‘Hugely confident … harrowing, visceral … recommended’ Ian Rankin
‘Kept me hooked’ Angela Marsons
‘An excellent read’ Martina Cole
‘Gritty, dark and chilling’ Mel Sherratt
A murdered woman… she’s dealing with no ordinary killer. The murder victim has been disfigured; her outfit changed to resemble someone else. Someone Maggie knows all too well…her close friend Dr Kate Moloney.
A determined detective…
Maggie is determined to keep her friend safe, but with Kate already struggling with a threatening stalker, Maggie now fears Kate’s life is in real danger. Who else would want to harm Kate and why else would the killer be turning his victims into exact replicas – his living dolls?
Can Maggie find the depraved killer? Or will Kate become his next living doll?
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Dead Perfect begins with DC Maggie Jamieson being called to the murder scene of a woman in a park. Her close friend Dr Kate Maloney has been struggling to deal with a stalker and by the description of this woman it could be Kate. When Maggie is unable to contact Kate over the phone and Kate’s colleagues confirm they haven’t seen her that day and don’t know where she is, Maggie fears the worst.
There is a killer out on the Staffordshire streets who is clever enough not to leave any forensic evidence and who has his own special way of killing the women he abducts. He becomes known as the Living Doll Killer, and Maggie is determined that nothing will stand in her way to catch him.
I was so desperate for this killer to be caught that I couldn’t put this book down and read it in one sitting. It is the third book in this series but the first one I’ve read and although it could be read as a standalone, this book was so good that I now want to go back and read the first two books.
Dead Perfect is a chilling, fast-paced read that will keep you awake at night and make you want to double-check that your windows and doors are firmly locked.
Thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for an ARC copy in return for an honest review.
Continuing on from the shocking conclusion of the previous book Dead Wrong,we follow Maggie and Nathan as they race to the location of a woman’s dead body. We read,with bated breath as Maggie approaches and enters the crime scene tent, does the body belong to Maggie’s friend Kate? we wait and then….. the enormous feeling of relief when we and Maggie discover that it’s not Kate but some other unfortunate woman who has been murdered by someone who is obviously very twisted and disturbed. Someone who, for reasons known only to themselves has altered the victims appearance so that they look exactly like Kate. It’s obvious to Maggie that Kate’s life is in grave danger, could the killer be the same person who was stalking Kate in the previous book? Had the police been mistaken when they hadn’t taken Kate’s statements seriously? Unfortunately, the lack of concern for victims of stalking is a very realistic scenario. There have been real life cases where victims have reported their stalkers to the police, their stalker has been interviewed and been so cunning, manipulative and convincing that the police have believed that they are innocent and actually charged the victim with wasting police time. The Stalker then goes on to murder the victim, the police release the usual lessons will be learned statement and everyone apart from the victims loved one carry on living their lives as if nothing had happened. Maggie and the team find themselves in a desperate race against time to uncover the the identity of a cunning killer before he gets the opportunity to capture the object of his desire. But Maggie’s close friendship with Kate and her fears over her friends safety are affecting Maggie’s objectivity and her ability to do her job to the best of her abilities. Plus there appears to be a atmosphere between Maggie and Nathan who normally have a close working relationship. Then the team find themselves under pressure when details of the investigation start being leaked to the press. With a air of suspicion that had a aroma that is worse than the aroma of the horrible station coffee hanging around the office,the last thing that Maggie needs is to be contacted by a irritating person from her past. Someone who caused her a lot of problems during one of Maggie’s previous cases. So who is the living doll killer? Why was he so obsessed with Kate? Will Maggie be able to keeper friend safe and uncover the killer’s identity or will Kate become the killer’s latest living doll?
