What do you think?
Rate this book
Line of Sight: A tense and twisty crime thriller that you won't be able to put down, from the prizewinning DI Birch series
A woman slipping through the cracks . . .
When a young Vietnamese girl goes missing in Scotland, DI Birch knows there is more to the case than meets the eye. Her colleagues won't take it seriously - but Helen's instinct tells her that Linh is in mortal danger.
A psychic determined to help . . .
Beatrice knows something terrible has happened to three young people in Edinburgh. She can see them in her mind's eye - frightened and alone, desperate for help. Ever since she was a child, she's had visions of the future - and she's ignored them before, with dangerous consequences. This time, she must help the police find Linh.
A showdown where not everyone will survive . . .
When a second woman goes missing, DI Birch is forced to pay attention to what Beatrice is saying. But will the police listen to the truth in time? Or is it already too late?
When a young Vietnamese girl goes missing in Scotland, DI Birch knows there is more to the case than meets the eye. Her colleagues won't take it seriously - but Helen's instinct tells her that Linh is in mortal danger.
A psychic determined to help . . .
Beatrice knows something terrible has happened to three young people in Edinburgh. She can see them in her mind's eye - frightened and alone, desperate for help. Ever since she was a child, she's had visions of the future - and she's ignored them before, with dangerous consequences. This time, she must help the police find Linh.
A showdown where not everyone will survive . . .
When a second woman goes missing, DI Birch is forced to pay attention to what Beatrice is saying. But will the police listen to the truth in time? Or is it already too late?
410 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 6, 2025
8 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Claire Askew
28 books124 followersClaire Askew is a poet, novelist and the current Writer in Residence at the University of Edinburgh. Her debut novel, All the Hidden Truths, was the winner of the 2016 Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize, and longlisted for the 2014 Peggy Chapman-Andrews (Bridport) Novel Award. Claire holds a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Edinburgh and has won a variety of accolades for her work, including the Jessie Kesson Fellowship and a Scottish Book Trust New Writers Award.
Her debut poetry collection, This changes things, was published by Bloodaxe in 2016 and shortlisted for the Edwin Morgan Poetry Award and a Saltire First Book Award. In 2016 Claire was selected as a Scottish Book Trust Reading Champion, and she works as the Scotland tutor for women's writing initiatives Write Like A Grrrl! and #GrrrlCon.
Claire Askew was born in 1986 and grew up in the Scottish Borders. She has lived in Edinburgh since 2004. Her poems have appeared in numerous publications, including The Guardian, Poetry Scotland, PANK, Edinburgh Review and Be The First To Like This: New Scottish Poetry (Vagabond Voices, 2014), and have been selected twice for the Scottish Poetry Library's Best Scottish Poems of the Year. In 2013 she won the International Salt Prize for Poetry, and in 2014 was runner-up for the inaugural Edwin Morgan Poetry Award for Scottish poets under 30. She runs the One Night Stanza blog, and collects old typewriters (she currently has around 30).
Her debut poetry collection, This changes things, was published by Bloodaxe in 2016 and shortlisted for the Edwin Morgan Poetry Award and a Saltire First Book Award. In 2016 Claire was selected as a Scottish Book Trust Reading Champion, and she works as the Scotland tutor for women's writing initiatives Write Like A Grrrl! and #GrrrlCon.
Claire Askew was born in 1986 and grew up in the Scottish Borders. She has lived in Edinburgh since 2004. Her poems have appeared in numerous publications, including The Guardian, Poetry Scotland, PANK, Edinburgh Review and Be The First To Like This: New Scottish Poetry (Vagabond Voices, 2014), and have been selected twice for the Scottish Poetry Library's Best Scottish Poems of the Year. In 2013 she won the International Salt Prize for Poetry, and in 2014 was runner-up for the inaugural Edwin Morgan Poetry Award for Scottish poets under 30. She runs the One Night Stanza blog, and collects old typewriters (she currently has around 30).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 12, 2025
4.0 / 5.0
What a book, the book is equally balanced with details of Helen’s personal life and trauma after the events of the last two previous books and her professional life and savage her career back. I found her personal journey through her challenges and develop through the events reflects sweetly to the last couple books of the series. To top it all off, we’ve got an interesting plot involving a psychic and her history growing up with her struggles. A very powerful emotional book, but none the less equally gripping and thrilling to read. After doing overtime, and extra hours reading this book took my mind away!
