferry from oban would like to visit tobermory as it famous for having colourful houses.This author describes mull beautifully.This book starts with a murder investigation,a young girl Adriana Clark her body was found by a private investigator hired by Adriana family her name is Sadie Leveque.What did happen to her? Was it someone on the island or an outsider?A book with lots of twists A great read.looking forward to reading more of her books.
February 28, 2023
A book recommended by my dad will always pique my interest, I will usually source it quickly, and more so if I can find it on audio. This is what happened with The Last Girl to Die, and I am glad it did.
Narrated smoothly by a female and male narrator, the delivery was perfect with an atmospheric edge fitting for the story. The author was keen to mention in her acknowledgement, and the interview with one of the narrators that the Isle of Mull in Scotland is a beautiful place, not off putting or not welcoming as the locals in her story are. She was most worried about this!
Sadie turns up on the island, hired by an American family, they are treated as outsiders; the locals make this known and obvious. Therefore, Sadie is also not welcomed, hailing from Canada. Known for her success in finding missing adolescents, Adriana’s family have hired Sadie to represent them at all turns, as the police seem reluctant, almost uncaring, about what happened to this 16-year-old girl. Adriana’s family ask her to fill in for them at every turn, as they are treated so poorly by the police.
What Sadie uncovers is disconcerting, alarming, and dangerous as more women turn up dead. These instances of death are traumatic, violent and the worst she has seen. She’d like to go back to her family in Canada but knows the women on the island need her. The case is made more onerous by the American’s family being shady, and as things go along, unhelpful, and dishonest.
It seems that the feisty young private detective is the only one to dig into the case and find answers, as well as slowly turning out the seedy, underhanded, disrespectful nature of the island’s men. She is unafraid in her mission to find the killer and will stop at no lengths to get to the murky truth.
There are many scenes I had cause to hold my breath, the priest was awful, narrowminded and bigoted, and all the police seemed cagey and untrustworthy.
The island suited the eerie storyline where women were trying to fight against the patriarchy, and mythicism and spirituality played a part also.
The island dwellers were all flawed and not to be trusted, which made for rewarding and compelling reading.
This was a surprising and quality read, by an author I will further investigate. Recommended and thought provoking, one to think about as the final scenes quite literally were haunting and devastating.
Listened to via BorrowBox at 1.75 speed. Excellent voices, absorbing accents which added to the ambience.
Narrated smoothly by a female and male narrator, the delivery was perfect with an atmospheric edge fitting for the story. The author was keen to mention in her acknowledgement, and the interview with one of the narrators that the Isle of Mull in Scotland is a beautiful place, not off putting or not welcoming as the locals in her story are. She was most worried about this!
Sadie turns up on the island, hired by an American family, they are treated as outsiders; the locals make this known and obvious. Therefore, Sadie is also not welcomed, hailing from Canada. Known for her success in finding missing adolescents, Adriana’s family have hired Sadie to represent them at all turns, as the police seem reluctant, almost uncaring, about what happened to this 16-year-old girl. Adriana’s family ask her to fill in for them at every turn, as they are treated so poorly by the police.
What Sadie uncovers is disconcerting, alarming, and dangerous as more women turn up dead. These instances of death are traumatic, violent and the worst she has seen. She’d like to go back to her family in Canada but knows the women on the island need her. The case is made more onerous by the American’s family being shady, and as things go along, unhelpful, and dishonest.
It seems that the feisty young private detective is the only one to dig into the case and find answers, as well as slowly turning out the seedy, underhanded, disrespectful nature of the island’s men. She is unafraid in her mission to find the killer and will stop at no lengths to get to the murky truth.
There are many scenes I had cause to hold my breath, the priest was awful, narrowminded and bigoted, and all the police seemed cagey and untrustworthy.
The island suited the eerie storyline where women were trying to fight against the patriarchy, and mythicism and spirituality played a part also.
The island dwellers were all flawed and not to be trusted, which made for rewarding and compelling reading.
This was a surprising and quality read, by an author I will further investigate. Recommended and thought provoking, one to think about as the final scenes quite literally were haunting and devastating.
Listened to via BorrowBox at 1.75 speed. Excellent voices, absorbing accents which added to the ambience.
August 12, 2022
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Helen Sarah Fields, and Avon Books UK for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Always a fan of Helen Sarah Fields, I was eager to get my hands on this book. Fields has developed a masterful police procedural series set in Scotland, but this is one of her equally powerful standalone novels. Fields uses her knowledge of the Scottish countryside, love of mysteries, and ability to cobble together a great procedural novel to provide the reader with something entertaining and highly addictive in equal measure. Not to be missed by those who love a ‘wee great mystery’!
Adriana Clark had been missing for days; eleven to be exact. While the police did not seem to be taking much of an interest, her family decided to hire a private investigator to uncover the truth. Enter Sadie Levesque, who arrived on a small Scottish island off the coast with little to go on but her instincts. However, it was enough to spark a fire in her belly.
While wandering around the island, Sadie could not help but wonder if there was a reason for the lack of police interest. She also had to wonder if her being a foreigner—from Banff, in the Canadian Rockies—could be playing into the cold reception she received. All that changed when Sadie found Adriana’s body in a cave, penetrated with a shell and mouth filled with sand. The authorities took note, but even then it was an investigation they had no interest in sharing with Sadie.
Not wanting to let up, Sadie continued probing in the murder, only to discover that there were those who preferred the bucolic nature of the island to remain that way, hushing up any waves. After the discovery of another teenage girl, Sadie was sure that this could not be a coincidence and began looking at the possibility of a serial killer.
With one suspect catching her eye, Sadie started uncover the truth, only to realise that she was in way over her head. As the story progressed, truths Sadie could not have expected came to light, only to provide more concern for everyone’s safety. Sadie would have to act quickly to ensure there were no more bodies piling up off the Scottish coast, or at least point the authorities in the right direction. Fields does a wonderful job with this piece, sure to appeal to many who have a love for police procedurals.
I have long enjoyed how Helen Sarah Fields weaves her stories together, using local lore and idioms to keep the reader feeling as though they are in Scotland on a man (or woman) hunt. While her series work is my favourite, I can also enjoy her standalone novels, as they do not lack any of the action, narrative strength or quirky humour. There is much to be said for the versatility of Fields and her fans are sure to see that they need not worry whenever she publishes something new.
Fields make sure to get the story moving from the opening pages, This narrative technique is sure to grasp the reader from the outset and keep them glued to the story until the final pages, which is especially important with this novel. Strong characters and a plot that never seems to stay still help the shape this story as well, keeping the reader on their toes throughout the journey. I felt as though I were in Scotland from the opening paragraphs, as Fields is able to imbue such a strong sense of setting throughout the novel. If I had one point of contention, it would be that Sadie Levesque, a Canadian from my neck of the woods, speaks and narrates with obvious Scottish idioms, which appeared out of place. Perhaps it is my Canadianness that led me to say ‘we don’t say it like that’, but it is worth noting, even if it might be a minor point. Overall, one cannot fault Fields for a stellar piece of work and I am eager to see what else she has on the horizon.
Kudos, Madam Fields, for another great standalone thriller. Keep them coming, as you have a great fan in me!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Always a fan of Helen Sarah Fields, I was eager to get my hands on this book. Fields has developed a masterful police procedural series set in Scotland, but this is one of her equally powerful standalone novels. Fields uses her knowledge of the Scottish countryside, love of mysteries, and ability to cobble together a great procedural novel to provide the reader with something entertaining and highly addictive in equal measure. Not to be missed by those who love a ‘wee great mystery’!
