Well, if you want a fast-paced thriller, with enough complexity and sinister violence inflicted on the two victims whose murders launch this book, this could be for you. The writing is neat and the characters are not simple clones of others who we’ve met in scores of other books. The plot twists and turns somewhat to keep the reader guessing, so it’s likely to keep most readers engaged way beyond the planned lights out time. Minor criticisms from this reader would be the need for perhaps a little too much explanation over the solving of the crimes encountered that would ideally be revealed as the narrative unfolded. Overall, though, a satisfying diversion.

I haven't read a mystery/thriller book for ages so when I received an email from the publisher about this one I was intrigued by the synopsis so thought I'd request it on Netgalley.

I really enjoyed this story. I found the plot to be engaging and at times I didn't want to put it down. There were several twists and turns throughout, a couple were a little bit predictable but the final twist at the end I didn't see coming. The ending really did surprise me.

The thing I enjoyed most about this story were the characters. Usually I struggle to enjoy male detective characters but this one was great. He didn't really have any bad qualities and I enjoyed reading his parts of the story. Laughton was a really great character too. Her back story was interesting and really added to the story. There were lots of different aspects to this book that really helped add to the overall story.

Overall I really enjoyed this one. If you like mystery/thriller detective stories I would recommend it.

This is a very intense and chilling murder mystery that kept me hooked throughout. When a woman is found brutally murdered with her body left posed surrounded by random objects the police immediately suspect her missing husband but days later when his body is discovered is similar circumstances their case is turned upside down. What appears to be a clue is a forensic awareness book written by Laughton Rees left at the scene and whose own mother was murdered in an equally horrific way years before leading to her estrangement from her father, the current Chief Constable of the investigating force.
An intriguing crime story with an unexpected twist in the tale. Loved it!

A Woman has been murdered in a ritualistic and sadistic way. Four objects have been splayed around her body. What do the objects symbolise? How did the murderer get past the security system? Who is the victim?..."The universe, so chaotic and cruel most of the time, provides exactly what you need at the exact time that you need it"... A carefully, well crafted tale that will keep the reader captivated until the very end.

My first Simon Toyne read and it did not disappoint! It felt more mystery rather than thriller, which was a refreshing change. The characters were well written and the pace was perfectly kept throughout

Received arc from Harper Collins UK and Netgalley for honest read and review,and this view is my own.
This was a very interesting and enjoyable read and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Centres around main character Laughton and her past, coming back to haunt her and her family.
This had all the things to keep you gripped and keep reading to see where it ended.
A cracking read and I thoroughly recommend it.

Loved this murder mystery novel. Very believable, great characters who were very well described and portrayed. With twists and turns which kept you guessing until the end! Based around a Chief Constable and his family problems as a result of his job. Police, journalists, care home debacle and teenage knife crime all interlink to make up a great story. Thoroughly recommend this book!

There were parts that could have been used for a movie script: slowly and detailed, they describe what is happening and you feel like you're in the scene.
It was very strong at the beginning and it was like living the horror of the discovery.
A gripping and slow burning story that brings you to dark placed and keeps you hooked.
It's well plotted and well told. The characters are fleshed out and interesting even if they're not likeable.
It surprised me and I enjoy it.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I seriously can´t believe I haven´t read any previous books by Simon Toyne. He is an outstanding author!

Dark Objects is quite simply one of the best books I have read this year, It has everything you could possibly want in a thriller. Outstanding storyline, extremely good characters who you immediately connect with, Laughton in particular with her traumatized childhood.

Had me hooked from the first page. Brilliant!

I´m off to find his previous novels!

My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

I love crime related stories and not being able to work out “who dunnit” and this book delivered!
When I read the synopsis I wasn’t 100% sure this would be a me book but a couple of chapters in and I was hooked!
Laughton Has a dark background. Her mother was murdered by a monster when she was a young teenager and she blames her father who is a police commander. Now working as an a academic criminologist who specialises in historic crime scene analyst she is dragged into a “live” investigation which drags up her past.
I had no idea where this story was going to go and I was pleasantly kept in the dark until the end.