The plot follows DI Helen birch, still recovering from the events of the last two books when her mothers close friend reaches out to her to on a missing persons case. The person missing is a young Vietnamese girl who goes missing in Edinburgh. Beatrice, a psychic experiences an event where she can see and feel something terrible happen to several young people in Edinburgh. Ever since she was a kid, she’s always experienced visions of the future which she has always ignored until she learnt her lesson and reports her knowledge to the police. As another person goes missing the stakes are only increasing.
It’s honestly a great read and great series to invest in!
What a book, the book is equally balanced with details of Helen’s personal life and trauma after the events of the last two previous books and her professional life and savage her career back. I found her personal journey through her challenges and develop through the events reflects sweetly to the last couple books of the series. To top it all off, we’ve got an interesting plot involving a psychic and her history growing up with her struggles. A very powerful emotional book, but none the less equally gripping and thrilling to read. After doing overtime, and extra hours reading this book took my mind away!
The plot follows DI Helen birch, still recovering from the events of the last two books when her mothers close friend reaches out to her to on a missing persons case. The person missing is a young Vietnamese girl who goes missing in Edinburgh. Beatrice, a psychic experiences an event where she can see and feel something terrible happen to several young people in Edinburgh. Ever since she was a kid, she’s always experienced visions of the future which she has always ignored until she learnt her lesson and reports her knowledge to the police. As another person goes missing the stakes are only increasing.
It’s honestly a great read and great series to invest in!
January 8, 2026
6th book in the DI Helen Birch series.
May 4, 2025
Line of Sight is the latest in one of my favourite detective series, the DI Birch series by Claire Askew. This is the sixth in this Edinburgh set series which I highly recommend. I’m very grateful to Claire’s publishers, Hodder & Stoughton, for sending me a copy of the book.
This book had a different kind of theme to previous novels in the series with the inclusion of a psychic helping to solve the crime of two Vietnamese girls who are missing. As most people would be, the police, especially Birch’s boss, are very sceptical. They can’t act on evidence where there is no concrete evidence, and it certainly wouldn’t stand up in court. I particularly enjoyed the chapters where we followed Beatrice from her young days up to the present and learned about her gift of ‘knowing’. It was so interesting and thought provoking. I’m sure there are more things on this earth than we understand fully so who’s to say that some people can’t actually have visions of sorts?
Birch, having been conned before by someone claiming to be psychic, is not initially welcoming to Beatrice. However as she grows increasingly frustrated both by her own continuing slow recovery from injury and from what she sees as the hierarchy’s slow response to properly initiate an investigation into the missing girls, she starts to take her more seriously. The author shows that in this fictional police force at least, racist views and misogyny is alive and kicking. I’d like to think that’s not reflected in the real world but I’m not sure.
This novel is a slow build character study before racing to a heart-stopping conclusion where Birch, not for the first time, takes matters into her own hands and puts herself in a very dangerous situation. Will there be another book featuring Birch, given her growing disillusionment with police work? I’m not sure what the author’s plans are but I certainly hope to see Helen in a future book.
This book had a different kind of theme to previous novels in the series with the inclusion of a psychic helping to solve the crime of two Vietnamese girls who are missing. As most people would be, the police, especially Birch’s boss, are very sceptical. They can’t act on evidence where there is no concrete evidence, and it certainly wouldn’t stand up in court. I particularly enjoyed the chapters where we followed Beatrice from her young days up to the present and learned about her gift of ‘knowing’. It was so interesting and thought provoking. I’m sure there are more things on this earth than we understand fully so who’s to say that some people can’t actually have visions of sorts?
