Slow Slicing

DI Bliss #7

by Tony J. Forder

WHEN DEATH BECOMES THE KINDEST CUT OF ALL

When slices of flesh and body parts are discovered in different areas of the country, DI Bliss and his team are tasked with running the operation. After Bliss realises the victims have been subjected to a specific form of torture, it leads him to a cold case involving the brutal and bloody murder of a woman in London twenty-six years earlier.

As the team discover links between their victims, the murdered woman, and gangland crime, they begin a dangerous investigation into both the past and the present. But Bliss is stumped, unable to decide if the current spate of mutilations are acts of revenge or the result of ageing criminals seeking to hide their despicable actions. Following a leak to the media, Bliss’s reaction may have dire consequences.

With the hunt for the victims at fever point, Bliss uncovers evidence steering him in the direction of one particular individual. The only problem being, his prime suspect is the one person it cannot possibly be. When Bliss orders a sting operation, the astonishing truth is revealed. And that’s when things really start to go wrong…

Genres: Fiction

388 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 10, 2020

About the author

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, What Dies Inside Us, Something More to Say, and The Honourable Rogue. 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. 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.

Tony is currently working on Jimmy Bliss books #14, The Stonemason’s Song.

Links
All of Tony’s links can be found on Linktree: https://linktr.ee/TonyJForder

Reviews

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slow Slicing is the seventh instalment in this bestselling series, featuring DI Jimmy Bliss and DS Penny Chandler and is the darkest and most disturbing episode to date. Slow Slicing is the Western translation of Lingchi, the drawn-out Chinese method of torture execution in which slices of flesh are systematically removed from the body of the condemned. It was the executioner's task to make as many cuts as possible without killing the victim and making them suffer as much as possible before their demise.

After a graphic, bloody and brutal opening chapter where we hear about Lingchi being used against a victim, the police begin to discover body parts and pieces of flesh turning up at different locations; three parts at first with one being in DI Jimmy Bliss's jurisdiction in Peterborough — it was discovered wrapped in a plastic bag inside the fireplace of the cathedral. A Joint Task Force is created, with Jimmy at the helm, to help pool resources and share information with police across the counties where the other parts have been found. The second piece was uncovered at West Kennet Long Barrow historical site, and given that one piece was white and one black it's safe to say they have either an emerging or re-emerging serial killer on their hands. After delving deeper it is believed that this case is linked to a twenty-six-year-old gangland cold case which was similar in nature. With very little evidence or clues to point them in the right direction, investigators have their work cut out trying to stop another gruesome discovery from appearing.

This is a riveting, compulsive and exhilarating thriller but is certainly not for the faint-hearted as Forder doesn't shy away from making the action blood-soaked, gory and deliciously depraved from the beginning with the opening chapter being full of sadism and a stomach-churning sense of excitement. I struggle to comprehend why Forder isn't as lauded as the big names in the genre because his superb plotting, extensive character development, and effortlessly flowing, highly readable style are magnificent and a force to be reckoned with. I found the dynamic between colleagues believable and interesting with each having a defined role to play and wisdom to share. It's a complex story but it never becomes confusing and the perfectly placed and plotted twists and turns and expert use of misdirection all play a large role in blowing you away. I also enjoyed the fact that we got to see Molly again which brought out a softer and more compassionate and caring side to Bliss. A real page-turner and a must-read for all crime connoisseurs. Many thanks to BOTBS for an ARC.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, well the author sure knows how to grab my attention with an opening like this one! I won’t go into any detail but if you are a lover of dark crime books, well this opening is the one for you.

There is something comforting about a book in a series. Yes I know it’s a detective series, but its the familiarity of the characters that we’ve gotten to know and love as well as the pleasure of the way the author writes them. I have to say how pleased I was that he brought Molly, even though briefly, into this one. If you have read the previous book in the series, like Bliss, this is a girl that steals her way into your heart. The parts with her in bring some lighthearted relief and I hope we see more of her in future books.