Dr Laughton Rees is a forensics expert still trying to deal with the murder of her mother when she was a child.
When her book is found at a murder she is drawn into the investigation.
It was a great read with interesting characters. I look forward to reading more by this author.
Thanks to Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A crime/thriller set around a brutal murder of one half of a rich, but mysteriously under the radar couple, who live in a mansion on the edge of Highgate Cemetery. The woman’s body is discovered with four objects laid carefully around her; a child’s unicorn toy, a pair of medals, a key, and a book on forensic crime investigation by Dr Laughton Rees, estranged daughter of under-fire Chief of Police.

Laughton is a forensic analyst, an expert on reading crime scenes. However, she has a golden rule to never work live cases, as when Laughton was a teenager she had witnessed her mother’s murder and remains traumatised.

DCI Tannahill Khan, the lead detective on the case, is keen to persuade Laughton to assist him with the investigation.

What I liked about this book was that it is very relative to today’s issues on knife crime. Also, the use of characters was minimal, although all of them have their own complexities to add to the story.

Very well written, with a number of plot twists that leaves you guessing until the very last page.

I really enjoyed reading this book and liked the main characters Laughton and Tannahill and enjoyed the ending too as I'd not seen it coming.

This gripping, London-set thriller by author, Simon Toyne, introduces us to Pakistani-Irish DCI Tannahill Khan, who is close to his ‘mam,’ enjoys messing with the heads of racists and is thoroughly competent and likeable. The murder of Kate Miller in her exclusive Highgate mansion introduces him to Laughton Rees, lecturer, author and the daughter of the police commissioner.

The characters are engaging and the strands of the story are pulled together nicely. The writing and pacing are great… for up to 90% of the novel… For some reason, the last 10% felt rushed, with lots of exposition posing as dialogue. For me, it detracted from what was a really enjoyable read and lost it that final star.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

A gripping, page turner of a murder mystery. This was as gruesome as it was clever and intriguing. Really well written, a police procedural that’s a bit different and some cracking plot twists! Highly recommended.

What a Roller Coaster of a Book from the beginning to the end! It often has you second guessing the roles of some of the characters & the events surrounding them, yes there is violence & the results of that are descriptive but not sickenly or horrendously so , but maybe for some not to be read late at night . #NetGalley, #Goodreads, #FB, #Instagram, #Amazon.co.uk, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/358a5cecda71b11036ec19d9f7bf5c96d13e2c55" width="80" height="80" alt="100 Book Reviews" title="100 Book Reviews"/>, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/ef856e6ce35e6d2d729539aa1808a5fb4326a415" width="80" height="80" alt="Reviews Published" title="Reviews Published"/>, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/aa60c7e77cc330186f26ea1f647542df8af8326a" width="80" height="80" alt="Professional Reader" title="Professional Reader"/>

This book hit my eagerly anticipated gems as soon as I’d read the synopsis. This is just a bit of me and I was so excited to delve into this one.

I love anything remotely dark or sinister so this has hooked me. This is fast paced and filled with tension. I was hooked from very early on and depute being my first book by Toyne, I am eager to read more.

We are given a multi-perspective with this one and I love that as I feel we are given an extra element by knowing the points from different characters.

This is well written and fast paced. I devoured page after page of this in just one hot, sunny afternoon. This is a book with the real life knife culture present which adds a whole other dimension.

Toyne is a superb writer and a masterful storyteller in the best way. There is so much drama filling the plot and each chapter leaves you craving more. I definitely love the tension and pace of this- I’ve been on the edge of my seat.

This is an absorbing read which I really hope will have a follow up! I’ve found myself with an almighty book hangover after this one and I NEED more.

I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending this one to other fans of the genre.

WOW loved this book ! A great read , unusual storyline, and likeable main characters and to top it off … a mega twist ! This book seems to be a standalone though it would be great to see it turn into a series !

