A growing number of suicides start looking like murder in Billingham’s absorbing 11th novel featuring Det. Insp. Tom Thorne (after 2012’s The Demands). With the apparent joint suicide of an elderly Continue reading » Mark Billingham was born and brought up in Birmingham. Having worked for some years as an actor and more recently as a TV writer and stand-up comedian his first crime novel was published in 2001. Billingham later expressed a desire to film all ten Thorne novels. [4] Likewise, Morrissey confirmed in February 2011 that a second series had gone into production. [5] However, in a newsletter issued to members of his mailing list in December 2012, Billingham stated that Morrissey's role in The Walking Dead had suspended plans for any further series. [6] To date, no further series of Thorne have been produced. Mr. Billingham has created a story as frightening as it is riveting. Pushing the English police procedural to another level. London Detective Tom Thorne is churlish and depressing when he is in what he would consider a good mood, quite a rarity for this cop. However, when he becomes involved in a homicide the police receive the best out of him professionally, but his behavior turns atrocious. His current case leads him to suffer from the Grand Canyon of misery when two murders with the identical MO occurs at approximately the same time in different parts of the city. One of the victims is a mother whose three-year-old watched her die.

Thorne On Screen - Mark Billingham Thorne On Screen - Mark Billingham

a b Ed Cumming, 8 October 2010, The Daily Telegraph, David Morrissey on Thorne: a British copper, in a US style Readers who like a powerful police procedural with strong characters, will want to read this superb tale. This is a winner. Taut, gripping and stylish. Billingham delivers a chilling exploration of power and submission. Unputdownable. A spate of cat deaths propels Billingham’s intriguing 15th novel featuring London Det. Insp. Tom Thorne (after 2017’s Love like Blood). Assigned to the case, Thorne hates the ridicule that Continue reading »

Billingham manipulates his readers as relentlessly as the murderer manipulates both his surrogate in crime, and the police . With last year’s auspicious thriller debut (Sleepyhead), Billingham has given himself a tough act to follow. But the return of London detective Tom Thorne is most welcome, and this novel is every bit as intense and creepy as the first. Two women have been murdered simultaneously near St Pancras station, but in quite different ways. When the connection is made with two other murders, months before but on the same day, DI Thorne realises that two serial killers are at work in a macabre partnership. Andrea Mullaney of The Scotsman, praised the efforts made by BSkyB in the production and casting, but added "it's a shame that our best actors can't be used for anything more radical or real." [9] Adam Sweeting of The Arts Desk wrote a more scathing review, commenting; "Despite the hype, it's just another cop show full of corpses, but Morrissey feels authentic as the phlegmatic, low-key Thorne". He also criticised the romantic link between Morrissey and McElhone, writing; "It was like Vinnie Jones getting off with Joanna Lumley". [10] Cast [ edit ]

Scaredy Cat - Mark Billingham Scaredy Cat - Mark Billingham

It is DI Tom Thorne who sees the link and comes to the horrifying conclusion. This is not a serial killer the police are up against. This is two of them. Finding the body used to be the worst part of the job. Not any more. Now each time a body is found, Thorne must live with the knowledge that somewhere out there is a second victim, waiting to be discovered. How difficult to spot villain? - Very difficult--no foreshadowing/clues Time/era of story: - 2000+ (Present) But whilst the methods might be the same, the manner of the killings is strikingly different and Thorne comes to realise that he is hunting two very different killers. One is ruthless and in control, while his partner in crime is submissive, compliant, terrified.

In Billingham's thrilling eighth crime novel featuring London police detective Tom Thorne (after Death Message), Thorne welcomes the distraction of a new case after his girlfriend, Det. Insp. Louise Continue reading » Thorne must catch a man whose need to manipulate is as great as his need to kill ; a man who will threaten those closest to Thorne himself ; a man, who will show him that the ability to inspire terror, is the deadliest weapon of all… The line between cop and criminal becomes dangerously blurred in Billingham's excellent stand-alone thriller. Told from multiple points-of-view and full of red herrings, the story begins in Continue reading » Genuine edge-of-the-seat stuff. Billingham keeps the reader guessing as to the principal killer’s true identity right to the very end. Television and film adaptations must surely follow.