Perfect Dead: A gripping crime thriller that will keep you hooked (DI Frank Farrell, Book 2)

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 heck 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.

I was glad to be reunited with Detective Inspector Frank Farrell and his team for Perfect Dead. Whilst we had previously learnt about Farrell's background and this remains an important part of his character, I enjoyed delving into the histories of the rest of the team, especially Lind and Moore, and learning what makes them tick. Baldwin was also able to explore some important issues this way, such as the effect of a miscarriage on a relationship. Perfect Dead combines three different investigations and the way they weave together is incredibly clever. I know nothing about art forgery so I appreciated the extensive research that must have gone into making this element of the plot both believable and interesting. I enjoyed trying to work out what had happened and how each thread of the plot was connected. As the investigation gathers momentum, it becomes clear that there is an element of danger to this novel. I enjoyed every twist as the tension rose. Baldwin leaves Perfect Dead on a cliffhanger and I cannot wait to see where she takes this series next!

Perfect Dead is the second book in the DI Frank Farrell series by Jackie Baldwin. Frank isn’t your usual police detective; his past background is very different to his current career in the police force as he used to be a Catholic priest. This was an idea that interested me when I read the blurb for the book as I wondered what drew Frank to the idea of working as a detective. This is the first time that I have come across a police officer who was a former priest in crime fiction.The police are investigating three different crimes in this book. In 2009 a young Irish woman disappeared and the case has never been solved, but it has continued to haunt DCI Lind who has vowed to find out the truth. In the present day the body of a young artist is discovered and it appears that he may have committed suicide, but Frank isn’t so sure as something about the death doesn’t feel right. But what is it that connects these two cases and fraudulent activity linked to a group known as ‘The Collective’ which the missing girl and the young man were once part of? And as the investigation progresses more people begin to turn up dead.Jackie Baldwin’s writing is really immersive. The police team that are working on the cases appear to be tightly knitted together and they all support each other. This, I thought, was really refreshing as in some books you do find that there are many police detectives who don’t get on and this does cause frictions when they are trying to solve a case. Jackie uses dialogue in her book really well, and I flew through the pages. I think my favourite characters from the book were Mhairi and Frank, and I did like DCI Lind as well, especially as he seemed to really connect to the victims and he wanted to see justice done.There are some really strange characters in this book, especially the artists who live up at The Ivy House which becomes the focus point of the investigation. I enjoyed trying to work out what sort of people they really were and what was really going on in their group. When you get to the end of this book you will want to get your hands on the next book as soon as possible, after the final chapters Jackie has left me on tenterhooks.This is one of those books which you just want to keep reading until you have finished. Jackie Baldwin is a writer who I will definitely be reading more from.

Frank faces a triple threat. A current murder, a cold case murder, and a forgery ring. All in the tiny little village of Kirkcudbright. Then you've got Lind having a marital crisis, not to mention Mhari and Kate having issues with their lovers.There are a lot of threads and people to watch out for in this one and it wasn't the most difficult to solve in the end, but it was an enjoyable read, and I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series.

I didn't think it would be possible to enjoy the second book in the DI Frank Farrell series as much as I did the first. I was so wrong. Everything that I loved about the first novel was here in the second, but bigger and better. The characters have grown, and I found myself engrossed in their journey through the story. The plot was intriguing and kept me guessing right up until the end.Jackie Baldwin has continued to show her incredible writing skills with the characters, stepping away from the norm and expectations we have about police procedurals. It is refreshing, and her compelling storytelling really makes this a book you'll find hard to put down. It's the kind of book you'll find yourself talking to others about or buying as a gift. Highly recommended and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for these incredible characters.