Perfect Prey

My rating: * * * *

Goodreads Description

The second in the terrifying DI Callanach crime series. Fans of M.J. Arlidge will be hooked from the very first page. In the midst of a rock festival, a charity worker is sliced across the stomach. He dies minutes later. In a crowd of thousands, no one saw his attacker. The following week, the body of a primary school teacher is found in a dumpster in an Edinburgh alley, strangled with her own woollen scarf. DI Ava Turner and DI Luc Callanach have no motive and no leads – until around the city, graffitied on buildings, words appear describing each victim. It’s only when they realise the words are appearing before rather than after the murders, that they understand the killer is announcing his next victim…and the more innocent the better.

My Review

This book is the second in the D.I Callanach series, but I use the word "series" lightly here as it really isn't necessary to have read the first book. As it turns out, I have in fact read the first book, and although the first book is obviously our first introduction to the characters, I don't think it's imperative to have read the first title to enjoy this one. You could start here and not be in any way prejudiced.

This follow up novel is just as good, if not a tiny bit better than the first one. D.I Callanach and his the team are left scratching their heads when a young man attending a rock festival is murdered in the middle of a crowded field. His abdomen is slashed from one side to the other, but yet no one saw a single thing, and the killer casually walks away. The victim appears to have been a stand-out citizen, doing good whenever he could, and thus there didn't appear to be a motive for the killing. Soon another murder follows, this time a primary school teacher. Another person who was well loved, and who didn't seem to have any enemies. So what is the link between the murders? And why are these specific victims chosen?

Let me warn you upfront, this book is definitely not for the feint hearted. Some of the murders are really gruesome, and the description of what the killer had done to the victims really turned my stomach. It was clear in a number of instances that the victims had suffered greatly before they died, and I always battle reading things like that. It's clear very early on that D.I Callanach and his team are faced with a brutal, sadistic and evil killer, one that enjoys and takes pride in the kills.

This is a book that I loved. If I was in the habit of awarding half stars, this would be getting 4.5 stars from me, but because I don't do that, I always round off downwards. But take it from me, if you love crime thrillers and police procedurals, then you're going to love this one. It really had me gripped, and as I've mentioned above, the killer was so sick and twisted that I couldn't help but be engrossed by him, the story and the book in general. I cannot wait to read book 3!

It's a cracker. Go for it.

My Rating: * * * *

Publication Date: September 2017 (South Africa)

Genre: Crime Thriller / Police Procedural

Format: Trade Paperback

Source: Review copy received from the publisher. Many thanks to author, Helen Fields and Jonathan Ball SA for my copy. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.