When I began, The Black Highway, I had wished I had read the other books in the series. However, once I began reading, I was able to let go of that regret.
This is an investigative thriller that took you along for a wonderful ride with forensic specist Laughton Rees. Little did she know the case of the headless and handless body would draw her deeper in. The father of her daughter is somehow involved, along with a dangerous man from her past.
The pace of the story, and character development was great. I will definitely backtrack to read the first two books in the series.
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This book starts off with a bang within the first few pages, finding a body on the river. It grabbed my attention immediately and made me want to know exactly what happened and why certain things were written on the body. I liked the guessing and the police chase with modern day tracking. I do like the flashback to Laughton father and how he factored into the cases that were coming to light surrounding the dead body.
The only thing I thought was missing or I wanted more of was the relationship/meeting with Laughton's daughter and her father. I was hoping to have a little more in the beginning of the book.
I could feel the anxiousness coming to me with the ending and how things would play out second by second. It was written very well.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

🚨 Simon Toyne’s The Black Highway is a forensic thriller that doesn’t just dig up bodies—it exhumes secrets, regrets, and the tangled roots of family legacy. In this third installment of the Laughton Rees series, Toyne delivers a taut, emotionally charged mystery that pulses with urgency and psychological depth.

🕵️‍♀️The Plot
When a mutilated corpse—missing head and hands—surfaces in the Thames, forensic specialist Laughton Rees is pulled into a case that’s disturbingly personal. The victim is linked to a smuggling ring her late father once investigated, and the only lead comes from Shelby Facer—her ex-lover and the estranged father of her daughter, Gracie. As more bodies appear and the past resurfaces, Laughton must navigate a labyrinth of betrayal, buried truths, and maternal instinct to protect what matters most.

🔍 Why It Stands Out

- Dual Timelines: Toyne masterfully interweaves present-day investigation with a 16 year old flashback, creating a layered narrative that deepens suspense and emotional resonance.

- Emotional Stakes: Laughton isn’t just solving a crime—she’s confronting the ghosts of her youth, the legacy of her father, and the fragile bond with her daughter.

- Atmospheric Setting: The Thames, dubbed the “black highway,” becomes a haunting metaphor for the flow of secrets and the inevitability of reckoning.

- Procedural Precision: Toyne’s background in television shines through in the pacing and structure, making each revelation feel cinematic and earned.

🧠 Themes That Resonate

- Legacy & Identity: The novel explores how the past shapes us—and how confronting it can either destroy or redeem.

- Motherhood & Protection: Laughton’s fierce love for Gracie drives the narrative, adding emotional weight to every decision.

- Truth vs. Loyalty: As old alliances unravel, the story asks whether justice can coexist with personal history.

🗝️ The Black Highway is more than a procedural—it’s a psychological excavation. Toyne doesn’t just build a mystery; he builds a reckoning. With its blend of forensic intrigue, emotional depth, and narrative finesse, this novel cements Laughton Rees as one of crime fiction’s most compelling heroines.

This Case Becomes Very Personal Very Quickly

A body without hands or a head is discovered at low tide near the Tower Bridge. DCI Tannahill Khan is on the scene. He observes something that makes him call Laughton Rees to the scene. Without a face, she does not recognize the body. What unnerves Rees is that what appears to be her address is written just above the left wrist. From this unnerving start, Rees finds herself and Gracie, her daughter, in grave danger.

This novel has B-storyline threads that are so integral to the main storyline that they need to be addressed in conjunction with the main storyline threads. The investigation is the only main storyline thread in the novel. Laughton Rees joins DCI Khan in the investigation. There are three major obstacles. The romantic relationship between Rees and Khan is heating up, but Rees and her teenage daughter, Gracie, have hit a rough patch, and now is not the time for Khan to move in with Rees. Gracie challenges her relationship with her mother over the identity of her father. Rees has a problem telling Gracie she may have just seen his dead body. The last issue is that Rees’s father was part of the team that conducted a successful sting operation, where blood diamonds were used to pay for a weapons shipment. The diamonds were never recovered. The remaining two threads concern the actions and thoughts of two criminals in the Diamonds for Guns exchange. I found that the overall pace of the novel was good. The five different voices provided a better all-around understanding of the main storyline. There are several well-placed twists at the literary Grenade level and one at a tsunami level that changed my whole understanding of the story. These aspects helped capture my attention.

Besides watching how Rees juggles the investigation and her relationships with Khan and Gracie, this novel provides much more insight into how Rees and her father became estranged, how she became pregnant, and how she transformed from a drug-using vagrant to a professor at the London Metropolitan University. There is even a very evident C-storyline as Rees goes from estrangement to wishing that she could have spent more time with her father before he died. The background and B- and C-storylines significantly enhanced my enjoyment of reading this novel.

There are minimal aspects that can cause some readers to stop reading this novel. There are no intimate scenes. The level of inappropriate and impious language is minimal. While the two scenes of violence are pretty mild, the description of the mutilated bodies should be limited to a more mature audience. I found reading this novel on an e-reader to be quite advantageous because of the easy access to the Internet. The British slang and geography frequently required me to search the Internet. This novel is the third I’ve read, and it's also the third in the series. I do not believe that reading the earlier novels is needed to enjoy reading this one. This novel will offer a deeper insight into the father-daughter relationship, as seen in the first two novels.

The only issue I had with this novel was the ending. As this is the last of the series, Khan’s actions were consistent with his character. I did have a problem with Laughton Rees’s actions at the end. I will let you read and decide if you have an issue or not. On the plus side, this novel was delightfully complex, keeping my interest to the very end, just as the earlier novels did. This author easily became one of my Must-Read authors. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel and highly recommend it. I am waiting to see what his next novel will be. I rate this novel with five stars.

I received the free, pre-publication e-book version of this novel from William Morrow through NetGalley. My review is based solely on my own reading experience. Thank you, William Morrow, for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

Compulsive and complex investigative mystery weaving crimes of past and present, secrets coming undone, and in the end asking who are the real criminals. Some real twists and some life changing finds - and how will it all pan out? Believable characters with real life baggage make the story relatable.

This is the third book in the series and it follows Laughton as she is investigating another murder case! Whats strange about this one is the connection to Laughton, the body has her address written on it. So creepy. I liked how it ties her daughter, past and her professional all into the book and the intense pace of the mystery. I also enjoyed the setting of the River in London. It makes me feel like I was visting there in real life. Another great one by Simon Toyne.

WOW! I loved this book and the twists right up to literally the final page! While I did figure out before it was revealed, who the actual killer was, it was still a gripping storyline to follow and I definitely recommend! Can't wait to read the next in the Laughton Rees series! Thank you NetGalley, so much for the sneak peek- 4.75 stars.

Thank you William Morrow, #partner, for the finished copy of The Black Highway in exchange for my honest review.

This is the 3rd book in the Laughton Rees series and having loved the previous 2 books–Dark Objects and The Clearing–this was a most anticipated read ad it did not disappoint. Once again, I devoured this book, unable to put it down until I reached the conclusion…a conclusion that completely shocked me! ⁣
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I love how atmospheric and thrilling these books are and this latest one is no exception. The “black highway” is what they call the River Thames because of the number of bodies that are pulled from it. With the book opening with a dead man being discovered and missing his head and hands, I knew this book was going to be good…little did I know just how good! The twists and turns this case took, bringing Laughton’s past and present into it really amped up the tension and it never let go. ⁣
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If you like dark, gritty police procedurals balanced with amazing characters you can get behind, don’t miss out on this one. And if you are a fan of series, I highly recommend starting at the beginning.

Thank you williammorrow for the gifted, digital ARC. This is the third installment in the Laughton Rees series and each book just gets better! This one was filled with so much tension and so twisty, I did not see the end coming! These are definitely best read in order, but give enough recap that there can be time between and you won’t miss a thing! This one felt like the culmination of the past two books came to a head and all the drama ensued. It is graphic, dark and so incredibly fast paced. The way Toyne is able to so accurately capture and convey the female POVs along with the male is rare! You won’t be able to put it down! I feel like it’s the perfect book three for this series! I can’t wait to see what is next for these characters and this author!

The Black Highway was an amazing and compelling thrill ride that had me hooked the entire way through.
Simon Toyne’s books always maintain my interest and this was no exception.
These characters were brought to life and the author’s writing and descriptions of the characters and scenery were really well written.
An extremely well written story with an intricate plot and skillfully drawn characters. it's a real page turner with twists and turns that seem to spin out of control. The ending was just amazing.
She has written another great book, exciting, thrilling and a real page-turner.

