Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
I haven't read a Tom Thorne book in years (I now need to read so many). I loved this. The first meeting with Hendricks. Seeing Thorne so young. Plus some out loud "WTF?" to make me happy
Too long--story & it's conclusion could've been done in about 100 pages less. Here's one reason: I didn't need to know all about Thorne's divorce & his wife's affair or the long drawn-out battle to sell their house. It really had nothing to do with the plot & was boringly extraneous.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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:
Yes
Perhaps the best Tom Thorne novel for a number of years. Set in 1996 the time is evoked with Mark Billingham’s usual humour and detail.
A young boy goes missing, the search for him takes in some literal dead ends before a satisfying ending which isn’t signposted earlier. Tom Thorne’s nascent career and the early appearance of names and faces familiar from the other novels make it a great read for Thorne fans and those new to the series
A young boy goes missing, the search for him takes in some literal dead ends before a satisfying ending which isn’t signposted earlier. Tom Thorne’s nascent career and the early appearance of names and faces familiar from the other novels make it a great read for Thorne fans and those new to the series
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Tom Thorne is up there as one of my favourite book heroes along with Jack Reacher and Charlie Parker. Through this prequel to the brilliant debut ‘Sleepyhead’ Mark Billingham takes us back to a time when things were all a little simpler and everything did not revolve around the mobile phone or tablet or laptop. You watched the footie on television, listened to music on records or CD and CCTV did not cover your every move. Anybody who lived it won’t help but feel the nostalgia. Tom Thorne is younger recently separated and not yet firm friends with Hendricks but this book shows you how things developed for the Detective Sergeant. Tom Thorne is a wonderful character and it’s good to finally get this back story. Mark Billingham’s writing is flawless as he takes you through the plot. His characters come to life on the page and you easily love or hate, pity or despise them. I love Mark Billingham and Tom Thorne and I just hope he still has a long career ahead of him. 10/10 and looking forward to the next one.
dark
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:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Very well written and enjoyable police procedural. Excellent introduction to the Tom Thorne series of books. I am looking forward to starting them all from the beginning.