A girl goes missing after a mid summer celebration, was it the Cinderman a local legend? Laughton Rees goes to Gloucestershire to find her with the girls sister. Good well drawn characters well plotted. There's multiple viewpoints and the folklore element keeps to keep you reading. Looking forward to the nex book. Thanks to Harpercollins UK and Netgalley for this review ARC.

Thanks to netgalley for providing this advanced copy for the purpose of review.
This is the second in the series and although I haven't read the first I had no issues reading this. It was n interesting read which steadily ramped up the tension. I enjoyed the writing and the storytelling.

This is the second in the Dr Laughton Rees series and after really enjoying Dark Objects I was looking forward to it!

When Maddie becomes the latest in a pretty long list of girls who have gone missing around the Cinderfield her sister Adele finds herself up against it in her quest to find her and the local policee are not being particularly helpful. The case pops onto Rees' radar and at a bit of a loose end while her daughter is away, she heads off to help out and uncovers much more than expected.

A great revisit to the Rees story with this dark and twisty story. Enjoyed seeing more of the relationship development between Laughton and Tannahill, looking forward to more!

A twisty, rollercoaster of a thriller with very interesting plotting and characters. I love Dr Rees, forensic investigator, and I could really empathise with Adele searching for her missing sister. It was tense, fast paced and totally immersive. A read I would highly recommend.

I read and reviewed this novel in 2023 so will not be giving feedback. However, I have the next novel in the series in my library and look forward to reading it.

When a young women goes missing on the summer solstice the only person who seems concerned is her sister. Local police show little interest in investigating. Dr Laughton Rees becomes involved when a missing person report is eventually filed and there are links to local folklore about The Cinderman.

From the opening chapter there is a creepy and sinister vibe to this novel. Thanks to Simon Toyne you'll be wary of wooded areas in the future. The storyline gives you an uneasy sense that you are constantly being watched, that there is something lurking just out of sight.

Blood Traces is set in a small community in Gloucestershire, this setting makes it difficult to decide who is trustworthy and who is working against those searching for the missing girl. As the story progresses you begin to realise how much power and control those in authority wield in such small communities.

The other question raised is why are those in power so reluctant to believe a young woman has been abducted? The stakes are raised when Rees begins to dig deeper, aided from afar by DCI Tannahill Kahn, and discovers that almost 50 women have gone missing in the area over a twenty year period.

We see a much more dynamic Rees in this novel, she refuses to be fobbed off, misdirected or threatened in her quest to find the missing girl and discover why so many young women have gone missing. My one disappointment with the book is that we didn't see much of DC Kahn. Hopefully the next book in the series will have Rees and Kahn working side by side again.

Thank you HarperCollins and Netgalley.
I loved this book and was hooked, literally couldn't put it down.
If myths thrown its for you.
I am loving this series and hope there will be more.

If you like your thrillers with a touch of myth, The Clearing has you covered, it perfectly mixes horror and mystery, with a criminologist investigator that adds a fresh spin to the classic crime-solving story. The plot keeps you on your toes, jumping between timelines, with plenty of lies and twists that make you question everything. The forest scenes and unreliable narrator add to the tension.
The writing nails that claustrophobic feeling of uneasiness.. If you’re looking for a dark, twisting read that’s grounded in both the past and present, give this a try!

Blood Traces is the second book in the Rees and Tannahill series, but this time, the focus shifts almost entirely to Dr. Laughton Rees, a forensic criminologist, as she investigates a series of missing women in the Gloucestershire countryside. The central mystery is both compelling and chilling, as Laughton’s investigation begins to reveal a dark connection to the local legend of "The Cinderman," a figure said to haunt the woods and possibly play a role in the disappearances.

The story combines elements of psychological thriller and supernatural folklore, weaving a tense and haunting atmosphere that kept me on the edge of my seat. The rural setting, particularly the descriptions of the ancient woods, adds a layer of claustrophobic tension, making the reader feel as though they too are getting lost in the tangled underbrush of mystery and danger.

What I loved most about Blood Traces is how it builds upon the first book, taking the characters into deeper, darker territory while also introducing new and complex relationships. Laughton is a fantastic lead—strong, intelligent, and unflinchingly dedicated to solving the case, even when it puts her own safety at risk. Her bond with the sister of the latest missing girl adds a personal dimension to the investigation, while also amplifying the stakes as the case becomes more urgent.

The pacing of the novel is steady, with the tension gradually mounting as the story unfolds. The mystery is filled with unexpected twists, blending the ancient myth of "The Cinderman" with modern criminal behavior, and the final reveal is both satisfying and dramatic, wrapping up the case with a satisfying conclusion that will leave you eager for more.

The book does a fantastic job of exploring themes of superstition, myth, and the evils lurking in the modern world. It’s a gripping read for fans of dark thrillers with a touch of the supernatural. I found the first book’s title, The Clearing, to be more fitting, as it resonates more with the forest setting and the mysterious disappearances, but Blood Traces still delivers a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat ride.

In short, Blood Traces is a compelling follow-up that takes the series to a new level of suspense and intrigue. With its eerie atmosphere, engaging plot, and well-developed characters, it’s a book that will keep you turning the pages late into the night. If you’re a fan of crime thrillers with a dash of folklore, this is one you won’t want to miss!

I must admit when I requested I didn't realise this was The Clearing, which I read a while ago. However, it's such a good book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I highly recommend!

Simon Toyne has brought out another Rees and Tannahill novel although Tannahill isn't in the story much as the focus is on Laughton Rees who has had her interest piqued with a series of missing girls, mysteriously linked to a fictional figure the cinderman and going back several years and with Tannerhill and her daughter both away she decides to head out to the Gloucestershire countryside and see if she can find any truth to the rumours.

I like Laughton, she is a strong character and the stories are progressing well and I look forward to the next one.

A thoroughly enjoyable read, 2nd in the series, although I think the title should have retained the original one of 'The Clearing' which lends itself more to the storyline.

Intriguing plot, combining mystery thriller with mystical legends. Great escapism.

Already looking forward to hopefully a third book in the series.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced digital copy in return for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this thriller. Firstly, I much preferred the first book title- The Clearing, as it felt much more connected to the plot line than “Blood Traces”.
I really enjoyed the slightly supernatural mythology of the story and the forest setting, which disguised the horrors where this story takes you. The characters are good and well structured and the plot is nicely paced. Easy to read and can see it making a really gripping tv thriller.

A brilliantly creepy and haunting thriller. A girl has disappeared during the Midsummer night's celebrations in a Gloucestershire forest. But forensic specialist Laughton Rees notes women have been vanishing for some time. Is this the work of local legend 'The Cinderman'? Laughton makes it her mission to find the missing girl who may not even be alive.

Book 2 of the Rees and Tannahill series is almost exclusively set around criminologist Dr Laughton Rees. Noticing a large cluster of missing young women in a rural setting, she investigates. Rees teams up with the sister of the latest missing person, whom the police seem uninterested in tracing. The case develops into one involving ancient woodland legends and more modern criminal activities.

After a slow start, this develops into a compelling mystery with an unusual cast of characters. The ending is dramatic and the final reveal brings the case to a close in style.

I love books with hints of superstition and myth running through them and this is one such book.
The Clearing is part horror part investigation told through the points of view of one of various characters.
The investigator is a criminologist which gives the investigation a slightly different angle.
Playing with twists, timelines, lies, history and unreliable narrators the author skillfully leads us through a dark tale of historic crimes very much grounded in 21st century evils.
The writing, especially the forest scenes, was tense and claustrophobic which added to the chill factor!