DI Eleanor Raven is not in a good moment in her life. At the beginning of this second book in the series about her, she is recovering from her traumatic experience with a very dangerous killer, Lee Hughes, who kidnapped, tortured and almost killed her.

The 30 years old Detective is physically recovering from her many injuries. However, the mental “side effects” of her accident are quite more complicated to recover from, if ever.

Eleanor suffers from depression and sometimes has suicidal thoughts. Furthermore, her throat is slowly closing and it is difficult for her to eat normally and even swallow. This circumstance is making her weaker and weaker every day.

Six months after the incident, her boss, Chief Inspector Marty Samuelson, has decided that she can come back to the Police Station, but that she should be in a probationary period of three months.

In addition to this, her actual partner, Detective Laurence Whitefoot is acting quite strange and doesn’t consider Eleanor fit to be back at the field work.

Besides, Eleanor has to attend weekly visits to a therapist provided by the police, Seb Blackmore, as part of her probationary period. These visits are not really welcome by the Detective…

THE STORY

With all this in her plate, we start the story with Eleanor on her first day back after the attack. 

The police received a call in which someone says to have found some type of skeletal remains on the Westex Landfill site. The remains are burnt because there had been a small fire somewhere that morning, which has already been extinguished.  

However, there is something weird concerning the remains,…

The body somehow resembles a doll. It is sitting like a doll and it is positioned like one. The killer preserved it by embalming it. Why is that?

It seems that a worker from the Landfill site, Mackenzie, found the corpse some months before and thought it was a shop dummy, a mannequin. Because it is what it looks like…

FORENSIC PROCEDURE AND THE ART OF EMBALMING

So this is basically the story line of “Perfect Little Dolls.

More bodies start to appear and we follow the work of Eleanor and her co-workers who desperately try to find the killer before he is murdering little Tommy who has disappeared from his own bed during the night. It is a race against the clock and we are not sure if Eleanor would make it.

If all this were not interesting enough, we also learn about the police way of working, the steps taken in a criminal investigation, as well as some really intriguing forensic information about bodies. 

Furthermore, we are introduced to the world of embalming, which I didn't know anything about. I know for sure I would not embalm any pets (like some people do) but it is still exciting to learn a little bit about it. It gives the story an added bonus.

ELEANOR RAVEN

One strong point for my 4 stars rating of “Perfect Little Dolls” is the main character, Eleanor. This is the second book in the series dedicated to her, so there are some interesting facts about her life that in this present book we only know by a character mentioning it.

However, it is not 100% essential to have read the first book (which I anyway plan to do!).

Eleanor is a very interesting character. She had a traumatic experience during her teenager years for which she feels guilty. This could be one of the reasons of her actual sexual life, which has really surprised me because I had not expected it, especially because she is a police officer.

She seems to be in a constant state of angriness and sometimes her most violent impulses appear in the most unexpected moments or situations, which makes her work quite complicated. This is I guess the only way she has found of dealing with her demons. Hopefully, through the therapy sessions she is forced to go to, she could find a better, easier way of dealing with her problems.

The character of her partner, Detective Laurence Whitefoot (who, by the way, saved Eleanor’s life) is also quite interesting, because they don’t really have a good relationship, and Eleanor seems to get on better with her previous partner, Mo.  

However, it is very interesting to see the dynamics with Whitefoot and I am looking very much forward to see how their relationship develops with time. 

FINAL THOUGHTS ABOUT “PERFECT LITTLE DOLLS”

The book is quite disturbing, because of the main plot. However, I don’t think it is a disadvantage but quite the opposite. I like the way the author introduces us in the story, in a very organized, clear way which makes the reading quite easy. There are no misunderstandings.

Karen Long gives us the information little by little, which made me devour the book in order to know what happens next.

Although we know who the killer is right from the beginning of the story, the author still maintains our expectations quite high, and the reader knowing it doesn’t make the reading experience boring at all.

However, when the story ends I am missing more information about the killer, some more background story. We learn why the murderer does what he does, there are some hints about his possible motivations for behaving in that way but, in my opinion, it is quite little.

What this killer does to his victims is quite out of the ordinary, so it would have been a very good opportunity to learn about his deep motivations and to have given the reader the possibility of entering his mind. Is all this going to be explained later on in another book? Hopefully so, because the killer is quite the character.

All things said, I really enjoyed the book and I am looking forward to read more about Eleanor, including the first book of the series. 

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Thanks to the publisher, Bookouture, the author Karen Long and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of “Perfect Little Dolls” in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! I really enjoyed this book, what a cracking way to start 2021.   This is a new author to me and I will definitely be reading more.  The story was very engaging, so much so that I read this in one sitting as I couldn’t put it down.  The characters were great, believable and likeable and I enjoyed the storyline.  A very well written book that had me on the edge of my seat.

