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Tony J Forder
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The Predators (The Royston Chase Crime Series Book 2) Kindle Edition

by Tony J Forder (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 out of 5 stars 498 ratings
The return of DS Royston Chase and DC Claire Laney.

The frozen corpse of a female hiker discovered on snow-covered downs presents DS Royston Chase, DC Claire Laney, and Trainee DC Alison May with a fresh murder case to investigate.

The more the body thaws the more it reveals, and as the investigation gathers momentum hopes are dashed of an early and successful outcome. It soon becomes clear that the victim and her killer were not the only ones on the hillside when the murder occurred, and the police are desperate to locate everybody who was.

But when the operation is interrupted by a series of related abductions, with all witnesses swiftly falling under suspicion, Chase realises that their case is far more complex than any of them could ever have imagined...

Early reviews for The Predators.
‘A brilliantly written, very different crime read. Most certainly one to remember. Stunning doesn’t do it justice. 10* if I could.’
‘A fast paced, adrenaline pumping read that keeps the reader gripped all the way through to the totally heart racing ending.’
‘Chase, Laney and trainee Alison May have developed really well as characters, and the ending is tremendous and exciting.’
‘The story is riveting and as I have said, the characters are wonderful. I would give it more than 5 stars if I could.’
‘It's hard to know how you could follow up such a great starting book with one of equal measure. Well Tony has done it with this one and incredibly to me, even surpassed that quality.’
‘To say I read this is a complete misnomer. I think devour is a more appropriate term.’
‘In all honesty, I can't really do this justice. Safe to say, it's a big thumbs up from me.’
‘Love Royston and Claire. I thought Tony’s Bliss was top of my character list, but Royston may well have to share the podium.’
‘Tony has a rare skill of getting the reader invested early with both plot and characters, His characterisation is second to none.’
‘Well researched and brilliant story line from a brilliant storyteller.’
‘Not to be missed.’
‘This is turning out to be a must-read crime series for fans of this genre.’

What did readers think of The Huntsmen, book #1 in the series?
'Very keen to see more of Royston and Claire as they are a brilliant pairing and are a breath of fresh air in the world of detective novels.'
‘As a fan of Bliss, it is was impossible not to initially draw comparisons between the two, but after a couple of chapters, I was hooked into the plot and had forgotten about Bliss, Chandler & co.’
‘What a great story and what a superb storyteller Tony is.’
‘What a ripper of a read and just first class.’
‘A fantastic read from Tony J Forder, the author of the very successful DI Bliss series.’
‘Wow! What an amazing start to a new series.’
‘This is bound to be a surefire hit and I'm sure Tony will get a new batch of fans as a result. It certainly would be well deserved. I cannot wait to see what is in store next for Chase and Laney.’
‘Oh what a treat, what a delight!’
'Tony has a talent- a rare and wonderful thing for making characters come alive very quickly and making them real.’
‘I can’t wait for the next one. Love Royston.’

What readers have to say about the author:
"Fans of Michael Connelly's Detective Harry Bosch are going to love this series!"
"The author is hugely talented and ranks, in my opinion, with the likes of Peter James and Val McDermid." Maggie James - bestselling author
"Just a word of warning - prepare to be in tears, on the edge of your seat and gobsmacked in equal measure. A triumph!" Liz Mistry - bestselling author
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  1. Book 2 of 2
    The Royston Chase Crime Series
  2. Print length
    352 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    May 15, 2023
  5. File size
    3.2 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0C1TK3DBX
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ (May 15, 2023)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 15, 2023
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.2 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 498 ratings

About the author

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Tony J Forder

Tony J Forder

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"Fans of Michael Connelly’s Detective Harry Bosch are going to love this series!"

“The author is hugely talented and ranks, in my opinion, with the likes of Peter James and Val McDermid.” Maggie James – bestselling author

“Just a word of warning - prepare to be in tears, on the edge of your seat and gobsmacked in equal measure. A triumph!” Liz Mistry – bestselling author

"Brilliantly written and a fascinating read that, in my opinion, could happily stand shoulder to shoulder with works from the likes of Rankin and Connelly." Steve Robb – BookieWookie blogsite

"Books like Bad to the Bone breathe new life into a sometimes stale genre and remind me why I’m such a fan of these types of novels. It was full of dark humour, well drawn characters and plenty of surprises to knock me off balance."

