Book Review: The Last Girl To Die by Helen Fields

“The island watched and wept…”

Released today, The Last Girl To Die by Helen Fields follows private investigator Sadie Levesque who has been hired by the Clark family to find their sixteen-year-old daughter, Adriana, who has gone missing. The family have only recently moved to the ancient, ocean-battered Isle of Mull, far off the coast of Scotland, as Sadie finds herself faced with hostile locals and indifferent police.

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?

Rating:

Thank you to Avon for a gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A haunting and atmospheric detective thriller, The Last Girl To Die is an emotionally-charged story with a brilliant new leading character, a complex plot filled with shattering twists, and an ending that will leave you shaking.

The small-town setting is everything with its cult-ish vibes and exploration of myths and witchcraft. You get a real sense of the history of The Isle of Mull and I really enjoyed getting to know more about the town of Tobermory (more than it being the setting of Balamory) and getting an insight into the famous legendary witches that it’s known for.

I love the way that Fields incorporates these myths into her story, and also how she explores the beliefs of the local residents and how important this history is to them. These details completely immerse you in the story alongside Fields’ powerful new lead, Sadie, who is fantastic. Ruthless and determined, her compelling personality makes this investigation all the more addictive, as we unravel unpredictable twists and question a host of deceptive characters.

The end of this book had me feeling all the emotions. It’s knife-edge, adrenaline-inducing, heartbreaking, and tense, and the perfect ending for this stimulating thriller that’s sure to leave your nerves shredded and mouth prized open in shock.