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Review #1 by Philip Zozzaro

Detective Chief Inspector Tannahill Khan had better plans for the evening than examining a body pulled out of the Thames River. Unfortunately, a floater has wound its way up “The Black Highway,” and it has become his latest case. The corpse is well dressed, but that doesn’t camouflage that it’s both headless and handless. As Khan and fellow investigators examine the body, they find an address scrawled on the victim’s arm, which prompts Khan to call Dr. Laughton Rees.

"The anticipation steadily builds with every lead uncovered and body found, resulting in an electrifying climax that proves more than satisfying. Toyne has written a marvelous book from start to finish."

A specialist in forensics, Laughton is Khan’s girlfriend and the occupier of the address. She is also the daughter of a renowned police officer and the mother of a brooding teenager, Gracie, who hasn’t warmed up to her relationship with Khan. Gracie has been asking questions about her biological father, which comes with a lot of baggage. Laughton is reluctant to discuss Shelby Facer because of his criminal background. However, the past comes knocking at Laughton’s door as Shelby has just been released from jail and is seeking shelter from a murderous criminal accomplice. He is soon apprehended by the police for trespassing, and Laughton’s unwillingness to help him only alienates her from Gracie.

Khan is perplexed about the identity of the body pulled from the water and why his girlfriend’s address would be written on the individual’s arm. When the identity of the victim is confirmed, and there is a connection to Shelby, the picture starts to gain clarity. While Khan works his case and hits investigatory roadblocks, Laughton decides to dive into her past. She hasn’t told Khan that her father was in on the bust that brought down Shelby and other accomplices. The arrest involved a drugs-for-diamonds swap, and the diamonds apparently never made it into evidence. As Laughton looks into a storage unit that belonged to her father, she is accosted by an unknown assailant who is seeking information held in the locker. Laughton survives the encounter, but the masked man gets away with crucial documents.

While Laughton and Khan explore different investigations, another body is found. It appears to be Shelby’s. Laughton resorts to self-recrimination, but Khan is quick to dispel her guilt for not aiding her ex. The murders stem from the aborted diamond caper, and the culprit is hellbent on extracting information from his victims before dispatching them cruelly and methodically. Laughton and Khan will need to unravel this mystery before the killer strikes closer to home.

THE BLACK HIGHWAY is a gripping mystery about secrets, revenge, and how there are no limits when protecting one’s family. Laughton believes that she is doing the best for her daughter by not allowing her to know Shelby, a man who, while charismatic, is also a seducer and a criminal.

Simon Toyne conveys the conflict between mother and daughter in a heartfelt and convincing way while highlighting the parallels between their strained relationship and the friction between Laughton and her father. The tension is apparent from the outset, as the discovery of the body in the Thames first puts a crimp in Laughton and Khan’s plans and soon exposes cracks in their relationship as Laughton’s past is revealed. The anticipation steadily builds with every lead uncovered and body found, resulting in an electrifying climax that proves more than satisfying. Toyne has written a marvelous book from start to finish.
 

Review #2 by L. Dean Murphy

Following 2023’s BLOOD TRACES, internationally bestselling author Simon Toyne presents the third entry in his Rees/Kahn series, THE BLACK HIGHWAY, published in Europe as DEAD WATER.

New to the series and without difficulty, I dove right into the US version. A body sans head and hands floated into an eddy at Tower Bridge along London’s River Thames. Detective Chief Inspector Tannahill Kahn finds a familiar name written on the inside of an arm and calls in Dr. Laughton Rees, a forensic criminologist who often consults with detectives during difficult cases. Especially those involving Kahn. Laughton immediately identifies the clue provided by the “name” written on the arm.

"Transcending the murder mystery aspect, the plot rockets to the suspense/thriller stratosphere. The pages pulse with tension... THE BLACK HIGHWAY is a diabolically delightful read and is highly recommended."

Paragraph-long bits of backstory inform readers that Laughton’s father, John Rees, was a high-ranking detective who did not prevent the murder of his wife, Laughton’s mom. Rebellious as a teen, Laughton resented her father and hooked up with Shelby Facer in a commune. To end their relationship, Rees instituted Operation Henry 8, using names of the king’s six wives for players in a complex case involving uncut diamonds worth $30 million. Shelby had the code name of one of those wives and wound up in a Florida jail for 15 years.

Shelby is now free and appears at the penthouse Laughton inherited from her father. He learns that Laughton’s teen daughter, Gracie, is his child. He appears contrite and attempts to reconcile with Laughton. However, penetrating the building’s strict security and appearing at her door leads to Shelby being escorted out by police officers, including Kahn.

Transcending the murder mystery aspect, the plot rockets to the suspense/thriller stratosphere. The pages pulse with tension, especially with a diabolical name change to Calais, from which Anne Boylen requested an expert swordsman to assure a swift end. Another headless body found in the Thames is linked to one of the Operation Henry 8 sixpack. Kahn is obsessed with securing archived unredacted files of John Rees, while Laughton walks a tightrope balancing Gracie’s need to learn more about her own father, and the necessity to protect her child.

Astute readers may surmise the conclusion, but it is a labyrinthine path that leads us to learn more about Laughton and John Rees, who took appalling secrets to his grave. Laughton learning more about her past hopefully leads to many more installments in this series.

THE BLACK HIGHWAY is a diabolically delightful read and is highly recommended.