One for Sorrow by Helen Sarah Fields - Book Review

One for Sorrow by Helen Sarah Fields 

Series: D.I. Callanach #7 (Standalone)

Genre: Thriller, Detective, Police Procedural 

4 Stars 

One Liner: Fast-paced and interesting; cliff hanger for series followers 

*****

Edinburg is under attack by a lone bomber who sets off explosions at random (or not). DCI Ava Turner and DI Luc Callanach have no clues to work with even as bodies pile up. Every tip-off by the mysterious caller pulls them further into his trap. He knows everything. They seem to know nothing. The only way to stop the killer is to find the truth. But what price do they have to pay for it? 

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. 

• Despite being 400 pages (the last 5% is for promotional material), the book reads very fast. There’s enough action to keep us glued to the pages. 

• A few personal scenes are interspersed to continue the personal subplot and to give some breathing space to the readers. 

• There’s a second timeline where the chapters are mentioned ‘before’. It starts as an independent track, but by 45%, we know how the tracks will merge. 

• The second half of the book is where readers know more than the main characters and want to see how things unfold. (Needless to say, I started guessing around the same time and got it right). 

• The forensic and criminal profiling scenes are my favorite. I love them when done well (I have a special love for forensics). 

• There are plenty of characters but no confusion. That’s probably because I assumed that the ones from the force are recurring characters. 

• One thing I found odd is the language and dialogues. Except for the places, the book doesn’t say Scottish thriller. It seemed more like something from the UK. Maybe Edinburg is that way (I wouldn’t know). 

• The main plot ends with no loose ends (though one point is left for us to assume). The pace slows downs towards the end as the revelation is followed by introspection and some progress in the subplot. 

• There is a cliffhanger, yes. Quite a brutal one (for those invested in the series), but I’m okay with it. My involvement is limited to the case. I’ll read the previous and next ones in the series, though. 

To sum up, One for Sorrow is a good police procedural dealing with important social themes and manages to keep me hooked almost throughout. 

Thank you, NetGalley, Harper 360, and Avon, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

#OneforSorrow #NetGalley

*****

TW: Stalking, obsession, drugged rape, child death.