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D.I. Callanach #1
Perfect Remains
On a remote Highland mountain, the body of Elaine Buxton is burning. All that will be left to identify the respected lawyer are her teeth and a fragment of clothing.
In the concealed back room of a house in Edinburgh, the real Elaine Buxton screams into the darkness�
Detective Inspector Luc Callanach has barely set foot in his new office when Elaine’s missing persons case is escalated to a murder investigation. Having left behind a promising career at Interpol, he’s eager to prove himself to his new team. But Edinburgh, he discovers, is a long way from Lyon, and Elaine’s killer has covered his tracks with meticulous care.
It’s not long before another successful woman is abducted from her doorstep, and Callanach finds himself in a race against the clock. Or so he believes � The real fate of the women will prove more twisted than he could have ever imagined.
Fans of Angela Marson, Mark Billingham and M. J. Aldridge will be gripped by this chilling journey into the mind of a troubled killer.
In the concealed back room of a house in Edinburgh, the real Elaine Buxton screams into the darkness�
Detective Inspector Luc Callanach has barely set foot in his new office when Elaine’s missing persons case is escalated to a murder investigation. Having left behind a promising career at Interpol, he’s eager to prove himself to his new team. But Edinburgh, he discovers, is a long way from Lyon, and Elaine’s killer has covered his tracks with meticulous care.
It’s not long before another successful woman is abducted from her doorstep, and Callanach finds himself in a race against the clock. Or so he believes � The real fate of the women will prove more twisted than he could have ever imagined.
Fans of Angela Marson, Mark Billingham and M. J. Aldridge will be gripped by this chilling journey into the mind of a troubled killer.
418 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 26, 2017
2437 people are currently reading
15634 people want to read
About the author
Helen Sarah Fields
20books2,482followersWrites crime, mystery and thrillers. Loves historical fiction. Big horror fan. Goes back to one classic novel each month, to save her soul.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,765 reviews
December 18, 2017
Helen Fields introduces readers to a stunning new series that will chill them to the bone while trying to balance the unique style of Detective Inspector Luc Callanach. In a shake-up of Ediburgh’s Homicide Team, D.I. Luc Callanach arrives on the scene, to the dismay of many. This outsider is a recent transfer from INTERPOL and has an odd background: a Scottish father and French mother. Callanach has spent much of his life in France, where his cultural and linguistic influences are strong. However, his work comes highly praised and he is ready to tackle the most soul-draining cases the city has to offer. After the abduction of Elaine Buxton, Callanach and his team are sent to piece together the few clues that are on offer. Forensics leave little to be surmised, save that Buxton was likely beaten with a baseball bat, which dislodged a few of her teeth. When a body emerges, the case turns from one of a missing person to full-fledged homicide. However, in a soundproof bunker, the perpetrator has stored Elaine and kept her alive for his own reasons. He is fully aware of his actions and seeks to throw the police off the path with a similarly shaped body and some forensics that will keep everyone from looking too hard for Buxton. After another kidnapping, Dr. Reginald King seems to be getting bolder. He is happy to continue this game of cat and mouse, though does not hole away in private. King holds down a position within the Department of Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh, where he is scorned by his colleagues and left to stew in increased resentment. King has precise plans and keeps himself planning, while the world around him remains baffled. With few leads, Callanach is handed another case, as newborns have begun appearing dead, apparently disposed of for no reason. Callanach uses his gruff demeanour to extract information and learns that it could be some sort of sadistic game. When one of Callanach’s team goes missing after receiving mysterious gifts at the office, everyone is left to wonder if the perp (King) has crossed the blue line and will kill her as well. Callanach can waste no time and scours reports and forensics for a piece of overlooked evidence before another body turns up, while the apparent victims slowly fade at King’s hands. Fields has surely made a namer for herself here and paints Luc Callanach as a character who has much potential in this crowded genre. Perfect for those who love a good police procedural/crime thriller.
This was my first experience with Helen Fields and I cannot remember having received any outright recommendations to read this book. Therefore, my going in blind left me gambling, something that has paid off tremendously. Not only is the story well-crafted, but the characters grow as the narrative progresses, never losing momentum. While there are many police procedural out there, it the author’s ability to stand out that makes this book something the reader will remember. D.I. Luc Callanach is a character that is surely unique in all he brings to the story. A transfer from INTERPOL, Callanach is a pariah upon his arrival in Edinburgh and brings a significant amount of baggage, which is amply explored as Fields develops his backstory. The addition of the stereotypical gruff French background works well here, as Callanach taps into his maternal roots to extract information out of witnesses, while annoying colleagues and superiors at every turn. However, as fans of the genre will realize, it is the end result that is most important, not kid-glove wearing throughout that solves cases. Fields adds a wonderful cross-section of others to complement Callanach, as well as fully revealing and developing the perpetrator from the outside. Contrasting and comparing Callanach with King, the reader can see some parallels here that only enrich the story more. Dabbling with a handful of secondary characters, the story progresses and offers many plots that keep the reader from getting too focused on one perspective. The story itself is well developed, not seeking to push the focus on a single event, but also not diluting the narrative such that the reader is confused from chapter to chapter. Fields paces the story in such a way that all characters have the chance to influence the progress of the narrative, but does not allow the reader too much advanced warning of what is to come around the corner. The reader is pulled in and kept wondering, even with both sides of the story, which is the key to a successful novel. I look forward to more D.I. Callanach and see that there is another out and two more set for 2018. I may just have found another author to add to my ongoing book searches and one I would highly recommend.
Kudos, Madam Fields, for showing how you can craft a wonderful story. You have me hooked after a debut novel, which is not always easy. I am eager to find more of your work and seeing if I am as enthralled as I was here.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: /group/show/...
This was my first experience with Helen Fields and I cannot remember having received any outright recommendations to read this book. Therefore, my going in blind left me gambling, something that has paid off tremendously. Not only is the story well-crafted, but the characters grow as the narrative progresses, never losing momentum. While there are many police procedural out there, it the author’s ability to stand out that makes this book something the reader will remember. D.I. Luc Callanach is a character that is surely unique in all he brings to the story. A transfer from INTERPOL, Callanach is a pariah upon his arrival in Edinburgh and brings a significant amount of baggage, which is amply explored as Fields develops his backstory. The addition of the stereotypical gruff French background works well here, as Callanach taps into his maternal roots to extract information out of witnesses, while annoying colleagues and superiors at every turn. However, as fans of the genre will realize, it is the end result that is most important, not kid-glove wearing throughout that solves cases. Fields adds a wonderful cross-section of others to complement Callanach, as well as fully revealing and developing the perpetrator from the outside. Contrasting and comparing Callanach with King, the reader can see some parallels here that only enrich the story more. Dabbling with a handful of secondary characters, the story progresses and offers many plots that keep the reader from getting too focused on one perspective. The story itself is well developed, not seeking to push the focus on a single event, but also not diluting the narrative such that the reader is confused from chapter to chapter. Fields paces the story in such a way that all characters have the chance to influence the progress of the narrative, but does not allow the reader too much advanced warning of what is to come around the corner. The reader is pulled in and kept wondering, even with both sides of the story, which is the key to a successful novel. I look forward to more D.I. Callanach and see that there is another out and two more set for 2018. I may just have found another author to add to my ongoing book searches and one I would highly recommend.
Kudos, Madam Fields, for showing how you can craft a wonderful story. You have me hooked after a debut novel, which is not always easy. I am eager to find more of your work and seeing if I am as enthralled as I was here.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: /group/show/...
February 7, 2017
4.5 stars
Some books leave you feeling warm & fuzzy, some leave you sad or thoughtful. This book left me with palpitations & an irrational fear of dentures.
Elaine Buxton is having a really bad day. You’d think being abducted by a mad man would be your worst nightmare come true. Wrong. Unfortunately he has a few…um…procedures planned as part of his scheme to convince everyone she is dead.