Birch, having been conned before by someone claiming to be psychic, is not initially welcoming to Beatrice. However as she grows increasingly frustrated both by her own continuing slow recovery from injury and from what she sees as the hierarchy’s slow response to properly initiate an investigation into the missing girls, she starts to take her more seriously. The author shows that in this fictional police force at least, racist views and misogyny is alive and kicking. I’d like to think that’s not reflected in the real world but I’m not sure.
This novel is a slow build character study before racing to a heart-stopping conclusion where Birch, not for the first time, takes matters into her own hands and puts herself in a very dangerous situation. Will there be another book featuring Birch, given her growing disillusionment with police work? I’m not sure what the author’s plans are but I certainly hope to see Helen in a future book.
June 3, 2025
I adore her books and DI birch 💚💛
February 10, 2025
I have read and thoroughly enjoyed all of Claire Askew’s Edinburgh based D.I. Helen Birch series, and this one is no exception. This is a series you will get the most from if you have read the series from the beginning, as D.I. Birch is a complex character whose journey throughout this series has changed her in some meaningful ways.
When we join Helen, she is just starting a phased return to work after the events of the previous book. She has pre-empted her medical advice, and has shrugged off her crutches and replaced them with a walking stick, though she is still in some pain. She can’t yet drive, either.
She’s on boring desk duty and it’s doing her head in; Helen is a woman of action and she’s champing at the bit to get her teeth into a real case. When Winifred, an old family friend who was close to Helen’s mother, comes in to see her, concerned about her missing foster child, Helen wants to do all she can to help.
The missing girl is Linh, a 17-year-old Vietnamese girl who had been through very traumatic times before starting to flourish in Winnie’s care. Helen’s boss won’t let her handle the case though. She’s not yet ready for a full return to duty and he knows Helen tends to get really wrapped up in a case to which she has an emotional attachment. So, Helen is sidelined and her colleague is manifestly disinterested, making assumptions about this young woman based on what seems to be lazy racism.
It’s really hard for Helen to handle this. She’s still suffering trauma from her recent experiences and is attending a therapist. She has terrible, frightening dreams that haunt her waking hours and that she can’t understand at all. With too little sleep and still in pain, she is uncharacteristically meek when Linh’s case is handed to her colleague.
Then Helen is thrown a complete googly. She takes a walk-in interview from a woman that no-one else wants to see. Beatrice is a psychic and she has information about a young woman who is being held captive.
Birch is, like most police personnel, highly sceptical and suspicious that some kind of con may be in play. But the more she hears, the more she feels that there’s a line of enquiry that should be followed up. Both her boss, DCI McLeod and her colleague, DI Crosbie, want to dismiss her out of hand and so she uneasily sends Beatrice away without comfort.
Line of Sight is told in the third person and in the first person by Beatrice, as we follow her journey to understanding what her gift is and the ways in which it can work for her. From her unhappy school days to knowing her parents’ secrets; sometimes even information they don’t know themselves. Beatrice has learnt to keep quiet about what she sees and ‘The Knowing’ as she calls it, but when it comes to innocent victims, she simply can’t stand the burden of knowing but not speaking out to help.
This psychic dimension adds a strong note of conflict to a team that already does not gel well. At least DS Amy Kato has her head screwed on and is prepared to listen to information, wherever it comes from.
Claire Askew does an excellent job of portraying Helen’s own internal psychological conflicts and this coupled with Helen’s own disillusionment with the attitudes and prejudices of both her boss and D.I. Crosbie is causing her to doubt her own commitment to the force.
Claire Askew’s Edinburgh permeates the book from the down at heel nail salons to Edinburgh’ suburbs and she ensures that it lives up to its name of ‘Auld Reekie’.
As tempers fray the action starts to hot up and the suspense is gripping as we learn more about the young women in captivity and those who hold them.
