Today it is my absolute pleasure to re-share my review for Degrees of Darkness by Tony J Forder. I have read all of Tony’s books and he is one of my favourite authors. He has relaunched this book along with new synopsis and a fabulous new cover. This is an author who has made a big impact, his DI Bliss series is so good and I always look forward to reading the next one in the series. He has also written a couple of stand alone books as well as two books featuring Mike Lynch. He has been a very busy chap over this past year as he is now self publishing his books.

From the bestselling author of the addictive DI Bliss series and the compelling standalone novel, Fifteen Coffins, comes a dark, psychological journey into the nightmare world of a serial killer.

Nothing is ever entirely black or white.

Pre-teen girls are being abducted from their homes and their families murdered. When Frank Rogers, ex-DI with the Metropolitan Police, is told that his own daughter is missing, his son a victim, he sets aside his grief to help old colleagues investigate the case. 

Soon Frank’s face is all over the news. And in an unexpected turn of events, the killer contacts the police to say he is willing to talk. But only to Frank.

When the body of the first abducted girl is discovered, Frank realises the investigation has become a race against time to save his daughter’s life. 

In order to solve the case, Frank must work out how the killer is choosing his victims. To do that, he must first enter the killer’s mind. But is Frank able to drag himself into its darker reaches? And if so, will he be able to pull himself back?

First published by Bloodhound Books in 2017. Republished by Spare Nib Books February 2021.

Purchase Link – HERE

My Review…

I was hooked on this book pretty quickly, literally a few pages and there I was, Hooked! It was as I read about a killer being in the house of the victim. What unfolds after that is a brutal psychological game of cat and mouse between an ex-cop and the killer.

Frank is the ex-cop and it is his own daughter that is the latest missing victim, his son is one of the murdered victims, along Frank’s ex-wife. This killer is very clever at leaving no evidence for the police to go on, due to this he is able to taunt Frank and the police, feeding titbits of information on his own terms. The media have taken up the story and this just adds to fuel the game the killer plays.

This book is simply brilliant from start to finish. I loved everything about it, from the memorable, unique and identifiable characters to the wonderfully deep, twisted and well thought-out plot. The characters I could almost imagine off the pages, some I loathed some I really liked. The pacing fits this story perfectly, keeping the pressure on the reader to read and not pause, at times the pace slows at the more descriptive sections, it was almost as if these were breathing stops and I was given a chance to arrange my thoughts.

Yes this is a psychological thriller and it fits perfectly into this genre. The plot is very well laid out and leads you through the story to a satisfactory ending. There was no point in the story that I had any idea of identities until the author allowed me to know, there were a couple of red herrings, that made my heart sink when I came across them, I was so glad I was wrong. Also added into this murder and abduction story, is the story of the killer and his history, experiences, ideologies and outlook on life, it gives the reader a glimpse into a the mind of the killer.

I would highly recommend this book to readers who like their psychological thrillers to be dark and sinister, with layers of plots. If this is you …..Get this book, you will not be disappointed.

About the Author…

Tony J Forder is the author of the bestselling DI Bliss crime thriller series. The first seven books, Bad to the Bone, The Scent of Guilt, If Fear Wins, The Reach of Shadows, The Death of Justice, Endless Silent Scream, and Slow Slicing, were joined in December 2020 by a prequel novella, Bliss Uncovered.

Tony’s other series – two action-adventure novels featuring Mike Lynch – comprises both Scream Blue Murder, and Cold Winter Sun. These are currently unavailable, but will be back in 2021.

In addition, Tony has written two standalone novels: a dark, psychological crime thriller, Degrees of Darkness, and a suspense thriller set in California, called Fifteen Coffins, released in November 2020.

Tony lives with his wife in Peterborough, UK, and is now a full-time author. He is currently working on Bliss #8, The Autumn Tree.

Links – Website – Facebook – Twitter – Amazon Author Page – Goodreads – Fantastic Fiction

Tony can also be found on Instagram.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx