The Black Highway

The Black Highway by Simon Toyne
6/24/25; 368 pages
HarperCollins
Laughton Rees #3

The Black Highway by Simon Toyne is a highly recommended investigative thriller. In England the River Thames is also called the black highway because of the number of homicide victims that are found in it. This is the third novel in the Laughton Rees series.

Detective Chief Inspector Tannahill Khan is called to the banks of the Thames where a male body, without hands and head, has been found. Tannahill is in a relationship with forensic specialist Laughton Rees so he immediately notices that her address has been written on the mans arm. The same night Laughton's teenage daughter, Gracie, demands to know who her father is for a school family tree project. Gracie’s father, Shelby Facer, was recently released from prison for his involvement in an international drug trafficking ring. When he unexpectedly turns up at Laughton's door he provides information that leads to the identification of the body. Then a second body in the same condition is found in the Thames.

It seems the case is tied to events from years ago and Tannahill and Laughton need to explore a past case, one that Laughton's father, Police Commissioner John Rees, was involved with. There are several twists and complications as the even-paced plot unfolds and new clues and evidence is uncovered. The pace does seem slow in the middle of the narrative. Along the way, the relationship between Laughton and Tannahill is explored and further developed.

The writing is very good and the story is interesting, however, having Gracie's father show up right after she learns his name is was way-too-much of a concurrence at the opening of the novel. It tempered my opinion while reading the rest of the novel, which essentially meant it had to be excellent in order to make-up for that glaring coincidence. Keep reading. It does make amends in many ways and the ending is surprising.

The Black Highway is a great choice for those who enjoy procedurals and investigative thrillers. Thanks to HarperCollins for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.