Luc Callanach is having a marginally better day. He recently left a job with Interpol under a cloud & has surfaced as a DI in Edinburgh. Rumours are swirling & he’s not exactly being embraced by his new team. The fact that he doesn’t want to be there is not helping.
He’s called about a body found in a burned out bothy in the Caimgorms. It’s not his jurisdiction but there’s a chance it could be missing Edinburgh lawyer Elaine Buxton. They can’t know it yet but he & his team are about to come up against a devious & meticulous killer. More women will be taken & more will die as the killer hides in plain sight.
We know his identity early on & he’s just one the characters who take turns narrating the story. Others include members of Luc’s squad & his colleague DI Ava Turner. She’s a smart, hard working cop & one of the few to reach out & welcome Luc to the force. Initially he rebuffs her friendship but as the story progresses her warm & straight forward manner begins to thaw his cool, prickly demeanour. She’s got a difficult investigation of her own concerning abandoned babies & they bounce ideas off each other as they struggle to crack the cases.
So here’s the heads up. This is not for the faint of heart. Our killer is one of the most frightening you’ll come across in fiction & there are some gruesome scenes. What elevates this book above others in the genre is smooth, self assured prose & the depth of the characters. Dialogue is crisp & lean & I particularly enjoyed the rapport between Ava & Luc. No worries�.you won’t find any cheesy insta-lust scenarios here. These are mature, well defined characters who gradually forge a friendship based on commonality & mutual respect. Ava sparkles with intelligence & wit & I enjoyed her ability to loosen up the tightly wound Luc. Their conversations are full of welcome humour that helps balance out the rising tension surrounding the fate of the abducted women.
There are plenty of side stories dealing with Luc’s past & other characters that keep this ticking along at a steady pace until you hit the 3/4 mark. Then it becomes a sprint to the finish. It’s flat out addictive, one of those books you really resent having to put down & I stayed up waaay too late simply because I had to know how it ended (just ask coworkers who had to deal with my cranky self the next day).
If you like your thrillers scary & smart, this is a stand out entry in grit-lit. Can’t wait for “Perfect Prey� due out in late June which gives me time to get over�.you know�.the denture thing.
Some books leave you feeling warm & fuzzy, some leave you sad or thoughtful. This book left me with palpitations & an irrational fear of dentures.
Elaine Buxton is having a really bad day. You’d think being abducted by a mad man would be your worst nightmare come true. Wrong. Unfortunately he has a few…um…procedures planned as part of his scheme to convince everyone she is dead.
Luc Callanach is having a marginally better day. He recently left a job with Interpol under a cloud & has surfaced as a DI in Edinburgh. Rumours are swirling & he’s not exactly being embraced by his new team. The fact that he doesn’t want to be there is not helping.
He’s called about a body found in a burned out bothy in the Caimgorms. It’s not his jurisdiction but there’s a chance it could be missing Edinburgh lawyer Elaine Buxton. They can’t know it yet but he & his team are about to come up against a devious & meticulous killer. More women will be taken & more will die as the killer hides in plain sight.
We know his identity early on & he’s just one the characters who take turns narrating the story. Others include members of Luc’s squad & his colleague DI Ava Turner. She’s a smart, hard working cop & one of the few to reach out & welcome Luc to the force. Initially he rebuffs her friendship but as the story progresses her warm & straight forward manner begins to thaw his cool, prickly demeanour. She’s got a difficult investigation of her own concerning abandoned babies & they bounce ideas off each other as they struggle to crack the cases.
So here’s the heads up. This is not for the faint of heart. Our killer is one of the most frightening you’ll come across in fiction & there are some gruesome scenes. What elevates this book above others in the genre is smooth, self assured prose & the depth of the characters. Dialogue is crisp & lean & I particularly enjoyed the rapport between Ava & Luc. No worries�.you won’t find any cheesy insta-lust scenarios here. These are mature, well defined characters who gradually forge a friendship based on commonality & mutual respect. Ava sparkles with intelligence & wit & I enjoyed her ability to loosen up the tightly wound Luc. Their conversations are full of welcome humour that helps balance out the rising tension surrounding the fate of the abducted women.
There are plenty of side stories dealing with Luc’s past & other characters that keep this ticking along at a steady pace until you hit the 3/4 mark. Then it becomes a sprint to the finish. It’s flat out addictive, one of those books you really resent having to put down & I stayed up waaay too late simply because I had to know how it ended (just ask coworkers who had to deal with my cranky self the next day).
If you like your thrillers scary & smart, this is a stand out entry in grit-lit. Can’t wait for “Perfect Prey� due out in late June which gives me time to get over�.you know�.the denture thing.
April 18, 2022
Very average!
2.5 rounded up!
Another one I'm going to be the outlier on, because to be honest there was nothing about this to make it stand out from the rest. Yes, the main crime was intense and thrilling, in fact the chapters inside the killers head, although gruesome and shocking, were the best part.
Edinburgh Police are called to a hut fire in The Cairngorms � a mountain range in the Highlands. A charred, beyond-recognition body � suspected to be that of missing lawyer Elaine Buxton � has been found inside. But, the real Elaine is locked away in a hidden room of a serial killers house. Then, a second woman goes missing.
There's also a crime subplot involving newborn babies being left on park benches, which served little purpose, was solved by the 50% mark, and considering these were babies the police displayed no emotion or empathy whatsoever.
But the worse part for me was the main character, DI Luc Callanach, new to the Major Investigations team, who no one likes because he's an outsider, although after spending time with him I doubt that's why they hate him. He's whiny, sulky, self-absorbed, shouts at his team, and spends most of his time romancing a fellow DI, rather than doing any investigating of his own. There's an entire chapter devoted to him skydiving (no clue why?) where he thinks he knows better than the jump-instructor. Oh, and did I mention, he's sooo good looking, and it's such a burden for him how people judge him solely on his looks *eye roll*. Plus, he has a really boring back story *yawn*.
Recommended to those who don't have a personality clash with the protagonist. Since I did, I won't be reading any more in the series.
2.5 rounded up!
Another one I'm going to be the outlier on, because to be honest there was nothing about this to make it stand out from the rest. Yes, the main crime was intense and thrilling, in fact the chapters inside the killers head, although gruesome and shocking, were the best part.
Edinburgh Police are called to a hut fire in The Cairngorms � a mountain range in the Highlands. A charred, beyond-recognition body � suspected to be that of missing lawyer Elaine Buxton � has been found inside. But, the real Elaine is locked away in a hidden room of a serial killers house. Then, a second woman goes missing.
There's also a crime subplot involving newborn babies being left on park benches, which served little purpose, was solved by the 50% mark, and considering these were babies the police displayed no emotion or empathy whatsoever.
But the worse part for me was the main character, DI Luc Callanach, new to the Major Investigations team, who no one likes because he's an outsider, although after spending time with him I doubt that's why they hate him. He's whiny, sulky, self-absorbed, shouts at his team, and spends most of his time romancing a fellow DI, rather than doing any investigating of his own. There's an entire chapter devoted to him skydiving (no clue why?) where he thinks he knows better than the jump-instructor. Oh, and did I mention, he's sooo good looking, and it's such a burden for him how people judge him solely on his looks *eye roll*. Plus, he has a really boring back story *yawn*.
Recommended to those who don't have a personality clash with the protagonist. Since I did, I won't be reading any more in the series.
October 23, 2023
Why I chose to listen to this audiobook:
1. I found this read via GR, and the premise sounded exciting;
2. this free loan is available on Hoopla (unfortunately, I couldn't find this specific edition on GR); and,
3. October 2023 is my "Month of Mystery"!
Praises:
1. hearing the voices of the two main characters, beginning with Reginald King, a misogynistic serial killer, and Luc Callanach, a Detective Inspector intent on finding this madman, led to an interesting cat-and-mouse story on a grisly level;
2. the characterization of these men was well-written! Callanach, although a top-notch detective, is flawed, making him quite believable. King's persona is frighteningly unnerving in a fascinating way;
3. a great start and finish! Some plotlines seemed to drag in the middle, but eventually, they came together as the story unfolded; and,
4. a descriptive setting of Edinburgh, Scotland, and its surroundings.
