Book #2 in the DS Chase series.
The frozen corpse of a female hiker discovered on snow-covered downs presents DS Royston Chase, DC Claire Laney, and Trainee DC Alison May with a fresh murder case to investigate.
The more the body thaws the more it reveals, and as the investigation gathers momentum hopes are dashed of an early and successful outcome. It soon becomes clear that the victim and her killer were not the only ones on the hillside when the murder occurred, and the police are desperate to locate everybody who was.
But when the operation is interrupted by a series of related abductions, with all witnesses swiftly falling under suspicion, Chase realises that their case is far more complex than any of them could ever have imagined...
It's such a pleasure to be sharing my review of The Predators today. Huge thanks to Tony J. Forder for sending me a digital copy of the novel.
Tony J. Forder is best known as the author of the DI Bliss series but The Predators is the second book in his new police procedural series, featuring DS Royston Chase. I thoroughly enjoyed the introduction, The Huntsmen, when I read it last year but I think this is arguably even better. Having already met the main characters, I really enjoyed discovering more about them and seeing their relationships further developed.
This is a novel with a despicable crime at the heart of it but Tony J. Forder always manages to infuse his books with lighter moments, without ever diminishing the horror of what has occurred. The opening lines made me laugh out loud and yet as Chase irritably muses to himself about Aristotle, it's clear that he is horribly aware that there is only on reason why he and DC Claire Laney have been called out and I was soon transported to the bitter snowstorm on a Wiltshire hillside where the body of a frozen young woman has been discovered. The language here reflects the terrible nature of the crimes believed to have been perpetrated against the unknown victim, and the gallows humour utilised by people who deal with the darker side of life (and death). It soon becomes apparent that the woman's body has been there for several weeks and while the descriptions are never gratuitously graphic, we are also left in no doubt as to the grim reasons why identifying her and figuring out what happened prior to her death won't be straightforward.
Chase isn't always the easiest person to know; a previous injury has left him with an occasional inability to contain his mental filter while Laney has a reputation for being outspoken to the point of being rude, and she also delights in making inappropriate comments which people don't know how to react to. Meanwhile, the third member of their team, Trainee DC Alison May is a perceptive former PCSO, eager to learn everything about the job. They are assigned to a team headed by DCI Nicole Knight and despite the difficulties presented by this investigation, slow progress begins to be made, which opens up a number of intriguing leads. One most refreshing aspects of The Predators is the generally amicable, co-operative police work that takes place here. There are disagreements, some of which become heated but the overriding impression is of colleagues who want to find the best way of working together to apprehend the person or persons responsible for killing this young woman.
The abduction of some of the potential witnesses or suspects adds a chilling further layer of suspense to the story, especially as readers are given an insight into what happens to one of the victims. Who is behind the kidnappings, their reasons and what they are capable of really ratchets up the tension, especially as shocking revelations about the night of the murder come to light. Tony J. Forder explores the impact of abhorrent crimes like this with insightful empathy throughout; from the numb grief of her parents to the anger of her brother and the obsessive exertions of Chase, who agonises over neglecting his own family, the lasting repercussions of sudden, violent loss are felt throughout. However, despite his concerns, Chase's close relationship with his wife, Erin is another highlight of this series – as much as I enjoy a troubled detective, I welcome seeing a main character with an understanding, wise partner and a stable home life.
The sense of place is excellent throughout, with towns and key locations across Wiltshire playing an important role in proceedings as does the inclement weather, and the icy chill engendered complements the bleak storyline perfectly. The clever plotting draws all the strands of this compelling storyline together with a tense conclusion full of twists and turns. Poignant, witty and superbly gripping, The Predators examines dark, brutal themes without ever losing its emotional core. Chase, Laney and May are a winning combination and I hope we see more of them in the future. Very highly recommended.
This is a novel with a despicable crime at the heart of it but Tony J. Forder always manages to infuse his books with lighter moments, without ever diminishing the horror of what has occurred. The opening lines made me laugh out loud and yet as Chase irritably muses to himself about Aristotle, it's clear that he is horribly aware that there is only on reason why he and DC Claire Laney have been called out and I was soon transported to the bitter snowstorm on a Wiltshire hillside where the body of a frozen young woman has been discovered. The language here reflects the terrible nature of the crimes believed to have been perpetrated against the unknown victim, and the gallows humour utilised by people who deal with the darker side of life (and death). It soon becomes apparent that the woman's body has been there for several weeks and while the descriptions are never gratuitously graphic, we are also left in no doubt as to the grim reasons why identifying her and figuring out what happened prior to her death won't be straightforward.
Chase isn't always the easiest person to know; a previous injury has left him with an occasional inability to contain his mental filter while Laney has a reputation for being outspoken to the point of being rude, and she also delights in making inappropriate comments which people don't know how to react to. Meanwhile, the third member of their team, Trainee DC Alison May is a perceptive former PCSO, eager to learn everything about the job. They are assigned to a team headed by DCI Nicole Knight and despite the difficulties presented by this investigation, slow progress begins to be made, which opens up a number of intriguing leads. One most refreshing aspects of The Predators is the generally amicable, co-operative police work that takes place here. There are disagreements, some of which become heated but the overriding impression is of colleagues who want to find the best way of working together to apprehend the person or persons responsible for killing this young woman.
The abduction of some of the potential witnesses or suspects adds a chilling further layer of suspense to the story, especially as readers are given an insight into what happens to one of the victims. Who is behind the kidnappings, their reasons and what they are capable of really ratchets up the tension, especially as shocking revelations about the night of the murder come to light. Tony J. Forder explores the impact of abhorrent crimes like this with insightful empathy throughout; from the numb grief of her parents to the anger of her brother and the obsessive exertions of Chase, who agonises over neglecting his own family, the lasting repercussions of sudden, violent loss are felt throughout. However, despite his concerns, Chase's close relationship with his wife, Erin is another highlight of this series – as much as I enjoy a troubled detective, I welcome seeing a main character with an understanding, wise partner and a stable home life.
The sense of place is excellent throughout, with towns and key locations across Wiltshire playing an important role in proceedings as does the inclement weather, and the icy chill engendered complements the bleak storyline perfectly. The clever plotting draws all the strands of this compelling storyline together with a tense conclusion full of twists and turns. Poignant, witty and superbly gripping, The Predators examines dark, brutal themes without ever losing its emotional core. Chase, Laney and May are a winning combination and I hope we see more of them in the future. Very highly recommended.
The Predators will be independently published on 15th May 2023, it can be pre-ordered on Amazon UK or Amazon US.
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 2024 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. The second book, The Predators, will be released on 15 May 2023.
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 two more Jimmy Bliss books.
All of Tony's links can be found on Linktree
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