Adriana Clark had been missing for days; eleven to be exact. While the police did not seem to be taking much of an interest, her family decided to hire a private investigator to uncover the truth. Enter Sadie Levesque, who arrived on a small Scottish island off the coast with little to go on but her instincts. However, it was enough to spark a fire in her belly.
While wandering around the island, Sadie could not help but wonder if there was a reason for the lack of police interest. She also had to wonder if her being a foreigner—from Banff, in the Canadian Rockies—could be playing into the cold reception she received. All that changed when Sadie found Adriana’s body in a cave, penetrated with a shell and mouth filled with sand. The authorities took note, but even then it was an investigation they had no interest in sharing with Sadie.
Not wanting to let up, Sadie continued probing in the murder, only to discover that there were those who preferred the bucolic nature of the island to remain that way, hushing up any waves. After the discovery of another teenage girl, Sadie was sure that this could not be a coincidence and began looking at the possibility of a serial killer.
With one suspect catching her eye, Sadie started uncover the truth, only to realise that she was in way over her head. As the story progressed, truths Sadie could not have expected came to light, only to provide more concern for everyone’s safety. Sadie would have to act quickly to ensure there were no more bodies piling up off the Scottish coast, or at least point the authorities in the right direction. Fields does a wonderful job with this piece, sure to appeal to many who have a love for police procedurals.
I have long enjoyed how Helen Sarah Fields weaves her stories together, using local lore and idioms to keep the reader feeling as though they are in Scotland on a man (or woman) hunt. While her series work is my favourite, I can also enjoy her standalone novels, as they do not lack any of the action, narrative strength or quirky humour. There is much to be said for the versatility of Fields and her fans are sure to see that they need not worry whenever she publishes something new.
Fields make sure to get the story moving from the opening pages, This narrative technique is sure to grasp the reader from the outset and keep them glued to the story until the final pages, which is especially important with this novel. Strong characters and a plot that never seems to stay still help the shape this story as well, keeping the reader on their toes throughout the journey. I felt as though I were in Scotland from the opening paragraphs, as Fields is able to imbue such a strong sense of setting throughout the novel. If I had one point of contention, it would be that Sadie Levesque, a Canadian from my neck of the woods, speaks and narrates with obvious Scottish idioms, which appeared out of place. Perhaps it is my Canadianness that led me to say ‘we don’t say it like that’, but it is worth noting, even if it might be a minor point. Overall, one cannot fault Fields for a stellar piece of work and I am eager to see what else she has on the horizon.
Kudos, Madam Fields, for another great standalone thriller. Keep them coming, as you have a great fan in me!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
July 3, 2023
I’ve been fortunate that my last several reads have all ranged from very good to outstanding.
The Last Girl to Die fit into the exceptional category and extended my string.
Slightly spiritual with a pro-woman vibe, I think most will be able to cheer on main character Sadie, a licensed investigator specializing in locating missing teenagers.
Resilient and plucky, she’s hired by a family to find their seventeen year old daughter and then retained further to discover the why and who questions.
As a strong female lead, I loved Sadie. However, another prominent character caught my attention even more: the locale in Mull Scotland.
I was so taken with the depiction of Tobermory Bay and the surrounding scenery as beautiful and mystical that I researched independently to learn more. I wanted to see for myself and would love to visit the area if possible.
I loved the writing and was so absorbed in the story that it flew by.
This would have been easily five stars from me but for the numerous mentions of dead animals. Otherwise, a superb book!
Available now on Amazon Kindle.
The Last Girl to Die fit into the exceptional category and extended my string.
Slightly spiritual with a pro-woman vibe, I think most will be able to cheer on main character Sadie, a licensed investigator specializing in locating missing teenagers.
Resilient and plucky, she’s hired by a family to find their seventeen year old daughter and then retained further to discover the why and who questions.
As a strong female lead, I loved Sadie. However, another prominent character caught my attention even more: the locale in Mull Scotland.
I was so taken with the depiction of Tobermory Bay and the surrounding scenery as beautiful and mystical that I researched independently to learn more. I wanted to see for myself and would love to visit the area if possible.
I loved the writing and was so absorbed in the story that it flew by.
This would have been easily five stars from me but for the numerous mentions of dead animals. Otherwise, a superb book!
Available now on Amazon Kindle.
August 18, 2022
Oh wow, that was a pretty twisted, twisty story! Sadie Levesque is Canadian PI who specialises in finding missing teens. She is approached by the Clark family who have recently moved to the Isle of Mull off the Scottish west coast from the US. Their 17 year old daughter Adriana disappeared some days ago and they don’t think the island’s small police contingent is taking it seriously enough.
Sadie drops everything and hotfoots it to Mull. The local police - Sergeant Harris Eggo and Constable Simon Bathgate are not very welcoming, in fact they are downright hostile towards her. Nevertheless she does find Adriana after she has been missing for 11 days. Unfortunately she is dead. Her mouth has been filled with sand and around her head is a ‘crown’ of seaweed. There is also a conch shell inserted in an intimate place - a detail not made public.
Sadie keeps the family informed of all aspects of the case but she can’t help feeling that they are hiding something. They have zero social media presence, even Adriana and her twin brother, Brandon. Sadie finds this odd. In fact the family doesn’t seem to exist until five months ago when they moved to Mull. She eventually learns that Addie received a text message from Catriona, a local popular girl, on the night she disappeared. But before she can get to bottom of that Catriona herself disappears. Later she, too is found dead with sand in her mouth and a crown of seaweed but no shell.
The story takes an interesting turn and Mull’s rich history of legends about myths and witches colours the tale beautifully. There had been numerous deaths of young women over the islands history with similar characteristics. Sadie hears about current witch gatherings and she witnesses one such event herself. But it is not the black magic that everyone thinks, rather a way for young women to break free of the patriarchy and feel empowered in themselves. Nevertheless there is danger associated with it and more deaths are to come.
I really enjoyed this rather dark tale. Few of the characters ended up being as they seemed. There were so many secrets and much dark history. It was a very tricky plot to unpick and even then I got it oh so wrong! The ending was a real jaw dropper! Helen Fields is an author at the top of her game. I love her Luc Callanach series but this stand alone story is equally good, wonderful even. Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
Sadie drops everything and hotfoots it to Mull. The local police - Sergeant Harris Eggo and Constable Simon Bathgate are not very welcoming, in fact they are downright hostile towards her. Nevertheless she does find Adriana after she has been missing for 11 days. Unfortunately she is dead. Her mouth has been filled with sand and around her head is a ‘crown’ of seaweed. There is also a conch shell inserted in an intimate place - a detail not made public.
Sadie keeps the family informed of all aspects of the case but she can’t help feeling that they are hiding something. They have zero social media presence, even Adriana and her twin brother, Brandon. Sadie finds this odd. In fact the family doesn’t seem to exist until five months ago when they moved to Mull. She eventually learns that Addie received a text message from Catriona, a local popular girl, on the night she disappeared. But before she can get to bottom of that Catriona herself disappears. Later she, too is found dead with sand in her mouth and a crown of seaweed but no shell.
The story takes an interesting turn and Mull’s rich history of legends about myths and witches colours the tale beautifully. There had been numerous deaths of young women over the islands history with similar characteristics. Sadie hears about current witch gatherings and she witnesses one such event herself. But it is not the black magic that everyone thinks, rather a way for young women to break free of the patriarchy and feel empowered in themselves. Nevertheless there is danger associated with it and more deaths are to come.
