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!

DNF. Didn't want to read a grim kidnapping story. The opening is very similar to other of this sort and I was instantly put off.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
I loved this one! It is creepy and I still think about it weeks later!
It’s book 2 in a series, but makes complete sense on its own.
It’s about a forensic specialist named Laughton Rees. She discovers a pattern of an unusually high number of girls going missing in a small village. She goes to investigate and becomes involved in something more dangerous than she could have imagined.

I had no clue this was actually book 2 in the Laughton Rees series, but now I definitely want to go back and read the first one. I liked all of the characters and the legend of the Cinderman was pretty dang creepy. It was definitely a slow build, but when the climax hits, it’s a nonstop, mind-blowing ride to the last page. I actually found myself surprisingly emotional by the end, which tells you how well the characterization was since that rarely happens for me.

I liked the plot in this book. Although when I won it I didn't realize it was part of a series and this was the second. I prefer to read my books in order. This one had a lot of twist and turns and did keep me guessing until the end. the only real problem I had was it jumps between characters a lot and I found it confusing at times to keep track of who the actual vicitim was.

Dark Objects was one of my top reads last year and there’s no doubt The Clearing will be on my list this year!

Perfectly creepy and entirely atmospheric, The Clearing is definitely one to add to your overflowing TBR. The suspense is palpable and the shocking ending will have you re-reading THAT paragraph just to make sure you read what you thought you read.

I’m so glad Simon Toyne has written another book featuring Laughton Rees. She’s one of my favorite female protagonists and is comparable to Stephen King’s character, Holly. You don’t have to read these books in order but I absolutely recommend them both!

Read this one if you’re a fan of:
- Creepy settings
- Locked room mysteries
- Procedurals with a twist
- crime fiction
- sisterly bonds
- Dark family secrets
- Strong female MCs

This was a fast paced procedural thriller that kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next.

Synopsis:

Midsummer’s Eve brings tourists all over to celebrate alng the countryside amongs the ancient forest of Dean. Unfortunately it was the night that changed everything for local sisters Maddie and Adele Friar. Maddie went missing, last seen heading to a party with a mystery man at The Clearing, a commune in the forrest. Maddie and Adele have had a rough start in life with onely one another to lean on after being abandoned by their mother and father, and put in the fosters care system. Adele is determined to find her sister but the police won’t take her seriously because Maddie is known as a party girl. Time is wasting with only Adele looking for her. It’s not until criminologistt Dr. Laughton Rees takes charge of the investigation that there is any progress. Laughton has been studying crime and folklore and believes Maddie’s disappearance has to do with the Cinderman. What they find is far more disturbing then any local folklore could be.

My thoughts
Sometimes police prodedurals can drag on without much action but this book was kepy at a great pace with plenty of action. I loved Dr. Laughton and Adele, both strong female protagonists in different ways. I thought that Toyne did an excellent job creating these strong female characters. Another thing I really loved was the short chapters. When I mentioned that to Toyne he said he never writes more than five pages per a chapter because he fears it's getting too long at that point. This will surely keep me reading all future books by Simon Toyne!

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

“Strength doesn’t come from what you can do, it comes from overcoming the things you. Once thought you couldn’t.”

Wow! I really enjoyed this fast-paced thriller! I thought The Clearing was creatively written and loved the local legend of the “Cinderman” and how it played an interesting role in the story. Adele and her sister, Maddie have an amazing bond and the two were such well-developed characters. Dr. Laughton Rees was fearless and persistent. I very much enjoyed meeting her for the first time, since I didn’t read the first book in this series, Dark Objects. The chapters were short and I breezed through this book! A must read for all thriller lovers!!

The Clearing by Simon Toyne is scary. I loved the creepy vibes and was ready for anything Toyne was going to throw at me. I found this to be extremely fast paced and I was a big fan of Laughton. I didn’t read the first book in the series but i never felt like I was missing anything. I’m going to go back and read the first one, just to get to spend more time with these characters.

Throughput the book it has some parts that were slow moving. It was a rollercoaster of a read. The last 10-15 chapters were page turners.

This book was a great read! The pacing was well done and it kept me thinking the entire time. I’m so grateful for this arc copy, and I will be looking out for the authors future books!

My thanks to William Morrow, Simon Got me and Netgalley.
Yep, Simon now has a new fan. The dude can write a damn fine story.
I really enjoyed this story, while hating on it too.
I must say that the last 25% of it ended up shocking the crap out of me.
Much like the main character, I was also stunned when it came to that ending.
Simon Toyne is now on my watch list of author's. Believe me, at my age I don't add many new authors! Keep your eye on this guy because he's going places.

This book is creepy! The location and atmosphere only enhanced that. The forest, the spooky feeling you get when anyone walks into there.

I was drawn in immediately. The “Cinderman” folklore added to the creep factor.

