I am delighted to share my review today for The Predators by Tony Forder. This is the 2nd book in the DC Roston Chase series and it is another fabulous book. I adore this author’s books and I am loving this new series, a great place to start if you have not read any of his books yet.

The frozen corpse of a female hiker discovered on snow-covered downs presents DS Royston Chase, DC Claire Laney, and Trainee DC Alison May with a fresh murder case to investigate.

The more the body thaws the more it reveals, and as the investigation gathers momentum hopes are dashed of an early and successful outcome. It soon becomes clear that the victim and her killer were not the only ones on the hillside when the murder occurred, and the police are desperate to locate everybody who was.

But when the operation is interrupted by a series of related abductions, with all witnesses swiftly falling under suspicion, Chase realises that their case is far more complex than any of them could ever have imagined…

MY REVIEW

Once again the author has done a fantastic job of completely flummoxing me. I had no idea how this story would pan out and when I did start, it was only because the author led me there.

Chase, Laney and May are called to look at a body that has been found, frozen and in the elements for some time. When they start to put the scant clues together they are left with even more of a puzzle than when they started. When five more people who are connected with the case go missing there is something that the team are missing. They are joined by another unit and together they are really grasping to find the connections.

DS Royston Chase is a character I like, he can be a bit tunnel minded at times but with good reason. He does focus his mind to the nth degree, but he has a way of switching off to allow his mind to relax and focus instead on his family. They keep him grounded while at home but at work, well that falls to DC Claire Laney. Outspoken, brash and trying at all times to embarrass her boss. It is a hilarious combo but one that does work rather well. The two of them banter and poor Trainee DC Alison May is never quite sure who is being serious about making fun of her. It’s not just the job she has to learn, but how her two superiors work.

The setting is a semi-rural one and the exposure and expanse of the area add to the overwhelming feeling that I got and the team showed. You expect more questions than answers at the start of an investigation, but the questions are not really getting the answers or the results that would usually help. With the rural setting, it makes the usual security, shop, road cameras and the like a no-go for information, there are blackspots for mobile coverage and the people that may know something can’t be found.

The further this continues the more intriguing it gets, while I am giving the impression that this case may be slow in getting answers, the pacing of the story is anything but. It is brilliant for details and the author keeps the ideas and thoughts of his characters constantly thinking and using everything at their disposal to discover a chink that will allow them to proceed further.

This is a complex case but also it is one that had me hooked. It follows the investigation and brings the reader into a close-knit and tight group of people who are all invested in discovering the right outcome.

The first book was excellent at introducing the key players in this series and with this second book, the author has added a little more detail. Once again bringing the reader a story that delves into some tough themes but done in a way that does not go into detail, there is no need to.

It is one that I adored and it was good to come back to these characters, it didn’t take me long to remember them and their quirks and habits which is for me great as I do read quite a few books.

If you are looking to start a new series then this one is a good one to start with as this is only the second book, so not too much catching up to do. The Predators is a perfect title, snappy, to the point and relevant. A police procedural that definitely falls within the crime thriller genre and one I would definitely recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tony J Forder is the author of the bestselling DI Bliss crime thriller series. The first seven novels, 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. The series continued with The Autumn Tree and Darker Days to Come, and The Lightning Rod. The next, What Dies Inside Us will be published in autumn 2023.

Tony’s other early series – two action-adventure novels featuring Mike Lynch – comprises both Scream Blue Murder and Cold Winter Sun. These books will hopefully be joined in 2024 by The Dark Division.

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

The Huntsmen, released in October 2021, was the first book in a new crime series, set in Wiltshire. It featured DS Royston Chase, DC Claire Laney, and PCSO Alison May. The second book, The Predators, will be released on 15 May 2023.

Tony’s first 8 novels were originally released by a publisher specialising in crime fiction. In 2020, Tony decided to strike out on his own, and subsequently negotiated the return of all publishing rights to himself. Each of those 8 books has subsequently been re-released under his own imprint, Spare Nib Books.

Tony lives with his wife in West Sussex, UK, and is a full-time author. He is currently working on the two more Jimmy bliss books.

Links
All of Tony’s links can be found on Linktree: https://linktr.ee/TonyJForder

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