I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Black Highway: A Novel by Simon Toyne Series: Laughton Rees #3
Published by HarperCollins, William Morrow on June 24, 2025
Genres: Fiction / Thrillers / Suspense
Pages: 367
Format: ARC
Source: NetGalley
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Goodreads
Laughton Rees is back in the latest novel from the bestselling author of the Sanctus trilogy—this time, with a case that hits uncomfortably close to home and threatens the thing Laughton values most: her daughter.
Forensic specialist Laughton Rees is not ashamed of her checkered past—after all, her youthful indiscretions led to the birth of her daughter Gracie, the person she loves most in the world—but when Gracie’s father unexpectedly turns up in their lives again, Laughton is automatically wary.
Shelby Facer is a dangerous man, formerly imprisoned for his involvement in an international drug trafficking ring, and no matter what Laughton once felt for him, she doesn’t want him anywhere near Gracie. But when Shelby claims that he has information about an especially difficult murder case she is working, she can’t turn him down.
A body with no head or hands has recently turned up in the river Thames, and the police are at a loss until Shelby identifies the man. The victim was part of a highly secretive smuggling ring Shelby was involved with during his and Laughton’s youth—which Laughton’s father, former commissioner for the Metropolitan police, was investigating before he died.
Laughton throws herself into her father’s old files to try to trace the connections between past and present, but as she and DCI Tannahill Khan circle closer to the truth, the case becomes dangerously personal. When another body turns up, mutilated just like the first, the victim is no stranger to Laughton. She’ll have to face the darkest parts of her past to find the man behind the murders—before he takes away everything she loves.
Review
Simon Toyne’s latest Laughton Rees thriller isn’t just good — it’s the kind of book that makes you miss your stop on the subway.
The setup is simple: Detective Laughton Rees catches a case that hits way too close to home. But what follows is anything but simple. Toyne weaves a serial killer hunt with raw family drama, creating something that feels less like a typical thriller and more like watching someone’s life unravel in real time.
Laughton herself is a mess in the best possible way. She’s carrying enough emotional baggage to fill a cargo hold, but somehow stays functional enough to chase down a killer who’s playing a game that’s far more personal than she’d like. And speaking of the killer, forget everything you’ve seen in Se7en or Silence of the Lambs. This one’s different. More real. More disturbing.
The writing itself has this addictive quality that probably comes from Toyne’s TV background. Every scene plays out like it’s shot in 4K, but without getting bogged down in unnecessary detail. The chapters are short and sharp, each one ending with just enough of a hook to make you think, “Okay, just one more.”
If there’s a catch, newcomers might feel like they walked into a movie halfway through. But honestly? The story’s strong enough to stand on its own.
The Black Highway is what happens when family secrets collide with murder, and neither side walks away clean. It’s smart, it’s brutal, and it’s impossible to put down. The Florida Sun-Sentinel wasn’t kidding when they called it “deliciously creepy” — this one’s going to stay with you for a while.
4.5/5 stars. Sleep with the lights on.