Don't blame the prey for the hunter's nature

When a body washes up on the banks of the River Thames, minus its head and hands, it is tabloid news catnip. DCI Tannahill Khan doesn't have much to go on until he notices an address written on the body...the address belonging to forensic specialist Laughton Rees who is both a consultant to the Metropolitan Police and his current love interest. A painful chapter in Laughton's past is about to come crashing into her present. When Laughton was 15 her mother was brutally murdered, killed by a criminal as payback to her father, the cop who had arrested him. Laughton, devastated, blamed her father for her loss and ran away, living on the streets and getting by as best she could. There she met and became involved with Shelby Facer, much older than her and a supplier of drugs. She was self-medicating and on a bad path until a police raid landed her in a hospital where she found she was pregnant. Having her daughter compelled her to get clean, stay away from Shelby, and get back on the path to a responsible life. She would eventually reconcile with her father only to have him die soon afterwards. Now, after all these years, Shelby is out of prison and on her doorstep, warning her that a dangerous felon is looking for retribution on those who convicted him....among them her father, from whom she inherited the apartment where she and her daughter Grace now live. Laughton doesn't want Shelby anywhere near Grace, who is only now learning about her father and desperately wants to get to know him. Can Laughton, working with Khan, dig into her past and her father's old case files and discover who the killer is, and can she keep Grace safe from the dangers swirling around them?
The Black Highway, the third installment is the series featuring Laughton Rees, is a psychological thriller which melds elements of a police procedural with a family's secrets. Laughton is a character to whom a reader can easily identify, a single mother to a rebellious teen who is juggling her career, a burgeoning relationship with Khan (of which Grace decidedly does not approve), and now an unwelcome blast from the past. Having major regrets about not having reconciled with her own father soon enough, she understands her daughter's desire to get to know Shelby and to believe that he has changed, but Laughton doesn't trust him which causes the two of them major friction. Is Shelby still the master manipulator who had seduced her all those years ago, or did his time in prison reform him and he is only back in her life to warn her of the dangers closing in on her? The plot is fast paced, the procedural aspects of the story compelling, and the stakes in this case are all too personal and far too high for comfort. Readers of John Connolly, Deborah Crombie and Jeffrey Deaver will enjoy this, as will fans of author Simon Toyne. My thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for allowing me access to this suspenseful read in exchange for my honest review.

This intense thriller hooks you from the start with Laughton Rees, a forensic specialist facing not only a complex murder case but also her complicated past. The intertwining of her personal history with the investigation adds emotional depth, making the stakes feel even higher. The chilling murders and the layers of secrets keep the suspense tight throughout. While some plot twists feel familiar, the strong character development and atmospheric London setting make this a compelling read for crime fiction fans.

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the ARC.

Honest to god, if you're not reading the Laughton Rees series WHY NOT. This is the 3rd book and it CAN function as a standalone but I don't know why you'd want it to when you could just READ THE FIRST TWO! Simon Tyone is an auto-buy author for me and I really feel like I should apologize for devouring these books much faster than you write them and then being sad when I have to wait again.

But I will continue to do that because I love this series so much.

Very exciting from the opening pages, a headless, handless body is found in the River Thames. The setting in London adds to story for me. I really enjoy a forensic police procedural. The twists and turns caught me off guard. I try not to predict the ending. This is book three of the Laughton Rees series, I had no trouble keeping up with the story.

Thank you to William Morrow for the ARC.

A body washes up by Tower Bridge, on the river Thames, sometimes called The Black Highway, no hands or head, but it does have the address of forensic specialist Laughton Rees on the arm. This body has ties to Leighton's past. It turns out the victim is known to Leighton's ex, who has resurfaced after being in prison for 16 years on drug charges. It is not long before another body surfaces in the same condition. The past and the present collide with secrets revealed. Could these bodies have to do with Leighton's father, former commissioner for the Metropolitan police, who was in charge of the investigation that resulted in her ex being jailed and the loss of valuable product?

This third outing with Leighton Rees is a fast paced mystery, police procedural. The appearance of Shelby Facer, who happens to be her daughter, Gracie's father, brings danger to the mother and daughter. Rees and DCI Tannahill Khan, with whom she is personally involved, race quickly to solve the murders.

I enjoyed The Black Highway and was surprised by the twist at the end. The characters are well developed by now. If this is the first book in the series you are reading, you will have no trouble. (I do recommend reading the first, Dark Objects, which is my favorite.) I had one issue with the plot and that was Gracie " coincidentally" asking about her father for a school project and then having him show up.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, William Morrow Group | HarperCollins Publishers, for an ARC. The opinions in the review are my own.

If you're looking for a thriller with a British setting and some relationship drama, this is likely for you. A forensic specialist who, as a runaway, had a daughter with a manipulative man when she was a teen herself faces a problem when that man gets out of prison and wants to connect. She's also consulting on a case of a man found in the Thames with his head and hands removed, which appears connected to the crime that landed the father in prison. The ending is fast-paced, thrilling, and twisty.

So you may enjoy it! I found it not really my cup of tea, a bit written to formula, but others will likely disagree. It's the third book in a trilogy and I could follow it all without any issue, but it might be especially appealing to those already familiar with the characters.

This intense thriller hooks you from the start with Laughton Rees, a forensic specialist facing not only a complex murder case but also her complicated past. The intertwining of her personal history with the investigation adds emotional depth, making the stakes feel even higher. The chilling murders and the layers of secrets keep the suspense tight throughout. While some plot twists feel familiar, the strong character development and atmospheric London setting make this a compelling read for crime fiction fans.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the early copy.

