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4.47 AVERAGE
4.47 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Oh wow!! Where to begin with this, book 19 of the Tom Thorne series, one of my favourites as i still credit Sleepyhead for hooking me into crime fiction.
Someone is targeting the police and after a seemingly innocuous incident sees three officers dead and a fourth seriously ill, then alarm bells starting ringing, however this just the start of something far bigger and more sinister than initially thought as well as a moral dilemma issue. Despite being such a long running series, the characters remain endearing and among all the bleakness of the investigation, there's plenty of dark humour largely involving Thorne's friendship with pathologist Phil Hendriks and as the story progresses, there's a twist or two just when you think you have it all figured out. Dark, emotional, surprising, shocking and one that I'd highly recommend.
Someone is targeting the police and after a seemingly innocuous incident sees three officers dead and a fourth seriously ill, then alarm bells starting ringing, however this just the start of something far bigger and more sinister than initially thought as well as a moral dilemma issue. Despite being such a long running series, the characters remain endearing and among all the bleakness of the investigation, there's plenty of dark humour largely involving Thorne's friendship with pathologist Phil Hendriks and as the story progresses, there's a twist or two just when you think you have it all figured out. Dark, emotional, surprising, shocking and one that I'd highly recommend.
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This time their hunt for a killer is personal
DI Tom Thorne of the Metropolitan Police has just wrapped up an arrest and heads out to the street, passing the four uniformed police officers borrowed from a local precinct who had been stationed there to keep civilians away. The group is munching on doughnuts, left for them with a note thanking them for "everything you do". Given the ongoing scandals that have plagued the Met of late, with far too large a number of the force having been convicted of murder, rape, and more, they're pleased that at least some people appreciate the work that good cops are doing. Thorne is just annoyed that they hadn't saved a bit of one for him. The following day three of those four officers are dead and the fourth is clinging to life, all apparent victims of ingesting poison...most likely from the doughnuts. This won't be the last attack aimed at police officers and the investigation to find out who is targeting them has Thorne and his team (and members of the force at large) angry, more than a little afraid, and out for vengeance. Can Thorne find out who is meting out retribution within the ranks before more end up dead, even as he suspects they are being betrayed from within?
What the Night Brings is the nineteenth novel featuring Tom Thorne, a gritty and compelling crime story that features the very real public distrust that has grown against the police force in recent years. Thorne and the supporting characters are fully developed, complex individuals, with Thorne the jaded investigator guided by his own instincts (and often a nightmare to supervise), his by-the-book partner Nicola Tanner, and even the darkly humorous pathologist Phil Hendricks and the relationships between them (and others) making the story all the more compelling a read. Readers will find themselves quickly sucked into the fast=paced plot, turning pages as quickly as possible as author Mark Billingham throws twist after twist at them. In the post George Floyd/Defund the Police world, the backdrop of corruption within the ranks of those who should uphold the law but don't feels all too real, as does the frustration felt by the many members of law enforcement who discharge their duties faithfully and put their lives on the line every day. This can certainly be read as a standalone, although those who have read others in the series will have a deeper understanding of the characters' interrelationships and backstories. Fans of the series should not miss this installment (and should gird themselves for a corker of an ending), and readers of Ian Rankin, Mick Herron and Val McDermid should have this on their TBR list as well. Many thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic/Atlantic Monthly Press for allowing me access to this gripping crime novel in exchange for my honest review.
DI Tom Thorne of the Metropolitan Police has just wrapped up an arrest and heads out to the street, passing the four uniformed police officers borrowed from a local precinct who had been stationed there to keep civilians away. The group is munching on doughnuts, left for them with a note thanking them for "everything you do". Given the ongoing scandals that have plagued the Met of late, with far too large a number of the force having been convicted of murder, rape, and more, they're pleased that at least some people appreciate the work that good cops are doing. Thorne is just annoyed that they hadn't saved a bit of one for him. The following day three of those four officers are dead and the fourth is clinging to life, all apparent victims of ingesting poison...most likely from the doughnuts. This won't be the last attack aimed at police officers and the investigation to find out who is targeting them has Thorne and his team (and members of the force at large) angry, more than a little afraid, and out for vengeance. Can Thorne find out who is meting out retribution within the ranks before more end up dead, even as he suspects they are being betrayed from within?
What the Night Brings is the nineteenth novel featuring Tom Thorne, a gritty and compelling crime story that features the very real public distrust that has grown against the police force in recent years. Thorne and the supporting characters are fully developed, complex individuals, with Thorne the jaded investigator guided by his own instincts (and often a nightmare to supervise), his by-the-book partner Nicola Tanner, and even the darkly humorous pathologist Phil Hendricks and the relationships between them (and others) making the story all the more compelling a read. Readers will find themselves quickly sucked into the fast=paced plot, turning pages as quickly as possible as author Mark Billingham throws twist after twist at them. In the post George Floyd/Defund the Police world, the backdrop of corruption within the ranks of those who should uphold the law but don't feels all too real, as does the frustration felt by the many members of law enforcement who discharge their duties faithfully and put their lives on the line every day. This can certainly be read as a standalone, although those who have read others in the series will have a deeper understanding of the characters' interrelationships and backstories. Fans of the series should not miss this installment (and should gird themselves for a corker of an ending), and readers of Ian Rankin, Mick Herron and Val McDermid should have this on their TBR list as well. Many thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic/Atlantic Monthly Press for allowing me access to this gripping crime novel in exchange for my honest review.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
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:
Yes
I enjoyed reading this one because each chapter ends with you wanting more. This one is perfect for fans of Tom Clancy.
Thank you, Netgalley, for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you, Netgalley, for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
challenging
dark
sad
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
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Mark Billingham continues to be one of the best writers in the UK and the Tom Thorne series always delights! I’m not going to add any spoilers but one of the best books that I have read in a long while. This book for me ended in tears not least because I am unsure if there will ever be a twentieth book in the series. Some difficult subject matter and definitely written for a time. Loved it! ❤️
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When a routine arrest leads to the death of a number of police officers it makes their colleagues want to help. However, as Thorne and his team investigate, they realise that the motive is around embedded police malpractice. Soon there is a serial killer to be found, but as Thorne digs deeper he finds his own perspectives and loyalties tested.
It's really hard to write a summary of this book without giving away spoilers and that would not be fair. Suffice to say that Billingham is a master of crime fiction and this is just another excellent book. READ IT
It's really hard to write a summary of this book without giving away spoilers and that would not be fair. Suffice to say that Billingham is a master of crime fiction and this is just another excellent book. READ IT
dark
fast-paced