This is DI Tom Thorne’s thirteenth outing and although I haven’t read the entire series I’ve dipped in and out over the years. This is a great example of the strength of the characterisation and plot that this author produces and is reads successfully as stand-alone novel. Then Helen hears of the arrest of Stephen Bates for the disappearance of two young girl. Bates happens to be Helen's best friend from high school, Linda. Although Helen has not even returned to her home town, Dorbrook, to see her best friend in twenty years, she decides that she must abandon her holiday plans immediately and rush to Linda's aid. Douglas, Joanne (4 July 2017). "Watch: BBC release trailer for hit new drama In The Dark filmed in Marsden which starts next week". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. David Leon as DI Adam Perrin, [3] a detective in the Manchester Metropolitan Police and Helen's former fling

Soon, a body is found with a cigarette button with the body. The DNA is determined to be Stephen's. The local small-town police believe that they can wrap this case up neatly in short time. But, hold on. Thorne does not believe that the police have such an airtight case. So, he does his own looking into the case and becomes even more convinced that the police don't have the airtight case that they believe that they do. Thorne even becomes a nuisance to the local police butting into their case. (Would this really happen?) Then, one of Thorne's good friends, a gay, completely covered with tats, and some piercings to top it off, to review the autopsy and forensic evidence. (How mad can the local police be now?) Little by little, Thorne finds fault in evidence and times and eventually he solves the case. He was correct; the police did not have the airtight case that they assumed. (Bet that pissed them off even more) In 1876, professor Edward Cope takes a group of students to the unforgiving American West to hunt for dinosaur fossils, and they make a tremendous discovery. Billingham is always spot on, but TIME OF DEATH is pitch-perfect, evenly balanced between plot and character. You won’t be able to read it without wondering why all books can’t be this good."I read the first few books in the Tom Thorne series but lost touch with the series several years ago. While there is clearly a running story arc over Tom's relationship with Helen, this book works perfectly well as a standalone. Past cases are referred to but not in a way that affects the understanding of the plot of this book. This is Mark Billingham's 13th book in the Tom Thorne series. It is a good book that holds the readers' attention and keeps them reading. I enjoyed the book. It begins with Thorne and Helen are just getting away for a holiday. Douglas, Joanne (11 July 2017). "Meet the characters of BBC One drama 'In The Dark' - which was filmed in Marsden". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Ashley Walters as DI Tim Cornish, a North Derbyshire Police officer leading the abduction case. [5] Having found questionable material on Bates’ computer, and clear DNA linking him to the corpse, the local police are convinced that they have their man. Despite having to field calls from his boss in London telling him to keep his nose out, Thorne senses that the body found in the woods is not the trump card that ends this particular game. As he tries to square the circle, Helen tries to console Linda Bates, who is in a safe house with her two teenage children while investigators search her home more forensic evidence that will slam Steve Bates’ cell door firmly shut.

This book is a little different to the previous Billingham books I've read as Thorne and Weeks are not on their own turf so it's more about Weeks relationship with the suspects partner and Thorne doing his own off-the-record investigation. I thought I had it sussed half way through but it shows how good Billingham is as a writer to lead me down that path whilst still dropping the little clues to the true perpetrator's identity. In the small town of Polesford, Helen tries to re-establish some kind of rapport with someone she hasn’t seen for half a lifetime. Thorne, meanwhile, is drawn into the incident room where the disappearance of the two local teenage girls is being investigated. It doesn’t take him too long to outstay his welcome, particularly when he queries the conclusions that the local force jump to when a decomposing body is found in woodland – an area well frequented by dog-walkers. And something is up with Helen. She's either withdrawn or spoiling for a fight, leaving Tom baffled as to the cause of her behaviour. Narrators alternate from one chapter to the next so we get varied points of review on events. Those told in the voices of the perpetrator & one of his victims are particularly chilling. Meanwhile, a teenage girl is held captive in a small room, knowing that her death is approaching, even as a person close to Thorne’s investigation unwittingly holds the key to her whereabouts. Thorne obtains some unexpected but very welcome help from an unlikely source, and slowly closes in on the remaining missing girl and the killer. Time, however, is running out. It is always a joy to see a 'new' Tom Thorne on the bookshelves and as ever this lived up to expectations. Following not too far off his disastrous outing to Bardsey Island this book opens with Tom and Helen on a much needed holiday in the Cotswolds. The holiday is short lived when Helen hears the news involving an old school friend whose husband has been arrested in connection with 2 missing school girls. She insists on going to the aid of her friend while Tom is left twiddling his thumbs - but not for long.Another sweltering month in Charlotte, another boatload of mysteries past and present for overworked, overstressed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan. Hogan, Michael (11 July 2017). "In the Dark is taut thriller with a credible cop-with-a-conscience heroine - review". The Telegraph. She doesn't know who she is, or where she is, or how long she's been there. She knows only that, whatever is coming, she's ready for the end." Always heart stoppingly addictive, I read this fast - when it comes to Crime Fiction Mr Billingham really is at the top of his game, each novel bringing something a little different and for such a long running series it maintains a fresh new feel each time. Not that easy to pull off but seemingly effortless in this case.

As residents and media bay for Bates' blood, a decomposing body is found. The police believe they have their murderer in custody, but one man believes otherwise. With a girl still missing, Thorne sets himself on a collision course with local police, townsfolk - and a merciless killer. Ben Batt as DI Paul Hopkins, Helen's partner and fellow detective in the Greater Manchester Police. [5] As ever a pleasure to spend time in Thorne's company - the whole series definitely comes highly recommended from me.

When it's splashed all over the press that family man Stephen Bates has been arrested, Helen and her partner Tom Thorne head to the flooded town to support Bates' wife - an old school friend of Helen's - who is living under siege with two teenage children and convinced of her husband's innocence. Helen and Paul continue to have misapprehensions about the case, bolstered by the advice of their colleague Phil, an MPD coroner. As the evidence proving Stephen's innocence builds up, Helen is forced to confront a vicious crime from her past as well as troubles in her relationship with Paul, then a break in the case leads to a race against time to save the other kidnapped girl.

The mystery and thriller genres are full of authors who write remarkable novels, but find that commercial success commensurate with their talents and efforts proves to be elusive. They certainly do well enough, and have a diehard and loyal fan base, but they aren’t household names. Then, after several efforts, they write a book that everyone talks about, and the degree of success that they have deserved all along is suddenly theirs. Two schoolgirls have been abducted in the small town of Polesford, where Helen Weeks grew up. Helen and her partner DI Tom Thorne are on holiday when the news reports that a man has been arrested for the crimes, although no bodies have been found. When Helen realises that the man is the husband of an old friend of hers, she insists on going to Polesford to offer support. At first reluctant, Thorne soon finds himself interested in the investigation and at odds with the local police.Now a major BBC Drama as part of the series In the Dark, this is a gripping, brilliantly plotted thriller from number one best-selling author Mark Billingham.