When one woman is found murdered and another three people are kidnapped, Dr. Connie Woolwine, a forensic psychologist from the USA and D.I. Brodie Baarda, from the Met’s kidnap unit are called in to assist with the case. While there might be no Ava and Luc in sight in this standalone, Connie and Baarda fill their shoes nicely in the sense of being simultaneously likeable and flawed characters in their first (and I certainly hope not last) appearance. There is also a couple of cameos from members of Edinburgh’s Murder Investigation Team.

Anyone who knows Helen’s books will know what to expect from her; a dark, creepy, very twisted plot and a game of cat and mouse as some of Edinburgh’s finest hunt down a terrifying villain, basically a book most definitely not to be read at bedtime.

If you loved the Perfect Series you definitely won’t be disappointed here! The Shadow Man however is a stand-alone so can definitely be read without having read any of the Perfect series first. Beware though as Helen’s books are dark and definitely not for the faint hearted! AKA right up my street!

Creepy! This was one of the creepiest bad guys I've read in a long time.

This book seemed like a no go for me at first. I almost DNF but I'm glad I finished. The ending paid off and even though it didn't fully capture me it was worth 2.5 stars.

I'm not sure I'd recommend to a friend.

This was a seriously creepy book! A mother, Elspeth, is kidnapped in Scotland and the police call in a detective named Baarda and an American psychologist named Connie to help find her and profile the suspect. Then a young girl named Meggy goes missing from school. Are they connnected?
The shadow man, Fergus, is completely scary and unhinged. He has an obscure mental illness and he is the stuff nightmares are made of. The scary books are the ones that have things that could really happen to you. Being stalked and kidnapped by a psychopath is the worst case scenario.
This book was well done and I enjoyed the banter between Connie and Baarda. I loved Meggy and her fighting spirit. I had to finish fast to see what happened to them all and throughly enjoyed it!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc for an honest review!

My thanks to Avon Books U.K. for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Shadow Man’ by Helen Fields in exchange for an honest review.

I have enjoyed a few of Helen Fields’ series of police procedurals set in Edinburgh featuring DI Callanach. This is a stand-alone crime thriller, also set in Edinburgh.

Following the disappearance of Elspeth Dunwoody from an Edinburgh park, Dr. Connie Woolwine, a forensic psychologist from the USA has been asked to consult on the case. She is teamed with D.I. Brodie Baarda, who has been drafted in from London as he had some years experience with the Met’s kidnap unit. It appears that Elspeth is related to a high tech mogul resulting in a media blackout and an expert like Dr. Connie being brought in.

I won’t say more in order to avoid spoilers but will say that it is a very disturbing case, especially those chapters that feature the ‘Shadow Man’ including his inner thoughts. It proved very hard to put down.

It took me a while to warm to Dr. Connie though it was clear that she was very intelligent and caring about the victims, even if her personality was a bit prickly. There are good reasons for it that emerge. There was also good chemistry between her and Baarda.

Helen Fields uses this opportunity to highlight a rare psychiatric condition and delve deep into the motivations of the Shadow Man.

Overall, this proved a riveting crime thriller that had me on the edge of my seat anticipating the next shocking revelation. While billed as a stand-alone, Helen Fields has allowed an opening for a sequel or even a series. I certainly would welcome more from this team of unorthodox investigators.

A dark, gory and horrifying tale, unlike any other I've read!

"He collects his victims, but doesn't keep them safe."

3 victims,
A detective and a forensic psychologist,
And the Shadow man...
Why is he collecting people?
What does he want?
Will it be too late?

Wooooah my heart was still thudding hard ages after I finished this book! The ending made me feel so stressed, and claustrophobic.

This book wasn't at all what I thought it was going to be, it was certainly different and unique, with a very strange character in. There were some proper shocking moments, and it is definitely not for the faint hearted!

I loved the writing! I constantly had a sense of time running out, and really felt panic towards the end, so the tension was perfectly written. It was so dark and gritty, and I could visualise Edinburgh, and all the grisly details. I think if this was a film or tv show, I would have been hiding behind a cushion!

