Book 1 in the DS Royston Chase series.
When DS Royston Chase is called to the scene of a fatal road collision, his task is to identify the girl who died alongside the ex-Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police. Paired with the bold and strident DC Claire Laney, Chase is given the task of closing the case quickly and quietly.
But when the girl’s DNA provides a familial link to a child who vanished from her home twenty years earlier, Chase and Laney refuse to accept the coincidence. The pair start looking harder at the ex-cop’s life, at which point they encounter serious opposition. Perhaps deadly serious.
Because the establishment looks after its own, and soon it’s not only their bosses getting in the way of a thorough investigation. Chase and Laney find themselves seemingly at odds with everyone, fighting to save their own reputations as well as the case. But neither will rest until they identify their young victim, no matter what the cost...
I'm thrilled to be hosting the blog tour for The Huntsmen today, huge thanks to Tony J.Forder for inviting me and for my advance digital copy of the novel.
I realised as I started to read The Huntsmen that I didn't have a clue what it was about. I knew that it was the first book in a new series but otherwise, Tony J. Forder's name on the front cover was enough of a draw and I didn't need any more information to know I was guaranteed an excellent read.
I was intrigued, of course, by the promise of a new series, particularly a new police procedural series. Tony J. Forder is best known as the author of the Jimmy Bliss books and such a popular character is always going to be a hard act to follow. However, this excellent introduction to DS Royston Chase left me in no doubt that Wiltshire is going to prove to be just as fertile a ground for superbly engaging mysteries as Cambridgeshire has been.
Chase is a younger man than Bliss but is no wet-behind-the-ears recruit. There are definite similarities between the two detectives, particularly when it comes to their interactions with their superior officers and I suspect that Bliss would have a lot of time for the detective sergeant. However, Chase has a far more settled personal life and although an incident in his past continues to affect his daily life (sometimes amusingly), it's good to see a lead character in a crime series happily married and not driven by any demons other than the desire to see justice is served.
That isn't as straightforward as he would like in his latest case, which bears all the hallmarks of being a poisoned chalice. A fatal road collision involving the ex-Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police results in the discovery of various skeletons in cupboards that have been kept locked away for too many years by privilege and position. Chase is under no illusions that should his investigation cause too much embarrassment for the force, it's his career that will be thrown under the bus.
He's sent a partner but DC Claire Laney has pushed her own self-destruct button too many times and with her own career on an apparently irreversible downward trajectory, Chase believes her presence is an indication that he's been set up to fail. However, despite both officers not being the type to toe the party line, they are experienced and intuitive enough to begin to build a case that extends far beyond identifying the mysterious young victim of the road traffic collision.
I loved the relationship between this pair, it promises so much for the future; neither has much of a filter, both are rather hardheaded and refuse to suffer fools gladly and are equally prepared to vociferously state their opinions. They're a fiery combination but it's clear that they are already forming an impressive, capable partnership and I'm looking forward to seeing how their friendship develops as the series progresses. They are joined by an ambitious, promising PCSO, Alison May and it's fascinating to have three characters at such different stages of their careers working together. Laney is nearing retirement, Chase is on a precipice and could rise or fall dramatically, while May is keen to learn from them both and to prove what she can do. It all sets the scene very nicely for the future but of course, there's a storyline here to enjoy and what an intriguing, dark plot it is.
The crime at the centre of the novel isn't revealed until late in the book but there are enough clear pointers throughout for what it entails to not come as a huge surprise. It's the investigation itself which drives the novel as Chase, Laney and May try to figure out how a disturbing tragedy links to a cold case involving another child. Such an explosive case has far-reaching implications and there are those who want to ensure that the truth is never exposed. Chase is left in little doubt that his actions are under scrutiny or that he potentially risks more than his job.
Tense, harrowing and gripping throughout, The Huntsmen kicks off the DS Royston Chase series in fine style. With characters to care about, a disturbing, complex case to follow and that wonderful mix of pathos and humour which ensures his books are always so authentically believable, I am already prepared to throw my hat into the ring to declare that Tony J. Forder has created another outstanding, must-read series. It's my absolute pleasure to highly recommend it.
The Huntsmen is independently published and can be purchased from Amazon UK where it is also available on Kindle Unlimited and from Amazon US.
Don't miss the rest of the blog tour, details are below.
About the Author
Tony’s other early series – two action-adventure novels featuring Mike Lynch – comprises both Scream Blue Murder and Cold Winter Sun. These books were republished in April 2021, and will be joined in 2022 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, called Fifteen Coffins.
The Huntsmen, released on 4 October 2022, is the first book in a new crime series, set in Wiltshire. It features DS Royston Chase, DC Claire Laney, and PCSO Alison May.
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.
All of Tony's links can be found on Linktree
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