kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars.
A prequel to the first novel in the Tom Thorne series, Cry Baby by Mark Billingham is a suspense-laden mystery about a missing seven year old boy.
Catrin "Cat" Coyne and Maria Ashton are with their sons at a playground when, during a moment of distraction, Cat's son Kieron goes missing. He and Maria's son Josh are playing hide and seek in the wood when Josh realizes something has happened to his friend.
Detective Sergeant Tom Thorne and his boss Detective Inspector Gordon Boyle are part of the team assigned to investigate Kieron's disappearance. After a fruitless search, everyone fears the worst. But when eyewitness Felix Barratt provides important information, Thorne and the rest of the team now believe the young boy was abducted. But without any new leads, will they find Kieron before it is too late?
In 1996, Thorne is on his way to a divorce but he does not feel any urgency to start proceedings or put the house on the market. Kieron's case provide a true but handy excuse as his soon to be ex-wife Jan and her new boyfriend pressure him to follow through with his promises. Thorne instead works long hours trying to find any evidence that will assist in the search for Kieron.
After a chat with Cat, Tom crosses paths with her neighbor Grantleigh Figgis. With their discussion about his whereabouts the morning Kieron complete, Thorne cannot shake off the feeling Figgis needs a closer look. DI Boyle is quickly convinced Grantleigh is a viable suspect and the situation quickly escalates out of Tom's control. Will evidence prove DI Boyle's certainty that Figgis is their man?
Meanwhile Cat has information that she initially held back from the police. Despite Thorne's assertion what she tells him will remain confidential, everyone, including her partner Billy who is in prison, knows exactly what Cat divulged. Luckily, Billy's sister Angela is there to support her while the search for Kieron continues.
Maria still feels guilty about taking her eye off the boys that fateful day in the park. But she is soon distracted by Josh's increasingly troubling behavior both at home and school. Maria puts it down to her recent divorce and Kieron's disappearance. Will her ex-husband Ashton agree to get counseling for their son?
Cry Baby is a tension-filled mystery that is fast-paced and engaging. The plot is refreshingly unique since the story takes place in the summer of 1996. Due to the lack of modern day technology, Thorne and the rest of the investigators rely on old fashioned detective work as they search for Kieron. With a shocking plot twist, Mark Billingham brings this riveting mystery to an edge of the seat, dramatic conclusion. Old and new fans are sure to love this outstanding prequel (and seventeenth installment) to the Tom Thorne series.
A prequel to the first novel in the Tom Thorne series, Cry Baby by Mark Billingham is a suspense-laden mystery about a missing seven year old boy.
Catrin "Cat" Coyne and Maria Ashton are with their sons at a playground when, during a moment of distraction, Cat's son Kieron goes missing. He and Maria's son Josh are playing hide and seek in the wood when Josh realizes something has happened to his friend.
Detective Sergeant Tom Thorne and his boss Detective Inspector Gordon Boyle are part of the team assigned to investigate Kieron's disappearance. After a fruitless search, everyone fears the worst. But when eyewitness Felix Barratt provides important information, Thorne and the rest of the team now believe the young boy was abducted. But without any new leads, will they find Kieron before it is too late?
In 1996, Thorne is on his way to a divorce but he does not feel any urgency to start proceedings or put the house on the market. Kieron's case provide a true but handy excuse as his soon to be ex-wife Jan and her new boyfriend pressure him to follow through with his promises. Thorne instead works long hours trying to find any evidence that will assist in the search for Kieron.
After a chat with Cat, Tom crosses paths with her neighbor Grantleigh Figgis. With their discussion about his whereabouts the morning Kieron complete, Thorne cannot shake off the feeling Figgis needs a closer look. DI Boyle is quickly convinced Grantleigh is a viable suspect and the situation quickly escalates out of Tom's control. Will evidence prove DI Boyle's certainty that Figgis is their man?
Meanwhile Cat has information that she initially held back from the police. Despite Thorne's assertion what she tells him will remain confidential, everyone, including her partner Billy who is in prison, knows exactly what Cat divulged. Luckily, Billy's sister Angela is there to support her while the search for Kieron continues.
Maria still feels guilty about taking her eye off the boys that fateful day in the park. But she is soon distracted by Josh's increasingly troubling behavior both at home and school. Maria puts it down to her recent divorce and Kieron's disappearance. Will her ex-husband Ashton agree to get counseling for their son?
