Perfect Prey by Helen Fields

This is the second in the DI Callanach series and I was looking forward to this so much after reading the first one.  I was NOT disappointed.

A series of murders are rocking Edinburgh with both their brutality and the completely different MOs making it look as though there could easily be 4 murderers at large, each trying to outdo the other.  Couple this with a cyber-crime unit from Scotland Yard descending on Police Scotland and life is more than usually chaotic for our old friends DI Ava Turner and Luc Callanach.

Helen Fields brings a great blend of both personal anecdote from the characters and the grotesque, often disturbing, machinations behind murder.  The story arc is judged excellently and there is a presumption that you already know the history of the main protagonists but enough background detail is given to flash out the characters for the first time reader.  Just enough to not spoil it for people following this series of books, this is a boon as so many authors now spend half the book telling you things you already know.

The descriptions of the crime scenes are vivid and some may see these as a detriment.  I see it as a logical progression in crime story telling and it only follows on from the sudden explosion of Scandi Noir on our screens and bookshelves.  The difference being the crime itself and the subsequent body display are there to serve to tell us of the murderers mindset and choices regarding the act itself and what it means to them - not just for shock and awe.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and am somewhat trepidatiously awaiting the third - can Ms Fields keep the momentum up?  I sincerely hope so!

**Review originally published November 23rd, 2017**