I loved Connie, the American forensic psychologist, she was a great character. She was the kind of strong, no nonsense, blunt character that I like to see in these kind of books. She had a great backstory, and her role was really well written. She was definitely my favourite character, but I also loved detective Brodie Baarda, he was a real surprise! They had a great relationship, and worked well together, I enjoyed that.

I loved Meggy! What a strong and resourceful girl! I could only wish to be as brave as her in those awful circumstances!

There were some utterly horrifying scenes, and although some might not, I appreciated the detail! I am not going to say anymore about the plot, because it would be better to go in not knowing much, then it can confuse, upset, terrify and surprise you too!

The Shadow Man felt well researched, from the police procedural side, to the forensic side, to the victims and even the shadow man himself. As Helen Fields mentioned in her acknowledgments, she had insider knowledge through contacts at the FBI, and you could tell.

I think the creepiest part for me, was having some of the shadow man's POV thrown in here and there, it sickened me, but also made me feel pity, fear and horror.

The only drawbacks for me were that I couldn't really visualise the house which the victims were locked up in, it was too complex for my mind ha ha. Some parts felt a little slow towards the start too, but I recommend sticking with it to get to the insane, and fast paced parts!

This was my first book by Helen Fields, and she has a hella dark mind, I loved it!

The Shadow Man is Helen Fields' first standalone thriller, which is set in Edinburgh, and follows an investigation by Detective Inspector Brodie Baarda, an Eton-educated detective from London has been drafted into Edinburgh’s MIT due to staff shortages, and seconded to the investigation is Dr Connie Woolwine, a forensic psychologist from Massachusetts in the USA who are employed by Police Scotland's Major Investigation Team (MIT). It begins with the abduction of a young mother, Elspeth Dunwoody, the wife of a wealthy, influential Scottish socialite. And then a 12 year old girl, Maggie, is kidnapped from school in what the police believe to be the work of the same disturbed mind. Dr Connie Woolwine, American forensic profiler has to find their kidnapper before it's too late knowing that he's killed before and that he'll kill again...But how do you catch a killer who is already dead? Woolwine and Baarda are quite the odd pairing and complete opposites in terms of personality and manner but both are superb at their job and rub along well enough to get the investigating done. It seems The Shadow Man has been very busy and has managed to kidnap a further victim, 30-something Xavier, before strangely holding all 3 of them in the same place together.

This is a riveting, compulsive and engrossing thriller from one of the best suspense writers in the game and I must say, this standalone did not disappoint. It's creepy, disturbing and full of small, intricate details that just put the icing on the cake in terms of it being a superbly gripping read. The perpetrator is an interesting one who has different motives for his actions than the dime a dozen excuses you hear from most criminals, and I thoroughly enjoyed the parts of the narrative from his perspective because not only was it fascinating but it made for deeply unsettling reading and at one point I even had chills. There is plenty of action, drama, twists and shocks and it all moves at a swift pace that makes it easy to race through the pages. I loved the dynamic between the two detectives - it's set up so initially it appears that there might be friction between them as they each have different styles of investigating but they actually work very well together despite being like chalk and cheese. For those who have read Fields' Callanach series there are some familiar faces featured throughout. It's a gritty, graphic and addictive tale that begins with a bang and ends with an even bigger one. You cannot go wrong with Fields' crime fiction. Highly recommended.

The Shadow Man is the first book by Helen Fields that I have read and I found it to be interesting. The story follows Dr Connie Woolwine and DI Brodie Baarda as they investigate the disappearance of three people. It is narrated from the perspective of a third person narrator which provided insight into multiple characters and events.

I like the way that Connie comes across as being crass but in fact she is really was intelligent, had a unique perspective and was humorous at times. Baarda was my favourite character because he was so kind and gentle. I really liked the chemistry between Connie and Baarda because I think it made them work really well together.

My favourite part of the book was definitely the ending because it was twisted, interesting and because I really liked Connie’s bravery. I personally didn’t find this book to be a thriller and I would describe it as being more of a whodunnit but that is just my opinion. The only thing that I found to be creepy is The Shadow Man himself but I’m sure you will find out why when you read the book.

I recieved an advanced copy for free, and this is my honest opinion.

After reading the first chapter I feared I may never sleep again! It will haunt me for life. As soon as I started reading I asked myself why I haven't read Helen Fields before? I'm so annoyed with myself for this enormous oversight. She's brilliant! On the plus side, I have six books in the DI Callanach series to look forward to!

This is Fields' first stand-alone novel and proves an excellent introduction to her expert plotting, characterisation and thrilling fast pace. My favourite character was undoubtedly Meggy - a fabulously feisty wee lassie. I absolutely adored her! I also enjoyed DS Overbeck's sharp wit. Forensic Psychologist Connie has an interesting backstory from across the pond. As an unexpected bonus, the book really made me think about what I would do in certain situations so thank you, Helen, for the potentially life-saving advice amidst the thrilling read.

I would like to thank net galley , the author and the publishers for an ARC of The Shadow Man in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Shadow Man was creepy and dark, but in an I can't put this book down and it's 2 am kind of way. Connie Woolwine is brought in from the US to help the Scottish police profile a kidnapper. She and Detective Baarda are looking for a man who Connie thinks has killed one woman and taken another. These women are wives and mothers and seem to fit a pattern, so when a 10 year old girl is also taken they are in a race to figure out who did this and why before it is too late. The Shadow Man was an unexpectedly good read and I look forward to reading more by Helen Fields.

What a book! I find so many thrillers these days are very similar and always end up building up to an anticlimactic but The Shadow Man completely redeemed the genre for me - I was gripped and on the edge of my seat and couldn't put it down! It reminded me of His & Hers in ways, it's not the same story but you the amount of thought and detail that went into these two books is really clear and the characters are excellent!

I think the thing I loved most about this book was the great banter between Connie and Baarda. From the very beginning you quickly learn that Connie is a woman that you don't want to mess with and I love how open and honest she is about everything. Then comes across the slightly more secretive and shy Baarda and they both balance each other so well. I thought they really brought the story to life and whilst being funny at times, they didn't take away from the seriousness of the story itself.

Our villain, if we want to call him that, Fergus, was brought to life so well. You could just picture how creepy and weird he is and I thought the way Fields described him, from the way he moves, to the way he talks, to the way he thinks was excellent and extremely vivid. One character I liked but found a little unrealistic was Meggy. She was super strong and I thought she was great but it was hard to believe she was meant to be 12...I think if Fields had her as a 15 year old or teenager it would have been more believable.

Not only are the characters really well portrayed but the plot and the writing are excellent. The plot is simple but disturbing and from the prologue you are hooked and totally immersed. The writing then brings you into the story even more, it is beautifully descriptive and atmospheric and you can clearly picture yourself wandering the streets of Edinburgh (one of my favourite cities!).

So yeah, I loved it. The story had me on the edge of my seat at times, which I find is hard to come across in so many books these days. I loved how the whole thing circled back to the beginning and it felt like there was great closure and the ending was really well planned out. It wasn't rushed and even though there wasn't exactly a huge twist, I still couldn't put it down and couldn't wait to get to the end.

Big thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this before it's published and I can't wait to read more from Fields.

Fergus Arris is a very sick man, he’s dying and doesn’t want to do that alone. So, he collects a family for himself; a wife, a daughter and even a brother. To achieve this he first stalks and then kidnaps his chosen victims.
When Elspeth Dunwood, daughter of a well-connected family disappears on the streets of Edinburgh, DI Baarda a kidnap specialist from the Met teams up with American forensic psychologist Connie Woolwinne to find her. When more people are abducted in the following weeks, they assume that they must be connected as it’s not habitual for people to be kidnapped in Scotland’s capital. When Connie finally delivers a fitting profile, those in charge just don’t buy it. Time runs out very fast for the victims, can they be saved in time?