Niggles:
1. I got angry when Detective Inspector Ava Turner spouted specific personal opinions to the press in an unprofessional manner. Thankfully, the storyline worked well regarding her temporary suspension for this inappropriate conduct; and,
2. narrator 's natural Scottish accent was perfect for the majority of the characters. Unfortunately, his French accent was horribly contrived.
Overall Thoughts:
Pathetic accents aside, author wrote quite the high-octane suspense-thriller! Even though we are privy to the identity of the "bad guy" early on, I was personally invested in finding out how everything would end. Although some portions felt mildly predictable, I was still surprised (and even a little shocked) by various climactic scenes.
This story works as a standalone, which I highly recommend for suspense-thriller fans! If you're interested, Fields continues writing more stories featuring D. I. Callanach.
1. I found this read via GR, and the premise sounded exciting;
2. this free loan is available on Hoopla (unfortunately, I couldn't find this specific edition on GR); and,
3. October 2023 is my "Month of Mystery"!
Praises:
1. hearing the voices of the two main characters, beginning with Reginald King, a misogynistic serial killer, and Luc Callanach, a Detective Inspector intent on finding this madman, led to an interesting cat-and-mouse story on a grisly level;
2. the characterization of these men was well-written! Callanach, although a top-notch detective, is flawed, making him quite believable. King's persona is frighteningly unnerving in a fascinating way;
3. a great start and finish! Some plotlines seemed to drag in the middle, but eventually, they came together as the story unfolded; and,
4. a descriptive setting of Edinburgh, Scotland, and its surroundings.
Niggles:
1. I got angry when Detective Inspector Ava Turner spouted specific personal opinions to the press in an unprofessional manner. Thankfully, the storyline worked well regarding her temporary suspension for this inappropriate conduct; and,
2. narrator 's natural Scottish accent was perfect for the majority of the characters. Unfortunately, his French accent was horribly contrived.
Overall Thoughts:
Pathetic accents aside, author wrote quite the high-octane suspense-thriller! Even though we are privy to the identity of the "bad guy" early on, I was personally invested in finding out how everything would end. Although some portions felt mildly predictable, I was still surprised (and even a little shocked) by various climactic scenes.
This story works as a standalone, which I highly recommend for suspense-thriller fans! If you're interested, Fields continues writing more stories featuring D. I. Callanach.
March 11, 2024
2,5 Sterne
Ich weiß nicht, warum, aber dieser Thriller hat mich leider gar nicht fesseln können. Dabei klang die Inhaltsangabe so gut für mich!
Der Leser weiß von Beginn an, wer der Täter ist. Das hat mich nicht gestört; das kann trotzdem sehr spannend sein! Hier hatte der Täter aber irgendwie zu viel Raum für mich und die Ermittlungsarbeit kam zu kurz. Auch die Vergangenheit des Ermittlers ist ein großes Thema, was mich grundsätzlich auch nicht stört, aber hier passte das alles irgendwie nicht für mich.
Ich habe lange gebraucht für dieses Buch und hatte kein wirkliches Vergnügen daran.
Ich weiß nicht, warum, aber dieser Thriller hat mich leider gar nicht fesseln können. Dabei klang die Inhaltsangabe so gut für mich!
Der Leser weiß von Beginn an, wer der Täter ist. Das hat mich nicht gestört; das kann trotzdem sehr spannend sein! Hier hatte der Täter aber irgendwie zu viel Raum für mich und die Ermittlungsarbeit kam zu kurz. Auch die Vergangenheit des Ermittlers ist ein großes Thema, was mich grundsätzlich auch nicht stört, aber hier passte das alles irgendwie nicht für mich.
Ich habe lange gebraucht für dieses Buch und hatte kein wirkliches Vergnügen daran.
July 15, 2020
4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
I probably would not have been aware of this brilliant author, Helen Fields, and this terrific police procedural if it were not for ŷ. This was a riveting, gory crime thriller where the momentum, thrills and chills kept escalating throughout. There was extreme psychological torment along with gruesome, bloody physical torture Warning! There is a clever, deranged and diabolical serial killer who is frightening. The plot was well constructed, and the characters intriguing.
My shut-in, locked-down future is assured, as I was happy to learn that there are 5 more books in the series.
D. I Luc Callanach left a promising career with Interpol under a cloud due to unfortunate circumstances. He has just arrived from France to a new career in Edinburgh. His mother left his Scottish father, moving Luc to her home country when he was four. He grew up immersed in French culture and language.
Most of his new police department resent that an outsider now has a role of authority over them instead of a detective who has risen within local ranks. There add rumours, and one of his colleagues constantly undermines his authority. Luc may seem gruff, aloof and rude in his interactions. Fortunately, he is befriended by a bright, diligent officer D I Ava Turner and Tripp, a young man anxious to please.
Elaine Buxton, a dedicated, respected lawyer vanished, and her case has just been moved to a murder investigation. A body has been reduced to a pile of broken bones and ashes. A fragment of clothing, a baseball bat, and a tooth containing Elaine’s DNA are found near what is left of the body.
Soon, a second woman, Rev Jayne. Magee, a popular minister of a local church congregation is reported missing. A body has been reduced to a liquified sludge by acid. A few teeth and a bit of hair identifies the remains as Jayne.
Meanwhile, Elaine and Jayne are alive. imprisoned and tortured in a secret room. How is this possible? We know the identity of their abductor, and that he is a serial killer early in the book.
In the meantime, D I Ava Turner is investigating a case where babies have been left in a park to freeze to death. She teams up with Luc and Tripp all in a hurry to find a cunning sadistic deviant who is taking and killing women before he strikes again. When one of their own disappears, the story reaches an explosive, pulse-pounding conclusion.
Recommended to anyone looking for a grim, nerve-shattering story that was never boring.
I probably would not have been aware of this brilliant author, Helen Fields, and this terrific police procedural if it were not for ŷ. This was a riveting, gory crime thriller where the momentum, thrills and chills kept escalating throughout. There was extreme psychological torment along with gruesome, bloody physical torture Warning! There is a clever, deranged and diabolical serial killer who is frightening. The plot was well constructed, and the characters intriguing.
My shut-in, locked-down future is assured, as I was happy to learn that there are 5 more books in the series.
D. I Luc Callanach left a promising career with Interpol under a cloud due to unfortunate circumstances. He has just arrived from France to a new career in Edinburgh. His mother left his Scottish father, moving Luc to her home country when he was four. He grew up immersed in French culture and language.
Most of his new police department resent that an outsider now has a role of authority over them instead of a detective who has risen within local ranks. There add rumours, and one of his colleagues constantly undermines his authority. Luc may seem gruff, aloof and rude in his interactions. Fortunately, he is befriended by a bright, diligent officer D I Ava Turner and Tripp, a young man anxious to please.
Elaine Buxton, a dedicated, respected lawyer vanished, and her case has just been moved to a murder investigation. A body has been reduced to a pile of broken bones and ashes. A fragment of clothing, a baseball bat, and a tooth containing Elaine’s DNA are found near what is left of the body.
Soon, a second woman, Rev Jayne. Magee, a popular minister of a local church congregation is reported missing. A body has been reduced to a liquified sludge by acid. A few teeth and a bit of hair identifies the remains as Jayne.
Meanwhile, Elaine and Jayne are alive. imprisoned and tortured in a secret room. How is this possible? We know the identity of their abductor, and that he is a serial killer early in the book.
In the meantime, D I Ava Turner is investigating a case where babies have been left in a park to freeze to death. She teams up with Luc and Tripp all in a hurry to find a cunning sadistic deviant who is taking and killing women before he strikes again. When one of their own disappears, the story reaches an explosive, pulse-pounding conclusion.
