Cover Image: Profile K

Profile K

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

An interesting exploration into the psychology of a serial killer with all the expected tropes of this genre. I don't think it added anything particularly new or unexpected but Fields kept a firm grasp on the tension and pace throughout.

Was this review helpful?

I loved The Institution so couldn’t wait to read this. Necto Corporation is a globally revered Technology Company. Midnight James works for them in the profiling team. They profile applications for people submitted by the Thames Environmental Science University. This was a gripping and fast paced read, brilliantly written and plotted, and with great well fleshed characters.

Briefly, having already had a difficult conversation with her manager as she was late, Midnight is given an application to process. Everything is done by AI and as the video application proceeds Midnight becomes more and more horrified by what she sees. At the end the applicant is given the profile of K…for killer. Her bosses tell her there is no such mark and to forget it. On her way home that night she comes across a murder scene. The murder is particularly vicious but Midnight knows it has similarities to the video she saw at work.

In one dark twist after another she finds herself, her twin Dawn who has ME and new friend and baker Jessica in grave and potentially lethal danger. From the horrifying opening scenes to the last page I was completely engrossed in this excellent rollercoaster of a read. A dark and shocking crime thriller with plenty of twists and turns. Definitely going to be a top book of the year and the author cements her place as one of my must reads.

Was this review helpful?

My absolute favorite book of this year! Gripping, unexpected, superior writing, unable to put down, intriguing….not enough adjectives for this book and author! The weaving of the characters into a mind-blowing story puts this book in another stratosphere! One of the best books I’ve ever read!

Was this review helpful?

This was not your typical serial killer book, but wow, I loved it so much!!
I was sucked in and blown away!!!

What a plot, what a story, once I was into it!!

Great book, thanks so much to Netgalley and the author for an ARC.

Was this review helpful?

It’s an ordinary day at work for Midnight, until she comes across a particular file.  Surely it’s an anomaly – something must be wrong.  Nope, she’s stumbled upon an applicant labelled as  ‘Profile K’ – K for filler.  This category is reserved for the most depraved, the psychopaths. 

As if that’s not worrying enough, when a woman is brutally attacked, Midnight’s concerns about Profile K are discouraged and ignored.  Midnight knows he’s only just getting started, and by viewing his file, she is now firmly in his crosshairs. Her only chance of survival is to work out who he is in and stop him – before he gets to her.
 
The Institution was such a fantastic book, I was so excited to read this one.  It certainly did not disappoint.  Easily a contender for my ‘books of the year’ list.
 
Profile K starts strong with a shocking and gruesome attack; the juxtaposition between the violence and something else in the scene (no spoilers) was incredibly effective and disturbing.  I was immediately hooked, and remained so to the closing paragraphs.
 
Such a fresh premise, executed flawlessly.  I constantly wonder how authors are still coming up with new and exciting ideas.
 
Brilliant characters, some I loved (Midnight, Doris, Dawn, and a cameo from Doctor Woolwine) some I really didn’t – but all are well-written and authentic.  It’s told predominantly from Midnight’s POV with some chapters from the ‘the applicant’s’ perspective, allowing for rich insights into his past and continued character development.  The sweet bonds between some characters bring a welcome respite from the tension.
 
It’s dark and graphic in parts, but never for the sake off.  It’s sparing and effective and makes the reading experience more immersive.  I was grimacing whilst reading parts which pays tribute to the skilled writing. It has John Marrs near-future mixed with A Clockwork Orange, and 1984 vibes – and I was here for it! 
 
It’s clever, gripping, brutal, and totally addictive.  I couldn’t put it down but was sad it ended.  I 100% recommend this book!
 
A huge thanks to Helen Fields, NetGalley, and AVON for the ARC – all opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Midnight works for a global technology company, NECTO, as a profiler. She uses psychometrics to analyse test data to determine the suitability of candidates for their chosen course.
One day, Midnight is confronted with an apparent error in the system: a test result has produced a profile K.
Meanwhile, several young women are the victims of a deranged madman who has a predilection for young women. He tortures them to make them bleed out for as long as possible before they die.

I am a huge fan of dystopian novels. I also like to read good horror from time to time.
I found the Orwellian part of the novel, where the employees are conditioned to give their all for the cause and the company, incredibly interesting and very good, but there were some parts I found quite gruesome and shocking.
I like to read SF and I am not averse to a good horror story, yet I just thought parts of it were quite violent and graphic.
The other part of the novel is about Midnight's search for Profile K's identity, and it also tells more about 'K's' upbringing and personal development.
I found the last part very exciting - I read the book in one go. The gruesome scenes will stay with me for a long time.

Was this review helpful?

I usually leave my praise to the end, Holy Moly what have I just read! Deliciously dark! and totally absorbing.

There’s so much buzz already about this book my excitement levels and expectations were sky high going into it. I didn’t even read the blurb I just jumped straight in without a parachute. I was told that it’s dark and gritty big ✔️. It also has a slightly speculative feel to it.
There’s no preamble you dive straight into the action. I was immediately hooked! It kept me riveted throughout.
I loved it, it’s got a clever unique premise. We get both Midnights POV of finding the Profile K’s data, and the data applicant, there’s so much exploration of his mindset and development. The characters are so well crafted. I loved Midnight and Doris, brilliant characters.

I think this is going to be one of the BIG books of the year, it certainly deserves to be, and I’ll be shouting from the rooftops.

Was this review helpful?

I could not put this book down. I may have held my breath throughout many chapters and slept with 1 eye open, but it was so worth it.

Throughout this book, we follow Midnight, who is a data analyst. She works for a large company that has almost futuristic technology that analyses a person's thoughts and abilities. Midnight is then tasked with analysing this data. However, one day, the data for one person just doesn't seem quite right. Little did she know, there was a lot more to this than met the eye...

The almost futuristic technology and the way this all pieced together had me so intrigued from the very first chapter. This was dark, twisty, and kept me guessing till the very end.

We met an array of interesting characters. I loved that we had a complete mix of evil, twisted chatacters, as well as some I completely loved, such as Dawn and Doris. They were a lovely addition to sweeten things up in amongst all of the darkness.

This book sucked me in from the very beginning. It had me hooked on both the action-packed storyline and the amazing characters. It kept me full of fear and suspense till the very end, and I highly recommend it!

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to Avon Books and NetGalley for the invitation to review this book.

I’m fast beginning to think Helen Fields can do no wrong. With a successful and much missed series under her belt, this is another stand alone thriller, completely different from the ones before and with a unique plot.

Profile K involves the psychological profiling of applicants, paid for by clients and Midnight is a profiler. Most are all in a days work until she comes across Profile K and is deeply disturbed by what she discovers. Midnight is a resourceful and capable young woman, already dealing with more than life should hand anyone but Profile K puts her into actively dangerous territory. K is literally a killer profile.

Brutal murders are taking place and Midnight is trying to alert her superiors to the danger Profile K poses, but there’s money and reputations at stake. Equally the police don’t quite know what to do with the information - it’s confidential and Midnight is not allowed to release it.

Meantime, of course, Profile K is aware that he revealed himself in the analysis and is keen to track down his profiler. Midnight isn’t exactly a common name and Midnight and her family and friends are all caught in a nightmare of deceit, doubling down and real danger.

This is a great thriller, keeps you on edge and Midnight is an engaging character, with an interesting back story and an unexpectedly good friend. There are enough twists and turns to keep any reader on tenterhooks, unable to put it down.

Was this review helpful?

I am never disappointed with Helen Fields books, and this was no exception, once again a stunning 5* read.

This book follows a new character, Midnight Jones, a data analyst, as she uncovers an unknown ‘Profile K’, with the K standing for Killer. After viewing this profile, Midnight is more than aware of what this person is capable of and the terrifying depths they will go to, and when women start to turn up murdered by methods beyond your imagination, she feels the need to investigate.

During her investigation she encounters deceit, terror, concern for her family, and hope. She also comes into contact with a familiar face to readers of Fields previous books in the shape of Connie Woolwine.

The story is certainly not for the faint hearted and the descriptions of death are fairly graphic but all in line with the narrative and not just there for shock value. An absolute page turner, I inhaled this in a couple of sittings! A definite read for fans of Fields previous work, and anyone who loves a good thriller!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you NetGalley, Avon books and the super talented author of Profile K, Helen Fields. This book was so good, I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish, not to mention that it absolutely terrified me. Solid 5 Stars!

Was this review helpful?

This is so good. Brutal and graphic and honestly made me feel quite queasy at times but this novel just reiterated why Helen Fields is one of my favourite authors. The characters are brilliant, and I was so happy when a familiar face popped up halfway through! It's a standalone novel but a couple of crossover characters are included. It has a near-future element to it which I wasn't expecting, but I really enjoyed that and thought it was very well done.

Was this review helpful?

When Midnight Jones, a data analyst working for Necto Corporation, discovers a Profile K on one of their applicants, she knows she needs to warn her bosses, but she is met with resistance at every turn and is even threatened with dismissal if she takes it any further, then the murders begin...

If you've read anything by this author before you will know that she's not shy when it comes to graphic scenes, right from the first chapter you just know that Profile K is going to be no exception. The story is told from the perspectives of both Midnight and 'The Applicant' in the present day and with flashbacks to the past. It's a fast paced read, with a stomach churning plot that is definitely not for the faint hearted and, even though parts of it were hard to digest, I found myself flicking through the pages on my kindle like there was no tomorrow, devouring it (no pun intended) in a matter of hours. There were some great characters in this latest standalone thriller by Fields, I loved the close bond that Midnight had with her twin sister Dawn, who she became sole carer to at a young age due to her severe special needs, and the growing friendship that developed with Doris, the septuagenarian that they befriended and it was lovely to see the return of Dr. Connie Woolwine who we've previously met in The Institution and The Shadow Man. Profile K is an incredible read which most of the time I was reading with my heart in my mouth, especially when it came to seeing it through the eyes of the killer. This is the fourth book I've read by this author and I have to say it's pure genius!