I feel sure this is the start of a series and one that will have a lot of keen followers.
I enjoyed the book to a point but it wasn’t one that had me longing to pick up. It wasn’t the plot because that was very good and I liked the characters on the whole too. My criticism is that the back stories and add ons didn’t thrill me but were more a distraction. Perhaps a second book will improve on that.

The body of a wealthy woman is found in the living room of her ultra-modern, ultra-secure Highgate home, surrounded by four strange objects. DCI Tannahill Khan catches the case and discovers that one of the objects is a book on forensics by Dr Laughton Rees, forensic analyst and lecturer at a nearby university. A brutal stabbing in a wealthy home couldn’t come at a worse time, as the Met Police are about to release their annual crime statistics, which show a massive rise in knife crime on London’s streets. It’s also not going to help Tannahill’s investigation that Laughton Rees is the estranged daughter of the Met’s commissioner and that tabloid lowlife Brian Slade seems to have an inside track on what’s going on, and the juicy history that will only help to sell more papers. A missing husband is the prime suspect, but there’s much more to this case than meets the eye.

Simon Toyne has turned out to be a bit of an all-rounder. From his debut, the apocalyptic Sanctus, to his Reacher-like Solomon Creed, he now finds himself in the world of the British police procedural. And it’s everything you would expect from a Toyne novel: smart, dark, funny and very engaging. It opens on a seemingly-impossible crime scene and immediately adds an extra puzzle on top of the usual “who?” and ”why?”: what are these objects placed so carefully around the body? What do they symbolise? And, most importantly, what do they mean for the direction of Tannahill’s investigation and Toyne’s narrative?

Half-Irish, half-Pakistani, Tannahill Khan is a wonderful lead character in this slick, fast-moving story. A man who works too hard and has little in the way of a social life, he’s solely focused on his job and in trying to deal with whatever this crazy case is going to throw at him next. Toyne nails the Irish mother, and the handful of calls that Tannahill has with her during the course of the novel provide some light relief in an otherwise intense story. Laughton Rees watched her mother die, when she was 15 years old, at the hands of a serial killer. She has blamed her father – the arresting officer – for what happened, and hasn’t spoken to him since. Now mother to a teenage girl, Laughton has problems of her own, and getting pulled into an investigation because the killer saw fit to use her book as a sort of guidebook is the last thing she needs. The two fit well together, despite their differences, and make an excellent team. When Laughton is forced to face her past Tannahill is there to offer support and while the sexual tension is high throughout, Toyne manages to keep everything professional.

The other main character is Brian Slade, journalist for tabloid rag The Daily. Slade is permanently dressed for running and is, without a doubt, the least likeable character in the book. Almost a caricature of the sleazy tabloid newspaperman, Slade won’t let anything – including the truth – stand in the way of a good story. Getting information from someone on the inside, Slade always seems to be one step ahead of Tannahill’s team and has no qualms using a pretty woman to sell more newspapers, especially when it gives him some extra, unexpected ammunition against the Met Police and their commissioner. Toyne handles Slade brilliantly, creating one of the most loathsome characters ever committed to paper. No-one is cheering for this man, and we come away from his scenes feeling that we need a shower.

Dark Objects is not your run-of-the-mill police procedural, despite what first impressions might suggest. This is Simon Toyne doing what he does best: messing about with the format and the genre, creating something that transcends what we can expect from this type of story and producing something totally unique and unpredictable. It’s a brilliantly crafted novel and Toyne’s unique voice shines through from the outset. Dark and designed to grip the reader by the throat from the first page, it’s also a story with a very human element – often with a wry and warped sense of humor – that gives us something to hold on to as we descend into the dark depths of this latest creation. If you’re looking for a different take on good old-fashioned British mysteries, Dark Objects should be top of your list. Likewise if you’re looking for a challenge.

A very welcome return for Toyne, who has been missing from the New Releases shelves for far too long.