Recommended to anyone looking for a grim, nerve-shattering story that was never boring.
June 8, 2017
Really enjoyed this book,love a good crime book.great read can't wait till next book.great characters loved Ava.and it's great set in Scotland where I'm from.
December 3, 2019
"Dit eerste boek in de serie rond het personage Callanch zet al meteen de toon voor enkele vervolgdelen."
April 21, 2022
How sickening! And brilliant!
This is my first book by this author.
I have seven more, sitting on my shelves, unopened, but after reading this one I do feel the need to grab the next one.
As I said during my reading updates, I don’t recall reading a book that made me feel so uneasy, like this one, and I have read plenty of gory and dark books.
The writing is excellent.
I was told that this was the author’s debut.
She tells a story with such strong confidence and assurance ,that I find formidable.
She created some fascinating (and scary) characters.
The storyline was well rounded and gripping, but disturbing.
There were moments that I was afraid of continuing and there were moments that were heartbreaking.
But the violence shown here is very strong, and it may no please everyone.
My heart was beating very fast during the whole book.
I’m looking forward to reading the next instalment.
This is my first book by this author.
I have seven more, sitting on my shelves, unopened, but after reading this one I do feel the need to grab the next one.
As I said during my reading updates, I don’t recall reading a book that made me feel so uneasy, like this one, and I have read plenty of gory and dark books.
The writing is excellent.
I was told that this was the author’s debut.
She tells a story with such strong confidence and assurance ,that I find formidable.
She created some fascinating (and scary) characters.
The storyline was well rounded and gripping, but disturbing.
There were moments that I was afraid of continuing and there were moments that were heartbreaking.
But the violence shown here is very strong, and it may no please everyone.
My heart was beating very fast during the whole book.
I’m looking forward to reading the next instalment.
February 6, 2017
Perfect Remains is basically a totally addictive utterly gripping one sitting read. It is brutal though, be warned, some of the descriptions made me peek out suspiciously from behind a cushion, a bit like when I pretend I'm brave enough to fully embrace those horror movies...
One thing I really liked about this one is that its not a traditional whodunnit or even really whydunnit its more about the psychology of the crime, in its investigative elements that trend continues, those out to solve the case are put under the microscope just as much. As the start to a new series it was done very well, I was intrigued and engaged by both Luc and Ava, especially in relation to their growing relationship, it is obvious that Helen Fields is not going to pull any punches and I shall certainly be reading on when the next one is out.
The writing is riveting and clever, drawing you in, the level of suspense is brilliantly done, ramping things up as we go, keeping that sharp, knifes edge feeling about proceedings throughout then throwing us into a heart stopping and ruthless conclusion.
Overall I really enjoyed it - if you like your crime fiction vicious yet human, razor sharp and captivating, then Perfect Remains is probably for you.
Recommended.
One thing I really liked about this one is that its not a traditional whodunnit or even really whydunnit its more about the psychology of the crime, in its investigative elements that trend continues, those out to solve the case are put under the microscope just as much. As the start to a new series it was done very well, I was intrigued and engaged by both Luc and Ava, especially in relation to their growing relationship, it is obvious that Helen Fields is not going to pull any punches and I shall certainly be reading on when the next one is out.
The writing is riveting and clever, drawing you in, the level of suspense is brilliantly done, ramping things up as we go, keeping that sharp, knifes edge feeling about proceedings throughout then throwing us into a heart stopping and ruthless conclusion.
Overall I really enjoyed it - if you like your crime fiction vicious yet human, razor sharp and captivating, then Perfect Remains is probably for you.
Recommended.
January 30, 2018
This book was amazing ! It was not one straight forward crime but a mix of different cases happening in time with the "main crime" without it being confusing for the reader.
This book also has some subtle twists which are great!
Finished the book in two days- it was easy to follow and easy to devour.
The character portrayals are fantastic both as singular characters and their relationships with each other. This book was good as some chapters were told in the point of view of the killer- not just from the detectives.
This is a smart and calculating thriller and will recommend it to others in the future !!
This book also has some subtle twists which are great!
Finished the book in two days- it was easy to follow and easy to devour.
The character portrayals are fantastic both as singular characters and their relationships with each other. This book was good as some chapters were told in the point of view of the killer- not just from the detectives.
This is a smart and calculating thriller and will recommend it to others in the future !!
August 8, 2020
A strong introduction to the D.I. Luc Callanach series as this Edinburgh set series has a rich sense of Scottish lifestyle whilst serial killer case adds plenty of gruesome gore.
During a lockdown book pile reorganisation I discovered that I'd brought the fourth, fifth and sixth books to this series.
Obviously in an attempt to reduce my pile, I had to buy the first three!
Knowing who the identity of the killer early on means that the reader gets to focus on getting to know Callanach as he settles into his new role.
The work place jokes highlighted even though Luc is half Scottish, his more Europen having recently lived in Lyon as part of his French heritage.
One of the questions in the novel is what made him want to move to the Scottish capital.
There's plenty of gore and shock factor in the chapters that follow the serial killer.
The clever and calculated ways that he avoids detection really adds to the case.
It was a little slow to start with and anyone expecting a thrilling serial killer mystery will be disappointed.
The characters are the strength of the debut, it will be interesting to see how they develop over the course of the series.
During a lockdown book pile reorganisation I discovered that I'd brought the fourth, fifth and sixth books to this series.
Obviously in an attempt to reduce my pile, I had to buy the first three!
Knowing who the identity of the killer early on means that the reader gets to focus on getting to know Callanach as he settles into his new role.
The work place jokes highlighted even though Luc is half Scottish, his more Europen having recently lived in Lyon as part of his French heritage.
One of the questions in the novel is what made him want to move to the Scottish capital.
There's plenty of gore and shock factor in the chapters that follow the serial killer.
The clever and calculated ways that he avoids detection really adds to the case.
It was a little slow to start with and anyone expecting a thrilling serial killer mystery will be disappointed.
The characters are the strength of the debut, it will be interesting to see how they develop over the course of the series.
September 25, 2018
This is the 1st book in the DI Callanach series by author Helen Fields although I have previously read two subsequent books, which I also enjoyed.
Detective Inspector Luc Callanach is transferred into Edinburgh’s Homicide Team from Interpol which ruffles the feathers of many of his future colleagues. Born to a Scottish father and French mother, Callanach spent most of his life in France but now back in Scotland he is keen to make a good impression. The novel begins when Elaine Buxton is found dead with her body burned to a crisp, there is only a tooth and a shred of material that can identify her. Although the police do not know that Elaine is being held in a house against her will, being tortured by a serial killer who is enjoying every minute. Soon after another successful woman is abducted from her doorstep and is also being kept locked up by the killer.
This novel is well written and introduces DI Luc Callanach, a character with plenty of substance to further develop in future books. As previously stated I have read other books in this series but to be honest enjoyed this one a lot more. A page turner and a very enjoyable read.
I would like to thank both Net Galley and Avon Books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Detective Inspector Luc Callanach is transferred into Edinburgh’s Homicide Team from Interpol which ruffles the feathers of many of his future colleagues. Born to a Scottish father and French mother, Callanach spent most of his life in France but now back in Scotland he is keen to make a good impression. The novel begins when Elaine Buxton is found dead with her body burned to a crisp, there is only a tooth and a shred of material that can identify her. Although the police do not know that Elaine is being held in a house against her will, being tortured by a serial killer who is enjoying every minute. Soon after another successful woman is abducted from her doorstep and is also being kept locked up by the killer.
This novel is well written and introduces DI Luc Callanach, a character with plenty of substance to further develop in future books. As previously stated I have read other books in this series but to be honest enjoyed this one a lot more. A page turner and a very enjoyable read.
I would like to thank both Net Galley and Avon Books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
July 8, 2018
This debut novel features DI Luc Callanach and his team. He's new to the area and new to the job. Being half French, half Scottish does not endear him to everyone on his team. He is eager to prove himself to his new team.
