📚 Just finished "The Clearing" by Simon Toyne and it's a gripping suspense novel set in the eerie Forest of Dean! 🌳💀 With a chilling atmosphere and a dark, sinister plot, this book kept me on the edge of my seat. While some parts felt a bit slow and confusing, the author's descriptive writing drew me into the haunting setting and the intriguing mystery. The revelation of the perpetrator at the end was particularly well-done, leaving me shocked and satisfied. Overall, an interesting read with a few bumps along the way. #TheClearing #SimonToyne #BookReview 🌟📖

This was not for me. The story was kinda slow and I couldn't connect with the characters at all. I was hoping for something different

The Clearing follows Dark Objects as the second in Simon Toyne's thriller series starring forensic specialist Laughton Rees and London DCI Tannahill Khan. This episode is mainly Laughton's story.

Adele Friar's sister Maddie goes missing in Cinderfield, England. It's an old market town in the forest of Dean. There is a local legend of a Cinderman haunting the woods and the number of missing persons in the area is surprisingly high.

Forensic specialist Laughton Rees follows up on a missing persons report on Maddie and investigates, talking with Adele and helped by DCI Tannahill Khan in London.

There's a forest commune, a trafficking ring, police corruption - and a killer targeting both Laughton and Adele. Great series!

I really really loved this one. After reading Dark Objects last year, I am a huge fan of Simon Toyne and the Laughton Rees series. This was a super creepy, fantastically paced read and I cannot wait to see what Mr. Toyne comes up with next.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This British mystery/thriller/whodunit follows an 'academic' forensic specialist working to find a missing person. I liked the investigator's present day tactics/tools/observations & also liked the fact that we got to see a little into her personal life/side too. Although this is the 2nd in the series, it isn't a requirement to read the 1st to follow right along with this one. I haven't read the 1st, but will go back to read it now, having liked the characters.....I'll want to go back & learn more about them! It's a good quick read, sometimes kind of scary/tense... I'd definitely recommend it to those who like an edgy thriller, & also a bit of a British aspect, & a strong female lead.
I received an e-ARC for review purposes from publisher William Morrow via NetGalley. All these opinions are my own

Another in a series with forensics Rees (but my first). A local legend, Cinderman, is blamed for recent misper but something is afoot. A big hard to get into this one (maybe need to go back in the series??)

The Clearing by Simon Toyne was a great thriller read! When I first got this book, I was not aware, it is was the second book in a series, I was very easily able to read it as a stand alone book. I will definitely be going back to read book one though! This book has a lot going on and it all seems to work!
Adele is a young woman living and working for a campground in a small town, Cinderfield. Her sister, Maddie, attends a festival and ends up not coming home. Adele is searching for her endlessly and it seems to bring up a lot of their past.
Adele doesn't seem to be able to catch a break in her town, most people do not want to help. Luckily, she befriends a woman named Laughton Rees. Laughton has come to the town to investigate a string of missing women from this area, including Adele's sister. They work together to try to find Adele's sister and the reason so man women have went missing. They are contending with unhelpful people from town, scary deep dark forests, and the story of the "Cinderman" a local urban legend. I really enjoyed this cat and mouse style book. It's a good, quick thrilling read.

Special thanks to @simontoyne @williammorrowbooks @netgalley and @thrillerbookloverspromotions for the opportunity to read and review this book!! M opinions are my own!

Simon Toyne, what a writer! Always a pleasure reading his books. He has a way of bringing you into the novel’s world organically.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in the series featuring the forensic expert, Laughton Rees. I was utterly engrossed in the story and couldn’t put the book down. The author skillfully weaves a suspenseful narrative with a touch of the supernatural, as Adele Fair embarks on a relentless quest to locate her missing sister, Maddie, who vanished under mysterious circumstances. Despite the lack of assistance from others, Adele’s determination remains unshaken. Yet, there are ominous forces determined to keep her from uncovering the truth.

What particularly captivated me was the supernatural aspect of the tale, drawn from the local legend of the Cinderman, a haunting figure that invades children’s dreams. Maddie is not the sole young woman to have disappeared in the vicinity where the Cinderman legend originates, hinting at a deeper enigma. The relentless suspense kept me eagerly flipping pages, craving to uncover the unfolding mysteries.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The first few chapters I was very confused what was happening but it started to click. The storyline was interesting and I really wanted to know about Maddie and the other missing girls. The best POV was definitely when the character was stuck inside the dark room. It was eerie and kept me wanting to find out more. The middle of the story however became somewhat boring to me and I really had to push myself to finish. I am glad I did because the twists were very good! I did not expect them in the least. 3.75 stars rounded up.

Thank you NetGalley, WilliamMorrow and Simon Toyne for my ecopy!

Maddie has gone missing and the police don’t seem to care when her younger sister Adele reports her as a missing person. Laughton Rees is a forensics expert and a professor who is researching the disappearances of 58 women over 2 decades. Maddie’s disappearance is the most recent case that fits the pattern, so Laughton contacts Adele. When the police refuse to get involved, Laughton simply declares that she is taking over the investigation. Seemed odd that a civilian could just show up and take over for the police, but maybe English law enforcement is peculiar.

There is a legend of a Cinderman lurking in the woods to abscond with women. But some of the villains in this book are so obvious from the beginning that we know that we don’t have to worry about any legends (the blurb also gives that away). However, there are multiple villains in this book, and one in particular really comes out of left field, and involves a huge coincidence. I am a little tired of “women-in-jeopardy” books and I need to take a break from them, but this book was ok. In addition to the missing women, both Adele and Laughton wind up in trouble in this book, but the only action takes place at the end. This is the second book in a series, but it is not necessary to read the first book. 3.5 stars

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

3.5 stars. I thought this book was really unique. Combining aspects of folklore and real-life true crime. The FMC Laughton is a powerhouse character. I really enjoyed many aspects of this book mainly the characters Adele and Laughton.

Simon Toyne, you are simply a master of the written word. I honestly don’t know of a better way to start my review of The Clearing than that statement. A dark yet also surprisingly easy read, I found myself flying through the pages from the very first word. In fact, the prologue itself spoke of both of those details. Filled with evocative prose that crafted pictures in my head as if my magic, the topic was also equally hard to stomach. At the same time, it wasn’t graphic in the least and merely pushed me onto the next chapter with speed.

Just like the first book in the series, Dark Objects, I was stunned yet again by the brilliance of the main character, Laughton Rees. Strong and intelligent but also harboring what could be a paralyzing disorder, she tackled Maddie’s disappearance in a way only she could. In this newest installment, however, Toyne took her up a notch through a burgeoning love affair with DCI Khan. That and her love for her daughter humanized her and took what could have been a hard character and made her instead into someone I cheered on from the sidelines.

But it was the plot that had me ripping through the pages. With a somewhat slow burn buildup typical of crime fiction (that felt decidedly more like a thriller), the suspense ratcheted higher and higher in an inchmeal fashion until the gasp-inducing twist revealed an altogether pulse-pounding climax. From there on out, it was all I could do to simply inhale each page faster and faster. Shrewd and well-written, the multiple POVs and deftly hidden clues kept me firmly in the dark. A fact that I was ever so happy about.

Then there were those twists and turns. One of which felt entirely out of left field, but only in the best possible way. Maybe a better armchair sleuth could’ve sniffed it out, but somehow I doubt it as it was so well hidden within the plot that it literally caused by jaw to drop. That was just the first one, though. Unfortunately, while just as well done, I had just the teeniest, tiniest inkling about one of the following revelations. But instead of ruining the book, it merely made me pat myself on the back for seeing ANYTHING coming in this complex and intricate plot.

Atmospheric but also proving to be one heck of a ride, I just could not get enough of this one. Thanks to several misleading red herrings, an eerie and sinister setting, and a truly epic cat-and-mouse game, my love for Toyne has grown leaps and bounds. In fact, all said and done, he has firmly managed to ensconce his name on my auto-buy author list. By the way, while this one could be read as a stand-alone, I definitely don’t recommend it as the first book in this series was just as good plus you’d miss out on some truly top-notch character development. Ultimately, I simply cannot rave about The Clearing enough and beg of you to rush out and grab your copy today! Rating of 5+ stars.

This book was a mystery the whole way thru. I wasn’t sure if it was going to be a murder mystery, a sci fi fantasy or something mystical. It kept you guessing until the very end with different viewpoints and it shocked you when you learned whose viewpoint it was. There were a lot of minor characters as suspect, which made it a little confusing to keep track of who’s who. But overall a very good mystery.

When Adele’s sister, Maddie, goes missing on Midsummer’s Eve, Adele knows she’s in trouble. Others try to say she ran away or she’s with a friend, but Adele knows it’s not true. The police are no help and Adele doesn’t know where to turn. Laughton Rees is a criminal researcher and she’s been looking at the area for some time as there are 58 women that have gone missing over the years. Having some free time on her hands she heads to the small village of Cinderfield. The village has some local legends with one being the forest phantom called the Cinderman, who’s believed to prey on young women. Adele and Maddie have a back story of their own and have bought themselves out of the clutches of a women that lives on the edge of the woods, and Adele is scared spitless of the forest. Laughton and Adele are soon investigating every aspect of Cinderfield. Will their questions be answered before it’s too late or will they be the next to go missing? Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Set against the backdrop of a small town near the mysterious Forest of Dean, this chilling tale follows lead forensic expert Laughton Rees as she uncovers a web of secrets, disappearances, and a sinister plot decades in the making.

The unraveling mystery is enriched by a cast of intriguing characters, each harboring their own secrets and motivations. The leaders of an off-grid commune, the enigmatic Earl of the crumbling abbey, and the ghostly presence of the Cinderman contribute to a tapestry of suspense that captivates the imagination.

Fans of mysteries, thrillers, and tales that blur the line between reality and myth will find themselves utterly captivated by the narrative's intricate twists, haunting setting, and complex characters. As the shadows deepen and the woods reveal their sinister secrets, readers are in for an electrifying journey that will stay with them long after the final page.

Thank you Netgalley and William Morrow for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

4/5 stars

Wow! This was my first book by Simon Toyne and I just have to say that it was a great first read! This was such a creepy book that had me so invested in the characters. This is the second book in the series, but it can definitely be read as a standalone book. I hadn’t had the chance to read the first book, but I don’t really feel like there was anything that I was really missing from the book or felt confused on since I hadn’t read it. I loved how the author immersed the reader into the story and the setting. You felt like you were in the woods with the characters and were right there with them throughout the story. This book definitely makes me want to go back and read the first in this series, Dark Objects! Overall, definitely one I would recommend!

From my blog: Always With a Book

This is the second book in Simon Toyne’s Laughton Rees series and it was just as good, if not better, than the first book, Dark Objects. I am so thankful to ThrillerBookLoversPromotions for introducing me to this author and inviting me to help promote this book! I’m not sure how I had not read anything by him before but I quickly changed that by devouring the two books in this series and highly recommend both!

This book is so atmospheric and eerie, with a setting that feels like a character itself. The forest where this story takes place is so sinister and dark, you will definitely think twice the next time you find yourself in the woods. I also loved how there was a blend of police work and folklore – it really made for such an exciting read. Being back with Laughton and seeing her take on this case – a case that caught her eye because of research she just happened to be doing, was so fascinating. As I mentioned in my review of the previous book, Dark Objects, where we are first introduced to Laughton, she can be a bit of a quirky character, thought that quirkiness tends to only show itself under times of extreme stress.

This book really kept me on edge as the story progressed, building in tension and suspense. I had no idea what to expect and loved all the twists and turns this book took, some quite unexpected which I loved. I thought I had a hand on what was going on, only to be completely blindsided a few times when reveals occurred. This really is a true cat and mouse game in a sense, or hunter and prey if you will. It’s dark and manages to get darker as the book progresses and yet I could not tear my eyes away, especially as I got closer to the end. My heart was racing as I neared the end and then felt that I needed to start all over again – how did I miss so many clues? This is definitely one of those books that I want to/need to read again because it is just so cleverly crafted.

I am now a huge fan of Simon Toyne. I love this series and hope there will be more books to come, but in the meantime, I definitely plan on checking out his backlist!

The storyline and twists in The Clearing kept me engaged until the very end. The book skillfully addresses important issues of our time, such as the flaws in the foster care system and the disturbing reality of human trafficking. I appreciated how the author infused folklore elements into the police investigation, adding an intriguing dimension to the narrative. The story also highlights the influence of powerful individuals in concealing evil deeds, making it all the more relevant.

However, I found the plot to be somewhat confusing at times, and I occasionally lost track of the true victim's identity. The story revolves around a mysterious forest with haunting legends, where a girl goes missing, and her determined sister sets out to find her. While the villains are never a mystery, the central focus lies on the stalking of Rees and her sister during their search. Rees is an interesting character, despite the unconventional way she becomes involved in the case. Her insightfulness and spunk add depth to the story.

While the setting was undeniably eerie, I prefer thrillers that emphasize characterization and intricate plots more. As a result, I didn't feel a strong emotional investment in whether the sister was found or not, as the mythical elements seemed to overshadow the empathy for the characters.

That said, the dark forest and its malevolence were effectively depicted, pulling readers into its chilling atmosphere. For those who enjoy horror movies, The Clearing might be a thrilling and engaging read.

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for letting me read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Is there anything more creepy than a small town forest with deep mysteries and scary legends followed by disappearing girls? The setting of this is written so atmospheric and absorbing, you begin to feel lost in that forest. A fantastic, chills down your spine, summer thriller!