My main criticism is about the premise itself. I just don’t find it logical that the Scottish police, who's completely independent of the English one, as far as I know, would immediately turn to London and ask for a kidnap expert when they’re not even certain what has happened to the woman. At that moment they can still assume that she disappeared on purpose. On top of that, asking an American profiler at that stage is not very realistic. The quips about the differences between US and UK differences are a bit lame. I think that there would be equally big differences and jokes about Scottish versus English accents and idioms.
I certainly didn’t connect to the American psychologist at first. She was unnecessarily rude and opinionated, even condescending at times when a normal and educated person would be polite instead of sarcastic. As I can be sarcastic at times, I still know when not to as well. Someone who’s that good in reading people’s expressions would not react like that. Some of her actions are at least questionable (connecting with the corpse of a dead woman?). She is an achromat and can’t see colours apart from black and white and shades thereof and feels as if she lives in a different world than the rest of us. Something that makes her connect with the abductor more easily.
DI Baarda is only present as a police detective and we learn but little about his private life or background story.
My favourite character is Meggie though. She’s exceptionable clever for a 12-year-old and very courageous. Some will condemn Elspeth for complying with the abductor but I don’t think she could do anything else. She was alone with the creep for weeks before he took Meggie and you see how she changes once she has company. It’s nice to see the relationship develop between those two.
If you can overcome the premise, especially the second half of the story is suspenseful and compelling. It takes a long time though before all the elements come together and the stories take off. In the first half of the book, the focus is mainly on Fergus and his delusions or how he collects ‘his family’. The other storyline is about the investigation into the disappearances. In the second half, there’s more action on all levels (the captives and the hunt for Fergus). This is a cross-over between a psychological thriller and a police procedural. And it does work well that way.
I know that this story is meant as standalone but it could easily work well as first in a series.
I received a free ARC from Netgalley and Avon Books UK; this is my honest, unbiased review of it.

Wow. I don't think anything I write will convey how much I loved this book. I've been a huge Helen Fields fan for years as I love the Perfect series. This book is even better.

I was equally horrified and totally fascinated by the plot. It had everything to keep the pages turning. I couldn't tear myself away.

I wasn't too sure of Connie at first but the more I read the more I liked.

I'm really, really hoping this is the start of a brand new series. I need more Brodie and Connie in my life.

Superb thriller that I wish I could give more than 5 stars to. I will recommend this book to every reader I know.

A creepy, gripping tale set in Edinburgh of a damaged brain and tortured soul searching for and abducting individuals to make his perfect family. Keeping them locked up against their will in terrible conditions and forcing them to perform mock weddings and call him husband or father.

American forensic psychologist, Connie Woolwine is drafted in to assist DI Baarda in solving the case. The story is very gritty and quite dark at times however it is well worth a read and the ending idles the disappoint.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A stand alone novel from the author of the brilliant Perfect .... books. A definite page turner! Connie Woolwine (what a name) and DI Baarda team up in a race against time to find a kidnapped woman. We have heard this premise before but this is not a run of the mill tale. Connie has her own past which has defined her methods as a psychologist in a unique way.
Despite the dark, chilling tale there is an interesting back story for Connie and DI Baarda and there is humour to relieve the tension.
Cleverly told with a tinge of sympathy for the perpetrator!
A stand alone, but could it be the start of a series???!!
Four and a half stars!!
Many thanks to Netgalley/Helen Fields/Avon Books for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

A dark and complex stand alone by Helen Fields. Intriguing characters and an interesting plot kept me reading long into the night. I look forward to reading more from this author,
My thanks to NetGalley. the author and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve enjoyed Helen Fields “Perfect” series so when I saw that she had a new standalone novel coming out I knew I had to preorder it! If you’ve read that series then you will know what you’re getting with The Shadow Man-it’s dark (VERY DARK!), disturbing and completely unputdownable! Helen Fields has claimed the city of Edinburgh as her own horrific hunting ground on behalf of her terrifying antagonist here and I don’t think I will ever feel safe walking it’s streets again!

Be prepared for a stomach churning opening as our introduction to The Shadow Man as a woman sleeps soundly in her bed unaware that her worst nightmare is watching over her. And when his plans go awry, his disappointment doesn’t stop him from adding to his “collection”. But who is The Shadow Man and what secrets is he hiding?