I really enjoyed this rather dark tale. Few of the characters ended up being as they seemed. There were so many secrets and much dark history. It was a very tricky plot to unpick and even then I got it oh so wrong! The ending was a real jaw dropper! Helen Fields is an author at the top of her game. I love her Luc Callanach series but this stand alone story is equally good, wonderful even. Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
February 22, 2024
De laatste die sterft van Helen Fields is een standalone verhaal en dus geen deel van de gekende Ava & Luc serie. Het was dus eventjes wennen, maar al snel zat ik volledig in het verhaal. We maken kennis met Sadie, een privédetective die ingehuurd werd door de familie Clark om hun vermiste dochter Adriana te vinden. Sadie kan haar terugvinden, maar het is echter te laat voor een goede afloop. Adriana is vermoord en wel heel erg bruut ook. De gemeenschap lijkt het echter niet zo heel erg te vinden, gezien de Clark’s oorspronkelijk uit Amerika komen en Adriana een Latina meisje was. Het verhaal focust ook sterk op de legendes en mythes die het eiland rijk is en je moet er wel van houden. Op een bepaald moment worden er heidense rituelen uitgevoerd en fronste ik toch ook even mijn wenkbrauwen. Het draagt wel bij aan een mysterieuze/mystieke sfeer, maar voor mij hoeft het allemaal niet zo feeëriek te worden. Het verhaal staat wel bol van de spanning, hoewel er toch af en toe wat toevalligheden in het verhaal sluipen. Sadie zelf is ook een onbezonnen persoon die af en toe écht zeer ondoordachte beslissingen neemt, die niet altijd even goed uitdraaien of warm verwelkomd worden in de gemeenschap. Veel vrienden maakt ze dus niet op het eiland. Het einde is echter onverwacht en greep me wel aan. Het is zo een einde waarvan je er niet veel tegenkomt in boeken en dat kon ik wel ten zeerste appreciëren. De laatste die sterft is een speciaal verhaal, maar zeker wel een aanrader om te lezen. Ik geef het boek dan ook 4 sterren.
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August 24, 2022
In search of a new life, sixteen year old Adriana Clark's family moves to the ancient, ocean-battered Isle of Mull, far off the coast of Scotland. Then she goes missing. Faced with hostile locals and indifferent police, her desperate parents turn to private investigator Sadie Levesque. Sadie is the best at what she does. But when she finds Adriana's body in a cliffside cave, a seaweed crown carefully arranged on her head, she knows she's dealing with something she's never encountered before.
This story is set on the Isle of Mull. PI Sadie Levesque specialises in finding missing teenagers, so the parents of missing Adriana Clark hire Sadie to find her. But unfortunately Adriana's body is found in the MacKinnon caves.
This fast paced, well written mystery held my attention throughout. PI Sadie Levesque is focused on finding the missing teenager, and the deeper she digs the more she finds. This is a tense read with not a lot of twists to begin with. I wasn't keen on the chapters that were told from the islands perspective. The ending is shocking and sad. The characters were well developed. I really enjoyed reading this standalone.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #AvonBooksUK and the author #HelenFields for my ARC of #TheLasGirlToDie in exchange for an honest review.
This story is set on the Isle of Mull. PI Sadie Levesque specialises in finding missing teenagers, so the parents of missing Adriana Clark hire Sadie to find her. But unfortunately Adriana's body is found in the MacKinnon caves.
This fast paced, well written mystery held my attention throughout. PI Sadie Levesque is focused on finding the missing teenager, and the deeper she digs the more she finds. This is a tense read with not a lot of twists to begin with. I wasn't keen on the chapters that were told from the islands perspective. The ending is shocking and sad. The characters were well developed. I really enjoyed reading this standalone.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #AvonBooksUK and the author #HelenFields for my ARC of #TheLasGirlToDie in exchange for an honest review.
June 4, 2022
This book was just ok for me. It centers in Sadie, a private investigator hired by an American family living in Scotland to help find their missing teenage daughter. Sadie gets pulled into a whole string of murders and uncovers secrets about the small island and its inhabitants. The book is mostly told from Sadie’s POV, but there are some chapters narrated by the island itself to tell the reader more about the history, which honestly I thought was strange and unnecessary.
I had a really hard time getting into this book and considered abandoning it for the first quarter or so. I can’t exactly figure out why- there was a lot happening but there was also a lot if detail, and I just wasn’t fully engaged. I powered through and did find the pace to pick up as it continued, though. Sadie was not an unlikable character but I still didn’t really connect with her; I thought she made reckless choices to which I couldn’t personally relate. The story itself ended up being pretty good and I was surprised a couple times as the mystery unraveled. The end was really weird and although I didn’t love it, it was memorable.
Overall, I’m glad I finished the book but it wasn’t my favorite. Good mystery and memorable ending though. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I had a really hard time getting into this book and considered abandoning it for the first quarter or so. I can’t exactly figure out why- there was a lot happening but there was also a lot if detail, and I just wasn’t fully engaged. I powered through and did find the pace to pick up as it continued, though. Sadie was not an unlikable character but I still didn’t really connect with her; I thought she made reckless choices to which I couldn’t personally relate. The story itself ended up being pretty good and I was surprised a couple times as the mystery unraveled. The end was really weird and although I didn’t love it, it was memorable.
Overall, I’m glad I finished the book but it wasn’t my favorite. Good mystery and memorable ending though. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 13, 2022
Helen Field's book The Last Girl to Die pulls readers into a thrilling tale with red herrings and cliffhangers. In this intricate mystery, Fields focuses on the strong development of the main character who serves as the narrative eyes of the story.
Synopsis:
Private investigator Sadie Levesque is dedicated to solving teen crimes. She is called to the Isle of Mull in Scotland to search for Adriana Clark, a missing sixteen year old. Sadie discovers Adriana's brutally murdered body in a cliffside cave. After following cryptic clues, Sadie uncovers dangerous secrets the hostile islanders do not wish to be revealed. Will Adriana be the last girl to die?
The Last Girl to Die is a well researched and highly detailed novel. Helen Fields uses the island setting to enhance the action and intrigue. A sense of ominous unknown danger permeates the plot making it a gripping read. Although I figured out the ending, it did not take away from my enjoyment of the book.
The Last Girl to Die by Helen Fields is available on September 1st.
(4.25 ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫)
Thank you, NetGalley and Avon Books UK, (Avon), for allowing me to review this thrilling novel by the mega talented Helen Fields. Your kindness is appreciated.
#LastGirlToDie #HelenFields
Synopsis:
Private investigator Sadie Levesque is dedicated to solving teen crimes. She is called to the Isle of Mull in Scotland to search for Adriana Clark, a missing sixteen year old. Sadie discovers Adriana's brutally murdered body in a cliffside cave. After following cryptic clues, Sadie uncovers dangerous secrets the hostile islanders do not wish to be revealed. Will Adriana be the last girl to die?
The Last Girl to Die is a well researched and highly detailed novel. Helen Fields uses the island setting to enhance the action and intrigue. A sense of ominous unknown danger permeates the plot making it a gripping read. Although I figured out the ending, it did not take away from my enjoyment of the book.
The Last Girl to Die by Helen Fields is available on September 1st.
(4.25 ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫)
Thank you, NetGalley and Avon Books UK, (Avon), for allowing me to review this thrilling novel by the mega talented Helen Fields. Your kindness is appreciated.
#LastGirlToDie #HelenFields
August 23, 2022
Another absolutely brilliant thriller from Helen Fields, who is master plotter and Queen of the unpredictable.
