Title: THE HELPER – Callum Doyle #2
Author: David Jackson
ISBN: 9780230760486
Publisher: Macmillan
Pages: 304
Source: Private Copy
‘I can help you, Cal. I can help you solve the murder of Cindy Mellish.’ A grisly murder in a shabby New York bookstore seems to hold a special significance for Detective Callum Doyle: the victim’s been marked with a message that could have been left specially for him. But why? Then the sinister phone calls start. Doyle is told more deaths are planned but the caller will give him clues on condition he keeps them to himself. So begins his dilemma. If he turns the offer down he will have nothing to go on. But if he accepts and gets it wrong, he will have concealed knowledge that could have stopped a killer. As more deaths follow, increasingly vicious and apparently random, the pressure on Doyle to find a link becomes unbearable. Does he continue to gamble with people’s lives? Or must he sacrifice everything to defeat a ruthless and manipulative enemy?
Official Summary
13 August 2025
David Jackson’s books deserve much more attention. The Helper, the second Callum Doyle book, is a fast-paced, high-stakes thriller that had me hooked from the chilling opening scene in a dusty New York bookstore.
From the moment Detective Callum Doyle arrives at the gruesome murder of Cindy Mellish, it’s clear this is not your typical homicide investigation. The eerie message left behind seems to taunt Doyle personally — and the sinister cat-and-mouse game that follows had me flipping pages way past my bedtime.
What makes this novel enjoyable is the psychological complexity of the premise. When Doyle starts receiving anonymous calls from someone claiming to know about upcoming murders — and offering help, with a dangerous condition — the story takes a fascinating turn. The moral dilemma at the heart of the plot is one that pulled me in: should Doyle act on information privately to potentially stop a killer, or risk lives by following official channels? It’s a nightmarish situation, and Jackson does an excellent job showing Doyle’s internal conflict, guilt, and desperation.
Doyle is a compelling character — flawed, determined, and completely out of his depth. His isolation grows as the caller demands secrecy, and the tension builds with every new victim. There’s a creeping sense of helplessness and dread that runs through the narrative, especially as the murders become more brutal and seemingly unrelated.
The writing is tight, with short, punchy chapters that keep the pace brisk without sacrificing depth. The mysterious antagonist is one of the strongest elements — manipulative, clever, and always one step ahead. I constantly questioned whether Doyle was being led into a trap. While this is undeniably a crime thriller, it also delves into moral uncertainty, manipulation, and the psychological toll of working under extreme pressure. It’s not just about solving a murder — it’s about confronting the cost of the decisions made along the way.
The Helper is gritty, gripping, and thought-provoking. Fans of police procedurals with a psychological twist will find plenty to enjoy here. If you like a thriller that keeps you guessing — and makes you squirm just a little — this one is definitely worth a read.
Also by David Jackson
PARIAH
Imagine the pain of not being able to see your spouse and your children. You have to live apart from them. You can’t go into work. Your environment becomes a claustrophobic hotel room, with seemingly no escape. You cannot risk talking to strangers in case it is seen as an act of friendship that puts them in danger. It is the ultimate in solitary isolation.
How long could you bear to live like that?
How long would it be before you became desperate for it to end? So desperate, in fact, that you might be willing to sell your soul to anyone who offers you a way out?
NYPD detective Callum Doyle is about to learn the answers to these questions. It starts with the murder of his partner. But that’s only the beginning…
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
I was a latecomer to fiction writing, having spent most of my adult life producing academic papers and reports. After some limited success entering short story competitions, I submitted the first few chapters of a novel to the Crime Writers Association Debut Dagger Awards. To my great surprise, the book was not only short-listed but given the Highly Commended accolade, which stimulated the interest of agents and publishers and eventually led to the publication of PARIAH. Since then, I have written several more crime thrillers, including two series set in New York and my birth city of Liverpool. I still have a day job in Liverpool as a university academic, but now live on the Wirral with my wife, two daughters and a British Shorthair cat called Mr Tumnus.
Thank you for visiting the blog and reading my review. Your support is much appreciated. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. Until next time, Happy Reading.