This is a dark and complex case, one which sees it becoming even more complicated as it turns into a joint task force effort. I felt for Bliss and his team as the pressure is mounting. The author manages to bring some humour as well as some heart warming moments with Bliss’ personal life. This just endeared him to me even more. He is stubborn, set in his ways and whilst he seems to rub some people up the wrong way, he can’t do any wrong in my eyes.

Slow Slicing is a harrowing but riveting read that I couldn’t wait to pick up at every opportunity given. Even when I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it. After how this one ends, I am already eager for the next book. Another well written and clever case that kept me on tenterhooks throughout.

My thanks to the author for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

Merged review:

Wow, well the author sure knows how to grab my attention with an opening like this one! I won’t go into any detail but if you are a lover of dark crime books, well this opening is the one for you.

There is something comforting about a book in a series. Yes I know it’s a detective series, but its the familiarity of the characters that we’ve gotten to know and love as well as the pleasure of the way the author writes them. I have to say how pleased I was that he brought Molly, even though briefly, into this one. If you have read the previous book in the series, like Bliss, this is a girl that steals her way into your heart. The parts with her in bring some lighthearted relief and I hope we see more of her in future books.

This is a dark and complex case, one which sees it becoming even more complicated as it turns into a joint task force effort. I felt for Bliss and his team as the pressure is mounting. The author manages to bring some humour as well as some heart warming moments with Bliss’ personal life. This just endeared him to me even more. He is stubborn, set in his ways and whilst he seems to rub some people up the wrong way, he can’t do any wrong in my eyes.

Slow Slicing is a harrowing but riveting read that I couldn’t wait to pick up at every opportunity given. Even when I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it. After how this one ends, I am already eager for the next book. Another well written and clever case that kept me on tenterhooks throughout.

[Books 'n' All Promotions · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am still shaking my head - my word what a book!

Tony J Forder has always been one of my favourite authors and despite having read hundreds of books since it was published DEGREES OF DARKNESS always stayed with me and to be honest although I have loved every other book I didn't think it would ever get knocked off the top spot. Has SLOW SLICING managed it? Well for the time being they are sharing the podium.

I love Bliss he is struggling with Meniere's disease and relationship issues which are partly related to it but he carries on his quest to rid the area of as many bad guys as he can. Penny Chandler is his rock she is different to Bliss and the 2 different personalities come together to make an extremely effective partnership. The other members of the team also bring their own personalities and skills making for a very well functioning detective team. I feel honoured to have been along for the ride as these characters grow and develop book by book over the course of the series. Very skillfully created by a talented author.

The story is not for the feint hearted there is a lot of sadistic violence in the story but I think it has been well spread out and softened by the personal lives of the characters.

A murder many, many years ago that remains unsolved. The men suspected of the crime are still free, or they were. When body parts start showing up Bliss finds himself heading up a joint investigation with crimes spanning several areas. As the list of suspects is put together they are quickly crossed out when parts of their bodies turns up. But these people are not dead - yet.

A lot of twists and turns, bucketloads of adrenaline pumping suspense more twists and turns than a pretzel and so many dead ends and wrong turns it made me wonder who on earth could be carrying out the crimes especially when every suspect that still had and intact body has a cast iron alibi. But Bliss was never one to give up.

An absolutely brilliant read well worth the 5 golden stars. Thank you to the author and BOTBS Publicity for the advance copy. This is my unbiased review.

[Elite Group · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most gruesome murders I’ve ever heard about.

DI Jimmy Bliss has taken some leave to visit Molly now living with a perfect foster family in Torquay. Seeing her so happy, relaxed and trauma-free is a massive relief for him.

Unfortunately, their reunion is cut short when Bliss receives a call from DI Pete Conway who he worked within the Serious and Organised Crime Agency. He’s now a Superintendent in Wiltshire, and his team have picked up a peculiar case, tourists had found a bag of flesh and skin inside the West Kennet Long Barrow. Nine days before Bliss’ team had started investigating a plastic bag containing a chunk of flesh and skin slices discovered at the Knights’ Chamber above the gateway to the Bishop’s Palace at the Peterborough Palace. Both pieces of flesh had inscriptions sliced into them. No sooner has Bliss returned to his team in Peterborough after inspecting the Long Barrow site when he receives another call – this time from DI Max Riseborough from the City of London police. This time there’s a hand.

