Dark Objects

What a cracking read! I picked this up as a freebie a few months ago, but it sat on my TBR pile for longer than it should. Simon Toyne is an author and TV producer – if you can find his series “Written In Blood” where he interviews crime fiction authors about real-life cases that have inspired his writing, I heartily recommend it.

In brief, a woman – one half of a ‘perfect’ couple – is brutally murdered in her own home, in a wealthy London suburb. Her body is found by the couple’s cleaner, posed with a number of objects, including a copy of How To Process A Murder, by troubled criminologist, Laughton Rees. Her husband is missing.
DCI Tannahill Khan is assigned the case. What unfolds is an excellently crafted police procedural, with plenty of twists, turns and misdirections. Khan is a well-formed and sympathetic character, but arguably the principal character is Laughton Rees. She has a complex and tragic background, which led her to becoming an expert in the field of criminology, but which has left her reluctant to leave the theoretical comfort of academia and teaching to examine live cases. Unfortunately, the presence of her book at the scene means that she has little choice but to become involved.

What I like about this book, is that in addition to it being an excellent detective novel, is the well-layered and complex characters. They have a rich background that makes them compelling to read. Laughton’s own tragic past, which has coloured her relationship with her daughter, brings emotional depth to the character. We also see glimpses through the killer’s eyes. This not only adds depth to the narrative, but also ratchets up the tension, as we see him watching those who are trying to bring him to justice. It makes the characters feel more vulnerable.

The relationship between Khan and Rees grows and matures throughout the book, and by the end of the story I found myself hoping that the author chooses to visit them again in future.

Another highly recommended read.