Tony J Forder is the author of the bestselling DI Bliss crime thriller series. Bad to the Bone, The Scent of Guilt, If Fear Wins, The Reach of Shadows, The Death of Justice, Endless Silent Scream, Slow Slicing, The Autumn Tree, Darker Days to Come, The Lightning Rod, and What Dies Inside Us will be joined in autumn 2024 by Something More to Say. There is also a prequel novella available called Bliss Uncovered.

Tony’s other books include two action-adventure thrillers, Scream Blue Murder and Cold Winter Sun, featuring reluctant hero Mike Lynch. Also, The Huntsmen and The Predators, feature DS Royston Chase, DC Claire Laney, and PCSO Alison May, both police procedural novels set in Wiltshire. In addition, Tony has written two standalone novels: a dark, psychological crime thriller, Degrees of Darkness, and a suspense thriller set in California, Fifteen Coffins.

Tony's first 8 novels were originally released by a publisher specialising in crime fiction. In 2020, Tony decided to strike out on his own, and subsequently negotiated the return of all publishing rights to himself. Each of those 8 books has subsequently been re-released under his own imprint, Spare Nib Books.

Tony lives with his wife in West Sussex, UK, and is a full-time author. He is currently working on book #12 in his bestselling Jimmy Bliss series. His first love was music, and he is currently gobbling up as many remastered vinyl albums as he can. Tony has played guitar since his early childhood, and despite selling off his collection at one point he has somehow managed to reacquire a new range and is up to 5 without knowing how.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
498 global ratings

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Top reviews from other countries

  • C Pilon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Series
    Reviewed in Canada on May 27, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I liked this second book in the series even more than the first. I enjoy spending time with Royston and Laney and seeing Allison coming along in her new role. It was a real roller coaster and kept me guessing until near the end. Highly recommend.
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  • karlou
    5.0 out of 5 stars Chase, Laney and May are a winning combination
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 16, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Tony J. Forder is best known as the author of the DI Bliss series but The Predators is the second book in his new police procedural series, featuring DS Royston Chase. I thoroughly enjoyed the introduction, The Huntsmen, when I read it last year but I think this is arguably even better. Having already met the main characters, I really enjoyed discovering more about them and seeing their relationships further developed.
    This is a novel with a despicable crime at the heart of it but Tony J. Forder always manages to infuse his books with lighter moments, without ever diminishing the horror of what has occurred. The opening lines made me laugh out loud and yet as Chase irritably muses to himself about Aristotle, it's clear that he is horribly aware that there is only on reason why he and DC Claire Laney have been called out and I was soon transported to the bitter snowstorm on a Wiltshire hillside where the body of a frozen young woman has been discovered. The language here reflects the terrible nature of the crimes believed to have been perpetrated against the unknown victim, and the gallows humour utilised by people who deal with the darker side of life (and death). It soon becomes apparent that the woman's body has been there for several weeks and while the descriptions are never gratuitously graphic, we are also left in no doubt as to the grim reasons why identifying her and figuring out what happened prior to her death won't be straightforward.
    Chase isn't always the easiest person to know; a previous injury has left him with an occasional inability to contain his mental filter while Laney has a reputation for being outspoken to the point of being rude, and she also delights in making inappropriate comments which people don't know how to react to. Meanwhile, the third member of their team, Trainee DC Alison May is a perceptive former PCSO, eager to learn everything about the job. They are assigned to a team headed by DCI Nicole Knight and despite the difficulties presented by this investigation, slow progress begins to be made, which opens up a number of intriguing leads. One of the most refreshing aspects of The Predators is the generally amicable, co-operative police work that takes place here. There are disagreements, some of which become heated but the overriding impression is of colleagues who want to find the best way of working together to apprehend the person or persons responsible for killing this young woman.
    The abduction of some of the potential witnesses or suspects adds a chilling further layer of suspense to the story, especially as readers are given an insight into what happens to one of the victims. Who is behind the kidnappings, their reasons and what they are capable of really ratchets up the tension, especially as shocking revelations about the night of the murder come to light. Tony J. Forder explores the impact of abhorrent crimes like this with insightful empathy throughout; from the numb grief of her parents to the anger of her brother and the obsessive exertions of Chase, who agonises over neglecting his own family, the lasting repercussions of sudden, violent loss are felt throughout. However, despite his concerns, Chase's close relationship with his wife, Erin is another highlight of this series – as much as I enjoy a troubled detective, I welcome seeing a main character with an understanding, wise partner and a stable home life.
    The sense of place is excellent throughout, with towns and key locations across Wiltshire playing an important role in proceedings as does the inclement weather, and the icy chill engendered complements the bleak storyline perfectly. The clever plotting draws all the strands of this compelling storyline together with a tense conclusion full of twists and turns. Poignant, witty and superbly gripping, The Predators examines dark, brutal themes without ever losing its emotional core. Chase, Laney and May are a winning combination and I hope we see more of them in the future. Very highly recommended.
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  • Claire Troote
    5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 19, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I loved the first book where we got to meet Chase and Laney, both experienced officers who are often viewed as trouble, due to their tendency to speak their minds, no matter who they are talking to. His down to a brain injury sustained in the line of duty (which he sometimes uses to his advantage) and hers simply down to her being done taking crap from anyone.

