The Black Highway by Simon Toyne #bookreview #audiobook #series

Thank you HarperAudio for the ALC and William Morrow, #partner, for the finished copy of The Black Highway in exchange for my honest review.

Publisher: William Morrow / HarperAudio

Published: June 24, 2025

 

Summary:

Laughton Rees is back in the latest novel from the bestselling author of the Sanctus trilogy—this time, with a case that hits uncomfortably close to home and threatens the thing Laughton values most: her daughter.

Forensic specialist Laughton Rees is not ashamed of her checkered past—after all, her youthful indiscretions led to the birth of her daughter Gracie, the person she loves most in the world—but when Gracie’s father unexpectedly turns up in their lives again, Laughton is automatically wary.

Shelby Facer is a dangerous man, formerly imprisoned for his involvement in an international drug trafficking ring, and no matter what Laughton once felt for him, she doesn’t want him anywhere near Gracie. But when Shelby claims that he has information about an especially difficult murder case she is working, she can’t turn him down.

A body with no head or hands has recently turned up in the river Thames, and the police are at a loss until Shelby identifies the man. The victim was part of a highly secretive smuggling ring Shelby was involved with during his and Laughton’s youth—which Laughton’s father, former commissioner for the Metropolitan police, was investigating before he died.

Laughton throws herself into her father’s old files to try to trace the connections between past and present, but as she and DCI Tannahill Khan circle closer to the truth, the case becomes dangerously personal. When another body turns up, mutilated just like the first, the victim is no stranger to Laughton. She’ll have to face the darkest parts of her past to find the man behind the murders—before he takes away everything she loves.

 

My thoughts:

This is the 3rd book in the Laughton Rees series and having loved the previous 2 books–Dark Objects and The Clearing–this was a most anticipated read ad it did not disappoint. Once again, I devoured this book, unable to put it down until I reached the conclusion…a conclusion that completely shocked me! ⁣
⁣
I love how atmospheric and thrilling these books are and this latest one is no exception. The “black highway” is what they call the River Thames because of the number of bodies that are pulled from it. With the book opening with a dead man being discovered and missing his head and hands, I knew this book was going to be good…little did I know just how good! The twists and turns this case took, bringing Laughton’s past and present into it really amped up the tension and it never let go. ⁣
⁣
If you like dark, gritty police procedurals balanced with amazing characters you can get behind, don’t miss out on this one. And if you are a fan of series, I highly recommend starting at the beginning. ⁣
⁣
⁣
Audio thoughts:

This is the 2nd book I’ve listened to in this series and I was thrilled to see Shazia Nicholls as the same narrator. She had narrated book 1 and she does such a great job with the voices, bringing a depth that makes them stand out. ⁣

 

Books in this series:

1. Dark Objects
2. The Clearing
3. The Black Highway

 

 

Purchasing from the link below supports independent bookstores and my blog!