The Blurb:
Each murder brings him one step closer to the perfect death.
Former priest DI Farrell is called on to investigate a gruesome death in rural Scotland. All evidence points to suicide, except for one loose end: every light in the cottage was switched off. Why would he kill himself in the dark?
The question sparks a murder investigation that leads to the mysterious Ivy House, home of ‘The Collective’, a sinister commune of artists who will do anything to keep their twisted secrets hidden.
And when the remains of a young girl are uncovered on a barren stretch of coastline, Farrell realises that there is something rotten in this tight-knit community. Now he must track down a ruthless killer before another person dies, this time much closer to home…
Perfect Dead was published by One More Chapter on 15th June 2018 and is available from the usual retailers. Why not visit your local independent bookshop? Or online you could try Bert's Books, The Big Green Bookshop, or Hive (which will link to the nearest participating indie bookshop).
My Review:
This is the second book in the series, but can easily be read as a standalone.
Former priest DI Frank Farrell is called out to investigate a suspicious death. A promising young artist is dead, having apparently taken his own life. But he had everything to live for, and a few things about the scene of death don't sit right with Frank, and he's not convinced it was suicide and determines to investigate further. And then human bones are discovered ...
Meanwhile, DI Kate Moore is looking into a possible art forgery ring in the area. She only has a small team at her disposal but fortunately a local art expert has offered up his services to help.
Relations between Farrell and his mother have thawed considerably, as they have between him and Detective Superintendent Walker. Frank's friend, and immediate boss, John Lind and his wife Laura are struggling following events in the first book, and Mhairi has a lovely new boyfriend. So there is plenty going on!
I loved the idea of 'The Collective', a kind of creative commune, which over the years has attracted all sorts of artists, but now has just three members. But they're a hard bunch to crack, clearly with secrets they want to keep. And the mysterious painter who nobody really sees is a fabulous creation. I had a great image of him in my mind!
I struggled to keep track of the movement of real paintings and forgeries but I think that was down to me rather than the writing. But I loved seeing Stirling and Thomson going undercover - they made a great double act!
There is humour throughout, which I always welcome in a crime novel. But there are plenty of shocks too. It was great finding out more about the characters, although sometimes it was hard to read. I've become very invested in some of these folk and sometimes I was sad for them. Or scared for them. And faith figures heavily too, for Frank anyway. I think Baldwin has been very clever adding this in. It sets Farrell apart, gives him depth and adds so much interest for the reader.
The foray into the art world was an interesting one for me, and some of the paintings are vividly described by the author. - to the point where I could see them clearly in my mind. Great writing.
The conclusion was unexpected, tense and shocking. My heart was in my mouth as I turned the pages (well, swiped them on my Kindle). It was a 'Woah!' moment and one hell of an ending. It certainly left me wanting more, and I'm not sure I can ask for much more than that. A very enjoyable read.
The Author:
Jackie Baldwin was born in Dumfries. She studied law at Edinburgh University returning to Dumfries to practice criminal and family law for the next twenty years. During that time she married and had two children and a variety of pets. She later retrained as a hypnotherapist. Her DI Frank Farrell series is set in Dumfries and Galloway in SW Scotland. She has recently moved closer to Edinburgh.
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