Book Review: Degrees of Darkness by Tony J Forder

Delighted to see the shiny new cover for Tony J Forder's Degrees of Darkness. I read this book last year, but as today is shiny new cover day, I thought I'd share it with you on The Crime Warp. 

Blurb

Available here

Nothing is ever entirely black or white.

Pre-teen girls are being abducted from their homes and their families murdered. When Frank Rogers, ex-
DI with the Metropolitan Police, is told that his own daughter is missing, his son a victim, he sets aside his grief to help old colleagues investigate the case. 

Soon Frank’s face is all over the news. And in an unexpected turn of events, the killer contacts the police to say he is willing to talk. But only to Frank.

When the body of the first abducted girl is discovered, Frank realises the investigation has become a race against time to save his daughter’s life. 

In order to solve the case, Frank must work out how the killer is choosing his victims. To do that, he must first enter the killer’s mind. But is Frank able to drag himself into its darker reaches? And if so, will he be able to pull himself back?

My Thoughts 

Wow ! I loved this book. I like my reading dark and in Degrees of Darkness I got exactly what it says on the tin. The deeper I read, the darker it got. But then, how could it not when you have a devious serial killer entering peoples homes, killing the entire family, bar a daughter, who he then abducts?

Add to the mix, the need for the killer to be recognised - to boast about his deeds and a distraught father whois also an ex-cop(Frank Rogers) and you have an explosive cat and mouse game in play.
The killers mind set is explored brilliantly through chapters dedicated to him, his motivations and his gross deeds. Whilst the sections written from the point of view of his latest victim, Frank Rogers' daughter show her escalating fear as the knowledge that she will die begins to sink in.
The plotting on this one was tight, taking the reader further into the darkness as Frank Rogers is pushed to the very edge of his humanity.
A brilliant exploration of the human mind and just how far people can be pushed in extreme circumstances.
I do hope this will become a series, as I am desperate to continue into the darkness with Frank Rogers.

Author Bio

Tony J Forder is the author of the bestselling DI Bliss crime thriller series. The first seven books, Bad to the Bone, The Scent of Guilt, If Fear Wins, The Reach of Shadows, The Death of Justice, Endless Silent Scream, and Slow Slicing, will be joined in December 2020 by a prequel novella, Bliss Uncovered.

Tony's other series - two action-adventure novels featuring Mike Lynch - comprises both Scream Blue Murder, and Cold Winter Sun.

In addition, Tony has written two standalone novels: a dark, psychological crime thriller, Degrees of Darkness, and a suspense thriller set in California, called Fifteen Coffins, released in November 2020.

Tony lives with his wife in Peterborough, UK, and is now a full-time author. He is currently working on Bliss #8, The Autumn Tree.
Links
Website: https://www.tonyjforder.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonyjforder/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TonyJForder @TonyJForder
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16166122.Tony_J_Forder
Fantastic Fiction: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/f/tony-j-forder/