He has barely found his new office when a missing person's case becomes a homicide. Elaine Buxton is found burned to a crisp. The only thing remaining that can identify her is a tooth and a shred of material not too far from her body.
It’s not long before another successful woman is abducted from her doorstep, and Callanach finds himself in a race against the clock. Or so he believes � The real fate of the women will prove more twisted than he could have ever imagined.
The killer/kidnapper is identified fairly early in the reading, but it doesn't take away anything from the story. This killer is smart, and stays at least one step ahead of the police during the investigation. He is evil, malicious, and the reason he does the things he does will take your breath away.
Luc is a terrific character. I loved how the author wove his professional life with his personal life and the things that brought him to where he is now. His team has his back .. all except one who bears a grudge against Callanach and complains about him at every turn. His anger may send the investigation spiralling in a totally wrong direction.
I liked how the characters interacted with each other and how they learn to work for one goal. This story is action packed, full of surprises and the ending left me totally surprised. This is definitely an author to watch. I look forward to reading the 2nd book in this series -- PERFECT PREY.
Many thanks to the author / Avon Books / Edelweiss for the digital copy of this journey through the mind of a very troubled killer. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
He has barely found his new office when a missing person's case becomes a homicide. Elaine Buxton is found burned to a crisp. The only thing remaining that can identify her is a tooth and a shred of material not too far from her body.
It’s not long before another successful woman is abducted from her doorstep, and Callanach finds himself in a race against the clock. Or so he believes � The real fate of the women will prove more twisted than he could have ever imagined.
The killer/kidnapper is identified fairly early in the reading, but it doesn't take away anything from the story. This killer is smart, and stays at least one step ahead of the police during the investigation. He is evil, malicious, and the reason he does the things he does will take your breath away.
Luc is a terrific character. I loved how the author wove his professional life with his personal life and the things that brought him to where he is now. His team has his back .. all except one who bears a grudge against Callanach and complains about him at every turn. His anger may send the investigation spiralling in a totally wrong direction.
I liked how the characters interacted with each other and how they learn to work for one goal. This story is action packed, full of surprises and the ending left me totally surprised. This is definitely an author to watch. I look forward to reading the 2nd book in this series -- PERFECT PREY.
Many thanks to the author / Avon Books / Edelweiss for the digital copy of this journey through the mind of a very troubled killer. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
October 31, 2017
Great book, I really enjoyed it. Hope the next book in the series is as good as the first one. I will definitely read it.
July 2, 2023
4.4*
Страшно зарибяващ трилър, за последно така се бях вглъбила в книга от жанра с Джилиан Флин, а нея всички я обичаме, нали? 😁
Страшно зарибяващ трилър, за последно така се бях вглъбила в книга от жанра с Джилиан Флин, а нея всички я обичаме, нали? 😁
June 11, 2022
Съвършени останки" на Джулия Фийлдс е съвършеният трилър.
И това го казвам абсолютно категорично от позицията на човек, изчел тонове трилъри през годините.
Интересният похват тук е ,че още от самото начало знаем кой е маниакалният престъпник, отвличащ и убиващ успешни в професиите си жени. Знаем и защо го прави. Остава ни само да се насладим на работата по разследването на тежките престъпления, възложена на преместеният от Интерпол в Шотландската полиция инспектор Люк Каланак. Каланак , готин тип, също носи бремето на сложното си минало в Франция, минало, което грози да го застигне и на новото място...
Разследването е сложно, престъпникът е добре организиран, изключително интелигентен, не допуска грешки и не оставя следи. Всичко това в съчетание с неприемането и неприязънта на старите кучета в полицията поставя Каланак в боксуваща позиция по отношение на разследваните престъпления.
Всъщност разследванията в романа са две. Второто е също толкова интересно (за изоставени новородени на пейки в парк) и го води Ава Търнър , една от малкото симпатизиращи на новодошлия Каланак. Между тях се заражда приятелството , а може би и нещо повече..ще видим евентуално в следващите книги от поредицата..
Когато нещата стават прекалено лични, действието ескалира до своя брутален и кървав финал...
Детайлен, динамичен, интелигентно написан и изключително интересен роман! Роман, който ми достави огромно удоволствие и не доскучава в нито един момент. Засегнати са и социални теми - ЛГБТ проблемите, влиянието на католическата църква, проблемите за или против абортите и други.
Изобщо, "Съвършени останки" е чудесно начало на поредицата за инспектор Каланак! Остава ни само да се надяваме, че и останалите книги ще бъдат издадени на български.
И това го казвам абсолютно категорично от позицията на човек, изчел тонове трилъри през годините.
Интересният похват тук е ,че още от самото начало знаем кой е маниакалният престъпник, отвличащ и убиващ успешни в професиите си жени. Знаем и защо го прави. Остава ни само да се насладим на работата по разследването на тежките престъпления, възложена на преместеният от Интерпол в Шотландската полиция инспектор Люк Каланак. Каланак , готин тип, също носи бремето на сложното си минало в Франция, минало, което грози да го застигне и на новото място...
Разследването е сложно, престъпникът е добре организиран, изключително интелигентен, не допуска грешки и не оставя следи. Всичко това в съчетание с неприемането и неприязънта на старите кучета в полицията поставя Каланак в боксуваща позиция по отношение на разследваните престъпления.
Всъщност разследванията в романа са две. Второто е също толкова интересно (за изоставени новородени на пейки в парк) и го води Ава Търнър , една от малкото симпатизиращи на новодошлия Каланак. Между тях се заражда приятелството , а може би и нещо повече..ще видим евентуално в следващите книги от поредицата..
Когато нещата стават прекалено лични, действието ескалира до своя брутален и кървав финал...
Детайлен, динамичен, интелигентно написан и изключително интересен роман! Роман, който ми достави огромно удоволствие и не доскучава в нито един момент. Засегнати са и социални теми - ЛГБТ проблемите, влиянието на католическата църква, проблемите за или против абортите и други.
Изобщо, "Съвършени останки" е чудесно начало на поредицата за инспектор Каланак! Остава ни само да се надяваме, че и останалите книги ще бъдат издадени на български.
July 10, 2017
I love a good crime thriller, and I especially love the current trend where most British crime thrillers are set in Scotland. Obviously, I have a soft spot for my local area � I’m looking at you Stuart MacBride and your Logan McRae series � but I’ll grab any that seem interesting.
The synopsis of Perfect Remains was moderately interesting to me. I was on the edge about whether or not I wanted to pick up the book. It was one I would be looking out for, but I wouldn’t be going out of my way to purchase the book. Then, I noticed a ŷ giveaway. I entered with my usual ‘I am unlikely to win� attitude. The email notification informing me of my win left me more excited to read this one. The feeling died down somewhat whilst I waited for it to arrive, but once I had my hands on the book I jumped straight into the story.
I’ll be completely honest and say I wasn’t crazy about the book at first. It had potential, but it wasn’t quite grabbing me in the way I like my crime thrillers to grab me. I was able to put the book down without a voice in the back of my head cursing me out. In all honesty, I can easily explain why such was the case.
I’m not a fan of crime thrillers when you know who the killer is at the start of the book. I enjoy the whodunit aspect of such stories, I like trying to puzzle out the mystery, and knowing who the bad guy is ruins this for me. This aversion is my own, and I know many people have no problem with such a thing. However, for me, it made it difficult for me to really bury myself in the story.
It also took me a while to enjoy the characters. They existed in my mind, yes, but I didn’t feel much towards them. They were just a way to tell the story, not someone I could come to enjoy. For anyone feeling this way, I recommend you stick with the book for a while. It takes a decent amount of time, but once the story is moving, then the characters really start to develop. Questions gather, information is given, and as a whole they really come to life.
Thus, this was a book whereby it took me a while to really enjoy it. I was unsure as to how I would feel by the end, but once everything came together I enjoyed the story much more than I’d originally anticipated. Whilst certain elements of the story were overly clear from the start, there were some nice twists thrown in later in the book, and these elements sucked me right in.
