The Clearing: Rees and Tannahill    by Simon Toyne Order:  USA  Can William Morrow, 2023 (2023) Hardcover, e-Book      Reviewed by Hilary Williamson The Clearing follows Dark Objects as the second in Simon Toyne's thriller series starring forensic specialist Laughton Rees and London DCI Tannahill Khan. This one starts with a young woman, Adele Friar, searching for her sister Maddie in Cinderfield, England. It's an old market town in the forest of Dean. The author then reveals to readers a young woman imprisoned under the nearby forest - is this Maddie? There is a local legend of a Cinderman haunting the woods and the number of missing persons in the area is surprisingly high. Readers are also introduced to the eighteenth Earl of Dean, who lives in an abbey at the heart of the forest. He contacts both his fixer and his son about something bad that happened the night before. Forensic specialist Laughton Rees follows up on a missing persons report on Maddie and investigates, talking with Adele and helped by DCI Tannahill Khan in London. We learn that Adele and Maddie fled a very messed up family to a Dean forest commune, the Clearing, run by ruthless Grizz. There's also a trafficking ring, police corruption - and a killer targeting both Laughton and Adele. This is an impressive series! Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews