Perfect Remains

DI Callanach, Book 1

By: Helen Fields

Narrated by: Robin Laing

Length: 12 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

©2019 Helen Fields (P)2019 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic reviews

"Must read! With nail-biting twists at every turn, [Perfect Remains] will have readers gripped from start to finish." (Closer)

"Read it in two sittings. I literally had no choice. A fast and enthralling thriller, pitting a new, very human hero against one of the scariest psychos I've yet encountered in crime fiction." (Sunday Times best seller Paul Finch)

"Without doubt, this is one of the best first detective series I have read." (Woman’s Way Magazine)

"Genuinely chilling." (Saga Magazine)

"Watch out Rebus, McRae and Perez there’s a new detective in the running to become Scotland’s fictional top cop…a real cracker of a page-turner that is truly difficult to put down." (Scotland Correspondent)

"[An] absolute corker of a debut crime novel… a brilliantly plotted start to what I hope will be a long series." (The Herald)

"A smashing debut novel." (Fife Free Press)

Hold on, there are no seatbelts for this ride. It’s over the top with details of brutality to women.

It’s very graphic, but, we’ll written. Let’s see what the next book has to offer….

Amazing.

Begin series. Read or listen to next in series Repeat.

Harangue, harass, stalk (jokingly) author for more. Wait.

Write review , repeat. It’s what I intend to do. This was an amazing story. I am about to begin the next and just keep going until… I haven’t enjoyed a procedural this much since discovering Peter Grainger’s DI Smith. If you haven’t found those yet, stop reading this and begin those now.

Much praise also for Robin Laing. The narration was absolutely perfect— much the same as Angus King, creating a wonderful visual in the mind’s eye of the story. Mr. Laing must be commended for his female voices especially— no strange and false high pitch here.

I am so looking forward to the next. A great procedural, moves a very good pace. Quite enjoyable. Highly recommended.

Great crime / suspense novel

The perfect mix of crime, suspense and adventure. Very well written, appropriate for young adults and up. Once I was used to the accent of the narrator I was hooked. The perfect murder(s), no raunchy sex scenes, unnecessary foul language and just enough info on the crime scenes. Call me a prude if you want, but the author has proved you can write a great crime/suspense novel and use appropriate adjectives.

Like Roy Grace? You’ll love Ava Turner & DI Callanach too!

This series is a bit gorier than Peter James’ Roy Grace series but the characters create the thread that weaves it all together. Don’t hesitate - you’ll be hooked too

Good Story

The story was good but the narration was distracting. Flat and unemotional when needed. Accent good

Highly entertaining!

As someone who is tired of the same old “beautiful lady meets handsome but (secretly) disturbed man” stories, I found this psychological thriller much more engaging. The story line was unique, the characters well drawn. If you’re tired of sex-laden plots with psychopathic husbands or nannies, give this a whirl. I highly recommend.

good story, character, and scene/world building,

love those sexy Scots! loved it! I am on book #5 and they were all great. not for the faint of heart. some goriness, crazy scary bad guys, great good guys. definitely worth a listen. I will b finishing series and then reading more by helen fields.
~irie one~

Another Series to Dive Into!

If you are a fan of Scottish or English police procedural, then Helen Fields and her DI Luc Callanach will provide the thrills you seek! Exceptional writing and narration create enthralling characters and a story that moves quickly. Highly recommended.

Well done!

Really enjoyed this mystery/thriller/police procedural! Well done. Also excellent narrator. Will look for other books by Helen Fields, as well as books narrated by Robin Laing.

A perfect thrilling audiobook!

Helen Fields, thank you for creating wonderful characters and a tense, smart, darkly imaginative thriller that I found nearly impossible to put down. The story is masterfully performed by Robin Laing, an incredible reader and accomplished actor who brings each character to life in the most believable way and never makes women’s voices sound nasally or false the way many male readers do. I am now a fan of both Fields and Laing and am ready for more! So grateful to have found this audiobook.