Synopsis

One for sorrow, two for joy
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.

Three for a girl, four for a boy
DCI Ava Turner and DI Luc Callanach face death every day – and not just the deaths of the people being taken hostage by the killer.

Five for silver, six for gold
When it becomes clear that with every tip-off they are walking into a trap designed to kill them too, Ava and Luc know that finding the truth could mean paying the ultimate price.

Seven for a secret never to be told…
But with the threat – and body count – rising daily, and no clue as to who’s behind it, neither Ava nor Luc know whether they will live long enough to tell the tale…

Review

Having read all of the DCI Turner-DI Callanach books I was suitably excited for this one. I was also worried, as some of the comments gave me a strong sense of foreboding. I knew at least one character was going to die.

However, foolishly I almost forgot about it. The story was so intense, so quickly, that despite my misgivings I couldn’t stop reading.

One for Sorrow is horrific, shocking and gruesome… I almost cried. Not just once, but multiple times. As well as the traumatic events that occur as a result of the serial killer, there are other poignant stories about characters you care about.

It’s a lot to take in, but it’s wonderfully bleak. Yet somehow there remains a flicker of hope throughout the book; despite everything we feel a sense of loss and love. This is excellent writing. It’s not glorified violence and trauma, but well-constructed events, wonderful characters and even empathy with the killer.

And I was not even close to guessing. My initial suspicion fell on someone who died. Their death was utterly heart-breaking and one of the most shocking that Fields has written. I thought that would be the worst thing to happen. And yet, with just pages to go, when I was feeling relief and satisfaction at the ending, it happened.

And it broke me.

I received an advance copy from NetGalley and Avon Books. Opinions my own.