I'd like to thank Avon Books and Netgalley for the approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely love Helen Fields so I was very excited to read this.

It was a complete page turner and I could not put it down. I loved the more graphic & gory descriptions that a lot of thrillers shy away from.

The reappearance of Connie was SO good! I really hope we see this team again - plus Doris, loved her.

Such a clever premise. Loved it.

Was this review helpful?

I received this book through Netgalley.
I have read all of the Luc series and was intrigued to see what direction the book would take.
This is completely different to what I was expecting and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Midnight works for a tech firm as a data analyst and comes across an anomimally in a profile.
Killing start to happen after she has opened the profile and Midnight makes it her mission to find the killer.
Midnight is a great character and has had a hard life bringing up her sister as her parents left them when she turned into a adult.
A great book by one of my favourite authors which was great from begining to end.
Can't wait for more of her books

Was this review helpful?

Helen Fields has once again proven her mastery of the thriller genre with "Profile K"! From the moment I cracked open the spine, I was ensnared in a web of suspense and intrigue that refused to let go until the final, heart-pounding ending.

At the heart of this masterpiece lies Midnight Jones, an analyst whose world is turned upside down when she stumbles upon the chilling file of Profile K – a designation that spells out the presence of a killer among them. What unfolds is a tale of cat-and-mouse, as Midnight finds herself not only racing against time to stop Profile K from striking again, but also grappling with the terrifying realization that she has become the target.

But it's not just about the action – although there's plenty of that! The characters in this book are so freaking awesome! Midnight Jones... what a protagonist! With her keen analytical mind and unwavering determination, she leaps off the page as a beacon of strength and resilience. I found myself rooting for her from the very first chapter, drawn in by her compelling backstory and unyielding resolve.
And the supporting cast? Each character brings something unique to the table, and together, they make for one epic read.

Helen Fields' writing is nothing short of masterful. It's like she has this magical way of sucking you into the story and not letting go until the very last page. The way she weaves together past and present? Genius. It adds so much depth and suspense to the story, and I couldn't get enough!

"Profile K" is hands down one of the best thrillers I've ever read! It's got everything – suspense, action, twists you won't see coming – you name it! Helen Fields has seriously outdone herself with this one! This is more than a five-star masterpiece that demands to be devoured. Highly, highly recommended!

Was this review helpful?

I have read all of Helen’s books starting with the DI Callanach series and later to the standalones with the appearance of the same character. This is a particularly dark almost terrifying story with AI becoming increasingly newsworthy and as Helen says in her afterword, the ability is there. I was totally hooked from the first page and literally could hardly stop reading. So much tension when the killer seems to be one step ahead for a very long time. A huge Tech company versus a data processor who is waved away with platitudes by her superiors when she tries to voice her concerns about the anomalies she has found. For me, this is the best book she has written so far. Wonderful!

Was this review helpful?

Midnight Jones is a data analyst for Necto Corporation in London. One day, she is reviewing a profile, which once assessed, the profile comes back as Profile K. As part of the process, a notification is sent to the Applicant. These profiles are used to determine if they are right for a job or Uni course. Midnight decides to dig a bit into who Profile K could be. Around this time, there is a murder and the police are investigating and thinking who could be the killer. The plot is told in different voices, well written and very descriptive. All the sub plots, twists and turns lead to a dramatic ending. I will be recommending this book.

Was this review helpful?

Profile K was a brilliant book, I loved every minute of it.
The concept is very current - the ability for a large company to collect vast amounts of data about individuals which potential employers can use to vet applicants. It is a great talking point!
I really liked Midnight and I was extremely invested in her story and her fight to do the right thing.
I enjoyed the appearance of 2 characters from the last book which gives me hope there will be another book in the future.

Was this review helpful?

What a terrifying, suspense filled, horrific book this was. A girl is murdered in her own home. Not a quick and brutal death but a slow and controlled attack that would have had the victim conscious and terrified for a long time. Meanwhile Midnight Jones is an analyst for a giant tech company and is responsible for checking anonymous applications by noting their responses to various videos that check their brain responses, heart rate etc. One day she is shocked to discover an applicant who does not react to anything. However, shocking the videos become, nothing. The applicant is termed a Profile K. When Midnight attempts to report it, she is either told it is fictitious or against data protection and confidentiality to speak of it. With doubts escalating in her mind and not knowing who to trust, she embarks on an extremely dangerous mission to extract the truth. With the safety of her twin sister uppermost in her mind, she needs to act before further lives are lost. A brilliant story that truly had me breathless at times and a genuine page turner. I was pleased to encounter Connie Woolwine again and hope that we meet her again in a future book. Brilliant work from Helen Fields.

Was this review helpful?