I love an honestly addictive page turner and The Last Girl To Die hits all the mystery sweet spots - compelling divisive characters, twists of fate that lead to unexpected outcomes and an atmospheric beautifully drawn setting where evil lurks.
Almost impossible to put down once you pick it up, this standalone is a pitch perfect introduction to this author for new readers and an absolute joy to read for her already fans.
Highly Recommended.
I love an honestly addictive page turner and The Last Girl To Die hits all the mystery sweet spots - compelling divisive characters, twists of fate that lead to unexpected outcomes and an atmospheric beautifully drawn setting where evil lurks.
Almost impossible to put down once you pick it up, this standalone is a pitch perfect introduction to this author for new readers and an absolute joy to read for her already fans.
Highly Recommended.
February 16, 2024
De laatste die sterft ~ Helen Fields
Ambo Anthos, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Damn, wat een heftig einde heeft dit boek!? Mijn hoofd staat letterlijk op exploderen... de laatste 80 bladzijde waren echt een rollercoaster aan ontdekkingen en emoties. Wat zit dit boek vreselijk goed in elkaar. Potjandorie nog an toe! En nu is hij gewoon uit. Dit verhaal, dit einde, deze personages... het moet allemaal even bezinken en een plekje krijgen. Een ding weet ik zeker, dit verhaal gaat mij niet snel loslaten. En Sadie Levesque: wat een vrouw!
Voor iedereen die houdt van een stevige thriller, die niet vies is van een beetje gruwelijke moorden en gutsend bloed, en kan genieten van honderden puzzelstukjes die uiteindelijk ooit op zijn plek vallen: LEES DIT BOEK!
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Ambo Anthos, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Damn, wat een heftig einde heeft dit boek!? Mijn hoofd staat letterlijk op exploderen... de laatste 80 bladzijde waren echt een rollercoaster aan ontdekkingen en emoties. Wat zit dit boek vreselijk goed in elkaar. Potjandorie nog an toe! En nu is hij gewoon uit. Dit verhaal, dit einde, deze personages... het moet allemaal even bezinken en een plekje krijgen. Een ding weet ik zeker, dit verhaal gaat mij niet snel loslaten. En Sadie Levesque: wat een vrouw!
Voor iedereen die houdt van een stevige thriller, die niet vies is van een beetje gruwelijke moorden en gutsend bloed, en kan genieten van honderden puzzelstukjes die uiteindelijk ooit op zijn plek vallen: LEES DIT BOEK!
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Instagram: the.bookbabe
September 12, 2022
A private investigator arrives at a secluded Scottish island to try to find a lost American girl. She’s dead of course, and it resembles an old cold case. Some of the setting points to witchcraft.
It started out quite well and deteriorated as it went along. I did not much care for the ending, although it was original and unexpected, as well as annoying.
It started out quite well and deteriorated as it went along. I did not much care for the ending, although it was original and unexpected, as well as annoying.
September 1, 2022
Wow! What an unexpected, twisty, compelling novel! I know that this book will undoubtedly make my 2022 'Best List'.
Difficult to review without spoiling it for others, so I'll keep this very short.
First of all I adored the protagonist. Sadie Levesque was a feisty young woman whom I both admired and empathized with. The writing was both powerful and absorbing. The plot was original and engrossing - packed with red herrings, unexpected twists, and Scottish folklore.
The themes covered in this story are many. Parenting and its many challenges. Consequences of actions are far-reaching and can often involve ethical compromises. Today's modern world is only a hair's breadth away from ancient folklore and pagan ritual and history has lost some of its veracity in the re-tellings over time.
The ending was surprising, original, and left me bereft. I absolutely loved this crime thriller and will recommend it highly to all my crime fiction loving friends.
Difficult to review without spoiling it for others, so I'll keep this very short.
First of all I adored the protagonist. Sadie Levesque was a feisty young woman whom I both admired and empathized with. The writing was both powerful and absorbing. The plot was original and engrossing - packed with red herrings, unexpected twists, and Scottish folklore.
The themes covered in this story are many. Parenting and its many challenges. Consequences of actions are far-reaching and can often involve ethical compromises. Today's modern world is only a hair's breadth away from ancient folklore and pagan ritual and history has lost some of its veracity in the re-tellings over time.
The ending was surprising, original, and left me bereft. I absolutely loved this crime thriller and will recommend it highly to all my crime fiction loving friends.
June 10, 2024
Het gezin Clark is net verhuisd naar het afgelegen Isle of Mull, een eiland voor de kust van Schotland. Dan raakt de zeventienjarige Adriana vermist. Haar ouders zijn radeloos – de lokale bevolking ziet hen als indringers en de politie is onverschillig – en wenden zich tot privédetective Sadie Levesque om hun dochter te vinden.
Sadie is ontzettend goed in haar werk. Wanneer ze het lichaam van Adriana in een grot vindt, met een kroon van zeewier, beseft ze dat de zaak veel groter is dan ze in eerste instantie dacht. Ze duikt in de geheimen van de eiland, maar komt daardoor ook zelf dichter bij het gevaar. Want wat als Adriana niet de laatste was die stierf?
'De laatste die sterft' is de nieuwe thriller van Helen Fields. Hij lag hier al een tijdje op mijn grote stapel, maar afgelopen week kon ik 'm dan eindelijk lezen!
In dit boek maak je kennis met privédetective Sadie. Ze wordt op de vermissingszaak van de zeventienjarige Adriana gezet. Niet veel later wordt haar lichaam door Sadie gevonden. Het meisje is gruwelijk aan haar eind gekomen. Nu is het de taak van Sadie om uit te zoeken wat er precies is gebeurd. Wie is de dader?
Maar dan valt er een tweede slachtoffer, en ook Sadie zelf lijkt niet meer veilig te zijn. Is er een seriemoordenaar actief? Of zijn de moorden pure toeval? De zoektocht naar de dader was spannend en ik verdacht dan ook steeds meerdere mensen. Er gebeuren genoeg dingen waardoor het verhaal boeiend bleef, dus de spanningsboog was hoog.
De schrijfstijl van Helen Fields was wederom enorm fijn. Ik ben zelf heel erg weg van de Callanach-Turner serie, maar ook dit verhaal vond ik enorm boeiend.
Er komt ook een wending die ik totaal niet zag aankomen en dat onderwerp was ook heel boeiend om te lezen. Tenslotte vond ik het einde heel erg apart!
'De laatste die sterft' is dan ook zeker een aanrader en alle verschillende personages waren één voor één allemaal interessant.
Beoordeling 4,0 ⭐️
Sadie is ontzettend goed in haar werk. Wanneer ze het lichaam van Adriana in een grot vindt, met een kroon van zeewier, beseft ze dat de zaak veel groter is dan ze in eerste instantie dacht. Ze duikt in de geheimen van de eiland, maar komt daardoor ook zelf dichter bij het gevaar. Want wat als Adriana niet de laatste was die stierf?
'De laatste die sterft' is de nieuwe thriller van Helen Fields. Hij lag hier al een tijdje op mijn grote stapel, maar afgelopen week kon ik 'm dan eindelijk lezen!
In dit boek maak je kennis met privédetective Sadie. Ze wordt op de vermissingszaak van de zeventienjarige Adriana gezet. Niet veel later wordt haar lichaam door Sadie gevonden. Het meisje is gruwelijk aan haar eind gekomen. Nu is het de taak van Sadie om uit te zoeken wat er precies is gebeurd. Wie is de dader?