It’s agreed that Jimmy Bliss and his team will lead the investigation into the three finds, working closely with Wiltshire and London. The discovery of the hand and its inscription finally make sense – they referred back to a case in 1994. The murder of Geraldine Price was brutal. The similarity is the flesh carved and skin findings. Geraldine Price had suffered some of the most brutal injuries any of the police had ever witnessed. Her killer/s had never been found. The teams in Peterborough, Wiltshire and London realise that they have a short window to find the killer before he/she strikes again.

Tony Forder has absolutely nailed it with this novel. The plot is so bizarre, unique and fast that I had to give up a day to read because I couldn’t bear to leave the book before I discovered who and how the killer had operated. Most disturbing for me; no traces of the victims who will die under the most excruciating pain and suffering.

I’ve loved this series from Book 1. I love the team and the comradery they have. I love that Jimmy Bliss is such a maverick and will get his killer whichever way he can even if it means infuriating his bosses. I love that each case is entirely unique. I still think that this would translate into the most brilliant TV series, and I sincerely hope that someone with imagination reads them and agrees.

Tony Forder, I say this every time I finish one of your books – you are a brilliant author, and I look forward to the next book in the series. Bravo Tony – bravo! Outstanding!

Rony

Elite Reviewing Group received a copy of the book to review.

[Maggie James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, Tony Forder has done it again! 'Slow Slicing' is yet another superb book in his Bliss and Chandler series. It's a dark and disturbing read that delivers more twists than a bag of pretzels, and never fails to entertain. The characters are well drawn, the pacing is relentless and the story intriguing. I've said it before and I'll say it again - this author ranks in terms of talent with the very best of novelists. I wish I could award 'Slow Slicing' more than five stars, but hey ho, life's not perfect! Let's just say the five stars I'm giving this book are all supernovas.

[Liz Mistry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've become a huge fan of the DI Jimmy Bliss series and all I can say is ... if you've never been slowly sliced by Jimmy Bliss, you're missing out big time. Seriously though, Forder's devious mind really takes us to dark places in this one and certainly, Slow Slicing is one of his darkest books yet - and it's safe to say, I loved it.



Available Here
Forder has the ability to temper the dark and gruesomeness of these horrific crimes by playing on the well rounded dynamics of the team he has created to support Jimmy Bliss. The interchanges between Bliss and his DS Penny 'Pen' Chandler flow really well. They are humerous, empathetic and revealing.

I hope Bliss never changes, because I love that he always has his eye on justice at whatever personal cost to himself. Forder always takes us on a roller coaster of a ride through the investigation and the twists and turns of Slow Slicing kept me away from my own writing ... Damn You Tony Forder!

The fact that a contemporary crime links back to an unsolved murder from over twenty five years ago leaves us with a wealth of suspects and possibilities to explore and , as usual, Forder reveals the clues and tit bits of information at just the right moment.
I was convinced I had it all sussed and then .... another twist had me sitting up and taking note.
In many ways Forder's penmanship is a form of slow slicing in its own write (you see what I did there?) - as bit by bit, he slices away the readers suppositions in a deliciously slow torture all of his own making.
All the stars from me.

[Cathy Geha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slow Slicing by Tony J. Forder
D.I. Bliss #7

Grim, gritty, gruesome, and grisly the opening scene was powerful, made me cringe, and wonder what type of warped mind could carry out the torture described. I wondered how the police would figure out the who, what, when, why and where and how long it would take for the tortured to die, be found or the case solved. Though dark the story rings true. Once again, I wondered how people who deal with homicides manage to sleep at night and live normal lives. That said…I couldn’t put this book down once I began reading and was almost relieved when it ended. At the end I wondered what direction Bliss would head in the future.