From those horrific first few pages, I knew that this was going to be one of those books where I wanted to turn the pages quickly but also not turn them at all as I was terrified of what was going to happen next! Three victims-all different, all snatched for a particular reason and all fighting for their lives. Once the reason behind the abductions started to become clear, I actually felt some sympathy for The Shadow Man! I don’t want to say anymore than that, just that Helen Fields has completely hit the nail on the head with her portrayal of a psychologically and emotionally damaged individual who sees no other way around the life choices he is making. He’s the “bogeyman” that exists in all of us so what has happened to make him real?

I’m actually a bit disappointed that this is being touted as a standalone as the forensic psychologist and the investigating police officer made a fantastic team and worked well together to try and solve the crimes that were taking place. Connie especially was a really likeable character even though (as all good protagonists do) she made some rather questionable decisions that involved her ripping up the rule book in her determination to catch The Shadow Man.

And as always the city of Edinburgh itself stole the show. Helen Fields knows all it’s secrets as she stalks her characters through the well known tourist spots to those little alleys hidden away behind them. The Balmoral Hotel gets a cameo that is well deserved as they do the BEST cocktails in Edinburgh and you don’t have to stagger too far to catch a train after enjoying one or two of them after a day out! Well worth a visit if you ever go!

The Shadow Man was a much anticipated read for me and it didn’t disappoint. Harrowing, spine chilling and a little bit gruesome at times but utterly compelling from start to finish.

Oh wow! I feel like I've been through the wringer. I was so invested in this book and I genuinely couldn't put it down. I've read all of Helen Fields DI Callanach Perfect series and couldn't wait to read more. While this is also set in Edinburgh and the MIT are peripherally involved (cleverly done as a way to bring in new characters), it is standalone. As gruesome and creepy as the Perfect series, I think I felt as involved with these victims as with Dr Connie Woolwine and Brodie Baarda, the main characters investigating these kidnappings. There are overlapping characters - Dr Ailsa Lambert and Detective Superintendent Overbeck - to give continuity but otherwise a story on its own with a new cast. It's a while since I've felt quite so sickened by a perpetrator and desperate for an end to the story. I really hope we see more of Connie and Baarda - I think they'd work really well on screen too. This is going to be an early contender for my book of the year! #netgalley #theshadowman

Thank you to the author, Avon Books UK and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had read some of the DI Callanach series by this author, so was excited to read this standalone with different protagonists by the same author. It was a dark, creepy and scary read - very well done, but a bit too much darkness for me. The story is told from varying POVs, both the victims and the police searching for them, as well as the perpetrator. The characters were well-drawn and credible, the pairing of the US profiler and detective from Scotland worked really well, and the perpetrator had an actual diagnosis underlying his truly terrifying behavior. Very impressive, but overall too much for me.

"Can you see me?"
Overall, this book was brilliant. Everything was thought out methodically.

The book follows Forensic Psychologist, Connie and Detective Inspector Baarda as they try to find Elspeth, a recent kidnapped victim. Throughout the story victims keep piling up. Soon, he has three victims holed up in his home. They have to figure out a way to survive. While they are held captivate the discover secrets that were meant to stay buried.

I really enjoyed the characters, I think they all had personalities that fit the roles perfectly. The overall plot has definitely been done before. However, there were so many different twists and turns that unfolded that it kept you glued to the pages.

The book for me started off super slow, it took me quite a while and I had to keep going back. Around 40% the book REALLY picked up. From there, I couldn't put it down. I definitely recommend to keep pushing through the beginning. The ending is ABSOLUTELY worth it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books and Helen Fields for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

He’s a collector. However his collection is different from most and his new additions are Elspeth, Meggy and Xavier. The threesome haven’t got a clue where they are and why they’ve been taken. Desperate for answers, they will have to go to darkest places in their minds if they hope to escape because the shadow man is always watching and truth could be their undoing or salvation.
A dark, intense page turner that keeps you guessing until the dramatic end. It has the most chilling of plots that will keep you up all night. A scary story that you can’t put down. Outstanding.