Thorne and Tanner are investigating a gruesome series of murders when an old nemesis starts to emerge from the background. Soon it becomes clear that the murders are only a part of a deeper and more diabolical plan.

This is my first Thorne book. It pretty obviously picks up threads from earlier novels, but Billingham never makes the reader feel that they are missing out on anything vital, and nor does he spend to much time on exposition and backgrounding. I enjoyed this, and will be reading more in this series.

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Detective Inspectors Tom Thorne and Nicola tanner make a great investigative pair – Tanner tends to operate by the book, observing protocol and obeying rules, while Tom Thorne has more or less based his career on cutting corners, following intuition and seldom being afraid of challenging authority. They complement each other effectively, but also often get on each other’s nerves, which lends the book some of its air of verisimilitude – after all, I know that I have several colleagues whom I respect overall, but whose idiosyncrasies (whether in following or forswearing strict procedural guidance) sometimes irritate me beyond measure.

This latest instalment of their series opens with Thorne ruing the death of a woman who had been driven to suicide by the actions of a conman, who seems to have disappeared without trace. He is convinced that there is a lot more to be uncovered, but there are no leads, and with a coroner’s verdict of suicide, officially there is no case. His frustration is eased slightly when his squad receives news of a murder in Margate in which the forensic evidence throws up a link to the suicide. As he and Tanner delve further, Thorne starts to receive what appear to be personal messages, and he finds himself reviewing some of his most trying former cases.

Billingham is a great story teller, and always convinces the reader to suspend any disbelief. I think this is because his principal characters are so believable. Thorne is flawed – not only does he break the rules, as mentioned above, but he has personal issues: he is sulky and bad tempered, and often difficult to work, let alone live, with. Tanner, too, is aware of her own shortcomings, and the constraints of her own personality.

Billingham’s writing style is great, too. His prose is direct, and clear, and draws the reader in. Having picked the book up, I found I was plunged into the story immediately, and was sixty pages in without seeming to have stopped for breath. He has also, wisely in my view, allowed his characters to age in real time, which adds a further patina of credibility. The Tom Thorne in this book is a long way from the detective who investigated the Sleepyhead case some twenty years ago, but there is a clear and plausible path from then to now. ( )

Mark Billingham is one of my favorite authors. I don't bother with reading the flyleaf as I just know I'm in for a great read. Billingham writes stand alones that are really good as well, but it is the Tom Thorne series that I enjoy the most. The latest entry (#18!) is The Murder Book.

There's a core group of three that are at the heart of this series. Tom is a Detective with the the London force as is Nicola Tanner. The third member of the trio is Coroner Phil Hendricks. They're good friends in and out of the station and all three also harboring a dark secret. (Nope, not going to tell you what it is!) Thorne and Nicola are on the hunt for a murderer using some truly grisly methods. And then the shoe drops. There is evidence found at a murder scene that should not be there...

Billingham gives his characters rich personal lives than bleed into their professional lives. Sometimes for the good - and sometimes not. I quite like Thorne - he's not grown predictable or tired after seventeen books. He's ornery, obstinate and driven to solve his cases at almost any cost. And the cost could be very high in this latest case. Hendricks seems to be settling down at last and Nicola is slowly trying to move on as well.

Billingham consistently comes up with dark, devious plots that hold the reader captive until the last page has been turned. Loyal readers will know the name Stuart Nicklin. New readers, be prepared to meet one of the most manipulative psychopaths that ever lived in the pages of a book. His scenes give me shivers. I also love twists and turns. There's a doozy as the books nears the end that had me flipping back and re-reading to make sure I had read it correctly.

Billingham has kept the series moving forward, always giving the reader a satisfactory ending, but leaving us with enough questions to wonder what's next in store for Thorne et al. This reader can't wait for the next in the series! ( )

Tom Thorne Book # 18

This is my second book by this author although “The Murder Book” is part of a series I do believe you could read this as a standalone even with the references to what has gone before.

The Synopsis in a few words:

After investigating a series of grisly murders committed by a young woman who almost seems proud to be caught, Thorne peels back the layers of a secret far darker than he could have ever realised. Now it’s his reputation and loved ones on the line, and he is about to find out how far he will go to save them.

My thoughts in a few words:

Some characters highlights:

Thorne the main protagonist is centre stage. He is a complex character with a great deal of history a one with a short temper. His sidekick DI Nicola Tanner also has a short temper and a past that keeps haunting her. We also have secondary players; one great one is Phil Hendrick, a man with a wicket sense of humour for a pathologist in charge of examining the murder victims. And we have Thorne’s girlfriend, forensic psychiatrist Dry Melita Perera who has certain clients with history of violence...Of course we have secondary characters to help move things along. They all play excellent parts.

The plot:

It is the classic edge of your seat thriller with some twists and turns to keep us going through the pages. The suspense drags along and we seem to turn in circle too often for my taste but again this keeps us in apprehension for the next move... which comes quickly enough. Yes, no fear Mark Billingham leaves us with an ending I did not see coming.

Although it is a good story it left me cold. I was glued to every word at time and in other times I couldn’t wait to move on. Most reviewers have giving this story high praise I may be the exception with my feelings I am definitely less than enthusiastic than most...

The style:

Expertly written with good police procedural and a tad of humour here and there....

Thank you Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for the opportunity to read this book ( )

Mark Billingham, who is probably Britain’s finest living crime writer, has been knocking off a book a year, sometimes starring his main protagonist Tom Thorne, but sometimes with Thorne only having a walk-on part. In this year’s book, Thorne is centre stage. Working together with his two closest colleagues (and best friends) he is up against an old nemesis. I love these books not only because they’re cleverly-plotted, full of wit, and with characters I have grown to know well. I also love them because they’re largely set in Crouch End, Muswell Hill, Hornsey, Kentish Town and Highgate. In other words, in my neighbourhood. Highly recommended. ( )