What I liked:
* D.I. Bliss: an older policeman with experience, wisdom, and his own way of getting results. He is a good leader that does what it takes even though sometimes it gets him into trouble. In some ways I get the feeling he is tired of the job but in others I see he is not fully burned out…or at least not quite yet.
* Chandler: Bliss’s work partner who seems to help ground him. She is younger and has a backstory of her own but is a powerful presence in Bliss’s life.
* Bliss’s team: work together well and are an interesting collection of people
* Wharburton and Fletcher: women higher up the police ladder than Bliss who seem to have cooler heads and behave wisely as they seem often to be trying to rein Bliss in.
* The police procedural aspects of the story
* The writing, plot, pacing and revelations as the story was told
* The interwoven elements and side stories related to leaks, newspapers, romances, etc
* Molly: a young girl from the previous book that I was able to catch up with
* The idea that Bliss might have a future with a happy ending that may include a romantic partner
* That there was a resolution to the case
* Knowing that there will be another D.I. Bliss book to look forward to

What I did not like:
* Knowing how twisted minds can become and the pain some are willing to bestow on others
* That D.I. Bliss keeps being in the hot seat despite the results he achieves
* Feeley: I get a sense this person is out to get D.I. Bliss and am not sure his focus on Bliss is rational

Did I enjoy this book? Hmm…tough one to read but I did enjoy it
Would I read more in the series? Yes, definitely!

Thank you to the author and BOTBS for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

[R.J.Saunders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Menieres disease

I also have Menieres disease and can sympathise with DI Bliss as well as understand his reasoning on this case, bringing back both Molly and Emily was good. I hope that there are many more DI Bliss books to come. It will be interesting to see where the Menieres, Emily,and Molly take him !!

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark and deadly. A killer read with a brutal opening chapter. The 7th book in the amazing DI Bliss series and the best one yet. All of which are written at exceptionally high standards with gripping story lines and heart thundering moments throughout. Not for the squeamish because as the title suggests this is quite a bloody read. The attention to detail is eye bursting and once Tony Forder creates that image in your mind it can never be unseen. Chilling. The death of a thousand cuts comes from the old Chinese art of torture Lingchi, and it is the central focus on the crimes and the investigation. Bliss discovers a link between these grusome and slow torture killings and the gangland murder of a woman in London 26 years ago. Bliss heads a joint Task Force team to piece together and end this complex and savage killing spree before the body count rises. Along the way with his friend and colleague/partner DS Penny Chandler, the team need to cope with media speculation that hinders the case. An obvious leak.....but who is it? Bliss has never been shy of bending the rules a little bit because following protocol does not always get results. But has he gone one step too far this time, jeopardizing his career? Is he really ready to hang up his boots and spend the rest of his life with a pipe and a paper....albeit with the rekindled love of a good woman? Well he has contemplated it but maybe he has no choice.....but first, he has a case to solve.
A breath taking read that will stay with you a long time. If you only read one book this year it has got to be this one. One of the best crime books I have read by far this year and well worth all the stars.

[Donna Morfett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another outing for Bliss, Chandler and his wonderful team.
The first chapter opens with a delightfully disgusting torture from which the title is taken.
After a mild detour to pick up with Molly again, Bliss is called to a crime scene where a lump of engraved flesh has been found and has flagged to a case similar to his.

This leads to a joint task force across 3 areas and a breathtaking story, taking into account the horrific murder of a young woman over 20 years previously. There are lots of twists and turns and I wasn't sure who done it until the very end. A couple of genius little red herrings as well.

Something that really comes across for me in all of the Bliss books is the camaraderie amongst the team and the issues of promotion are addressed as well as personal issues and the individual characters. It gives it a more human edge and you feel like you know all of the characters within the team.

As always with Tony Forder the case is laid out in meticulous detail and you are always wondering if Bliss will get himself into trouble and whether he'll ever get his love life sorted.
These questions aren't answered and leave you to wonder even more about the future!

[Donna Maguire · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://donnasbookblog.wordpress.com/...

