DI Bliss attends the aftermath of an apparent murder-suicide – but the scene tells him and his colleagues something very different occurred. Now the Peterborough Major Crimes Unit face an adversary like no other.
They have no idea why his victims had to die. They have no idea who he is. They have no idea where he might strike next – only that he will.
But while the killer is cunning, leaving no evidence for them to find, his biggest mistake might be in underestimating the team now hunting him. Because when Jimmy Bliss is on the case, all bets are off.
It's such an honour to be hosting the blog tour for The Lightning Rod today. Many thanks to Tony J. Forder and to Donna Morfett from DLM Book Tours for inviting me and for my advance digital copy of the novel.
There are certain writers who are auto-reads for me and I don't need to read the blurb for their latest novel before reading it. Tony J. Forder has been one of those authors for a long time now and a new Bliss book in particular could almost be considered a comfort read for me. However, I think this risks doing this series a disservice; it's true that the quality of writing never dips but Tony Forder doesn't rest on his laurels and each instalment is as engrossing and tautly plotted as ever.
The Lightning Rod is the tenth full-length novel in the series but even now, new readers can easily start here if they so wish; the ongoing character development and storylines are seamlessly woven into the narrative without ever slowing the pace of the plot. Nevertheless, I do think that missing out on the previous books is a shame and I would recommend reading them in order to truly appreciate how these characters have evolved over time. Detective Inspector Jimmy Bliss is so astutely brought to life and is undoubtedly one of my favourite characters in crime fiction. He has cleverly been allowed to change over the course of the series – this Bliss is far more measured than the hot-tempered man of a few years ago who constantly butted heads with his superiors – without ever losing the essence of who he is. He still refuses to suffer fools gladly and his loyalty to his team here underlines the principles which continue to drive him, even at this late point in his career.
As always, his relationships with his colleagues is a highpoint of the novel and there's a real sense of the Thorpe Wood Major Crimes Unit being a tightly-knit team, so when an apparent murder-suicide means an earlier investigation is to be put under the spotlight, it's not surprising that a cloud descends over them. Bliss's concern for his officers reinforces that he isn't just an excellent detective, he's also a first-rate boss. There's humour here too, of course, with the rapport between Jimmy and Penny Chandler a beautifully observed reflection of how colleagues who become friends interact with one another. It's also rather poignant to be reminded that Bliss is nearing the time when he must make decisions about his future and that he may not be able to continue working with these people for very much longer.
The investigation itself is absolutely intriguing and I loved the crossover element with another Tony Forder book. Bringing Frank Rogers from Degrees of Darkness into the plot is inspired and works brilliantly, I hope we see more of him in the future. As the team try to figure out who is behind a series of murders with very little to connect them, there are also scenes which reveal chilling insights into the mind of the killer. I don't want to give too much away but I can say that while the twists and turns of the case are gripping, the painstaking, often frustrating nature of police work is realistically depicted too. While there are definitely reasons to be cautious about the use of increasing surveillance, there are benefits too. Bliss himself is an old-school detective but even he has to acknowledge that they would struggle to crack the case without the technological advancements employed throughout.
As the net closes in on the killer, the complexity of the investigation ensures the conclusion is never obvious and there's a further complication which means the final chapters are especially dramatic. The actions of the cold-hearted killer becomes increasingly disturbing and I raced through the pages with my heart in my mouth. Tense, shocking and utterly compelling from start to finish, The Lightning Rod is another superb thriller from Tony J. Forder. A striking read and very highly recommended!
The Lighting Rod can be purchased from Amazon UK and Amazon US and is also available on Kindle Unlimited.
Follow the blog tour, details are below.
.png)
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 will hopefully be joined in 2023 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.
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 second DS Chase novel, The Predators.
Comments
Post a Comment