Maar dan valt er een tweede slachtoffer, en ook Sadie zelf lijkt niet meer veilig te zijn. Is er een seriemoordenaar actief? Of zijn de moorden pure toeval? De zoektocht naar de dader was spannend en ik verdacht dan ook steeds meerdere mensen. Er gebeuren genoeg dingen waardoor het verhaal boeiend bleef, dus de spanningsboog was hoog.
De schrijfstijl van Helen Fields was wederom enorm fijn. Ik ben zelf heel erg weg van de Callanach-Turner serie, maar ook dit verhaal vond ik enorm boeiend.
Er komt ook een wending die ik totaal niet zag aankomen en dat onderwerp was ook heel boeiend om te lezen. Tenslotte vond ik het einde heel erg apart!
'De laatste die sterft' is dan ook zeker een aanrader en alle verschillende personages waren één voor één allemaal interessant.
Beoordeling 4,0 ⭐️
September 15, 2023
Aaarghhh, no no no, this was so disappointing. I appreciate that this is a work of fiction but the story was a stretch too far for me. Why would a PI, Sadie Levesque, be drafted in from Canada to help with the search for a missing teenager on the island of Mull in Scotland? Well supposedly Sadie was an expert in her field, but my goodness that didn’t prevent her crazy decision making. In addition the hostility of the local police and community towards Sadie was so implausible and silly. The book could not be saved by the ending.
August 27, 2022
Oh my goodness what a fabulous book. Another winner from Helen Fields. She writes such wonderful, compelling books that keep you guessing until the end. This one was a lot different from her others as it had sinister goings-on all the way through. I wasn’t sure who was guilty until the end which is the kind of book I love. I wish I could give this more than five stars and I can’t wait for the next one.
August 30, 2022
4.5* --> 5*
When the Clarke family moves from California to Scotland, little do they know that their lives will change a a lot more than they bargained for. Barely established on the Isle of Mull, their teenage daughter goes missing. Local law enforcement doesn’t seem at all interested in looking for Adriana, and the locals have never been what you might call welcoming to this bunch of strangers invading their island.
Adriana’s parents hire a private investigator, Sadie Levesque. She travels all the way from Canada, doing what she does best, which is finding missing teenagers. But when she finds Adriana’s body, she quickly catches the eye of the local police herself. Solving the mystery surrounding Adriana’s death is a constant battle against the police and the locals. Nobody seems at all bothered about what happened to this young girl. But she might not have been the first, and she could quite possibly not be the last either.
I honestly can’t think of a better location the author could have chosen to set this story. The Isle of Mull is wonderfully atmospheric with a delightful sense of isolation, even though getting on and off the island doesn’t seem that much of a hardship. It has a little bit of everything, rugged terrain, mysterious caves, hills, forests, water obviously, and it almost felt like an advertisement for Mother Nature. Furthermore it’s also the perfect place for lore, the stuff of myths and legends, stories about sunken ships and princesses, witches and witchcraft. All of this creates the most fabulous haunting vibe and the island itself is even given its own voice, which is at once delightfully quirky and intensely eerie.
There’s plenty of what seems to be myths and legends in this story but it serves a different purpose than you might expect. There’s an underlying theme about the empowerment of women against an increasingly hostile and misogynistic world. Suddenly this crime novel feels very much of-our-time and it adds another extraordinary layer to the storyline. ‘The Last Girl To Die‘ is often disturbing and sometimes rather gruesome, but if you’ve been reading Helen Fields’ books in the past you wouldn’t expect anything less, and I personally felt it was toned down quite a lot from her “Perfect” series. (Which, incidentally, if you haven’t been reading that one, I’m shooting daggers at you from behind the screen and fully expect you to correct the error of your ways asap.)
It all feels extremely ominous with danger lurking around every corner. There’s no way to know for sure who to trust on this island. I always felt there were little clues Fields was dropping, little breadcrumbs that I somehow put together into something completely different from where the story actually ended up. True to form, there are plenty of twists and turns and while I don’t normally like to mention something like this because it veers into that “twist you won’t see coming” category many of us dislike so much, I would like to point out that one twist left me quite unattractively open-mouthed. Shocking seems like a true understatement and it’s not something I will forget in a hurry.
Helen Fields has never let me down and I was confident from just reading the book description that I would enjoy this book. I had a wee wobble at the start, although I’m not entirely sure why, apart from this horrid mood I’ve been in the last few months. But once the tension was dialled up a notch, I didn’t look back. ‘The Last Girl To Die‘ is twisted, dark, gripping, brilliantly written and proves once again that Fields is rightfully on my list of go-to authors.
When the Clarke family moves from California to Scotland, little do they know that their lives will change a a lot more than they bargained for. Barely established on the Isle of Mull, their teenage daughter goes missing. Local law enforcement doesn’t seem at all interested in looking for Adriana, and the locals have never been what you might call welcoming to this bunch of strangers invading their island.
Adriana’s parents hire a private investigator, Sadie Levesque. She travels all the way from Canada, doing what she does best, which is finding missing teenagers. But when she finds Adriana’s body, she quickly catches the eye of the local police herself. Solving the mystery surrounding Adriana’s death is a constant battle against the police and the locals. Nobody seems at all bothered about what happened to this young girl. But she might not have been the first, and she could quite possibly not be the last either.
I honestly can’t think of a better location the author could have chosen to set this story. The Isle of Mull is wonderfully atmospheric with a delightful sense of isolation, even though getting on and off the island doesn’t seem that much of a hardship. It has a little bit of everything, rugged terrain, mysterious caves, hills, forests, water obviously, and it almost felt like an advertisement for Mother Nature. Furthermore it’s also the perfect place for lore, the stuff of myths and legends, stories about sunken ships and princesses, witches and witchcraft. All of this creates the most fabulous haunting vibe and the island itself is even given its own voice, which is at once delightfully quirky and intensely eerie.
There’s plenty of what seems to be myths and legends in this story but it serves a different purpose than you might expect. There’s an underlying theme about the empowerment of women against an increasingly hostile and misogynistic world. Suddenly this crime novel feels very much of-our-time and it adds another extraordinary layer to the storyline. ‘The Last Girl To Die‘ is often disturbing and sometimes rather gruesome, but if you’ve been reading Helen Fields’ books in the past you wouldn’t expect anything less, and I personally felt it was toned down quite a lot from her “Perfect” series. (Which, incidentally, if you haven’t been reading that one, I’m shooting daggers at you from behind the screen and fully expect you to correct the error of your ways asap.)
It all feels extremely ominous with danger lurking around every corner. There’s no way to know for sure who to trust on this island. I always felt there were little clues Fields was dropping, little breadcrumbs that I somehow put together into something completely different from where the story actually ended up. True to form, there are plenty of twists and turns and while I don’t normally like to mention something like this because it veers into that “twist you won’t see coming” category many of us dislike so much, I would like to point out that one twist left me quite unattractively open-mouthed. Shocking seems like a true understatement and it’s not something I will forget in a hurry.
Helen Fields has never let me down and I was confident from just reading the book description that I would enjoy this book. I had a wee wobble at the start, although I’m not entirely sure why, apart from this horrid mood I’ve been in the last few months. But once the tension was dialled up a notch, I didn’t look back. ‘The Last Girl To Die‘ is twisted, dark, gripping, brilliantly written and proves once again that Fields is rightfully on my list of go-to authors.
June 7, 2022
am fast becoming a fan of this author!