I love this author’s book and have read every release to date in the DI Bliss series so as soon as I saw that Tony had a new release, this book, Slow Slicing, the seventh book in the series, I knew without any doubt that I needed to get my hands on a copy and the wait for it to be released began…

I have to say that this was soooo worth the wait and I read the book within hours of it landing on my Kindle and I loved it, flew through the story and devoured EVERY page – it was a brilliant read!!

The book starts off fabulously and I knew I was not going to be able to put it down and nothing would stop me reading it in one sitting - mainly why I started it when my toddler daughter was in bed and husband was on nights!! I cracked out the chocolate and enjoyed every page – it was a deliciously dark crime thriller and the perfect read for me!

It is 5 stars from me for this one, I loved it, well developed story, thrilling plot, fabulous pace and superb characters – very highly recommended!!

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 7 in the DI Bliss series and this one is seriously dark and gruesome.

The slicing in the title is the Chinese torture of death by a thousand cuts. Enough said.

The first victim comes to the attention of the police when a piece of human flesh is found at an historic monument. This is just first of a number of pieces of flesh and body parts that will found in different locations around the country, from different victims.

With Bliss appointed in charge of the joint task force connections are made to a cold case from over 20 years ago.

Bliss continues his relationship with his DS, Chandler and the rest of his team and a love interest from an earlier book returns to his life.

This is an intriguing storyline and whilst the descriptions of the torture are quite disturbing it all comes together to make sense by the end of the book. As always it is well written and well thought out and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel and will await the next episode eagerly.

[Jon Dayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

D.I Bliss Slow Slicing, the latest in the hugely popular D.I. Bliss series is without doubt one of the best to date.
Body parts are found at ancient landmarks, starting on Jimmy Bliss’s Patch, but they are turning up all over the country. It’s decided by the powers that be that for now Bliss and his team should head up the Joint Task Force. With very little to go on until a reverlation from an old colleague points them in a particular direction, things only get worse!
Research to detail is one thing that Tony J Forder as an author has come to be known for with egos resisting his ideas Bliss has to trust his gut, but is it wrong this time, and time is of the essence.
The darkest of the Bliss books thus far this will have your mind working overtime, absolutely brilliant.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a horrific and dark beginning to Slow Slicing, the 7th book in the DI Bliss series. This darkness continues throughout the story. It made me cringe but I also wanted to keep reading to see what was going to happen. Tony Forder is very clever at weaving the strands of the story together keeping you in suspense. The team are at their wit's end trying to figure out the victims and the suspect. Absolutely loved this and highly recommend it, as I do all the books in the Bliss series.

[EILEEN · Rating 5 out of 5]

SLOW SLICING slams in on a terrifying horrific event from the start, only to become even more gruesome with the turn of every page. The grisly, confounding mystery ceates a perplexing quandary for the team. Who is a victim? Who is a suspect? Why is this happening? This creates mind boggling suspense leading to an explosive event that finally reveals all.

SLOW SLICING IS A CHILLING MUST READ!

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book starts off quietly and calmly - Bliss is even taking some time off but, this being Bliss, you just know it can’t last. The pace of the book builds slowly as the police have a puzzle with no clues, there is a degree of tension as they have to wait for further attacks to obtain more information in order to work out what is going on. As the events take place in different police area, Bliss finds himself leading a Joint Task Force, that just gives him a whole new range of people to irritate and wind up. Being Bliss, he doesn’t disappoint. I like the way Tony Forder has painted Bliss in 3 dimensions; he is single minded about his job, generally positive but with a tendency to second guess himself, he always puts the job first even at the expense of any private life. He could also be described as brave - except when it comes to personal relationships at which point he uses whichever excuse comes to hand to crawl back into his shell. Heroes all have their flaws - just like diamonds.

As the number of incidents increases Bliss has to put it all together and make sense of the unimaginable to come up with an answer. For once Bliss isn’t being as much of a team player as he usually is but he has good reasons for this. Despite this the relationships between the team remain as cohesive as ever. The most enduring relationship however is with Penny Chandler - every Bliss needs a Chandler! In fact, most people need a Chandler.