Verdict: Line of Sight is an engrossing, tense and suspenseful read. Propulsive and gripping, it was a book I didn’t want to put down. I loved Helen’s character and her commitment to doing things her way. It was great to see more of Helen’s dad in this book, too. I don’t know what the future holds for D.I. Birch, but I do hope there will be more books with this principal character, because I have grown to love her.
When we join Helen, she is just starting a phased return to work after the events of the previous book. She has pre-empted her medical advice, and has shrugged off her crutches and replaced them with a walking stick, though she is still in some pain. She can’t yet drive, either.
She’s on boring desk duty and it’s doing her head in; Helen is a woman of action and she’s champing at the bit to get her teeth into a real case. When Winifred, an old family friend who was close to Helen’s mother, comes in to see her, concerned about her missing foster child, Helen wants to do all she can to help.
The missing girl is Linh, a 17-year-old Vietnamese girl who had been through very traumatic times before starting to flourish in Winnie’s care. Helen’s boss won’t let her handle the case though. She’s not yet ready for a full return to duty and he knows Helen tends to get really wrapped up in a case to which she has an emotional attachment. So, Helen is sidelined and her colleague is manifestly disinterested, making assumptions about this young woman based on what seems to be lazy racism.
It’s really hard for Helen to handle this. She’s still suffering trauma from her recent experiences and is attending a therapist. She has terrible, frightening dreams that haunt her waking hours and that she can’t understand at all. With too little sleep and still in pain, she is uncharacteristically meek when Linh’s case is handed to her colleague.
Then Helen is thrown a complete googly. She takes a walk-in interview from a woman that no-one else wants to see. Beatrice is a psychic and she has information about a young woman who is being held captive.
Birch is, like most police personnel, highly sceptical and suspicious that some kind of con may be in play. But the more she hears, the more she feels that there’s a line of enquiry that should be followed up. Both her boss, DCI McLeod and her colleague, DI Crosbie, want to dismiss her out of hand and so she uneasily sends Beatrice away without comfort.
Line of Sight is told in the third person and in the first person by Beatrice, as we follow her journey to understanding what her gift is and the ways in which it can work for her. From her unhappy school days to knowing her parents’ secrets; sometimes even information they don’t know themselves. Beatrice has learnt to keep quiet about what she sees and ‘The Knowing’ as she calls it, but when it comes to innocent victims, she simply can’t stand the burden of knowing but not speaking out to help.
This psychic dimension adds a strong note of conflict to a team that already does not gel well. At least DS Amy Kato has her head screwed on and is prepared to listen to information, wherever it comes from.
Claire Askew does an excellent job of portraying Helen’s own internal psychological conflicts and this coupled with Helen’s own disillusionment with the attitudes and prejudices of both her boss and D.I. Crosbie is causing her to doubt her own commitment to the force.
Claire Askew’s Edinburgh permeates the book from the down at heel nail salons to Edinburgh’ suburbs and she ensures that it lives up to its name of ‘Auld Reekie’.
As tempers fray the action starts to hot up and the suspense is gripping as we learn more about the young women in captivity and those who hold them.
Verdict: Line of Sight is an engrossing, tense and suspenseful read. Propulsive and gripping, it was a book I didn’t want to put down. I loved Helen’s character and her commitment to doing things her way. It was great to see more of Helen’s dad in this book, too. I don’t know what the future holds for D.I. Birch, but I do hope there will be more books with this principal character, because I have grown to love her.
February 5, 2025
This is book six in the Helen Birch series and, as always, to get the very best from it, you really should start from the beginning and read in order. Helen and her current situation is a little complex so I think you will have a better time with her if you do this.
When we begin this book, Helen is still off sick, after antics in the previous book exacerbated injuries already suffered - see I said you need to play catch-up! Although she is due to start a controlled return to work, she fears it will be boring and mundane, exactly as it starts... until she is approached by an old friend of her mother's who needs help finding her foster child who has gone missing. The child in question was a victim of trafficking and has nearly hit the maximum age for care, the age when they have to formally seek asylum as an adult, so the powers that be think she has just run away to avoid that whole process... Helen wants to help her but when she takes it to her boss, he allocates it to her nemesis who, she knows, will not give it the time, energy, and dedication it deserves.