OMg,this fantastic series just gets better with each new addition. Like the previous two books Dead Inside and Dead Wrong, Dead Perfect is a extremely well written police procedural but I think that with this, the third book in the series, the author has excelled herself. This is a tightly plotted, page turner that keeps the reader glued to their kindle and frantically turning the pages. The killer was seriously sinister and twisted and the way that the author came up with his name was ingenious. I mean, how many people would think of connecting a hit song by the living legend Cliff Richard and the crimes of a notorious American serial killer. This series has a incredible cast of recurring characters, people that the reader enjoys getting to know and spending their reading time with. The stories are intelligently written and very informative, the author uses her background in the probation service to its full capacity. I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending this incredible series to readers who enjoy reading dark and gritty thrillers and can’t wait to find out what the author has in store for Maggie in book 4.
Wow! This is stalker, thriller killer at its finest! Noelle Holten does it again with her third book in the DC Maggie Jamieson series. Tension flows through this book in a way that kept me turning those pages in order to find out who the killer was.
I’ll mention the killer next. This is some warped stuff and I loved the imagination that went into creating this character. It’s compelling reading. Throw in the threat to one of the team, you have this fear constantly bubbling away.
It’s a fast read too. Once you start, it’s hard to put down. I enjoyed the familiar faces that reappeared in this book. Not only Maggie’s direct police team, but Lucy and Kate.
Maggie is so loveable too. I was hugely rooting for her to come up with the goods. ‘Dead Perfect’ is an exciting police procedural thriller and not one to be missed. The tone is set perfectly. I loved the descriptions of the area and enjoyed the creepiness of it all. Fantastic stuff!
Wow, this was a disturbing read in the best sense of the word! “Dead Perfect” was such a riveting read, I read it literally in one sitting as I just had to find out who’s the creepy stalker that is obsessed with Dr. Kate Moloney and who seems to be firmly set on creating a perfect living doll to keep as a companion. What started with anonymous “presents” (for the lack of a better word, as they were as disturbing as they get) soon escalated to a dangerous cat and mouse chase with Kate at the center. Will DC Maggie Jamieson get to the bottom of things and save her friend and colleague from the stalker or will she be too late? You’ll need to read it to find out. Dark, haunting, and impossible to put down, “Dead Perfect” is a must-read for the lovers of suspense. Five huge stars!
Dead Perfect is my first book by the author and although it’s the third in the series, I don’t think I’ve missed much because the author has made a good job in the character development throughout this book and we can easily see what kind of person is our main heroine, DC Maggie Jamieson.
A smart and quirky detective, very determined to catch the killer’s and also very sympathetic friend, especially with her long-time partner in crime, Kate.
The book starts off slow for me but it picks up quick and it’s interesting to see how such a gruesome incident is becoming more than her job to put an end but it gets personal as her past and present are challenged and there are moments when she doubts herself .
There are many twists, some predictable, some a bit unrealistically for me and some unexpected moments that kept me guessing and wanting to know more and see how everything will unfold.
Because of the way the crimes were committed, my mind was immediately transported to an older CIS episode that I remember so vividly after over ten years since I’ve seen it first because it felt creepy and to read something similar gave me goosebumps.
Overall, it’s a good mystery and crime story that many people will enjoy.
October 16th, 2020, is finally here, publication day! A special congratulations go out to Noelle Holten, author of the Maggie Jamieson Crime Thriller series! Book three, “Dead Perfect,” is available NOW! RUN! Trust me when I say you are going to want to read this one!
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If you read book two, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about when I say that Noelle left her readers begging for more! Picking up “Dead Perfect” was akin to flipping the page, as that is exactly how it starts – right where “Dead Wrong” left off! While all of the books in this series can be read as a standalone, I’d suggest reading them in order for maximum enjoyment!
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The ‘Living Doll Killer.’ Boom. Enough said.
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Okay, but really wow! This may just be the best installment in the series yet. I’ve enjoyed them all, but there was just something about this one that had me on the edge of my seat the entire time! I was worried about Dr. Kate Moloney’s safety, DC Maggie Jamieson’s sanity, and absolutely fascinated by this book’s psychological aspects! The ‘why’ is a huge driving factor here. What could cause someone to kill women and completely change their appearance? To figure that out, you’ll have to follow this cast of characters on their hair-raising journey to save one of their own.