A teenager goes missing and the parents feeling helpless decide to hire Private Investigator Sadie Levesque. Sadie arrives to the Isle of Mull, a small island far off the coast of Scotland where the police are rude and the locals are unwelcoming. This was a great atmospheric read with twists and surprises along the way. Very well written with great character development I really liked Sadie's character.
My first book by this author was "One For Sorrow" and I absolutely loved that book so I was thrilled to be approved for this ARC.
This was a good read and I loved that the ancient myths and legends associated with the island were tied in with the storyline. I will be looking into Helen Fields' other books. Definitely recommend!
A big thank you to Avon UK and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
A teenager goes missing and the parents feeling helpless decide to hire Private Investigator Sadie Levesque. Sadie arrives to the Isle of Mull, a small island far off the coast of Scotland where the police are rude and the locals are unwelcoming. This was a great atmospheric read with twists and surprises along the way. Very well written with great character development I really liked Sadie's character.
My first book by this author was "One For Sorrow" and I absolutely loved that book so I was thrilled to be approved for this ARC.
This was a good read and I loved that the ancient myths and legends associated with the island were tied in with the storyline. I will be looking into Helen Fields' other books. Definitely recommend!
A big thank you to Avon UK and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
October 18, 2023
So glad I finally picked this one up. Love this authors writing. What a great story
September 1, 2022
Another well-crafted read from Fields. I think I have said this each time, but I believe that with every book I read, Fields’ writing gets better and better.
I think this book has a different feel compared to the others I have read. This is not so much a police procedural and I liked how the atmosphere was dominated by pagan witchcraft. Scottish lore becomes entangled with the death of Adriana and I think I was surprised by this direction of the plot. Rather than being a gritty, crime thriller, this novel feels quite different to others as Sadie gets involved in island mystery and beliefs. However, Fields still manages to pack a punch and by page seven my jaw had dropped. I think this is a record for Fields!
Although this was not as shocking as other books by Fields, it was no less immersive. I particularly liked the chapters titled ‘The Island’, where Fields’s writing takes on another level. It was beautiful to read and I enjoyed the different narrative voice, with the personification of the island itself. Furthermore, the closing chapter was particularly poignant and emotional; it was not something I would have expected from a writer of such shocking stories.
The plot is relentless in its mystery and this makes it even more absorbing. I had so many theories for so long but Fields keeps everything very secretive until the thrilling closing. I have yet to properly predict the conclusion of Fields’s stories and I think this definitely adds to the enjoyment of her writing. Sadie’s investigations take a different development when further crimes are committed on the island and I like how they then become linked to a historical death which seems to loom forever over the story.
Having read nearly all of Fields’s books to date, I liked how some familiar characters make an appearance in this story. It felt refreshing and I wanted to shout at these characters, like a famous celebrity, that I recognised them from the Turner and Callanach series! I guess I was fan-girling because I have enjoyed Fields’s writing so much. However, it makes no impact on whether you have read any other book from this writer before because this story is most definitely a stand-alone.
So, I really enjoyed another book from Fields. If I was honest, I don’t think it was as good as the Callanach and Turner novels however, it was another brilliantly written book that is not worthy of anything less than five stars. I feel honoured to have been able to read an early release of this book and cannot wait to see what is released from this author. Trust me, I will be elbowing my way to the front of the queue for the next one.
With thanks to Avon books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I think this book has a different feel compared to the others I have read. This is not so much a police procedural and I liked how the atmosphere was dominated by pagan witchcraft. Scottish lore becomes entangled with the death of Adriana and I think I was surprised by this direction of the plot. Rather than being a gritty, crime thriller, this novel feels quite different to others as Sadie gets involved in island mystery and beliefs. However, Fields still manages to pack a punch and by page seven my jaw had dropped. I think this is a record for Fields!
Although this was not as shocking as other books by Fields, it was no less immersive. I particularly liked the chapters titled ‘The Island’, where Fields’s writing takes on another level. It was beautiful to read and I enjoyed the different narrative voice, with the personification of the island itself. Furthermore, the closing chapter was particularly poignant and emotional; it was not something I would have expected from a writer of such shocking stories.
The plot is relentless in its mystery and this makes it even more absorbing. I had so many theories for so long but Fields keeps everything very secretive until the thrilling closing. I have yet to properly predict the conclusion of Fields’s stories and I think this definitely adds to the enjoyment of her writing. Sadie’s investigations take a different development when further crimes are committed on the island and I like how they then become linked to a historical death which seems to loom forever over the story.
Having read nearly all of Fields’s books to date, I liked how some familiar characters make an appearance in this story. It felt refreshing and I wanted to shout at these characters, like a famous celebrity, that I recognised them from the Turner and Callanach series! I guess I was fan-girling because I have enjoyed Fields’s writing so much. However, it makes no impact on whether you have read any other book from this writer before because this story is most definitely a stand-alone.
So, I really enjoyed another book from Fields. If I was honest, I don’t think it was as good as the Callanach and Turner novels however, it was another brilliantly written book that is not worthy of anything less than five stars. I feel honoured to have been able to read an early release of this book and cannot wait to see what is released from this author. Trust me, I will be elbowing my way to the front of the queue for the next one.
With thanks to Avon books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 1, 2022
My Rating ~ 4.5*
‘The seaweed was a grotesque crown – she was a dead beauty queen belonging to the sea.'
The Last Girl to Die by Helen Fields (September 1st, Avon Books) is the eleventh book set in Scotland from this award winning crime writer, twice shortlisted for the McIllvanney Scottish Crime Book of the Year. The Last Girl to Die is set on the Isle of Mull which, as an island, provides the novel with a great sense of the claustrophobic. In researching for the book, Helen Fields delved deep into the history of the island which added an extraordinary level of authenticity to the story.
‘As part of her research for The Last Girl to Die, Helen discovered a number of legends about the Isle of Mull, many to do with the witches of Mull which she uses in the book, including the legendary Mull witch Doideag (which means “little frizzle”) who was said to be more powerful than the Clan Chief and responsible for the sinking of a Spanish Galleon. Also at the heart of the novel is the ancient Lochbuie Stone Circle: nine granite rocks that sit silently in their own natural amphitheatre, overlooked by the slopes of Ben Buie. Although most visitors find it a place of tranquillity, legend has it that the area is haunted.
Helen has also set the murders in the novel in Mull’s famous Mackinnon’s Cave – one of the deepest sea caves in the Hebrides, where legend tells of a piper who was walking his dog in the cave came to a sticky end when a female ogre became unimpressed with his performance. The dog survived but emerged crazed and hairless with fright. Deep inside the cave lies a large, flat slab of rock, which is known as Fingal’s Table which was used as an altar by hermits and early followers of the Christian church and also features in the novel.’
When Sadie Levesque arrives on the Isle of Mull she is met with immediate hostility. A young girl, Adriana Clarke, a blow-in to the island with her family, has been missing for days. The local police are lacking and the girl’s parents hire Sadie for her renowned skills as a PI who specialises in tracking missing teenagers. Canada based, this trip to Scotland is a new experience for Sadie. As an outdoor enthusiast, she had hoped someday to visit Scotland and to experience its raw beauty and volatile climate but she never expected to be there in search of a missing teenager.
Adriana Clarke and her family were relatively new to the island having left their busy lives in America for a more isolated existence in Mull. Always considered strangers Adriana struggled to find friendship but she did get work in one of the local pubs. One morning it was discovered that Adriana never came home. Her parents were immediately concerned but the local police were very slow to react. The fact that they were new seemed to negate the general sense of urgency so Sadie Levesque was hired privately to pick up on the seeming incompetence of the local police.