And then, we have a psychic who, still haunted by something she "knew" but didn't report many years ago, wants to do the right thing this time but is fobbed off and sent packing...
So, as you can see, Helen is up against it once again, torn between what she "should" be doing, and what she wants to do, bearing in mind her track record for toeing the line, you'd better buckle up cos you are in for a wild ride...
I love this series, I love Helen as a character, she is great and has a lot for an author and reader to get their teeth into. My eyes were especially opened by the plight of Linh and the whole child trafficking, foster care, asylum application cycle. Never knew the half of that! I wasn't overly sold by the psychic involvement as I usually like my police procedurals to be straight, evidence gleaned from hard graft, and I am not sure why the author has chosen to impart key evidence in this way in this book, but it is what it is.
I did however like the way the author depicted the mental anguish that Helen went through around her own self-doubt and place within the police force. Her interactions with her colleagues and, basically, her reassessment of the job. Which I guess did cross over with her eventual acceptance of the psychic so...
All in all, this was, for me, not the strongest book in the series but I am sure Helen still has more to give and will look forward to her next outing with baited breath. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
When we begin this book, Helen is still off sick, after antics in the previous book exacerbated injuries already suffered - see I said you need to play catch-up! Although she is due to start a controlled return to work, she fears it will be boring and mundane, exactly as it starts... until she is approached by an old friend of her mother's who needs help finding her foster child who has gone missing. The child in question was a victim of trafficking and has nearly hit the maximum age for care, the age when they have to formally seek asylum as an adult, so the powers that be think she has just run away to avoid that whole process... Helen wants to help her but when she takes it to her boss, he allocates it to her nemesis who, she knows, will not give it the time, energy, and dedication it deserves.
And then, we have a psychic who, still haunted by something she "knew" but didn't report many years ago, wants to do the right thing this time but is fobbed off and sent packing...
So, as you can see, Helen is up against it once again, torn between what she "should" be doing, and what she wants to do, bearing in mind her track record for toeing the line, you'd better buckle up cos you are in for a wild ride...
I love this series, I love Helen as a character, she is great and has a lot for an author and reader to get their teeth into. My eyes were especially opened by the plight of Linh and the whole child trafficking, foster care, asylum application cycle. Never knew the half of that! I wasn't overly sold by the psychic involvement as I usually like my police procedurals to be straight, evidence gleaned from hard graft, and I am not sure why the author has chosen to impart key evidence in this way in this book, but it is what it is.
I did however like the way the author depicted the mental anguish that Helen went through around her own self-doubt and place within the police force. Her interactions with her colleagues and, basically, her reassessment of the job. Which I guess did cross over with her eventual acceptance of the psychic so...
All in all, this was, for me, not the strongest book in the series but I am sure Helen still has more to give and will look forward to her next outing with baited breath. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
March 9, 2025
Claire Askew delivers another gripping installment in the DI Helen Birch series with Line of Sight, a thought-provoking and suspenseful police procedural that explores themes of human trafficking, institutional bias, and personal resilience.
Still recovering from serious injuries sustained in the line of duty, DI Helen Birch is struggling to find her place within the force. She’s on a phased return to work, but bureaucracy and office politics keep her from meaningful cases—until an old friend of her mother approaches her with a desperate plea. Linh, a young Vietnamese trafficking survivor, has gone missing, and Helen fears the worst. However, when she brings the case to her boss, it is assigned to another detective who dismisses Linh’s disappearance as a voluntary escape from the asylum process.
Meanwhile, a woman claiming to be psychic, Beatrice, reports visions of a kidnapped girl. Though skeptical, Helen finds herself increasingly drawn to the psychic’s insights—especially as traditional police methods yield little progress. Torn between her instincts and the rigid structures of her profession, she must navigate a web of conflicting interests to uncover the truth.