I had reservations about the subject of this book and waited a day or two before starting it because I was unsure if I wanted to read something which promised to be so bloodthirsty, however once started on it I couldn’t stop until it was finished, Whilst the crimes written about are horrific they are handled sensitively, definitely not dwelled upon and the story concentrates more on the mystery behind the events. I found myself enjoying the whole story much more than I initially thought I would and I regret the time I wasted before starting it.

[Karen Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new DI Bliss novel is always something to look forward to and even at this stage of the series, with Slow Slicing the seventh book published, Tony Forder's skill as a writer means it can be enjoyed as a standalone - although I would strongly advise you to read the previous books if possible, not only because they're all thoroughly enjoyable but also because I do believe there's an additional emotional pull that comes from really knowing these characters.
After a really grisly opening chapter featuring an unknown victim being horrifically tortured, we get to briefly see Bliss in an uncharacteristically light mood as he meets up with Molly, who returning readers will be pleased to see again after she made such an impression in the previous story, Endless Silent Scream. Things have moved on considerably since then and Molly only has a peripheral role to play here but the scenes she appears in are a delight and allow us to see the softer side of Jimmy Bliss.
Their reunion is cut short, however, when Bliss receives a call from a Wiltshire based Superintendent who worked in the Serious and Organised Crime Agency at the same time as Bliss. It quickly transpires that the discovery of a large slice of human flesh at West Kennet Long Barrow bears too close similarities to the case Bliss and his team are currently working back in Peterborough to be merely coincidence. Nine days ago, another chunk of flesh was left in a plastic bag in a stone fireplace in Peterborough Cathedral. As the first piece was white and the second, black, it begins to look as if a serial killer might be at work. Both have been carved with a series of letters and numbers but they don't match and at this point offer no clue as to what their significance might mean.
One of the many highlights of this series is just how different each case is and that's true again here. Although Tony Forder often explores the more shadowy aspects of society and of human behaviour, Slow Slicing is perhaps even darker than what came before. The nature of the violence here is especially gruesome and even though I read a lot of dark crime fiction, I still winced at some of the horrors inflicted on the victims. It's not gratuitous, however, and is integral to the plot and to understanding the motivation behind the cruelty.
As more body parts are discovered, it becomes evident that this is linked to the horrific murder of a woman in 1994 and is almost certainly connected to organised crime, an area of policing Jimmy Bliss knows well from his time working in London. The emotional toll of policing is another constant and welcome feature of this series and whether it's DS Bishop still traumatised by the tragic loss of his partner, Mia or DC Ansari having her optimism dulled by the grinding, almost hopeless nature of the case, it's not just Bliss who is suffering here. It's wonderful then to see his partner, DS Penny Chandler enjoying a much better time of things in her personal life and even Bliss himself might have the chance at some happiness if he takes the opportunity to allow somebody in.
In the earlier books in the series, Bliss was often angry and confrontational and while we definitely still see that side of his character in Slow Slicing, as the lead of the joint task force operation set up to pool and double knowledge, he is more mindful in his dealings with his opposing officers. However, he is also more contemplative here too and recognises his tendency to become maudlin, although it could be argued with good reason at times. He claims to be happy with his own company and while that is undoubtedly true to an extent, he is afflicted with a lonely melancholy that threatens to become more entrenched. Now in the final years of his career, he looks back at his past and considers his future with a mixture of nostalgia, disappointment and acceptance. Nevertheless, he remains a loyal, principled boss and the interactions with his team, particularly Chandler, are still as effortlessly natural and frequently humorous as I've come to expect from an author who understands his characters so well.
As complex and shocking as the case may be, it is also entirely believable, both in terms of the reasons behind the violence and the consequences after the operation reaches its conclusion. Slow Slicing is yet another outstanding instalment in this exceptional series; intelligent, surprising and entertaining, it is also a book written with a real insight into human nature. It is a pleasure to see Bliss out of Peterborough again too, and as always the sense of place evoked is excellent throughout. This continues to be an unmissable, benchmark police procedural series for me and the potential repercussions following what happens at the end means I'm desperate to find out what lies in store for Jimmy Bliss next.