Cry Baby is a tension-filled mystery that is fast-paced and engaging. The plot is refreshingly unique since the story takes place in the summer of 1996. Due to the lack of modern day technology, Thorne and the rest of the investigators rely on old fashioned detective work as they search for Kieron. With a shocking plot twist, Mark Billingham brings this riveting mystery to an edge of the seat, dramatic conclusion. Old and new fans are sure to love this outstanding prequel (and seventeenth installment) to the Tom Thorne series.
balthazarlawson's review against another edition
4.0
This book takes us back to the beginning of who we know as DI Tom Thorne. This is set in 1996 when he was a detective sergeant working the case of a missing seven year old boy taken from a suburban park while playing hide-n-seek with his best friend and their parents were nearby. It's a case that reveals the secrets of families and how what is seen on the outside is not necessarily what goes on behind closed doors.
It also show the character to Tom Thorne who has just separated from his wife, he meets Paul Hendricks the pathologist and it features characters in the other books. It's an enjoyable read and reveals more about the character.
It also shows that the case may have been 24 years earlier, but it's not forgotten.
It also show the character to Tom Thorne who has just separated from his wife, he meets Paul Hendricks the pathologist and it features characters in the other books. It's an enjoyable read and reveals more about the character.
It also shows that the case may have been 24 years earlier, but it's not forgotten.
jmatkinson1's review against another edition
5.0
1996 and DS Tom Thorne is more concerned about the European Championships than putting his house on the market at the behest of his estranged wife. He is still having nightmares about a case from ten years ago when he is called into an investigation into a missing child. A seven year old boy has vanished from some woods, his mother is distraught and her husband has recently been locked away for attempted murder. The DI on the case is keen to solve it quickly but Thorne isn't convinced by his ideas.
This is a prequel novel, going back to Thorne's time in the 1990s, and Billingham admits in his notes that he was concerned about writing a story setting his main character into his past. In fact Billingham has produced a triumph, not only is this an outstanding police procedural but the detail of the setting is spot on - the narrative about the football, the little mentions of TV programmes etc - he's really hit the popular culture of the times. Billingham always writes a cracking novel and this one is up there with his best.
This is a prequel novel, going back to Thorne's time in the 1990s, and Billingham admits in his notes that he was concerned about writing a story setting his main character into his past. In fact Billingham has produced a triumph, not only is this an outstanding police procedural but the detail of the setting is spot on - the narrative about the football, the little mentions of TV programmes etc - he's really hit the popular culture of the times. Billingham always writes a cracking novel and this one is up there with his best.
whippycleric's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A really good crime mystery book, which if you're a fan of the genre I'd put up as a very good example. As a prequel you can read it out of order as I have done with no issues. The interpersonal relationships between the mother and others is gone into deeply and a good read. It lost a point or two just due to what I felt was an unnecessary second twist and it got a little slow in the middle but overall a very enjoyable read
sslovesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
This was a great read, thrilling and had me questioning who did this??
achoward's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a sucker for origin stories, ever if I've never read any of the books in the series.
Such is the case with Cry Baby, listed as Tom Thorne #17, but which is essentially book zero.
The year is 1996, before everyone had the equivalent of a supercomputer in their pocket. Two boys go into the woods, but only one returns. Thorne is assigned to investigate the disappearance of the boy, but with no information at all to go on. He's also navigating the ruins of his marriage, which comes with the additional baggage of his estranged wife's boyfriend.
Another couple of deaths - people known and connected to the families of the two boys - ups the ante, and we discover that some people involved are not giving up a;; the information as to what they know.
It's a taut story. The only misfire for me is a motive that is sadly not as well defined as the rest of the book.
A solid four out of five stars.
Thanks to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for the review copy.
Such is the case with Cry Baby, listed as Tom Thorne #17, but which is essentially book zero.
The year is 1996, before everyone had the equivalent of a supercomputer in their pocket. Two boys go into the woods, but only one returns. Thorne is assigned to investigate the disappearance of the boy, but with no information at all to go on. He's also navigating the ruins of his marriage, which comes with the additional baggage of his estranged wife's boyfriend.
Another couple of deaths - people known and connected to the families of the two boys - ups the ante, and we discover that some people involved are not giving up a;; the information as to what they know.
It's a taut story. The only misfire for me is a motive that is sadly not as well defined as the rest of the book.
A solid four out of five stars.
Thanks to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for the review copy.
abbotsford1234's review against another edition
2.0
Ok. Less of Scotland being beaten by England, Mark. I watched that game. Gary McAlister should have scored. BTW I kept expected this book to be a bit like 'Ashes to Ashes'.
louisabooks's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
amread's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
legohelmet's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25