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As with her previous books, Noelle provides her readers with multiple narrations and insights into the story’s main and supporting characters. This time around, we’re given an even deeper look into Maggie and Kate’s lives, their histories, personalities, and relationships, both personal and professional. Maggie definitely toes, if not crosses, the line quite a few times in her efforts to protect Kate. Her team, while mostly understanding, were often at the brunt, receiving end of her struggles. I am hoping that the next installment provides more insight into the lives of Maggie’s team. I would love to know DI Rutherford, DS Wright, Bethany, and Kat a little better. Each new book usually comes with further development of the individual characters, and I’m eager to learn more.
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I would recommend this to crime thriller enthusiasts everywhere! As stated in my review of “Dead Inside,” it’s important to note that this book is a part of a series and does end with a hook for book four. Rest assured that all of this individual story’s I’s are dotted, and t’s are crossed; the ending scene purely leaves you wanting and ready for the next installment! News on books four and the following book five of this series is coming soon; be sure to keep this author on your radar!
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I’d like to take a moment and thank the author, the publishers at One More Chapter, a division of Harper Collins UK, and NetGalley for my advanced ebook copy of “Dead Perfect.” I fully intend to add the paperback to my collection! I have voluntarily and honestly reviewed this title.
Not as good as previous in the series
3.5-4stars
There was some great tension throughout this story, but something just did not hit the mark. I had guessed the stalker/murderer very early in the story and could not understand why heroine DC Maggie Jamieson, her colleagues and even Maggie’s targeted friend Kate ignored an obvious line of investigation until so late in the game.
As to the characters Maggie and Kate, both had major issues that reduced their likability. Kate knew she was in danger yet she was stubbornly reckless about her safety; she did not seem concerned that her behavior caused concern and extra work for others. Maggie was awfully easily riled up which did not win her any points at the police station.
Finally, the investigation outcome was a bit disappointing.
This was the second book in the series I read and, overall, I preferred Dead Wrong.
Thanks to Harper Collins/One More Chapter and NetGalley for sharing an advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
When a body is found in the park, DC Maggie Jamieson’s heart stops dead because the victim looks almost exactly the same as her friend and colleague Kate Moloney., a woman for whom she secretly has feelings that go beyond friendship. She thinks the killer might be the same person that was stalking Kate by leaving creepy gifts and messages. Then, another girl is abducted in similar circumstances and is later also found dead, dressed and made up to look like the dr. It looks as if he’s practising for his ultimate target and it becomes more and more certain that Kate is the intended prize.
With the life of her friend at stake, Maggie can’t remain her usual focused and clever self and the list of possible perpetrators grows. In retrospect, she misses certain clues, but that’s always easy to say from the sideline. I don’t think she can be accused of negligence. If the investigation takes them in the wrong direction that’s not their fault, they would have been wrong not to look into those things. She even has to work together with Julie, a journalist that accused her wrongly in an earlier case. It leaves to be seen if they come closer together at the end of the book.
Maggie’s friend and colleague Nathan Wright is now acting DS, though happy with the promotion he has to adapt to not being as actively involved in the investigation as he’s used to. Despite not coveting that position herself, sometimes Maggie has problems when he has to comment on her behaviour or attitude. She tends to speak and act before she thinks and some see this as arrogance, even when this is merely enthusiasm.
Though the story is well written and filled with suspense, I think the story self is a bit unlikely. Early on I started thinking, why would he take the substitutes first and only then the real deal? Everything fell more or less into place at the end. I did clock the real killer this time fairly early on (most often, I don’t).
I haven’t read the previous 2 books in this series, but I’ve learned that those also end with the start of a new crime, that will open the story of the next book. You can read this book as a standalone without problems, but in several places, it’s visible that some things have happened prior to this book.
I thank Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and Netgalley for a free ARC of this book and this is my honest review of it.