When Tom Kharman, the accounting manager at Sunset Hotel, notices inconsistencies in the company’s accounts, he can’t help but ask questions. His quiet investigation soon leads him to suspect a money laundering scheme. Fearing he could be seen as an accomplice if the truth comes out (or as a threat to the masterminds behind the scheme), Tom decides to resign. With an inheritance of millions from his estranged father on the way, he believes everything will work out fine and would finally get to start his own accounting consulting firm.

But when his mistress turns up dead, and Tom is caught in a tragic accident days later, a chilling investigation begins. Are the two crimes connected? Will the police be able to catch these perpetrators before anyone else ends up dead? Will Tom’s family be able to outrun the shadows of his decisions?

Written by Ruben Elustondo, THE FOREST’S EYES is a crime mystery that focuses less on surprise and more on process. From the very beginning, readers already know (or can easily tell) who’s responsible for these deaths—which makes the mystery itself feel lukewarm. There’s no guessing game or big twist waiting at the end. Instead, the story’s strength lies in how the police carefully piece together the truth.

Elustondo does a solid job in showing the investigation procedures in detail: the patience, the media pressure, the teamwork, and sense of duty that drive each officer. Nothing feels rushed. Every clue, interview, and report adds to the slow, methodical pursuit of justice. It’s not the kind of crime novel that shocks you; it’s one that shows how real investigations actually unfold. That realism, more than suspense, is what keeps the story going.

Character-wise, the man at the center of it all is a pretty unlikeable character and not one who’s easy to root for. Tom is a cheater, an abuser, and, frankly, someone who won’t inspire much sympathy from readers. His death feels more like a consequence of his actions than a tragedy. Yet his choices were the spark that set everything in motion, and, through him, we see how one person’s selfishness can destroy an entire family.

The true heart of the book lies with Tom’s wife, Heather Kharman. At first, she does appear passive, especially in the way she lets her husband walk all over her. But as the story progresses, she grows into an interesting character filled with quiet strength and resilience. Watching her rebuild her life and protect her children adds emotional weight to the novel.

The pacing can be slow, especially in the middle chapters, but it matches the steady rhythm of the investigation. Meanwhile, Elustondo’s writing is more focused on clarity than flair, and that works for this kind of story.

While Ruben Elustondo’s THE FOREST’S EYES might not keep its readers on edge with whodunit-suspense or emotionally connected with any likeable characters, it does offer something more grounded: an intriguing look at justice, guilt, and quiet strength in the face of loss.

~ Tomi Alo for IndieReader