You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by nietzschesghost
The Reach of Shadows by Tony J. Forder
5.0
The Reach of Shadows, the fourth book in the superb DI Jimmy Bliss series, is the best instalment so far, and each time somehow they simply get better and better. This has swiftly become one of my go-to series', as know I can trust Mr Forder to produce nail-bitingly tense and exasperatingly exciting crime fiction; this book is no exception. As always the plot is multilayered with a main storyline and a minor side story added in for good measure, and the detail paid to each makes them both as gripping as each other. Forder is also incredibly adept at giving the reader plenty of surprises and twists and turns that are not only unpredictable but come at you thick and fast.
I was pleasantly surprised that even though this is quite a long novel it never lost momentum or became boring, and I was never tempted to skim read at any point. The action-packed nature of the story propels it forward and it doesn't lose steam until you close the cover. You can tell this has been carefully concocted and constructed by a master of his craft, not to mention a master of the most engrossing suspense. The investigations and procedures unfurl in an authentic manner and seem to represent the way police operate in the real world. Everything happens slowly and meticulously as they build up a case and dig deeper until they find exactly what they're looking for.
I cannot close the review without mentioning the characterisation; it's magnificent! The dynamic between main protagonists DI Bliss and DS Penny Chandler adds a lighthearted facet to the story as they enjoy throwing banter back and forth. Bliss is such a beautifully flawed human character which I always appreciate, and he is an intelligent, witty and tenacious investigator, but he is certainly underappreciated by his superiors.
Tony Forder has to be one of the most criminally underrated writers in the business, so if you're a fan of gritty crime fiction, detective novels and/or police procedural's you need to read this series pronto. I can pretty much guarantee your enjoyment, and although each of these novels work perfectly as standalones to get the best experience and see these characters grow and evolve I'd recommend reading them chronologically. Thoroughly recommended.
Many thanks to Bloodhound Books for an ARC.
I was pleasantly surprised that even though this is quite a long novel it never lost momentum or became boring, and I was never tempted to skim read at any point. The action-packed nature of the story propels it forward and it doesn't lose steam until you close the cover. You can tell this has been carefully concocted and constructed by a master of his craft, not to mention a master of the most engrossing suspense. The investigations and procedures unfurl in an authentic manner and seem to represent the way police operate in the real world. Everything happens slowly and meticulously as they build up a case and dig deeper until they find exactly what they're looking for.
I cannot close the review without mentioning the characterisation; it's magnificent! The dynamic between main protagonists DI Bliss and DS Penny Chandler adds a lighthearted facet to the story as they enjoy throwing banter back and forth. Bliss is such a beautifully flawed human character which I always appreciate, and he is an intelligent, witty and tenacious investigator, but he is certainly underappreciated by his superiors.
Tony Forder has to be one of the most criminally underrated writers in the business, so if you're a fan of gritty crime fiction, detective novels and/or police procedural's you need to read this series pronto. I can pretty much guarantee your enjoyment, and although each of these novels work perfectly as standalones to get the best experience and see these characters grow and evolve I'd recommend reading them chronologically. Thoroughly recommended.
Many thanks to Bloodhound Books for an ARC.