Clearing

From the author of the Sanctus series comes a brilliant new serial killer thriller featuring forensic specialist Dr Laughton Rees and Detective Chief Inspector Tannahill Khan Women are going missingSomething deadly lurks in the forest around Cinderfield. Locals put the unusually high number of disappearances down to transients or runaways; some even blame the Cinderman, a figure of local legend rumoured to haunt the woods looking for unsuspecting victims. Vanishing without a traceForensic specialist Laughton Rees doesn’t believe in monsters. Already investigating the area’s history of missing women, news of the latest ‘runaway’ Maddie Friar brings her to Cinderfield to find out the truth. No one’s talkingBut, from the gruff leader of an off-grid commune to the mysterious Earl who presides over the crumbling abbey in the heart of the forest, everyone in Cinderfield has something to hide But what lies in the shadows?As Laughton searches for answers, with the help of DCI Tannahil Khan back in London, someone is watching – cataloguing her every move, prepared to do anything to keep their dark secrets from coming to light

‘[A] haunting story that sends more than a shudder down the spine’ Daily Mail Best of the Year ‘[Simon Toyne] paints characters with such fine strokes that we can see every pore. It’s exquisite writing with ever-ratcheting tension.’ Tess Gerritsen in Observer ‘Gripping from first page to last, this is superb storytelling and it certainly sends a shudder down the spine.’ Mail Online ‘Clashing interests, an old case and intriguing and moving characters combine in this immensely readable novel that is, above all, about parenting.’ Library Review ‘This was a fun, crafty thriller… I love how he interwove a clever serial killer plot with a taught family drama. Definitely a one-sit read!’ Lisa Gardner, author of Before She Disappeared ‘An intense, compelling page-turner that is perfect for fans of Thomas Harris, from a hugely talented writer on top at the top of his game.’Steve Cavanagh, author of Thirteen ‘Simon Toyne knows his stuff, and in Dark Objects he puts it to excellent use, constructing a thrilling plot driven by intriguing, complex characters. The pacing is superb and as the suspense ratchets up you will find it impossible to put the book down.’Peter Robinson, author of Not Dark Yet ‘A stunning novel! Part wily procedural, part relentless psychological thriller, Dark Objects will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. And what a masterful voice, Toyne brings to his fiction!’Jeffery Deaver, author of Hunting Time and The Bone Collector ‘Simon Toyne, already one of the UK’s top thriller writers, really has outdone himself with Dark Objects. It’s intelligent, insanely paced and brimming with fresh ideas – I doubt I’ll read a better book this year.’M.W. CRAVEN, author of The Curator

Simon Toyne is the bestselling author of the Sanctus trilogy: Sanctus, The Key and The Tower. He wrote Sanctus after quitting his job as a TV executive to focus on writing. It was the biggest-selling debut thriller of 2011 in the UK and an international bestseller. His books have been translated into 27 languages and published in over 50 countries. Solomon Creed is the first book in a new series. Simon lives with his family in Brighton and the South of France.