    Was looking forward to the second instalment of Chase and Laney and it didn't disappoint.

    When the frozen body of a woman is found in a popular camping/hiking trails during a snowstorm, it's down to Chase and Laney to try and identify the victim and find her killer. What starts out as a murder investigation, quickly takes a much darker turn and has witnesses disappearing, seemingly into thin air. As the investigations bring them into contact with the prestigious local college, they find themselves hitting more and more brick walls as the elite employ high powered lawyers to protect their interests, making an already challenging case seem next to impossible to solve, but as they had shown before, Chase and Laney aren't afraid of stepping on a few toes and bruising a few egos to find justice for their victims.

    Wasn't sure that the second book could be as good as the first, but it really is just as good, if not better. The way the author brings in multiple threads and keeps the storyline fast pace and so intriguing that you will just keep reading late into the night to find out what happens next.

    Excellent book and highly recommend not only this series but his other works as well. His books are well worth your time if you enjoy police procedural/thrillers, that despite their sometimes difficult subject matter, still have you chuckling to yourself in places as the author still a manages to keep the humanity and vulnerability of the main protagonists.
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  • PHILLIP
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic second outing
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 4, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Can you have a locked room mystery when the crime scene is a snow blanketed hillside in January?

    If you count a defined murder scene and a limited number of potential suspects then, yes you can, and Tony Forder manages it beautifully in this follow up to THE HUNTSMEN.

    In the aftermath of a crime that resets policing in his division, Royston Chase is called to a complex crime scene where the body of a female hiker is found frozen on a hillside. With time the limiting factor making it both difficult to formally identify the victim and establish cause of death, Chase and his colleagues in the process of investigating find some crucial witnesses have begun to disappear and must fathom is this suspicious or sinister?

    What follows is a page turning reunion with our brain damaged detective Royston Chase, his loud mouth and fractious colleague Claire Laney and trainee DC Alison May as they now work amongst a bigger team.

    The Predators offers everything we’ve come to expect from the pen (keyboard) of Tony Forder, a despicable crime, a complex investigation and a denouement that has us tracking back to see the breadcrumbs of guilt were scattered in plain sight all along. For the purest, the elements of police procedure are there alongside a narrative that rattles along at quickly as Laney’s wicked wit.

    A recommended read.
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  • Mary R
    5.0 out of 5 stars Top quality read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 15, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Wow, where to begin with this. The first book was incredible and its hard to know how could follow up such a great book with one of equal measure. Well Tony has done it with this one and even surpassed that quality.

    Royston and his team are called upon when the frozen body of a young female hiker is found. After the body thaws, it is clear that she is murdered. As the investigation progresses, they discover that there were other hikers in the area at the same time and things become more difficult when people start to disappear.

    To say I read this is wrong. Devour is more appropriate. It totally consumed me. Not sure why. Maybe it's the quality of the writing which is as usual superb. Maybe it's the characters which are terrific or the necessary banter required, to me anyway, to counteract the seriousness of the story. Maybe it's just the skilful way the story evolves in front of your eyes so subtly that you find yourself swept along and suddenly it hits you that you're at the end with the unveiling of the truth.

    In all honesty, I can't really do this justice. Safe to say, it's a big thumbs up from me.
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