Overall, I say you need to stick with this one. It’s not the most gripping of books at the start of the story, but once it gets moving, it becomes so much more than you expect it to be.
Without a doubt, I’m interested in seeing what book two brings us.
The synopsis of Perfect Remains was moderately interesting to me. I was on the edge about whether or not I wanted to pick up the book. It was one I would be looking out for, but I wouldn’t be going out of my way to purchase the book. Then, I noticed a ŷ giveaway. I entered with my usual ‘I am unlikely to win� attitude. The email notification informing me of my win left me more excited to read this one. The feeling died down somewhat whilst I waited for it to arrive, but once I had my hands on the book I jumped straight into the story.
I’ll be completely honest and say I wasn’t crazy about the book at first. It had potential, but it wasn’t quite grabbing me in the way I like my crime thrillers to grab me. I was able to put the book down without a voice in the back of my head cursing me out. In all honesty, I can easily explain why such was the case.
I’m not a fan of crime thrillers when you know who the killer is at the start of the book. I enjoy the whodunit aspect of such stories, I like trying to puzzle out the mystery, and knowing who the bad guy is ruins this for me. This aversion is my own, and I know many people have no problem with such a thing. However, for me, it made it difficult for me to really bury myself in the story.
It also took me a while to enjoy the characters. They existed in my mind, yes, but I didn’t feel much towards them. They were just a way to tell the story, not someone I could come to enjoy. For anyone feeling this way, I recommend you stick with the book for a while. It takes a decent amount of time, but once the story is moving, then the characters really start to develop. Questions gather, information is given, and as a whole they really come to life.
Thus, this was a book whereby it took me a while to really enjoy it. I was unsure as to how I would feel by the end, but once everything came together I enjoyed the story much more than I’d originally anticipated. Whilst certain elements of the story were overly clear from the start, there were some nice twists thrown in later in the book, and these elements sucked me right in.
Overall, I say you need to stick with this one. It’s not the most gripping of books at the start of the story, but once it gets moving, it becomes so much more than you expect it to be.
Without a doubt, I’m interested in seeing what book two brings us.
February 6, 2017
This is a gripping physiological crime thriller. A must read if you like your crime thrillers, dark, deadly, creepy and gripping.
This is the first book in the series and what a start to what is sure to be a promising series. Elen Fields writhing style is dark, twisted and utterly compelling. I couldn't put their book down this morning and devoured it very, very quickly.
In a rocket mountain in Scotland a body is being burned. There will not be much remains but the world will think that Elaine Buxton is dead and gone. However they are wrong. Elaine is being held in a house against her will, stripped of her name, personality and will to survive. She is being tortured by a twisted serial killer who finds pleasure in torturing her.
Luc Callanch arrives on the seen a Interpol detective Part French and Part Scottish. Who believes it's best to treat his colleges mean to keep them keen. He has only just started when the case of Elaine's death and disappearance escalates.
It is not long before a minister is abducted and the clues lead to her being abducted I. The same way as Elaine.
It is up to Luc Callanch and his team to find both women and the killer before it's too late.
To be honest this is a really gripping book. With a fast paced storyline and lots of things happening to keep the story moving. The writing style is gripping and it had the right about of mix between twisted serial killer chapters and investigation chapters to keep the reader gripped. Elen doesn't shy away from all the gory details.
I however wasn't a fan of Luc. I found him arrogant and rude and extremely big headed. I didn't warm to him at all. But there are a lot of people in his team that are lovely and such wonderful characters.
This is a really good start to a new detective book and if you want something to sink your teeth into then look no further.
Happy reading everyone
This is the first book in the series and what a start to what is sure to be a promising series. Elen Fields writhing style is dark, twisted and utterly compelling. I couldn't put their book down this morning and devoured it very, very quickly.
In a rocket mountain in Scotland a body is being burned. There will not be much remains but the world will think that Elaine Buxton is dead and gone. However they are wrong. Elaine is being held in a house against her will, stripped of her name, personality and will to survive. She is being tortured by a twisted serial killer who finds pleasure in torturing her.
Luc Callanch arrives on the seen a Interpol detective Part French and Part Scottish. Who believes it's best to treat his colleges mean to keep them keen. He has only just started when the case of Elaine's death and disappearance escalates.
It is not long before a minister is abducted and the clues lead to her being abducted I. The same way as Elaine.
It is up to Luc Callanch and his team to find both women and the killer before it's too late.
To be honest this is a really gripping book. With a fast paced storyline and lots of things happening to keep the story moving. The writing style is gripping and it had the right about of mix between twisted serial killer chapters and investigation chapters to keep the reader gripped. Elen doesn't shy away from all the gory details.
I however wasn't a fan of Luc. I found him arrogant and rude and extremely big headed. I didn't warm to him at all. But there are a lot of people in his team that are lovely and such wonderful characters.
This is a really good start to a new detective book and if you want something to sink your teeth into then look no further.
Happy reading everyone
July 21, 2018
I really, really enjoyed this book. With great characters, a cracking plot and great writing - what is not to like? DI Luc Callanch is a half French, half Scottish police officer who left Interpol in France under a cloud to return to Scotland. He has a bit of trouble fitting in and is a bit gruff but his heart is in the right place. He works closely with DI Ava Turner who is refreshingly professional and down to earth. Over the course of investigating the brutal murders of a couple of professional women, one of whom has been burned to a crisp and the other dissolved Ina strong alkaline solution, we learn Luc's backstory and, oh my, does it come back to haunt him.
The women have been literally obliterated, but why? We soon learn that things are not as they seem and then Turner disappears. There is also a sub plot of newborn babies being left on a park bench. This turns out to be a cry for help from a group of abused teens. I don't want to say any more to give away the plot but I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. There are three more books in this series so far and I am planning to get to them very soon. Highly recommended.
The women have been literally obliterated, but why? We soon learn that things are not as they seem and then Turner disappears. There is also a sub plot of newborn babies being left on a park bench. This turns out to be a cry for help from a group of abused teens. I don't want to say any more to give away the plot but I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. There are three more books in this series so far and I am planning to get to them very soon. Highly recommended.
July 5, 2021
This debut novel features DI Luc Callanach and his team. Luc is new to the area and new to the job. The first hurdle he encounters is one that he can do absolutely nothing about. The fact that he’s half French and half Scottish does nothing to endear him and it seems that everyone on his team is holding that against him. He is eager to prove himself to his new team...but that also meets resistance. He has barely had a chance to settle into his new office when a missing person's case suddenly becomes a homicide... and, ready or not, the game is on. Luc is an absolutely terrific character. We learn so much about him when the author blends his professional life with his personal life and we learn the things that brought him to where he is now. If you like Angela Marston’s books...you will soon become an equal fan of Helen Fields
June 30, 2022
Много ми хареса "Съвършени останки". Имаше няколко елемента, които бяха ключови, но като че ли претупани, което ми се стори странно, предвид че през цялата книга всичко се градеше доста добре и комплексно. Надявам се и следващите книги да видя на българския пазар, че да вляза пак в мрачната атмосфера на Шотландия.
July 13, 2018
I’m very hit and miss when it comes to crime novels, but this had some good ŷ reviews so I thought I’d give it a go. It follows the typical pattern of killer on the loose being tracked by troubled detectives as they rush to uncover the clever mastermind before he can kill again. I suppose the main ‘twist�, or difference, is that the killer hasn’t actually killed the woman he’s supposedly taken (not a spoiler - you find this out in the first chapter). He’s just set it up in the belief he’s one step ahead of the police.
The plot is pretty good. It’s reasonably fast paced and doesn’t diverge too much from the main storyline. We learn enough about the killings and crime scenes, from both the police and killer’s perspectives, to keep me interested right until the end and the interweaving between the killer initially setting up these crime scenes and the police falling into his traps was well done. I found I got a great deal of satisfaction from seeing the police finally discovering the truth, and the race against time to pin him down.