Askew masterfully balances procedural grit with psychological depth, portraying Helen’s inner turmoil as she reassesses both her career and her ability to trust herself. The novel also casts a critical eye on the biases and blind spots within law enforcement, particularly in cases involving vulnerable individuals. Detective Sergeant Amy Kato continues to be a standout character, offering a refreshing contrast to the more rigid and prejudiced members of the force.
While the inclusion of a psychic as a key witness may divide readers—particularly those who prefer strictly evidence-based crime fiction—the novel remains a compelling read. The suspense is well-paced, the stakes feel real, and the exploration of human trafficking and asylum-seeking processes adds a layer of urgency and social relevance.
Although Line of Sight may not be the strongest book in the series, it is an engaging and emotionally charged addition that leaves me eager to see what’s next for Helen Birch. Fans of the series will appreciate the continued character development, while new readers may find themselves compelled to go back and start from the beginning. Highly recommended for those who enjoy crime fiction with a psychological edge.
Still recovering from serious injuries sustained in the line of duty, DI Helen Birch is struggling to find her place within the force. She’s on a phased return to work, but bureaucracy and office politics keep her from meaningful cases—until an old friend of her mother approaches her with a desperate plea. Linh, a young Vietnamese trafficking survivor, has gone missing, and Helen fears the worst. However, when she brings the case to her boss, it is assigned to another detective who dismisses Linh’s disappearance as a voluntary escape from the asylum process.
Meanwhile, a woman claiming to be psychic, Beatrice, reports visions of a kidnapped girl. Though skeptical, Helen finds herself increasingly drawn to the psychic’s insights—especially as traditional police methods yield little progress. Torn between her instincts and the rigid structures of her profession, she must navigate a web of conflicting interests to uncover the truth.
Askew masterfully balances procedural grit with psychological depth, portraying Helen’s inner turmoil as she reassesses both her career and her ability to trust herself. The novel also casts a critical eye on the biases and blind spots within law enforcement, particularly in cases involving vulnerable individuals. Detective Sergeant Amy Kato continues to be a standout character, offering a refreshing contrast to the more rigid and prejudiced members of the force.
While the inclusion of a psychic as a key witness may divide readers—particularly those who prefer strictly evidence-based crime fiction—the novel remains a compelling read. The suspense is well-paced, the stakes feel real, and the exploration of human trafficking and asylum-seeking processes adds a layer of urgency and social relevance.
Although Line of Sight may not be the strongest book in the series, it is an engaging and emotionally charged addition that leaves me eager to see what’s next for Helen Birch. Fans of the series will appreciate the continued character development, while new readers may find themselves compelled to go back and start from the beginning. Highly recommended for those who enjoy crime fiction with a psychological edge.
January 19, 2025
DCI Helen Birch is still on a phased return to work after sustaining serious injuries twice in the line of duty ( and in the last two books in the series). Fed up of endless paperwork and suffering from a disturbing recurring dream, when she is approached by an old friend of her mother’s for help with finding her missing foster daughter, she wants to help, but is sidelined when the case is given to another colleague, and neither of them seem to be taking it seriously. Linh is Vietnamese and had been a victim of sex trafficking, from which she had escaped, but rather than pursue this line of enquiry they assume she has chosen to disappear rather than go through the difficult asylum seeking process when she reaches 18. When a woman claiming to be psychic contacts the police claiming to have seen a vision of a kidnapped girl, Birch, though sceptical, finds herself drawn in, putting herself in direct opposition to her boss. This is a slightly unusual take on a police procedural as most of the “evidence” in the case comes from the psychic, although the suspense and the unravelling of the plot still grips. What I found interesting was the psychological emphasis, both on Birch’s feelings about her work and her loss of confidence, and about the understanding the psychic, Bee, gains from “knowing” the reasons behind the behaviour of those she encounters. A critical eye is cast over the prejudices and assumptions endemic in the police force which can stand in the way of resolving crimes, and which have left Birch increasingly disillusioned, although balance is somewhat restored by the empathy and skill of her friend, Ds Amy Kato. I really hope this wasn’t the final outing for Birch and co- Edinburgh needs her!