[Eve Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb, Outstanding, Fantastic, Must Read

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
This book started gritty and growesome, and quite gory in places that kept me gripped.
This Bliss book in my opinion is the best one yet, just because of the gore factor, Tony has written it so well, it's not just been written in for the sake of shocking the reader it's there for the benefit of the story, which just flows off the page and you just can't help but get engrossed in the story.
As ever I feel that Tony is a great author who deserves the recognition of the likes of Stephen King and Ian Rankin, especially after this book, his writing is captivating and eerily chilling. Always leaving me wanting more, because I'm greedy and love Bliss, he's my hero 😍😍
I'd absolutely, without a shadow of doubt recommend this book, and all previous books in the Bliss series because they are what my title says 💕💕💖💖📚📚

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Tony's work for a while now.  In fact ever since I had the good fortune to pick up the first book in the DI Bliss series.  Since discovering how fantastic an author Tony is, I have eagerly read everything that he has released to date.   The latest release in the DI Bliss series is called 'Slow Slicing' and it was released on 10th August 2020.  It's another cracker of a read from Tony.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Slow Slicing'  but more about that in a bit.

What can I say about Detective Inspector Jimmy Bliss?  Well for a start, I have something of a soft spot for him.  He is a career detective of many years experience.  What I like about Bliss is the fact that he has one of those brilliant analytical minds regarding crime and criminals.  In a sense he reminded me a bit of a criminal psychologist type.  He has the uncanny knack of being able to see directly into the criminal's mind and understands what makes them tick.  Bliss is kind, compassionate, sensitive, caring, thorough, tenacious, determined, stubborn and that's just for starters.  Bliss is in charge of a small team and they all seem to respect each other and they have each others' backs.  The case that forms the basis for 'Slow Slicing' is going to test Bliss and his team more than they have been tested before.  Do Bliss and his team solve the case?  Well for the answer to that question and so much more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out.

Oh my flipping word, 'Slow Slicing' was a superb read and then some.  I fell under this book's spell from the first time I picked the book up and the spell lasted until I read the last word on the very last page.  I made the fatal mistake of starting to read this book shortly before I went to bed.  Let's just say that sleep was delayed and even when I fell asleep I was still thinking about the story and having some weird and vivid dreams.  I couldn't bear to be parted from the book for any length of time.  I had a desperate need to know just how gruesome the case was going to become, whether or not Bliss would survive in one piece and whether or not Bliss and his team managed to solve the case.  If I wasn't read the book, I was thinking about the book.  If I had to put the book down for any length of time, I would immediately look forward to being able to pick the book back up again.  The pages of the story turned increasingly quickly as my desperation to find out what happened increased.  Then all too quickly I reached the end of the book and I had to bid farewell to Bliss and his colleagues.

'Slow Slicing' is superbly written but then I have found that to be true of all of Tony's books that I have had the good fortune to read.  He has a way of grabbing your attention from the start and then draws you into the story.  Tony has one of those writing styles that makes you feel as though you are part of the story yourself.  That's how I felt at any rate.  'Slow Slicing' is more gruesome than you might imagine but I am not easily shockable (well I was brought up by two nurses so I am used to graphic details of wounds and stuff) and so the gruesomeness didn't bother me.  Reading this book was much like being on a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with more twists and turns to the story than you would find on a 'Snakes & Ladders' board.  Just when you thought that you could take a breather, gather your thoughts and reclaim your stomach then off the action would go again.  I found 'Slow Slicing' to be a gripping read, which kept me guessing and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.

In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Slow Slicing' and I would definitely  recommend it to other readers.  I will definitely be reading more of Tony's work in the future.  The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

[Alexander Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bloody brilliant

What can i say, I have enjoyed all the series but this book is my favourite. The single plot is simply amazing with such depth and always keeping you on your toes. I am one, as my wife will vouch for, that gets an incline of the perpetrator early in detective books, but with this it throws you in so many directions as it does for Jimmy that it really does baffle you but intrigues you none the less. It also does bring to the forefront how you would feel in the situation and what you would do. It once again shows a decent man who is a brilliant detective fighting against crime and the red tape and procedure of the police for. And as we know Jimmy Bliss is no stranger to falling foul of them. Where he will go from now we will hopefully see very soon.

