I actually read a subsequent book in the D I Callanach series first and loved it so much that I wanted to go back to the beginning!

I am so glad I did!  A good fast paced read with interesting characters.... highly recommend this and the next :-)

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

DI Luc Callanach has come to Scotland to join their police force after having to leave France. He is thrown right into a homicide case where women are going missing then turning up dead. He along with colleague DI Ava Turner begin investigating but the murderer is very good at covering his tracks. Can they find him before someone else goes missing?

This was a really good book and the first in a series featuring Luc and Ava. I love this sort of story and although the reader knew the identity of the murder there were still a couple of good twists to the tale. The plot itself was steady and built well to a very dramatic finish. The ending was really good and left me wanting more stories featuring these two. The friendship that starts to develop in this is really good, I liked that they weren't suddenly into each other like other stories. A brilliant start and I'm off to find more of the series.

It took me a while to pick this book up, partially becasue I was maxed out with crime thrillers, and partially because I wanted something a little lighter to read.  Did I enjoy it? yes it was a combination of horrifically thrilling. 
The main character Luc was a breath of fresh air compared to some fiction cops, almost feeling a little more real.  The story flows well and its a gripping read.

Perfect Remains is the first in a new series of books and our first meeting with DI Luc Callanach, half French, half Scottish and new to the team in Edinburgh after leaving behind a promising career with Interpol. 

This book has dead bodies, abducted women and things are not as they seem. Brilliantly written, this book completely draws you in and enthrals to the very end.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books and the author for the chance to review.

This was a gripping, if somewhat gory, read, with well-rounded main characters and a great sense of pace. I abandoned my list of jobs this afternoon to finish reading it!

Thank you to Netgalley the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in return for review based upon my honest opinion. 

This is the first book of the author DI. Callanach series,  I hope this book has a really long run because I absolutely loved the characters. Luv is a great character he is new in the apartment he’s trying to fit in and prove himself as a leader and a coworker.  When a businesswoman goes missing people are very concerned and then our body turns up front and is identified as hers based on dental records. Not long after that another woman goes missing; Luc and his team have to try and solve this case before another woman goes missing or is found dead.   Truth behind this case is creepy and dark and had me on the edge of my seat. Our culprit is devious and just utterly creepy. Loved the storyline and the ending was satisfying and left me wanting to know these characters more.  Great read!

Great read.  Luc Callanach arrives in Edinburgh from Interpol. Plunged into a case involving the burning of a body on a remote hillside he starts to uncover a hideous crime where the bodies of missing woman are turning up- or are they? Great main plot and an excellent subplot- why did he leave France & Interpol? What eats at his soul.? can he ever relax and be normal again.?I really enjoyed this so much I’m off to buy the  other books in the series. Oh how I love discovering a new series

Perfect Remains is a gripping thriller with great cast of characters. 

I already loved Ava and Luc but it was great seeing how their friendship started, and Luc first impression of Ava. It was also good to find out more about the catalyst that made Luc move to Edinburgh. 

Let’s talk about the cases, Luc case into Elaine is the primary case. I enjoyed that it wasn’t the normal murder mystery. It a little creepy as with the motive behind the crime. Ava case is the death of a newborn baby left in a park, this case is sad story. The situation surrounding the baby being left is heart breaking and sadly you could see still happening in this day and age, even though we live in a world that should no better. 

Perfect Remains has action, mystery, suspense, friendship all wrapped in a captivating crime thriller. 

My rating for Perfect Remains is 4.5 out of 5.

A dramatic, compelling - if not more than a little gory - read! I found some sections hard to get through but persevered, as the characters were well-written and I wanted to find out what happened to them.

This is the first in the D I Callanach series, so some of the well-written characters will be recurring - I'll definitely read more in this series.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in return for my honest review.

This was an absolutely gripping and addictive crime thriller, told in the alternative views of Professor King and DI Luc Callanach.  Needless to say, I loved Luc and loathed the professor since he was the perp, as all readers will know from the beginning of the book.  It’s in the cat and mouse game that King plays with Luc that the reader is engrossed in the story.  Successful, independent women are being kidnapped, held to be tortured in gruesome physical and psychological ways that leave little to the imagination.  Regardless of knowing who the villain is, the reader is kept guessing all the way until the end about how (and if) Luc will finally catch on to King’s horrifying game of death and life.  There is some comic relief in the developing friendship between DI Ava Turner and Luc and their humorous repartee.  Aside from the extremely graphic details of torture, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to the other books that are promised in this series.  Luc is a brilliant ex-member of INTERPOL who is a great match against the brilliant and evil Professor King.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book, which is based on false identity. Only the murderer, his victims and we, the readers, know that the two murdered women are not who they seem. While their loved ones mourn and remember them, they are kept captive in terrifying conditions. (We learn this right away, so no spoilers here.)

New DI, Luc Callanach, is in charge of the investigation. He’s left France, seemingly under a cloud, and moved to Edinburgh. Although half-Scottish, he battles to fit in, and I’m not surprised. He’s an odd character. Good-looking (one of the police officers wonders why they’ve sent an underwear model) and ultimately good at his job, he is nonetheless abrupt, unlikeable and much of his behaviour incomprehensible to begin with. I must admit to finding him a little unbelievable, especially at the beginning. He soon becomes friends with DI Ava Turner, a wonderful character, totally comfortable in her own skin and down to earth.

The murderer is truly vile and there are some very graphic scenes in this book. There are two different investigations: Luc’s involves the murder of the two successful women, while Ava’s involves new-born babies left in a park. The action really ramps up and I couldn’t put Perfect Remains down towards the end. I found it different, fast-moving and hugely enjoyable. I’m looking forward to reading the next one in the series.

