Thank you to the publishers and Simon for this early review copy. Having read all of Simon's previous books I was very happy indeed to get my hands on this. So this is very different from his previous books but equally brilliant, also it's the start of a new series which is great to hear that there is more on the way. We start off with a dead body in a very secure house with items strategically placed around them - one of which is a book... Very little is known about the couple who live in the house, except they appear to be wealthy and the husband has gone missing. You are hooked straight into this book, excellent plot, great characters and perfect pace! Very happy to recommend all of Simon's books and I will now be found pacing around for the second in this series! So if you have never read Simon's books before - go check them out.

Wow – what a complex thriller! A bit creepy but my goodness it keeps you hooked. So very well written and I absolutely loved the main characters, especially Cecilia the cleaner and Laughton. This was a really clever novel and it makes you wonder how authors can even think up some of these plots! The only thing that really confused me (there were a few things that confused me but only one that ‘really’ confused me) was when, at 16% in, Tannahill sees DS Baker heading down the stairs in the mansion where they’d just found Kate Miller’s body. “You found the husband yet?” one of them asks (I can’t work out which one it was). “Yeah, turns out he was upstairs all along.” Am I missing something???? They didn’t find him till much later in the book – or have I misunderstood? Despite this, and wishing the ending had been a little different (can’t say more as I don’t want to spoil it for anyone), this was a definite 5 star read that kept me on tenterhooks and I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a sequel. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this fantastic story in return for an honest review.

A complex and enjoyable read! A woman is found dead in her luxury home , and her husband is missing . The main characters Tannahill and Laughton make a great team although they both have their own issues . Tannahill is the lead detective on the case and Laughton is a forensic analyst and their partnership works well and I hope they have future cases together . Laughton has a lot of deep seated issues and once you learn her back story , it becomes understandable. The writing is excellent and kept me hooked , there are plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader hooked , and the ending wasn’t one I had envisaged! Highly recommended. Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK.

An excellent crime book from an author new to me. The lead character is a half Irish and half Asian detective who works quietly and in a very understated way to solve the murder of an extremely rich woman with the help of a university lecturer who is also the estranged daughter of the police commissioner. The plot is neatly woven and moves at a good pace and held my interest throughout. The author has his own distinctive style which is refreshing and makes this an excellent addition to the British crime genre.

‘One body. Four objects. Zero clues.’ cover tag line, My thanks to HarperCollins U.K. for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Dark Objects’ by Simon Toyne. A few years ago I read Toyne’s Sancti Trilogy so was excited about his latest: a forensic crime thriller set in London. A few plot details: a wealthy woman is found brutally murdered in her London mansion. Surrounding her body are posed four mysterious objects. One especially attracts their attention: a book on forensics by Dr Laughton Rees. Laughton is a forensic analyst, an expert on reading crime scenes. However, she has a golden rule to never work live cases as when Laughton was a teenager she had witnessed her mother’s murder and remains traumatised. DCI Tannahill Khan, the lead detective on the case, is keen to persuade Laughton to assist him with the investigation. The situation is complicated by the fact that Laughton’s father is the Police Commissioner, though they are estranged. I found this a well paced and highly engaging crime thriller. I felt that the character development was good, with Laughton emerging as a relatable lead. The ending does allow for the possibility of a follow up or even a series. I certainly would welcome this.