The Root of All Evil by Trevor Negus

Tom Naylor Trilogy – book two

🌟 Review Note:

This review is provided as part of the Virtual Book Tour hosted by Zooloo’s Book Tours which runs 13 – 19 October 2025. Follow along with the Book Tour Schedule. This review is for The Root of All Evil, the second part of the trilogy. My review for the final part is coming next.

My sincere thanks to Zooloo’s Book Tours and Inkubator Books for inviting me to be part of this book tour and for providing a digital copy of the Tom Naylor Trilogy by Trevor Negus.

As always, this review reflects my honest thoughts.

About the book

Tom Naylor – a good cop with a deadly skill.

Nottingham 1990. Ex-paratrooper Tom Naylor is a sniper in the Special Operations Unit, the dedicated firearms response teams of the Nottinghamshire Police.

Each book in this gripping trilogy focuses on a single case –

In Two Wrongs, Naylor’s unit combats the warring drug gangs who are fighting for control of the city.

In The Root of All Evil, Naylor infiltrates a lethal gang of armed robbers, some of
whom are also ex-military.

In The Cause, Naylor plays a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with an elite IRA sniper who is on a mission to strike at the very heart of the British establishment.

Written by a former police firearms specialist, the Naylor trilogy is a must-read, combining absolutely riveting storytelling with an insider’s eye for authentic detail.

The Tom Naylor Trilogy by Trevor Negus
Published 21 September 2025 by Inkubator Books

You can find the book on Amazon and Goodreads

Who is Trevor Negus?

Trevor Negus is a retired Police Officer who spent 30 years working with Nottinghamshire Police. He worked both inner city and rural beats in uniform and spent the entire duration of the Miners’ Strike of 1984 on a Police Support Unit.

He then spent six years as an authorised firearms officer and was a sniper on the force’s Special Operations Unit. The last eleven years of his Police career were spent as a detective on the CID, where he was involved in numerous murder enquiries. During his time on the CID he was trained as a specialist interviewer, involved in the planning and interviews of murder suspects.

Trevor’s website can be found at https://www.trevornegus-author.com/

You can follow Trevor on social media over on Instagram and Facebook

My Review

The Root of All Evil continues on seamlessly from Two Wrongs, moving the story into December 1987 and straight back into the world of Tom Naylor and the Special Operations Unit. The transition is smooth and immediate — it feels less like starting a new book and more like turning to the next chapter in an already gripping story.

What stood out again is how consistent the writing style is. The same authenticity, grounded realism and attention to operational detail are all present. As so many of the key figures and relationships were established in book one, I found the depth of detail much easier to follow this time. Instead of adjusting to it, I was able to really enjoy and appreciate it.

The realism is outstanding and gives the story an undeniable credibility. The pacing flows well, and I never felt lost or overwhelmed by the information — it all felt relevant, layered and purposeful. The structure made it easy to stay connected with both the unfolding plot and the familiar characters, and the groundwork laid in the first book really pays off here by allowing everything to build naturally.

What I particularly liked is that it doesn’t just retread the same type of cases. It brings in fresh tension and very different storylines while still feeling firmly tied to what came before. The tone, precision and emotional undercurrents are spot on, and I found myself completely absorbed once again.

This trilogy is shaping up to be something special, and it really makes you stop and think about the real people behind jobs like this. The officers working in these units must live such uncertain lives, operating on the edge almost daily — and I can’t help wondering how their families cope with that constant weight.

This is another 5-star read, without hesitation — and if I could give more, I would. The detail is fascinating, the writing flows brilliantly and the established foundations from book one make this instalment even more engaging. I’m absolutely loving this trilogy and I can’t wait to see where book three takes Tom Naylor next.

See About My Reviews and Review FAQ for full star rating explanations and review guidelines.

This review may also appear on my social media channels and selected book platforms. All links were correct at the time of publication.

DISCLOSURE: I received an advance or review copy of this book. As always, my thoughts are honest and my own.
DISCLOSURE: I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley/Zooloo’s Book Tours. As always, my thoughts are honest and my own.
DISCLOSURE: I purchased this book myself. As always, my thoughts are honest and my own.

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