This was an enjoyable and disturbing thriller, not for the faint of heart.  Note that this is the 2nd in a series but I personally couldn't find any reference to it being part of a series and had not read the first one.  Though it can be read as a standalone, I spent the first part of the book confused about who was who and not really understanding the main character's background or the dynamics between the characters,  so I'd recommend going in order.

The book centers on Eleanor, who is a police detective also dealing with her own demons.  When a preserved body is found in a landfill, she and her team scramble to figure out what is happening and who would have the skill and the means to do this to a body.  Additional bodies and missing persons pile up and Eleanor determines that these are all connected and that they need to move quickly before more deaths occur.

I really wasn't into the first half of the book- I couldn't keep the characters straight and I didn't feel like I understood why Eleanor did some of the things she did.  I also felt like much of their investigation involved hunches and jumping to conclusions rather than following the evidence.

Then, more than halfway through the book, it all came together me.  I still thought that there was a fine line between educated guessing and true police work, but the investigation got more interesting, and the look in to the villain's  motivations was dark and gruesome, which enhanced my thrill factor.  

Overall, I rate this book 3 stars based primarily on the 2nd half.  I am not sure I will read the next book in the series, as I fear it will be hard to get into as well, but I did think that the overall storyline was unique and thrilling, so it's a possibility.  Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974

Trigger warning: Trauma, near rape,  bdsm, and child harm

Part 2 in Eleanor Raven's series. A body, that looks like a doll, is found in the dump. What ensues is a race against the clock and trying to locate a serial killer with a penchant for creating a family. This is a stand alone in the series. You may put it down and pick it back up, you'll want to discern how it ends.

I fell in love with the first book in this series and couldn't wait for the next book to see what the author gave us next. 

I have found a real likeness towards all the characters in this series. Raven is the kind of strong female lead you want, who has no qualms about following the gut instinct that most women would follow. Especially to the extent that the men on her team just dont understand it. But this is what makes her such a great character, also her flaws. Because we know as readers that no one is ever perfect. 

The case that the team are handed this time round is a very unnerving one that I found tough to stomach at time if im honest. But for me, this make a great police book. The cases you never think of are always the most intriguing. 

I am very much looking forward to reading the next installment and to see how the team copes with whats thrown at them next

This was gripping thriller. It was fast paced and exciting. Totally unexpected ending. 


I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

4.5 stars 
 Just like the first book, this one goes on the darker, sinister side of thrillers. So many twists and unexpected turns, so many dark moments that kept me invested in the story from the beginning to the last page. 

I remember watching a CSI episode with a psychopath killer that lived in the past and transformed his victims into dolls , from the makeup to the clothes and even the 70s outfit and air altogether. Just like in that tv play, this story keeps the fast pace throughout the book and will leave some readers shocked at some moments. 

Gripping, compelling and a must read novel for the dark thrillers lovers.

This was a really dark and twisted psychological thriller. Many colorful characters that each stood out in their own way.  I think the character personalities were my favorite part of this book.  Author excelled in the descriptive layers of the story. 
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of Perfect Little Dolls, the second novel set in a big Canadian city to feature DI Eleanor Raven.

A body is discovered after a fire at the local waste disposal site, but she didn’t die in the fire and appears to have been embalmed. DI Eleanor Raven has just returned from six months sick leave after her last case and is determined to prove herself fit for duty with this case. The body is identified as Giselle Baker who disappeared three years ago, but no sooner is she identified than another woman goes missing, then a young boy.

I enjoyed Perfect Little Dolls which is a well plotted novel with some interesting twists, but it’s more character driven than I usually like. The novel basically splits the narrative between Eleanor Raven and the perpetrator, exploring both damaged psyches and their ensuing actions. It’s interesting but, at times, the investigation and victims get lost in this exploration. I think the rating level will depend on where the reader’s interest lies.

The plot is well constructed as the investigative team slowly builds their knowledge and sharpens their focus. Several quirky details add a little spice to the standard investigation. For me half the fun in a procedural lies in guessing but this taken away with the early reveal of the perpetrator and motive.

Eleanor Raven is a troubled individual with more baggage than is good for her in her job. She attends therapy sessions throughout the novel which offer an insight into her past and it’s influence on her present. I must admit to being uncomfortable with her sexual masochism that I take to be an extreme form of self harm. I’m not even going to discuss the perpetrator, another deluded fantasist, twisted enough to act on them. 

The main thing that saves this novel from being another run of the mill serial killer novel is the prose. It is clear, incisive and enticing. It gives the reader a concise understanding of events and encourages them to read on and for that I can recommend Perfect Little Dolls as a good read.

This book definitely held my attention until the end. I plan on putting this title on my list of physical copies to buy for my shelf

This was one of the most disturbingly gruesome books I have ever read...(shuddering). 