Sadie, working on pure instinct and personal experience, discovers the body of Adriana, brutally murdered and left to the sea in Mackinnon’s Cave. Sickened by what she sees, Sadie promises the Clarkes that she will find the evil individual behind this barbaric act, taking whatever action is needed, but Sadie is very unprepared for what she encounters as the days pass by.
An island of secrets, an island with a past that clings to its rocks and its roots, the Isle of Mull is its own character in this tale, a place steeped in legends, with tales of witches and seamen, of death and daring. The bleakness of the island on a dark and cold day seeps under the skin with ominous descriptions and a constant lurking threat throughout as the pages turn. All the individual characters are wonderfully depicted from the local oddball to the less than welcoming local police. Helen Fields captures the insularity and prejudices of the local community with great accuracy, adding an extra chilling layer to the storyline.
Sadie is constantly stonewalled, even when her situation takes an even more sinister turn. Her life is threatened but, battered and bruised, she persists in her search until, eventually, with a truly shocking and jaw-dropping twist, the truth reveals itself.
The Last Girl to Die is a well-paced, breath-taking read that will leave any reader gobsmacked and the worse for wear. Fantastically creepy, it is devastating in its reveals and gruesome in part. Superstition is rife throughout with some local activity very much in opposition to the church and its teachings, adding to the overall intensity of the tale. The Last Girl to Die is a compelling and captivating story, enigmatic, haunting, unsettling and tense.
‘The seaweed was a grotesque crown – she was a dead beauty queen belonging to the sea.'
The Last Girl to Die by Helen Fields (September 1st, Avon Books) is the eleventh book set in Scotland from this award winning crime writer, twice shortlisted for the McIllvanney Scottish Crime Book of the Year. The Last Girl to Die is set on the Isle of Mull which, as an island, provides the novel with a great sense of the claustrophobic. In researching for the book, Helen Fields delved deep into the history of the island which added an extraordinary level of authenticity to the story.
‘As part of her research for The Last Girl to Die, Helen discovered a number of legends about the Isle of Mull, many to do with the witches of Mull which she uses in the book, including the legendary Mull witch Doideag (which means “little frizzle”) who was said to be more powerful than the Clan Chief and responsible for the sinking of a Spanish Galleon. Also at the heart of the novel is the ancient Lochbuie Stone Circle: nine granite rocks that sit silently in their own natural amphitheatre, overlooked by the slopes of Ben Buie. Although most visitors find it a place of tranquillity, legend has it that the area is haunted.
Helen has also set the murders in the novel in Mull’s famous Mackinnon’s Cave – one of the deepest sea caves in the Hebrides, where legend tells of a piper who was walking his dog in the cave came to a sticky end when a female ogre became unimpressed with his performance. The dog survived but emerged crazed and hairless with fright. Deep inside the cave lies a large, flat slab of rock, which is known as Fingal’s Table which was used as an altar by hermits and early followers of the Christian church and also features in the novel.’
When Sadie Levesque arrives on the Isle of Mull she is met with immediate hostility. A young girl, Adriana Clarke, a blow-in to the island with her family, has been missing for days. The local police are lacking and the girl’s parents hire Sadie for her renowned skills as a PI who specialises in tracking missing teenagers. Canada based, this trip to Scotland is a new experience for Sadie. As an outdoor enthusiast, she had hoped someday to visit Scotland and to experience its raw beauty and volatile climate but she never expected to be there in search of a missing teenager.
Adriana Clarke and her family were relatively new to the island having left their busy lives in America for a more isolated existence in Mull. Always considered strangers Adriana struggled to find friendship but she did get work in one of the local pubs. One morning it was discovered that Adriana never came home. Her parents were immediately concerned but the local police were very slow to react. The fact that they were new seemed to negate the general sense of urgency so Sadie Levesque was hired privately to pick up on the seeming incompetence of the local police.
Sadie, working on pure instinct and personal experience, discovers the body of Adriana, brutally murdered and left to the sea in Mackinnon’s Cave. Sickened by what she sees, Sadie promises the Clarkes that she will find the evil individual behind this barbaric act, taking whatever action is needed, but Sadie is very unprepared for what she encounters as the days pass by.
An island of secrets, an island with a past that clings to its rocks and its roots, the Isle of Mull is its own character in this tale, a place steeped in legends, with tales of witches and seamen, of death and daring. The bleakness of the island on a dark and cold day seeps under the skin with ominous descriptions and a constant lurking threat throughout as the pages turn. All the individual characters are wonderfully depicted from the local oddball to the less than welcoming local police. Helen Fields captures the insularity and prejudices of the local community with great accuracy, adding an extra chilling layer to the storyline.
Sadie is constantly stonewalled, even when her situation takes an even more sinister turn. Her life is threatened but, battered and bruised, she persists in her search until, eventually, with a truly shocking and jaw-dropping twist, the truth reveals itself.
The Last Girl to Die is a well-paced, breath-taking read that will leave any reader gobsmacked and the worse for wear. Fantastically creepy, it is devastating in its reveals and gruesome in part. Superstition is rife throughout with some local activity very much in opposition to the church and its teachings, adding to the overall intensity of the tale. The Last Girl to Die is a compelling and captivating story, enigmatic, haunting, unsettling and tense.
November 6, 2022
(Not really big spoilers, but added just in case)
So it seems like I’m in a huge minority here, but I really didn’t like this book at all. Let us start with me really disliking first person POV, which isn’t the author’s fault at all, but one of the weaknesses with that here was that we got very little information and insight about Sadie as a person, and why she was so good at finding teenagers. I wanted to know more about her history, why she acted the way she did, and I struggled to get a picture of her in my mind, which also make me engage less with the story. In general I struggled with connecting and caring for any characters.
Then over to some of the things that made me dislike the book. So we’re just expected to accept that a private investigator can come from Canada (and why from Canada, what was the point) and insert herself in the middle of a police investigation in Scotland (well, she did have a private detective license in Canada, who I strongly suspect is no good in the UK), not that it looked like the police did any significant investigations, but that’s another thing I dislike with first person POV, we only know what the person tells us. We have a pathologist just casually sharing details (the same goes for the police too), and making plaster copies like he was an arts and craft teacher on the side. We have Sadie doing the wrong thing at every turn and opportunity (especially irking that she doesn’t share anything with the police, but can’t wrap up the book to early), she’s breaking and entering as a habit, and more implausible things going on. Also, if someone (Sadie) had taken one of the earlier observations seriously and shared with the police this could’ve been solved earlier, but I know we can’t wrap a book up that early. I was prepared to give two stars because it interested me enough to make me want to finish it, but then the ending came, and it was stupid because Sadie was kinda stupid (the letter, come on), and whispers from beyond the grave was a weird grip used to wrap things up.
Kinda long rant about a book I didn’t like, but when I give one and two stars I like to explain why.
So it seems like I’m in a huge minority here, but I really didn’t like this book at all. Let us start with me really disliking first person POV, which isn’t the author’s fault at all, but one of the weaknesses with that here was that we got very little information and insight about Sadie as a person, and why she was so good at finding teenagers. I wanted to know more about her history, why she acted the way she did, and I struggled to get a picture of her in my mind, which also make me engage less with the story. In general I struggled with connecting and caring for any characters.