Perfect Remains is the first installment of a new crime series set in Scotland. Newly transferred detective inspector Luc Callanach from the Lyon police force starts his new role with a gruesome murder investigation in Edinburgh.

When another woman goes missing and appears to have been abducted without trace the detective learns that he needs to take a closer look at who the potential murderer is before it is too late.

This is the first novel I have read by Helen Fields and it will not be the last, I am looking forward to the next installment in this series. Although the main character Luc is rather cold, I did have his back throughout the novel. Although the story line is a little farfetched, I enjoy to read such stories as I find them gripping.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book in the D I Callanach series and the debut book for Helen Fields. I am fortunate to have the next four books by the author.
This story was well written and the characters well thought out. The book was engrossing, I liked the flawed character of D I Callanach and the other main police characters.
I am looking forward to reading more in the series to see how the characters  evolve and became more familiar. Yet another police crime thriller series to add to my reading collection.
Highly recommended.

Perfect Remains was a very difficult book to get into I only managed to read a page despite thinking it sounded like an interesting read from the sound of the blurb.

On a remote mountain in the highlands, the body of Elaine Buxton is burning, her teeth and a fragment of clothing are all that will be left to identify her.

Meanwhile, the real Elaine Buxton screams into the darkness…

DI Luc Callanach has barely set foot in his new office when a missing persons case is escalated to a murder investigation. He left behind a promising career at Interpol and is eager to prove himself to his new team who aren’t sure about him to begin with. But the killer has done a good job of leaving no clues.

Before long another woman is abducted from her doorstep, and the DI is in a race against the clock. Or so he believes.

This wasn’t the book for me.

This was a well written crime thriller set in Edinburgh. It showcases the seedy side of an otherwise beautiful city (although personally, I'm a Glasgow lover). Good charaterisations and a plot that moves along swiftly. I particularly enjoyed the viewpoints from the killer, really gave a sense of getting into the head of a psychopath.

Edinburgh lawyer Elaine Buxton is abducted and before long a burned body is discovered which is identified as Elaine due to one of her teeth being found with the remains. But is all as it seems?
DI Luc Callanach, recently transferred to Edinburgh Police via Interpol, is tasked with finding the killer and it is not long before another successful woman goes missing.
I loved this book and particularly enjoyed that the killer is identified to the reader almost immediately - for me this is what elevated this book from a standard 'whodunnit' crime read into a twisted, psychological thriller featuring a truly horrifying killer.
The story is fast paced and engaging and the characterisation is great - I particularly like Ava Turner and her dialogue with Luc.
I'm a huge fan of Scottish crime thrillers in general and this author has been swiftly added to my favourite list - can't wait for the second instalment in the series!
4.5 stars and thanks to Netgalley UK and the publishers for the ARC.

I loved this book, loved the characters and it was a page turner for me.  I could not put it down.  Quite fast paced and I would read another book by this author.

Dem Buch fehlt der Schwung, sowohl was die Sprache als auch was die Handlung angeht. Ansonsten handwerklich sauber, aber ohne highlights.

A really well written murders mystery with ex Interpol D I Luc Callanach pitched straight in to this case after his transfer from France. Set in Edinburgh you are soon introduced to the 'goodies' (mainly the police), and also the dastardly killer, so there are no spoilers to really worry about! There are small sub plots to keep the interest going, and the blood and gore is well described without being too upsetting. All the characters are well rounded, but I found a certain member of Luc's team to be too stereotyped in his dealings with Luc. I could have done  without this and thus the reason for just 4 stars.

As for the author, she comes across really well when she appears on our local radio station (BBC Solent). After hearing her I was pleased to be given the chance to read and review this book (first in a series) by Net Galley.

Perfect Remains by Helen Fields is the 1st in the Luc Callanach series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Avon Books, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

My Synopsis: 
DI Luc Callanach is half French and half Scottish, living most of his life in France, and working for Interpol. Due to circumstances beyond his control, he leaves France, his job, his friends, his mother. Few are sad to see him leave. With some assistance from his bosses, he heads to Edinburgh to take command of a homicide team. His welcome is not particularly warm, particularly from DS Lively, who feels there should have been a promotion from within. DS Lively will make things rough. Luc does, however make friends with a co-worker, DI Ava Taylor, and a few others are there to help.

His new job immediately becomes his only focus. A woman’s body is found, burned beyond recognition, except for a tooth, and a bit of a scarf, which identifies her as Elaine Buxton, a missing lawyer in Luc’s jurisdiction. When a beloved minister, Jayne Magee, is abducted, things start to get out of control. Luc will have to deal with DS Lively and an arrogant profiler while still trying to keep the case going in the right direction.

Dr. Reginald King has his own agenda, and thus far, he has been meticulous. He’s been leaving evidence that show his victims are dead, while he has them hidden in a sound-proofed room in his house. He’s been killing substitutes, but that doesn’t mean that the kidnapped victims are safe. He believes that torture will make them submissive, and become his perfect life partner.

Meanwhile, there is another player behind the scenes that has their eye on Luc, and that reunion may not proceed as planned.

My Opinions: 
I really enjoyed this book. Evidently I have a new author to add to my favorites. Helen Fields is very talented. Her characters are deep, but you still want to learn more. Her writing is fluid, and her plot was great.

The story is told from multiple points of view, but mainly Luc and the kidnapper. Everything flowed smoothly. It is fast-paced, moving quickly from one scene to the next. Fields didn’t shy away from showing the brutality of the kidnapper, so if you are squeamish, beware.

Wonderful book, highly recommend it, and I am so happy to know that there are a couple more in the series I can already read :)