From the get-go, Dark Objects distinguishes itself as something more than your ordinary murder-investigation thriller. Written with an uncharacteristically beautiful prose that chills you deep down to your bones, this book is crafted brilliantly as a magnificent crime thriller that stands up to the best in the genre with more diversity and ingenuity than usually explored.
When a gruesome murder of a woman in a high tech secure house shakes the confidence of the elites in London, Forensics expert Laughlin Rees is pulled into the heart of the mystery when her book on how to process a murder is left by the murderer at the crime scene. Partnering up with the lead investigator, DCI Tannahill Khan, Rees must overcome her dark past with murderers to stop this one before she finds her daughter in the crosshairs of the unhinged murderer.
Dark Objects is not for the faint-hearted. Simon Toyne does not shy away from painting a vividly disturbing and ultimately realistic picture of horrifying crime scenes that carry the gravitas to propel the characters into action. Toyne’s insights into crime scene investigation make for one of the most shrewd and cunning works of literature I’ve read of recent. Coupled with a keen eye for introducing distinctive characters of both male and female genders, Toyne keeps the narrative fresh and engaging; Tannahill’s representation as an Irish-Pakistani is one I haven’t read in mainstream books, especially with the authenticity of Toyne’s indisputable research of the cultures. Rees herself is a very formidable and aptly written female protagonist with a heart of gold and the rage of a warrior. At no point during the whole narrative did she seem the least bit unnecessarily sexualized or overtly emotional for the sake of being a female character. Her martial arts training pays dividends during the climax.
The heart of this narrative is the art of processing a crime scene. Toyne walks readers through the grim and violent scenes with an expert hand, describing the scenes and emotions artfully. Every laser focused detail acts like an important puzzle piece to solve the mystery of the crime scene, leaving no single sentence wasted. Rees’s forensics mindset is a delight to traverse as she picks through the evidence smartly and energetically, amping up each chapter with vigor and enthusiasm.
Dark Objects is a must-read for all those who enjoy dabbling in dark stories where gray subject matters persist more than the typical straightforward resolutions. Captured artistically against the cloudy skylines of London, this cinematic thriller is one that will stay with you.
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