Then over to some of the things that made me dislike the book. So we’re just expected to accept that a private investigator can come from Canada (and why from Canada, what was the point) and insert herself in the middle of a police investigation in Scotland (well, she did have a private detective license in Canada, who I strongly suspect is no good in the UK), not that it looked like the police did any significant investigations, but that’s another thing I dislike with first person POV, we only know what the person tells us. We have a pathologist just casually sharing details (the same goes for the police too), and making plaster copies like he was an arts and craft teacher on the side. We have Sadie doing the wrong thing at every turn and opportunity (especially irking that she doesn’t share anything with the police, but can’t wrap up the book to early), she’s breaking and entering as a habit, and more implausible things going on. Also, if someone (Sadie) had taken one of the earlier observations seriously and shared with the police this could’ve been solved earlier, but I know we can’t wrap a book up that early. I was prepared to give two stars because it interested me enough to make me want to finish it, but then the ending came, and it was stupid because Sadie was kinda stupid (the letter, come on), and whispers from beyond the grave was a weird grip used to wrap things up.
Kinda long rant about a book I didn’t like, but when I give one and two stars I like to explain why.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2023
An American family have moved to the Isle of Mull, their daughter Adriana goes missing. They feel the police aren't looking hard enough so they call in Candian PI Sadie to find her. When she finds her after a few days into her search the police start to suspect her. But with Sadie knowing she's completely innocent, the priblem she now faces is the family themselves. They aren't being straight forward the question is what are they hiding? And why?
I really enjoyed this book, as a fan of Helen Fields work I was so excited to read this and it didn't let me down. It starts from the ground running and it was constant from then on.
I was trying to work out what secret the family was hiding, they were shady and seemed to have no background. So not only were we working out who killed Adriana we were wondering if it had anything to do with the secret her family were hiding. This is why I love psychological thrillers/mysteries the guessing keeps me reading.
Sadie was a great leading lady, I found myself ingrossed and completely caught up in her storyline. She was smart, independent and an excellent PI. She knew that the police didn't want her investigating but that didn't stop her. She knows that the town is also hiding a secret and this is added to her list of things to find out. I loved it. All the characters have great depth and are so well written.
The history of the island is great the idea of witches and myths. This may appear random but it ties in quite nicely with the story itself. I found myself trying to piece it altogether, Fields manages to do this so well. I love her books and can't get enough!
All in all I really enjoyed this book, without giving too much away its worth picking up and reading. It's thriller, mystery, myths ad so much more. It is easy to read and if you're like me will have you up all night reading. With a great female lead it takes you on an investigative journey. 4 stars 🌟 highly recommend.
Thanks netgalley, Helen Fields and Avon books for the digital reviewers copy of the last girl to die.
I really enjoyed this book, as a fan of Helen Fields work I was so excited to read this and it didn't let me down. It starts from the ground running and it was constant from then on.
I was trying to work out what secret the family was hiding, they were shady and seemed to have no background. So not only were we working out who killed Adriana we were wondering if it had anything to do with the secret her family were hiding. This is why I love psychological thrillers/mysteries the guessing keeps me reading.
Sadie was a great leading lady, I found myself ingrossed and completely caught up in her storyline. She was smart, independent and an excellent PI. She knew that the police didn't want her investigating but that didn't stop her. She knows that the town is also hiding a secret and this is added to her list of things to find out. I loved it. All the characters have great depth and are so well written.
The history of the island is great the idea of witches and myths. This may appear random but it ties in quite nicely with the story itself. I found myself trying to piece it altogether, Fields manages to do this so well. I love her books and can't get enough!
All in all I really enjoyed this book, without giving too much away its worth picking up and reading. It's thriller, mystery, myths ad so much more. It is easy to read and if you're like me will have you up all night reading. With a great female lead it takes you on an investigative journey. 4 stars 🌟 highly recommend.
Thanks netgalley, Helen Fields and Avon books for the digital reviewers copy of the last girl to die.
August 11, 2022
I've been a fan of Helen Fields and her DI Callanach series for a long time so I was delighted to see this standalone book from her that I quickly devour. I can now report that The Last Girl to Die is classic Helen Fields: a dark murder mystery with lots of plausible twists.
Seventeen-year-old Adriana Clark and her family have recently relocated from the US to a small island off the coast of Scotland when she goes missing. Frustrated with a lack of police progress, the family hires Canadian private investigator Sadie Levesque to come help them. Sadie quickly finds Adriana's ritualistically brutalized body in a cave on the island and raises the question as to the identity of the killer and the motive for the killing. Could there be a killer lurking among the island inhabitants ready to strike again or is the killer from off-island as the police claim? Sadie begins her own investigation at the behest of the Clark family and discovers ancient island secrets that could lead to the killer.
Once again Fields took me on a trip where every time I thought I knew who the killer was, a red herring or a twist would make me doubt myself. In the end, I was once again on the losing end of identifying the killer and the motive. In her typically fast-paced writing style, the book moved along with a strong sense of place and excellent character development. I think fans of dark, twisty murder mysteries will enjoy this book as much as I did.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an advance copy of this book. The publication date is September 1, 2022.
Seventeen-year-old Adriana Clark and her family have recently relocated from the US to a small island off the coast of Scotland when she goes missing. Frustrated with a lack of police progress, the family hires Canadian private investigator Sadie Levesque to come help them. Sadie quickly finds Adriana's ritualistically brutalized body in a cave on the island and raises the question as to the identity of the killer and the motive for the killing. Could there be a killer lurking among the island inhabitants ready to strike again or is the killer from off-island as the police claim? Sadie begins her own investigation at the behest of the Clark family and discovers ancient island secrets that could lead to the killer.
Once again Fields took me on a trip where every time I thought I knew who the killer was, a red herring or a twist would make me doubt myself. In the end, I was once again on the losing end of identifying the killer and the motive. In her typically fast-paced writing style, the book moved along with a strong sense of place and excellent character development. I think fans of dark, twisty murder mysteries will enjoy this book as much as I did.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an advance copy of this book. The publication date is September 1, 2022.
August 30, 2022
This was a torrid novel looking at the awful deaths of young women on the Island of Mull, off the coast of Scotland.
An American couple’s daughter is missing. The local police have given up, or felt it not worthwhile. The parents call on a Canadian Private Investigator Sadie Levesque to help them. What follows is a twisted and gruelling account of Sadie’s investigative processes. Eleven days after she disappeared, Sadie finds Adriana Clarke in a sea cave crowned with seaweed, and more.
I did not like the ending and found the last chapter took away from what was a sound murder mystery. Solid discovery ran into magic realism. Unfortunate!
An Avon Books UK ARC via NetGalley.
An American couple’s daughter is missing. The local police have given up, or felt it not worthwhile. The parents call on a Canadian Private Investigator Sadie Levesque to help them. What follows is a twisted and gruelling account of Sadie’s investigative processes. Eleven days after she disappeared, Sadie finds Adriana Clarke in a sea cave crowned with seaweed, and more.
I did not like the ending and found the last chapter took away from what was a sound murder mystery. Solid discovery ran into magic realism. Unfortunate!
An Avon Books UK ARC via NetGalley.
August 7, 2022
Anotheŕ stand alone from one of my favourite authors and omg what a read!!!!
Atmospheric, full of heart stopping moments and as for the ending it blew me away. I really thought that her last book One For Sorrow was mind blowing but The Last Girl To Die is on another level. Heinous crimes, a sort of romance and a killer I would never have guessed. Highly recommended and I promise that you will not be disappointed!!!!!
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.
Atmospheric, full of heart stopping moments and as for the ending it blew me away. I really thought that her last book One For Sorrow was mind blowing but The Last Girl To Die is on another level. Heinous crimes, a sort of romance and a killer I would never have guessed. Highly recommended and I promise that you will not be disappointed!!!!!
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.
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