February 28, 2025
Two young girls have disappeared.
DI Helen Birch is back at work, still in agony after being shot. She is still unable to drive and still in therapy. Her mother’s friend comes to ask for her help when a young Vietnamese teenager under her guardianship disappears. Linh had been trafficked from Vietnam and the worry is that the man who had brought her into the UK may now be the person who has once again taken her to act as a prostitute.
Helen Birch boss denies her request to set up the investigation, instead giving it to another Detective Inspector. A man who loathes Birch and refuses to take what she has to say seriously, especially after a psychic comes forward with information.
This was an interesting case. Birch is sceptical about the psychic’s abilities, but at the same time, feels that the psychic could be right and that they should explore what she has to say, Unfortunately, Birch’s boss refuses to have anything to do with this witness.
I’m sorry that I’ve not read the previous books in this series. In this novel, Birch and her boss are clearly at odds, and Detective Inspector Crosbie is eager to worsen their conflict. A fast-paced novel with interesting characters, especially the psychic.
Rony
Elite Reviewing Group received a copy of the book from NETGALLEY to review.
DI Helen Birch is back at work, still in agony after being shot. She is still unable to drive and still in therapy. Her mother’s friend comes to ask for her help when a young Vietnamese teenager under her guardianship disappears. Linh had been trafficked from Vietnam and the worry is that the man who had brought her into the UK may now be the person who has once again taken her to act as a prostitute.
Helen Birch boss denies her request to set up the investigation, instead giving it to another Detective Inspector. A man who loathes Birch and refuses to take what she has to say seriously, especially after a psychic comes forward with information.
This was an interesting case. Birch is sceptical about the psychic’s abilities, but at the same time, feels that the psychic could be right and that they should explore what she has to say, Unfortunately, Birch’s boss refuses to have anything to do with this witness.
I’m sorry that I’ve not read the previous books in this series. In this novel, Birch and her boss are clearly at odds, and Detective Inspector Crosbie is eager to worsen their conflict. A fast-paced novel with interesting characters, especially the psychic.
Rony
Elite Reviewing Group received a copy of the book from NETGALLEY to review.
May 20, 2025
A disappointing book in what had become a promising series. A book with a major thread revolving around a 'psychic' character was always going to be an uphill struggle for me. Further, the author opted for alternating chapters from the point of view of DI Birch and Bee (the psychic one). Rarely a winning arrangement for me either. Hey, ho.
DI Birch as the main focus is rather muted in this outing. The reader is left feeling she 'is not firing on all cylinders' and seems unable to cope with her traumas, her work colleagues (especially any passing males) and the case she has / has not been given. Bit of a muddled mess. Overly long, partly due to the desire to write from two perspectives, and missing any grounding in reality or believability. Cameo roles for her brother Charlie, her partner Anjan, and her stalwart Dad.
The author mentions in her acknowledgements at the end that she 'managed to write this book in the midst of a year that felt like an endurance test'. Sadly, it shows.....
DI Birch as the main focus is rather muted in this outing. The reader is left feeling she 'is not firing on all cylinders' and seems unable to cope with her traumas, her work colleagues (especially any passing males) and the case she has / has not been given. Bit of a muddled mess. Overly long, partly due to the desire to write from two perspectives, and missing any grounding in reality or believability. Cameo roles for her brother Charlie, her partner Anjan, and her stalwart Dad.
The author mentions in her acknowledgements at the end that she 'managed to write this book in the midst of a year that felt like an endurance test'. Sadly, it shows.....