From the publisher: Forensic specialist Laughton Rees is not ashamed of her checkered past—after all, her youthful indiscretions led to the birth of her daughter Gracie, the person she loves most in the world—but when Gracie’s father unexpectedly turns up in their lives again, Laughton is automatically wary.

The Black Highway is a fast-paced thriller set in London with interesting characters. It’s the third book in a series featuring forensic specialist Laughton Rees and her sort-of boyfriend, Detective Chief Inspector Tannahill Khan. Rees is neurodivergent and has OCD and a number of habits like tapping things three times. Tannahill is half Irish, half Pakistani and faces casual racism on the job.

The “black highway” is another term for the River Thames in England, because of the number of bodies that are pulled from it. The book opens with a dead man in a suit washing up on the river’s edge – missing his head and his hands. Soon a second, similar corpse joins the first in the morgue. The first dead man has an address inked on his arm – Laughton’s address.

The story does a good job of balancing the uncertain nature of the relationship between Laughton and Tannahill and the details of the crimes. The dead men appear to be connected both to Gracie’s felon father (whom she has never met) and a heist involving uncut diamonds that Laughton’s dead police commissioner father investigated years before. Laughton discovers her father had an enormous storage locker. What secrets are hidden inside? Gracie is a sullen angry teenager who heightens Laughton’s stress. Tannahill is frustrated by police politics and a lack of resources, as well as his mother wanting updates on his romance with Laughton.

I enjoyed the London setting the twists and turns of the plot, and I did not guess the big reveal toward the end. One thing I didn’t like was the incredible coincidence of Gracie demanding to know who her father is on the same day her mother finds out that he has just been released from prison. It feels like that could have been handled better. Still, overall this is a great series and I recommend it.

I read an advance reader copy of The Black Highway from Netgalley. It is scheduled to be published on June 24 and will be available for checkout at the Galesburg Public Library. The library owns the first two books; Dark Objects is the first.

Thank you, William Morrow for providing the copy of The Black Highway by Simon Toyne. This is book three in the Laughton Rees series. I loved the first book so I was excited to read this one. I loved the beginning and the ending, but the middle sometimes dragged in parts. Laughton is a great character and I loved her relationship with Tannahill Khan who joins her in the investigation. The story was interesting, but the relationships were what made the book shine. There are surprises, and as I mentioned before, the ending is amazing. I can’t wait to find out what happens next! 3 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishing for this advance reader’s copy, in exchange for an honest review. “The Black Highway” has an expected publication date of March 15, 2025.
The title of the latest novel from Simon Toyne might be a bit misleading at first glance. “The Black Highway” isn’t really a highway. It’s the nickname (I’m assuming Toyne has done his research, and this is accurate, even in a work of fiction) for the River Thames in London. So named for its dark color, and a history of homicide victims set adrift among the currents.
This is also the third book in the Laughton Rees series, but I never felt at a disadvantage for not having read the first two.
The story bursts from the opening pages with (you guessed it) a dead body found along the banks of the River Thames. But not just any body. This one is missing a head and both hands. And it’s not the last body that will be found in that condition.
Laughton, a forensic specialist, is pulled into the case not only due to her involvement with detective Tannahill Khan, but the appendage-less bodies seem to trace back to a major international drug trafficking case her father, John Rees, former commissioner for the Metropolitan police, was involved with before he died.
Muddying the waters even further is the sudden appearance of Shelby Facer, recently released from a lengthy prison sentence for his involvement in the case Laughton’s father cracked. He’s also the father of Laughton’s 15-year-old daughter Gracie, conceived during a brief romance when Laughton herself was a teen.
The key to solving the murders may lie in the past; in the boxes Laughton’s father has squirreled away in a large storage facility. It’s a past Laughton is loath to explore.
The narrative moves along at a fairly brisk and inviting pace, interspersed with flashback chapters to 16-years prior that detail the drug bust that sent Shelby and others to prison, and likely sparked the revenge-fostered killing spree.
There are a few very predictable sequences, as well as character behaviors (like not answering cell phones) that seem dramatically out of character for these driven personalities. There are also times where you might want to smack Gracie upside the head and tell her to wake up and smell the coffee.
And of course, there’s the major plot twist that you may or may not see coming. I didn’t, but then I have a habit of not even trying to guess what’s up around the bend.
Overall, “The Black Highway” is an engaging read that will hold your interest. And if it’s your first in the series, as it was for me, might tempt you to check out the first two installments. I give it four out of five stars.
And you can check out all my reviews at my Raised on Reading (www.raisedonreading.com) blog site.