This is a dark, psychological thriller that may be hard for some fans of the series to read because of how close Ava and Luc are to the victims. Also, reading about first responders being the target of a crazed mind was sometimes difficult. It is, however, a first-rate mystery. It kept me guessing, often incorrectly, and devouring the book to see if my suspicions were correct. Ava and DI Luc Callanach are faced with an investigation where there is no indication of why these murders are happening, let alone who is carrying them out.

Edinburgh is gripped by the greatest terror it has ever known: a lone bomber is targeting victims across the city, and no one is safe. I absolutely loved this book. It can be read on its own, but do yourself a favour and read the entire series .’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ In cases such as these, there is usually some type of motive and the suspect would presumably be an individual that was close to her or involved in Elaine’s life in some way. When she was living, Elaine Buxton had a respectable career as a lawyer and her peers thought highly of her. Could it be some type of disgruntled client or someone involved with a case that had a grudge?There are no winners in this novel and the solution is tinged with sadness and what ifs. This can also be said of the conclusion which ends in a massive cliffhanger. The next novel will be interesting.

OVERALL: A great addition to an amazing crime series. Anyone who has read the series before will love. And new readers will become hooked on the characters. A tense, fast paced book with so many factors in play. It was obvious that the parallel stories were connected, but Helen throws in many twists and turns before the truth is revealed. The focus of the story introduces us to very real but believable evil and the character is built up stealthily and expertly. There are also big questions and food for thought about whether actions are ever justified and some excellent and poignant psychological assessments and comments on life and grief.I have been a fan of Helen Fields and this series in particular for a number of years now. She has never disappointed me and with this book she delivers one of the most thrilling and gut-wrenching book yet. The blurb is super small because any more details would mean spoiling the fun. This is my first book by the author (and the first in the series). Since I don’t know the characters from start, my review will focus on the plot instead of interpersonal relationships.