Detective Eleanor Raven is back to work after suffering an attack on her life. In this new case, the burnt body of a transgender woman which was originally thought to be a mannequin, is found at a landfill. Raven and her team soon realise that their killer is a different breed of crazy.

Despite being a life-long mystery and psychological thriller lover, I had to take several breaks while reading this book. The extent of detail the author has gone into in explaining the killing process, while commendable, was way out of my comfort zone. Sheer will and morbid curiosity was what got me through. 

I believe this book was released previously under a different name. Perfect Little Dolls is a brilliant read albeit slow paced; definitely not for the faint-hearted.

A big thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Karen Long is a new author for me and although I hadn’t read the first DI Eleanor Raven book, I felt I could still enjoy the second instalment. We are immersed straight into the action from the first chapter as the charred remains of a young woman are found at a waste disposal site. Following the post mortem, it becomes apparent the woman has been dead for some time and her body was perfectly preserved prior to the fire. With little to go on, a tenuous link leads back to an old unsolved case and her identity is established. However with more bodies turning up and a missing young boy, Eleanor and her team need to act fast to solve the case.

This book is well written and I found it held my attention throughout. It has whetted my appetite to seek out the first book in the series and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the chance to review. I would rate this 3.5 stars.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review 

This psychological serial murder story is not for the feint hearted. The killer and the detective are both troubled souls and it makes for an interesting sometimes gruesome read. This is a fast paced well written crime story where even the reader sometimes has a hard time keeping up!. 5 stars

Such a good read! I read this in one sitting, I just could not put it down. So many twists and turns, it was really a thrilling read.

Gruesome! Not for the faint hearted but brilliant, well written

Loved it, loved racing towards the end watching all the pieces slot perfectly together in the most natural way! Spectacular writing. Perfect Little Dolls is a fantastic, intelligent book and you have to read it! Even the last line is perfection. 5/5

I loved the first in this series, ‘Cry for Mercy’ so when I saw this book was available on NetGalley I had to request it. 

It was just as good as the first and along the same lines, with a sadistic serial killer, it entrapped me into another complex storyline that I couldn’t stop thinking about and stayed up late to finish it last night.  

The head detective Ellie Reeves is a really well formed character. She has a ‘rule unto her own’ characteristics and a sixth sense when it comes to her cases. 

I’m also loving the dynamics with her new partner and can see their professional relationship will blossom in fortune books.

A fantastic book that will keep me wondering how book three in the series will top it! If you live Chris Carter books you’ll love this series!

Why is a doll perfect? Well, that’s quite simple to explain. They do everything you say and stay forever young and beautiful. 
Who does not like perfection? I think a lot of people do (the staying young and beautiful part at least 😉) and why not as long as it’s something you decide about. Once other people make the decision, it’s not done.
I have read quite some thrillers the last few years and I thought I almost met all the psychopaths, but oh no. Boy, was I wrong in thinking that. There is one thing though they all seem to have in common: something tragic happening in their youth that traumatized them to the core. I know it’s wrong what they are doing and they often disgust me, but honestly my heart bleeds for them too. It’s heart breaking how such innocent little creatures can be turned into such disturbed adults.
Detective Raven is a hard nut to crack. I have not read the first book in this series, but it’s crystal clear that she has been put through the mill. She is still fighting those demons, but that does not stop her from saving other people’s lives.
I know I have an inkling about what happened in part 1, but I am determined to read it as soon as possible too. I just have to find out what went on exactly. 
Can the book be read as a stand alone? Yes, in my opinion it can, but if you want to follow the main characters’ lives, the best thing to do is to start at the beginning. (I know I should have taken my own advice, lol, but I don’t mind starting in the middle and going back 😉, but not everybody enjoys that)
In a nutshell, a great book. 5 stars

Thank you, Karen Long and Bookouture

Eleanor Raven is recovering both physically and mentally from being in a serial killer's hands. A fire at a waste site exposes a body in a peculiar way. Eleanor and her partner must figure out a way to work together as other bodies begin to be exposed. I didn't read the first novel, but Ms. Long did a great job filling in the blanks.

A great second book in this series.  Eleanor Raven is a deeply troubled detective with a whole lot of emotional baggage. While fighting her own demons and working through traumas she has faced in the past, she is a strong lead detective intent on solving the crime.

This story, like in book one, is not for the faint of heart or those easily offended. I could not put this down! Definitely for fans of dark thrillers. I would recommend reading in order. Looking forward to the next in the series. Note: This is a rerelease of a series published previously by a different publishing group.
“Does contain some BDSM scenes”

Thank you #netgalley and #bookouture for the eARC.

This book is full of suspense, the plot was fast paced had so many twists. 
It didn't lack anything at all
Would be a great recommendation to others who love this genre