The Murder Book
-
-
4.0 • 11 Ratings
-
-
- $12.99
Publisher Description
A spate of brutal murders threatens the newfound happiness of “one of the most credible and engaging heroes in contemporary crime fiction” (Ian Rankin).
Tom Thorne finally has it all.
In Nicola Tanner and Phil Hendricks, Thorne has good friends by his side. His love life is newly reformed by a promising relationship and he is happy in the job he has devoted his life to.
As he sets off hunting the woman responsible for a series of grisly murders, Thorne has no way of knowing that he will be plunged into a nightmare from which he may never wake. A nightmare that has a name. Thorne’s past threatens to catch up with him and a ruinous secret is about to be revealed. If he wants to save himself and his friends, he will have to do the unthinkable.
Tom Thorne finally has a lot to lose.
Praise for the Tom Thorne series
“Morse, Rebus, and now Thorne. The next superstar detective is already with us—don’t miss him.” —Lee Child
“Billingham is a world-class writer and Tom Thorne is a wonderful creation. Rush to read these books.” —Karin Slaughter
“With each of his books, Mark Billingham gets better and better. These are stories and characters you don’t want to leave.” —Michael Connelly
“Mark Billingham has brought a rare and welcome blend of humanity, dimension, and excitement to the genre.” —George Pelecanos
“A fantastic thriller, combining a gripping plot and lead characters of remarkable depth . . . Readers who grab this one but aren’t familiar with its predecessors will be seeking them out. A series to savor.” —Booklist (starred review)
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
British author Billingham's masterly 18th novel featuring Det. Insp. Tom Thorne (after 2020's Cry Baby) finds Thorne content in his relationship with Melita Perera, who works with the police as a forensic psychiatrist, following a period of social isolation. Meanwhile, Thorne's nemesis, Stuart Nicklin, who once tortured and nearly killed Thorne's best friend, pathologist Phil Hendricks, escapes from prison and undergoes cosmetic surgery that makes him all but unrecognizable. When three grotesque murders, which imitate the proverbial "see no evil" theme, occur in London, Thorne and partner Det. Insp. Nicola Tanner investigate. They tie all three to sociopath Rebecca Driver, an acolyte of Nicklin's, who meets her victims on a dating website, and arrest her. While Driver is in a holding cell after conviction and waiting to be sentenced, she finally decides to expose Nicklin's evil manipulations. In the brilliant denouement, Thorne confronts Nicklin in Melita's home, and the fallout from their violent encounter is sure to reverberate through the lives of Tanner, Hendricks, and himself in future installments. The intricate plot matches superior characterizations. Thorne fans will eagerly await his next outing.