I loved Laughton Rees. She was feisty and smart and no wasn't an anwer she accepted.

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

𝘎𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭!

I love a good police procedural, add to that some family drama, a creepy setting, lots of lies and strong female characters and you have a perfect mix that will keep you at the edge of your seat.

Thank you Thriller Book Lovers and William Morrow for this tour invite.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 by Simon Toyne releases today July 11, 2023.

https://www.instagram.com/booksandcoffeemx/

Set in Cinderfield, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire the story begins when Adele Friar’s older sister Maddie disappears without a trace on Midsummer’s Eve. The next day Adele frantically searches for Maddie and reports her missing to local law enforcement who initially tries to brush her off citing Maddie’s record for minor offenses, but Adele persists and manages to file a report. Maddie was last seen headed for “The Clearing” in the forest, common land inhabited by settlers who live in a community of their own making, with their own set of laws, enforced by a domineering matriarchal figure. Adele and Maddie had a traumatic childhood and have a history with the forest community. They usually avoid the area on account of their personal experiences and Adele cannot fathom why Maddie would be headed for a party in that location.

The missing persons alert reaches the ears of London-based forensic scientist Dr. Laughton Rees, who has an open file on the Cinderfield disappearances. Maddie's disappearance is not an isolated incident. Laughton’s research points to a total of 58 missing persons cases, dating back twenty years, that have neither been solved nor investigated. Locals often attribute the disappearances to “The Cinderman” a mythical figure from local folklore - a “forest phantom who’s believed to prey on young women”- but Laughton correctly assumes there is more to these cases than meets the eye. The lack of urgency on the part of local law enforcement indicates negligence and/or obvious cover-up and corruption within local enforcement. But how deep does this go? Laughton leaves for Cinderfield, determined to help Adele locate Maddie and get to the truth behind the disappearances. She is aided (from a distance) by DCI Tannahill Khan who is away attending a conference. It soon becomes evident that multiple entities are actively trying to create obstacles in Laughton and Adele’s search for Maddie and the truth. What follows is a complicated web of lies, corruption, crime and cover-ups. Will Maddie be found? Who is behind the disappearances and how far will they go to prevent Laughton from discovering the truth?

I truly enjoyed Simon Toyne’s writing in Dark Objects and with The Clearing the author does not disappoint! Dark, complex and suspenseful, the intriguing plot, the cast of characters and the even pacing made for a riveting read. I really liked the atmospheric setting, the incorporation of a folklore (fictional) element into the plot and how the plot is structured. The narrative is presented from multiple perspectives, seamlessly woven into a cohesive narrative. Though I could guess a few of the revelations along the way, I couldn’t wait for the final reveal and remained hooked till the very last page. On that note (I don’t want to give too much away), one thread of the story did leave me with a few questions but that did not detract from the overall reading experience. Additionally, I like how the author is portraying the evolving relationship between Tannahill and Laughton. I wish Tannahill Khan had a larger role to play in this installment and would love to see Laughton and Tannahill team up again in the future.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed The Clearing by Simon Toyne and look forward to future installments in this series. Many thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

My Rating: 3.75⭐️

My heart broke for Adele when she was trying to convince the police and everyone in town that her sister, Maddie, really did disappear. When the Cinderman came up I was all in because I tend to love all thrillers that have the main character's name ending in “man.” Add a forensic specialist on top of that, and now we’re on the way to solving the case.

The alternating chapters give us glimpses into what’s going on in all of the characters' minds including Maddie. If you’re looking for your next page turner then look no further!

This felt like a thriller for readers who don't read thrillers. I felt like the plot of this one was fairly predictable and that there were lots of plot holes towards the end. Not my favorite read. I found myself just trying to get through this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this novel.

4,5 stars

Thanks to #netgalley and #williammorrowbooks for my DRC of this fabulous book.

This was my first book by @simontoyneauthor and I can’t think why I’ve never read any of his books before! This was right up my alley, with some great characters, short chapters, some of which were down right scary and great writing style.
I absolutely loved it from start to finish.

I think this is the second book in a short series focusing on a forensic expert with a strange name - Laughton Rees.
She is a force to be reckoned with, and I just loved her relentless nature.

Laughton is investigating a series of disappearances of young girls over a period of twenty years near the Forest of Dean, known for the legend of Cinderman, who is said to roam the forest.

When she discovers yet another girl has gone missing, Rees decides to travel there to investigate. Upon her arrival she meets Adele, who is fighting against all odds to find her sister.

As we follow the investigation, we are informed of the existence of a girl in captivity in chapters that reminded me a lot of 'The Silence of the Lambs'.

Fast-paced, with a great twist I didn’t see coming, and some sinister characters, this was a hard one to put down!

Now I need to get my hands on the first book!