February 27, 2025
I'm a big fan of the Helen Birch series and this one didn't disappoint. I live in Edinburgh and love being able to actually picture the places Claire Askew is writing about. The writing style in this book is slightly different from other ones in the series in that it switched between Helen's story and the background of the psychic in the story. It was interesting getting the background of the psychic but I did find the large role the psychic played in solving the crime slightly unbelievable.
The end of the book left us on a cliffhanger of whether Helen continues to be in the police. I really hope she does as I'd love to read more books in this series. Claire is an automatic read for me when she publishes a new book in this series.
The end of the book left us on a cliffhanger of whether Helen continues to be in the police. I really hope she does as I'd love to read more books in this series. Claire is an automatic read for me when she publishes a new book in this series.
February 15, 2025
Book six in the D I Birch series and a second read for me Helen is on a phased return to work after the injuries she sustained in the line of duty.
This book follows the case of two missing Vietnamese girls who have gone missing and an unlikely individual comes forward to offer her insight in bringing them home.
Claire has a way of really bringing her characters to life in their descriptions and personalities.
Helen is a tenacious complex character who knows her own mind and in this edition we see her vulnerable side and the internal battles she is facing in dealing with her past traumas and it's manifestation.
This book follows the case of two missing Vietnamese girls who have gone missing and an unlikely individual comes forward to offer her insight in bringing them home.
Claire has a way of really bringing her characters to life in their descriptions and personalities.
Helen is a tenacious complex character who knows her own mind and in this edition we see her vulnerable side and the internal battles she is facing in dealing with her past traumas and it's manifestation.
January 14, 2026
As usual I seem to be late to a series- apparently this is number six! It does stand alone, though I see from previous reviews that some things about DI Birch might have made more sense if I had read the previous books.
This is a fast paced tale that begs not to be put down until finished. Helen is a very believable female detective who knows where she wants to go with her investigation but is stuck with both plodding collegues who try to stand in her way, and an injury from which she is still recovering. I particularly enjoyed the Scottish words sprinkled throughout the text- my favourite was "away and bile yer heid".
This is a fast paced tale that begs not to be put down until finished. Helen is a very believable female detective who knows where she wants to go with her investigation but is stuck with both plodding collegues who try to stand in her way, and an injury from which she is still recovering. I particularly enjoyed the Scottish words sprinkled throughout the text- my favourite was "away and bile yer heid".
August 1, 2025
I chose this book at random in my Library. I'm so glad I did. At first I found the switching chapters a little puzzling, but once I understood that they alternated between the police and a psychic who has a gift which she calls the Knowing I was hooked. It highlighted the shortcomings of certain police officers and the dreadful trafficking of young Vietnamese girls into Scotland. Well written and a change from the 'run of the mill' crime books.
January 22, 2025
Another excellent read in the Helen Birch series, set in Edinburgh. This one finds Birch feeling disillusioned and fed up with her police role. Birch is investigating the disappearance of a missing girl and the characterisation is excellent in this suspense filled, expertly crafted thriller. I hope there is more to come from this series as it is certainly very enjoyable.
January 17, 2025
Another strong police procedural from Claire Askew, a real page turner with the usual excellent writing.
Missing girls and a psychic nobody believes sets the scene here, the plot is clever and very entertaining.
Characters and story superb, overall a most excellent read.
Missing girls and a psychic nobody believes sets the scene here, the plot is clever and very entertaining.
Characters and story superb, overall a most excellent read.
January 30, 2025
Enjoyable read!
March 2, 2025
Plausible? Probably not, but I love these characters, and Claire as ever tells a story with deftness and heart.
June 11, 2025
The latest ( and final?) outing of DI Birch once again takes a crime novel to places you don’t expect it to go - this time involving a witness who isn’t really a witness, except in her dreams. Askews writing is astute as ever, with characters so full of life they seem to jump off the page. The supernatural slant of this latest instalment may not be for everyone, but for me (and DI Birch, eventually) it worked.
September 25, 2025
I love the series, so enjoyed this one too, but this was my least favourite in the series. I didn't find the resolution satisfying and wanted to see more of Helen's personal life.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews