After a young woman is found strangled to death, Bliss is called to the scene. When he learns that one of his business cards was found among the victim's clothing, and he is told what was written on the back of it, Bliss is immediately troubled. The card was one of five he handed out to trafficked young women he and his team had previously rescued from a shipping container.
When he sees the victim, Bliss realises she was not one of those saved that day. So whose card does she have? Any why? And is it connected to her murder?
The murder investigation proves to be more complex and challenging than the team could possibly have imagined. But just as they think they have it figured out, they learn that depravity has no boundaries...
I am honoured to be hosting the blog tour for The Autumn Tree today. Huge thanks to Tony J. Forder for inviting me and for my advance digital copy of the novel.
A new Bliss novel has become a highlight of my year; I've read a lot of police procedurals, including books by some of the biggest names in crime fiction and in my opinion this series deserves to rank alongside the best.
Ever since the first book, Bad to the Bone, Jimmy Bliss has been a DI but his actions in the previous novel, Slow Slicing have resulted in his temporary demotion to Detective Sergeant. The title here is poignantly apt for a few reasons, one of which is that Bliss is now in the autumn of his career and at times seems uncertain what he wants from the future. That's true for his personal life as much as his professional - Jimmy Bliss might confront his foes head on but the same can rarely be said of his feelings.
Although The Autumn Tree can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the previous novels to truly appreciate not just this storyline but the development of the series as a whole. As well as the fallout from his last case still affecting Bliss here, a previous, heartrending investigation is also linked to a new murder which occurs off his patch but involves a key piece of evidence which initially threatens to cast the shadow of doubt on Jimmy himself.
Of course, he gives that suggestion the short shrift it deserves and it is soon revealed just how deeply that case affected Bliss. For a man who has demonstrated his short temper - particularly in his dealings with authority - on numerous occasions, and who frequently deflects the conversation when it turns to more emotional issues, Jimmy has a huge heart and though his actions are sometimes rash or foolhardy, he could never be accused of not caring about his work.
We discover that his concern for the victims he meets doesn't end when the case does and so he knows exactly where to find some of the women he helped in the past. The murdered woman is a stranger to him, however and he needs to figure out why she was carrying one of the cards he handed out to trafficking victims and whether her death is linked to that case or just a tragic coincidence. The investigation ebbs and flows as the team painstakingly examines what little evidence they have.
One of the aspects I most love about this series is that it's not just the Jimmy Bliss show and the Major Crimes team at Thorpe Wood have become an assembled cast of characters I've grown to care about as much as their irascible boss. Except he's not their boss this time; his demotion means Bish has stepped up into the temporary role as DI and although it is a strange situation for them all, they have to find a way to work together. Throughout the series, Bliss has nurtured and supported his team and that continues here but he realises going to have to learn to take a step back if they decide they want to rise higher through the ranks. It's really quite moving seeing Bish take the lead and DC Gul Ansari confidently interview a suspect, especially having followed this series from the start, I have experienced their lowest points alongside them too.
There are some low moments here too and a few scenes which are heartbreaking; this is an extremely emotional case for all involved as the team once again face the very worst of humanity. The victims are some of the most vulnerable in society and are often cruelly vilified by the public so it's moving to see them treated with the compassion - and the dignity - they deserve. As the novel races towards its dramatic conclusion, one such woman endures abuse which is hard to witness but she isn't ever exploited by Tony Forder as yet another faceless victim. We come to know her and I admired her strength in the face of appalling depravity. There's a subplot featuring another unconnected case which again shows Bliss at his best and his worst - he is definitely pushing the boundaries as to what an officer of the law does at times but his unyielding principles can never be doubted.
And yet for all the horror, the humour that has always been such a highlight of these books continues to delight too. There's a wonderful exchange where Bliss is asked if he was born in a barn. I won't give away his response here but it was just one of the scenes which made me laugh out loud. As always, many of the funniest moments take place between Bliss and Penny Chandler, proving once again why they have become my favourite fictional double act.
It's hard to pick a favourite novel in a series which is so reliably excellent but The Autumn Tree is another exceptional piece of writing. It's an exciting, heartfelt rollercoaster of a read and although Bliss may be reaching the final years of his career, this is a series which continues to be as fresh and compelling as ever.
Don't miss the rest of the blog tour, details are below.
About the Author
Tony’s other series – two action-adventure novels featuring Mike Lynch – comprises both Scream Blue Murder, and Cold Winter Sun. These books were republished in April 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 the first book of an intended new crime series, whose working title is The Huntsmen.
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