The Cause

by Trevor Negus

Kindle Edition

Published June 2, 2020

About the author

During a varied thirty year police career Trevor spent six years as an authorised firearms officer and sniper, before transferring onto the CID. He spent the last twelve years of his career as a detective, becoming a specialist interviewer involved in the planning and implementation of interviews with murder suspects.

Reviews

[MoMo Book Diary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cause is, without question, the strongest and most gripping part of the trilogy, and it carries everything forward with absolute precision and intensity. Picking up in direct continuation from the previous instalments, it doesn’t waste a moment easing you back in — it drops you straight into the escalating pressure surrounding Tom Naylor and the Special Operations Unit, and the stakes feel higher than ever. The realism remains one of this series' greatest strengths, but in this final instalment it feels even more heightened. The threat level, the planning, the constant readiness — it’s intense, and you can feel that intensity in every decision made and every moment of waiting. The writing is taut, sharp and grounded, and there’s a quiet tension running through the book that kept me fully absorbed from start to finish. It’s not just dramatic — it feels entirely believable, and that makes it all the more powerful. What really stands out in The Cause is how deeply it made me think about the people behind roles like this. It's one thing to read about elite officers operating behind the scenes; it's another to sit with the reality that these are individuals who walk into danger most of us will never even be aware of. Their lives — and the lives of their families — are constantly overshadowed by uncertainty and risk. This book really drove that home for me. The sacrifices made, often silently and without recognition, are staggering. I genuinely don’t know how people do this job and carry the weight of it day after day, protecting others who may never know their names or realise the danger they’ve been shielded from. The storyline itself is completely compelling, and although it brings in new elements and ramps up the threat in a different way, it still feels firmly rooted in everything that came before. The continuity is excellent and the tone never falters. The emotional undercurrent is stronger here too — there’s a real sense of what is at stake, not only professionally but personally, and I found myself even more invested in the outcome than I expected. This is an easy 5-star read, and if the scale could go higher, it would deserve it. The detail is masterfully handled, the characters are solid and believable, and the tension builds in such a natural, purposeful way. It’s the perfect conclusion to an exceptional trilogy, and it’s left me with huge admiration for the real-world counterparts of characters like Tom Naylor — the people who put themselves in harm’s way to protect others, often without thanks, acknowledgement or even awareness from the public they serve. An outstanding finish to a truly impressive series.

🚓 TOM NAYLOR TRILOGY by TREVOR NEGUS – book three – JUSTICE FOR ALL 🚓
The final instalment is the most powerful yet — intense, authentic and emotionally charged from start to finish. The danger feels constant, the stakes are higher than ever, and the courage of those on the front line left me in absolute awe. A phenomenal conclusion to an outstanding trilogy and an easy 5-star read.
#TrevorNegus #TomNaylorTrilogy #JusticeForAll #InkubatorBooks #ZooloosBookTours 👩🏻‍💻⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (MoMoBookDiary 2025)

[Meg Pearson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Tom Naylor Trilogy brings together Two Wrongs, The Root of All Evil, and The Cause into one complete collection. Set in Nottingham in the 1990s, these books follow ex-paratrooper Tom Naylor, now a sniper in the Special Operations Unit of the Nottinghamshire Police. Each installment focuses on a single case—drug gangs fighting for territory, armed robbers with military ties, and a dangerous IRA sniper targeting the British establishment.

Trevor Negus clearly writes from a place of deep knowledge and authenticity. The action sequences and procedural details have a sharp, realistic edge that fans of gritty crime thrillers will appreciate. There is plenty of suspense, and the stories feel firmly rooted in their time and place.

That said, while I admired the craft and the strong crime thriller element, I personally would have liked to get to know the characters on a deeper, more personal level. For me, the plot leaned more toward mystery than fast-paced action, and I found myself wishing for a bit more energy in those moments. Still, I know many readers will enjoy the balance of authenticity and tension, and the trilogy absolutely has an audience that will love it.

Overall, this is a solid, atmospheric collection for readers who enjoy police thrillers with procedural depth, authentic detail, and a central character who feels both capable and complex. While it wasn’t quite the right fit for me, it’s easy to see the potential here, and I can understand why others will find it gripping.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third in the trilogy, this book is mostly about the IRA. The timeline is the late 80s early 90s and the book is written from several viewpoints. Tom Nayler is one of the voices, as is his girlfriend Bailey, who is involved in MI5 . The book perfectly captures the terror attacks of this time, as well as the way justice was done within the terrorist organisations. I particularly liked the description of the undercover work of Bailey .Chapters are short, plenty of action and bloodshed and a lot of the loose ends are tied up .
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC

[Sue Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Cause by Trevor Negus.
Tom Naylor trilogy book 3.
I really enjoyed this book. Action from the start. I do love Tom and Matt. I like Bailey too. I wasn't sure how I felt about Chambers. I love the writing style and the story. This book was full of action right from the start. I read this in two sittings. I couldn't put it down. Bombs going off and shootings. I did like the setting. I've never been. It was described very well. I do hope there is more to come. I recommend this book.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent thriller from Trevor Negus featuring DC Tom Naylor. As always the plot is complex and tightly controlled. A very exciting and quick read.
I received a free review copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest and unedited review.