mxinky's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. Again, solid, interesting plot, weird treatment of women and also Irish people.
andrew61's review against another edition
4.0
I think I say this every time I read another in the Tom Thorne series but the books just keep getting better and better and Thorne is up there as one of my favourite police officers with Rebus and Wallander.
Here a widow convicted 10 years ago of having her husband murdered when she is released from prison receives a photo of him happily smiling away for the camera next to the sea with a beer in hand. Thorne's investigation places him and anyone near him at personal harm leading to a thrilling climax. A cracking read.
Here a widow convicted 10 years ago of having her husband murdered when she is released from prison receives a photo of him happily smiling away for the camera next to the sea with a beer in hand. Thorne's investigation places him and anyone near him at personal harm leading to a thrilling climax. A cracking read.
booked_becki's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
sophiewilliams's review against another edition
3.0
Not the strongest of this series, but good nonetheless. Thorne gets to go on holiday! Less interaction with the supporting cast.
anetq's review against another edition
4.0
A gangster comes back from the dead, just as his ex-wife/widow is about to get released for murdering him...
(I'm on a bit of a Thorne binge, and they are entertaining)
(I'm on a bit of a Thorne binge, and they are entertaining)
kingfan30's review against another edition
3.0
Ive not heard of Mark Billingham before let alone read the rest of the series. I'm guessing each book has a different crime with an underlying story running through them. I did not really feel like I had missed anything that may have gone on in previous books so this stood on its own really well. The crime it's self was an interesting one as you know from the beginning who did it, the thing is the police find this out 10 years down the line after phots are sent to the wife and the quest to track him down begins. As always there are inside men keeping secrets and the odd accident on the way to keep them quiet. It was pretty fast past and an entertaining read, more of a 3.5 really.
sparklebox1's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this, knowing I had read a book out of sequence I thought that this may effect my enjoyment of the plot and character knowledge.
I quite like Thorne although his ability to deduce the criminal is somewhat clunky and hit and miss. Like most policemen his love life is fucked up and true to form he can’t make up his mind about what he wants, but this may just be a universal trait that most men have!
I didn’t agree with the authors choices of who got bumped off and was kinda hoping that the connections between these two would have developed into more and they could solve crime together.
Enjoyable and easy to start a relationship with this without through other titles ... here’s to a few more!
I quite like Thorne although his ability to deduce the criminal is somewhat clunky and hit and miss. Like most policemen his love life is fucked up and true to form he can’t make up his mind about what he wants, but this may just be a universal trait that most men have!
I didn’t agree with the authors choices of who got bumped off and was kinda hoping that the connections between these two would have developed into more and they could solve crime together.
Enjoyable and easy to start a relationship with this without through other titles ... here’s to a few more!
fat_girl_fiction's review against another edition
4.0
I love Mark Billingham. I've read several Tom Thorne books now and return to his world, like slipping into my favourite pair of jeans.
Thorne and his colleagues are funny, interesting and each of them have their own unique points and individualities. Being allowed inside Thorne's head I feel is a privilege and a very exciting and amusing place to be. His thoughts make the story come alive.
The story itself is certainly an interesting one after an infamous London gangster, thought to be dead is discovered to be alive. When Alan Langford starts bumping off informers, it's up to Thorne to track down the gangster and work out the identity of the charred remains they have found.
As always, you're kept guessing, right to the end, and with a short excursion to Spain, it's one of the best Thorne novels to date.
Thorne and his colleagues are funny, interesting and each of them have their own unique points and individualities. Being allowed inside Thorne's head I feel is a privilege and a very exciting and amusing place to be. His thoughts make the story come alive.
The story itself is certainly an interesting one after an infamous London gangster, thought to be dead is discovered to be alive. When Alan Langford starts bumping off informers, it's up to Thorne to track down the gangster and work out the identity of the charred remains they have found.
As always, you're kept guessing, right to the end, and with a short excursion to Spain, it's one of the best Thorne novels to date.