[Nikki Ayling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every now and then I come across a new series of books that I simply MUST read, DI Bliss books from Tony Forder are just that series. Introduced to this author and following recommendations by the UK FB crime book group, I love the associated humour and loveable rogue that DI Bliss is. The stories are all excellent, but this book certainly made me snigger out loud at a couple of "dusty" moments. .. ( If you want to know more . read the book!... I don't do spoilers 🤣🤣).

Another awesome book, that I really enjoyed, and am now actively waiting for more in the series.
Highly recommended read, and if you have never read anything from this author then you are seriously missing out.

[Donna ~ The Romance Cover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fantastic read from Tony Forder. Bliss is a character I can never get enough of, and Tony Forder's plots are so engaging that you cannot help but read as quickly as you can despite wanting to savour every word. I loved that we got to see more of Bliss's personal life, and with a darker than usual plot, this will have you turning the pages at the rate of knots. This is one series that I want to see go on FOREVER. However, when you have an ageing detective, the thought that he has to retire at some point...hurts. Maybe he can become a private detective in his retirement...

[SUE · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a little disturbed by this instalment, sadly I found it darker than the previous 6 , having said that I enjoyed the conclusion and how it all came together at the end , but am left wondering if there will be a number 8! Was good catching up with team again , like Chandler and her relationship with Jimmy . I also found I had to use my kindle dictionary a lot for this one .

[Philomena Callan Cheekypee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Usually I’m not keen on a series going on too long. However when it comes to DI Bliss I hope we get many more stories of him and his excellent team.

Again this author gripped me from start to finish. I was on the edge of my seat reading this. Now I’m not gonna go into the storyline as the author kindly gave us enough in the blurb. DI Bliss and his team are back with with one of their most complex and challenging cases. I love we get to see into Bliss personal life as well. It adds so much to knowing and liking this character even more.

So what I will say is you gotta read this story. Actually go back if you haven’t and read the previous books. Each and every one of these stories are brilliant. If you have read them get reading this you won’t regret it. They can be read as stand-alone but seriously why would you do that as they are all so good.

Slow Slicing is on the darker side with some scenes that will leave you gasping. I’ve just finished and already I’m waiting for more from this author- yes he is that good !!!

Merged review:

Usually I’m not keen on a series going on too long. However when it comes to DI Bliss I hope we get many more stories of him and his excellent team.

Again this author gripped me from start to finish. I was on the edge of my seat reading this. Now I’m not gonna go into the storyline as the author kindly gave us enough in the blurb. DI Bliss and his team are back with with one of their most complex and challenging cases. I love we get to see into Bliss personal life as well. It adds so much to knowing and liking this character even more.

So what I will say is you gotta read this story. Actually go back if you haven’t and read the previous books. Each and every one of these stories are brilliant. If you have read them get reading this you won’t regret it. They can be read as stand-alone but seriously why would you do that as they are all so good.

Slow Slicing is on the darker side with some scenes that will leave you gasping. I’ve just finished and already I’m waiting for more from this author- yes he is that good !!!

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 7th book in a series only gave 4* as a bit gruesome for me but still love the interaction between Bliss and Chandler and of course Molly. Wish there was a no8 in the series

[Jenny Nightingale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

Each new release gets better and better. Incredible story lines, intrigue, twists, empathy and knowledge of human nature. Extremely hard to put dow. THANK YOU

[Barbara Mace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read all DI Bliss books one after the other. Excellent series. One of the best

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely superb. At times dark and disturbing, a superb plot. Bliss is portrayed a such a special, lovely person. ..he seems real. Now on to Bliss #8 The Autumn Tree

[Laraine Woodall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enthralling all the way through with THE twist at the end.

[Brenda Lane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second I have read in series. Loved both...highly suggested.