This definitely felt more like a psychological, character driven story rather than the traditional ‘whodunnit�. A lot of the story centres around the various character interactions and their relationships rather than the crimes themselves, which at times made for an interesting insight. D.I. Callanach, our French-Scottish protagonist, is hard to like at first. He’s standoffish and curt, snapping at his officers and making no friends in his new job. It made it hard for me to warm to him, and at first I really struggled to connect with the story. However as his backstory is addressed, we get a better understanding of why he is the way he is, and this made it easier to build a connection with the character. In comparison, I found Ava immediately likeable. She’s intelligent, but not in an obvious over the top way, and is passionate about her work. I enjoyed her sub story (although I admit I didn’t really see what the point of it was in terms of adding anything to the overall plot other than expanding her role in the novel). I also participate enjoyed their dynamics and interactions together, which I feel has been set up subtly to suggest more than merely a working relationship in future novels. The secondary characters are also reasonably well developed, and again I enjoyed their various interactions with both Luc and Ava.
The antagonist killer is suitably arrogant and creepy. There’s a sense of foreboding that seems to follow him around, even when he’s not actively killing or stalking, that permeates all of his interactions with people. I don’t think I’ll be able to smell moth balls again. I did feel we didn’t get as good a backstory as our protagonists to really fully explore his reasons behind all of his actions, and felt the plot could have gone further with the aftermath of his deeds. However, overall I thought he was a good foil for Ava and Luc.
The ending is good, and wraps everything up well with no loose endings while building relationships enough to keep me intrigued for future novels. I just wish the start had not been so slow in its character development, or this could easily have been a 4 star read from me. That said, this is a hard genre to get right for me, and this definitely had me more interested than most.
The plot is pretty good. It’s reasonably fast paced and doesn’t diverge too much from the main storyline. We learn enough about the killings and crime scenes, from both the police and killer’s perspectives, to keep me interested right until the end and the interweaving between the killer initially setting up these crime scenes and the police falling into his traps was well done. I found I got a great deal of satisfaction from seeing the police finally discovering the truth, and the race against time to pin him down.
This definitely felt more like a psychological, character driven story rather than the traditional ‘whodunnit�. A lot of the story centres around the various character interactions and their relationships rather than the crimes themselves, which at times made for an interesting insight. D.I. Callanach, our French-Scottish protagonist, is hard to like at first. He’s standoffish and curt, snapping at his officers and making no friends in his new job. It made it hard for me to warm to him, and at first I really struggled to connect with the story. However as his backstory is addressed, we get a better understanding of why he is the way he is, and this made it easier to build a connection with the character. In comparison, I found Ava immediately likeable. She’s intelligent, but not in an obvious over the top way, and is passionate about her work. I enjoyed her sub story (although I admit I didn’t really see what the point of it was in terms of adding anything to the overall plot other than expanding her role in the novel). I also participate enjoyed their dynamics and interactions together, which I feel has been set up subtly to suggest more than merely a working relationship in future novels. The secondary characters are also reasonably well developed, and again I enjoyed their various interactions with both Luc and Ava.
The antagonist killer is suitably arrogant and creepy. There’s a sense of foreboding that seems to follow him around, even when he’s not actively killing or stalking, that permeates all of his interactions with people. I don’t think I’ll be able to smell moth balls again. I did feel we didn’t get as good a backstory as our protagonists to really fully explore his reasons behind all of his actions, and felt the plot could have gone further with the aftermath of his deeds. However, overall I thought he was a good foil for Ava and Luc.
The ending is good, and wraps everything up well with no loose endings while building relationships enough to keep me intrigued for future novels. I just wish the start had not been so slow in its character development, or this could easily have been a 4 star read from me. That said, this is a hard genre to get right for me, and this definitely had me more interested than most.
November 11, 2020
Thoroughly enjoyed this book although it was pretty gruesome in parts and I found myself suppressing shivers down my spine at times. Also clenching my lips together for more than one reason. It was a well told story with likeable characters (other than the bad guy of course). I'd recommend this book to readers as long as you're not too squeamish and I'm looking forward to reading the second book in the series.
December 11, 2017
4.5
A real page-turner and first in a new series, Perfect Remains is a gripping crime/thriller set in Scotland (<3). It is fast-paced, gruesome and tense, with well-developed characters, sans unnecessary details. Usually i hate when the identity of the culprit is revealed in the beginning, but with this one i was hooked till the last page.
Can't wait to read the second installment!
A real page-turner and first in a new series, Perfect Remains is a gripping crime/thriller set in Scotland (<3). It is fast-paced, gruesome and tense, with well-developed characters, sans unnecessary details. Usually i hate when the identity of the culprit is revealed in the beginning, but with this one i was hooked till the last page.
Can't wait to read the second installment!
August 23, 2023
Bu kadar kötü bir çeviri en son ne zaman okudum hatırlamıyorum. Bu metnin bir makine çevirisi olduğunu düşünmek istiyorum, aksi takdirde daha da korkunç. Kitapta şöyle cümleler var:
"Gelicem" diye cevap verdi.
"O da merdiven altındaki dolap kapısını iyice açtı; en kötüsünü buldu, askıda ceketler ve ayakkabılardan başka hiçbir şey."
"Sence ben seni öldürmeyeceğim?"
"Keltik kadınları" (kelt demek istiyor)
"Buna bayılırım, umarım sana özendirmedim."
"Seni ayıplamıyorum."
Türkçe katliamı resmen. Çevirmen kadar güya son okuma ve düzelti yapan salon yayınları editörleri de suçlu. Bariz bir şekilde bu kitap hiç okunmamış. Benim salon yayınları ile ilişkim buraya kadardı, kitaplar ucuz değil ve böyle korkunç çevirilere verecek param yok açıkçası.
Kurguya gelirsek o da fecahat. Ben bu kadar kötü yazılmış karakterleri hiç bir arada görmemiştim. Nasıl 4.23 puanı olabilir asla anlamıyorum. Baş dedektif şaka gibi bir karakter, saçma sapan bir geçmiş yazılmış, farklı bir yerde yeni işine tutunmaya çalışıyor, arada bir intihar edesi geliyor (uçak sahnesinin amacını asla anlamadım), diyaloglar felan korkunç; bir de o en son katilin evine giriş kısmı var ki - böyle mi yazılır cidden ya? Kitap hakkında düşündükçe daha da sinirleniyorum. Diyeceğim o ki eğer bu kitabı okuyacak kadar vaktiniz varsa: Es geçin, eminim çok daha iyi kitaplara denk gelirsiniz.
"Gelicem" diye cevap verdi.
"O da merdiven altındaki dolap kapısını iyice açtı; en kötüsünü buldu, askıda ceketler ve ayakkabılardan başka hiçbir şey."
"Sence ben seni öldürmeyeceğim?"
"Keltik kadınları" (kelt demek istiyor)
"Buna bayılırım, umarım sana özendirmedim."
"Seni ayıplamıyorum."
Türkçe katliamı resmen. Çevirmen kadar güya son okuma ve düzelti yapan salon yayınları editörleri de suçlu. Bariz bir şekilde bu kitap hiç okunmamış. Benim salon yayınları ile ilişkim buraya kadardı, kitaplar ucuz değil ve böyle korkunç çevirilere verecek param yok açıkçası.
Kurguya gelirsek o da fecahat. Ben bu kadar kötü yazılmış karakterleri hiç bir arada görmemiştim. Nasıl 4.23 puanı olabilir asla anlamıyorum. Baş dedektif şaka gibi bir karakter, saçma sapan bir geçmiş yazılmış, farklı bir yerde yeni işine tutunmaya çalışıyor, arada bir intihar edesi geliyor (uçak sahnesinin amacını asla anlamadım), diyaloglar felan korkunç; bir de o en son katilin evine giriş kısmı var ki - böyle mi yazılır cidden ya? Kitap hakkında düşündükçe daha da sinirleniyorum. Diyeceğim o ki eğer bu kitabı okuyacak kadar vaktiniz varsa: Es geçin, eminim çok daha iyi kitaplara denk gelirsiniz.
June 3, 2020
Another book that I wish I could give more than five stars, this had me gripped from page one, although sometimes I grimaced at what I was reading. It kept me interested all the way through and the ending was satisfying. I know Ms Fields has written more in this series and I will be definitely reading them in the future.
January 21, 2023
Kiek kitokia nei mano skaityti detektyvai, nes žudikas jau nuo pat pradžių aiškus. O ir man kiek per daug joje visko, tai pirmieji 100 puslapių kažkaip sunkiai skaitėsi, bet poto užkabino ir norėjosi sužinoti kaip viskas baigsis. Sakyčiau visai nebloga knyga. 3,5�
June 27, 2022
Уникално добър психологически трилър! Спокойно мога да го наредя до нивото на Томас Харис. Препоръчвам!
March 13, 2022
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A body has been burnt beyond recognition in a stone bothy in a remote area in the Cairngorm Mountains. Though the body is burned, the police do find a tooth and a remnant of a scarf. With these small clues, DNA proves that the body was that of Elaine Buxton, a lawyer who had been reported missing a few weeks back.
Detective Inspector Luc Callanach has just come to Edinburgh from Lyon, France. It is only his second day of work for Police Scotland's Major Investigations Team. Though he was born in Scotland and his father was Scottish, he has lived in France since the age of four. His immersion in the Scottish weather and the strong local accents are more than a bit of a culture shock for Luc. He left France under a dark cloud which severed ties to both his former employers "Interpol", and also to his friends. Even his mother wants no more to do with him. He no longer even likes himself.
Luc is handsome, but this has affected his life in a negative, rather than a positive manner. With a heavy French accent, his new team don't know what to make of him. Detective Sergeant Lively (who is his immediate junior and manages his team) is openly antagonistic and insubordinate. The other DI at his station is Ava Turner. She is the only person to really befriend Luc, and does not make friends easily.
"Ava Turner was the sort of woman who didn't care about impressing anyone.
It was a relief to be with someone so lacking in pretense, so comfortable in her own skin."
The killer, Reginald King, is a middle-aged, saggy-bellied, follicly challenged, man who works in the Philosophy Department at the University of Edinburgh. He spends months studying and preparing for his crimes. He meticulously researches his victims and their lives. He has spent his entire life feeling undervalued, ignored, and made to feel a fool and a 'loser'. Now, he has it in his mind that he will seek out only those women who he feels are his intellectual equals... Yet, he want to be the one in control and to attain the stature and authority which he has always believed was his due.
As the case lingers on, with no real leads, Luc Callanach becomes more and more frustrated. He is also despondent about his former life and homesick for France. When a second murder is linked to the first, he becomes even more invested in finding the killer. The second victim, a well-liked and well-respected female vicar, is Jane Magee. The 'powers that be' bring in a criminal profiler who leads the team down the wrong path. Luc knows this, but his opinions about the profiler are in the minority. Luc's frustration increases.
Luc works all hours and hasn't really unpacked the boxes which he brought with him from France. Even his one form of release, skydiving, will prove mind altering and disappointing in equal measure. Luc has hit a wall...
Meanwhile, parallel to his double murder investigation, Luc helps DI Ava Turner with a case she is working on - the disturbing case of three newborn infants being left outside in a local park to perish. Between the two cases, the DI tag team have more than enough to keep them busy.
MY THOUGHTS
Let me state, up front, that I had a few wobbles with this novel at the beginning. The killer, Reginald King, was a psychopath, and in the way of true psychopaths, his crimes were grisly, cruel, and absolutely unnecessary. It was often hard to read.
That being said, by the time I was really into the book, I literally could not put it down. I know many reviewers use that phrase, but it seldom applies to me. This time it did. It was riveting! The characters had become alive to me in a way that I was totally invested in the outcome of the story.
As you might have surmised, this is not a 'whodunit'. We know from the outset who is the criminal here. We read to see how Luc Callanach and his colleagues will find the killer and see justice done. And what a ride!
"Perfect Remains" is book one in what is now a five book series which I plan to follow avidly. "Perfect Remains" was a thoroughly enjoyable crime thriller and I recommend it to everyone who enjoys the genre.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel from Avon/Harper Collins via Edelweiss for purposes of reading and reviewing. My honest review is my way of saying thank-you.
A body has been burnt beyond recognition in a stone bothy in a remote area in the Cairngorm Mountains. Though the body is burned, the police do find a tooth and a remnant of a scarf. With these small clues, DNA proves that the body was that of Elaine Buxton, a lawyer who had been reported missing a few weeks back.
Detective Inspector Luc Callanach has just come to Edinburgh from Lyon, France. It is only his second day of work for Police Scotland's Major Investigations Team. Though he was born in Scotland and his father was Scottish, he has lived in France since the age of four. His immersion in the Scottish weather and the strong local accents are more than a bit of a culture shock for Luc. He left France under a dark cloud which severed ties to both his former employers "Interpol", and also to his friends. Even his mother wants no more to do with him. He no longer even likes himself.
Luc is handsome, but this has affected his life in a negative, rather than a positive manner. With a heavy French accent, his new team don't know what to make of him. Detective Sergeant Lively (who is his immediate junior and manages his team) is openly antagonistic and insubordinate. The other DI at his station is Ava Turner. She is the only person to really befriend Luc, and does not make friends easily.
"Ava Turner was the sort of woman who didn't care about impressing anyone.
It was a relief to be with someone so lacking in pretense, so comfortable in her own skin."
The killer, Reginald King, is a middle-aged, saggy-bellied, follicly challenged, man who works in the Philosophy Department at the University of Edinburgh. He spends months studying and preparing for his crimes. He meticulously researches his victims and their lives. He has spent his entire life feeling undervalued, ignored, and made to feel a fool and a 'loser'. Now, he has it in his mind that he will seek out only those women who he feels are his intellectual equals... Yet, he want to be the one in control and to attain the stature and authority which he has always believed was his due.
As the case lingers on, with no real leads, Luc Callanach becomes more and more frustrated. He is also despondent about his former life and homesick for France. When a second murder is linked to the first, he becomes even more invested in finding the killer. The second victim, a well-liked and well-respected female vicar, is Jane Magee. The 'powers that be' bring in a criminal profiler who leads the team down the wrong path. Luc knows this, but his opinions about the profiler are in the minority. Luc's frustration increases.
Luc works all hours and hasn't really unpacked the boxes which he brought with him from France. Even his one form of release, skydiving, will prove mind altering and disappointing in equal measure. Luc has hit a wall...
Meanwhile, parallel to his double murder investigation, Luc helps DI Ava Turner with a case she is working on - the disturbing case of three newborn infants being left outside in a local park to perish. Between the two cases, the DI tag team have more than enough to keep them busy.
MY THOUGHTS
Let me state, up front, that I had a few wobbles with this novel at the beginning. The killer, Reginald King, was a psychopath, and in the way of true psychopaths, his crimes were grisly, cruel, and absolutely unnecessary. It was often hard to read.
That being said, by the time I was really into the book, I literally could not put it down. I know many reviewers use that phrase, but it seldom applies to me. This time it did. It was riveting! The characters had become alive to me in a way that I was totally invested in the outcome of the story.
As you might have surmised, this is not a 'whodunit'. We know from the outset who is the criminal here. We read to see how Luc Callanach and his colleagues will find the killer and see justice done. And what a ride!
"Perfect Remains" is book one in what is now a five book series which I plan to follow avidly. "Perfect Remains" was a thoroughly enjoyable crime thriller and I recommend it to everyone who enjoys the genre.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel from Avon/Harper Collins via Edelweiss for purposes of reading and reviewing. My honest review is my way of saying thank-you.
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