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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
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:
No
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Good paced crime novel with some clever misdirection - and realistic ending . I found the references to the time period unnecessary and clumsily added - they interrupted the flow . First time reading this author -I would happily read another title in the future
How did Tom Thorne end up... wherever he is. His career has had so many ups and downs, as have his relationships with his superiors, his colleagues and his female friends. Technology like cell phones don't exist, which makes for an interesting twist to what we know and how we find things out. Ultimately we end up meeting all the usual people in a Thorne book, and this is a little like how Endeavour pays homage to Morse. What will complicate things is how do you recommend a reading order? For those of us who have read these since the beginning, this is a nice throwback. But there are those who will be new to them, and will want to start "at the beginning" - I think I'm on the side of starting with the original first, Sleepyhead
A far as mysteries go, it's ok. The child abduction plot has been done before, sometimes better, but as an introduction/explanation of Thorne's backstory it definitely works. The fear people have about losing a child, how friendships can be destroyed by one inattentive moment, and how seemingly random strangers can change everything.
eARC provided by publisher.
A far as mysteries go, it's ok. The child abduction plot has been done before, sometimes better, but as an introduction/explanation of Thorne's backstory it definitely works. The fear people have about losing a child, how friendships can be destroyed by one inattentive moment, and how seemingly random strangers can change everything.
eARC provided by publisher.
Once I got my brain to recognise that this was a prequel rather than I was reading an early book I had forgotten, I loved it.
It was a great use of time frame. I nestled into the knowledge I had of Tom Thorne, his pals and his favourite curry house, The Bengal Lancer. It was also fascinating to go back to an era when policing and investigations were done without mobile phones, the internet, CCTV etc
I find it implicit that Billingham writes and plots with mastery. He embodies within a tense atmosphere within a team seeking quick results that stereotyping and offbeat people should not lead a detective's nose. Has a whiff of "Life on Mars" (BBC TV) about it
It was a great use of time frame. I nestled into the knowledge I had of Tom Thorne, his pals and his favourite curry house, The Bengal Lancer. It was also fascinating to go back to an era when policing and investigations were done without mobile phones, the internet, CCTV etc
I find it implicit that Billingham writes and plots with mastery. He embodies within a tense atmosphere within a team seeking quick results that stereotyping and offbeat people should not lead a detective's nose. Has a whiff of "Life on Mars" (BBC TV) about it
Prequel
Absolutely nail biting read. Kept me turning the pages. Excellent read and great to see how the characters developing. Well done Mr Billingham
Absolutely nail biting read. Kept me turning the pages. Excellent read and great to see how the characters developing. Well done Mr Billingham
I often credit Sleepyhead as the book which hooked me into crime fiction and have loved the Tom Thorne series since. Cry Baby is a prequel, set before Sleepyhead in the summer of 1996. As Thorne investigates a missing child, we meet familiar characters and places for the first time and in particular the first encounter with Hendricks is great. There aren't too many characters thankfully and most are a possibility as the "baddie" at various points and it's a story that will keep you guessing. Its not quite a "cosy" but not overly graphic either but it is a cracker of an addition (or even as a starter) to a great series. Frequent mentions of Euro 96 brought back some great memories (and some not so great) which really added to the overall feel and authenticity. Definitely recommended.
A really great read.
How can I have not read a Mark Billingham book before?
I will definitely have to remedy the situation having been caught up very enjoyably with Cry Baby and the wonderful Tom Thorne. I believe I might have books 1-16 to get through so that will keep me busy!
Cry Baby is all about a hunt for the man who abducted Keiron Coyne. Kieron was playing in some woods in a London park with friend Josh whilst Mum Cat went to the toilet and Mum of Josh, Maria, was busy smoking an illicit cigarette.
The book centres on the investigation and Tom's absolute determination to catch the culprit.
There is humour, courtesy of Hendricks, a very unconventional pathologist, but also from Thorne himself who does not get on with boss DI Boyle.
Suspicion is cast upon many characters, from Cat's next door neighbour, drug addict Grantleigh Figgis, to witness Felix Barratt and Keiron's teacher Simon Jenner, with more could-they-be-guilty characters interspersed along the way.
I found the plot to be well written and engaging as Tom Thorne is a very human police officer. He seems to care about the distress Cat is going through and, as he is separated from his wife and currently hating her sandalled lecturer lover, you can't help but love this man on a mission and want him to succeed.
There are plenty of bumps in the road to solving the crime and some great twists. The parts that give you a glimpse into the abduction from Kieron's perspective are a wonderful addition as is the way in which the clue is found to lead Thorne and associates to the man responsible.
I loved the book so much that I will definitely start back at the beginning getting to know Thorne and his cases.
I highly recommend the series to others.
How can I have not read a Mark Billingham book before?
I will definitely have to remedy the situation having been caught up very enjoyably with Cry Baby and the wonderful Tom Thorne. I believe I might have books 1-16 to get through so that will keep me busy!
Cry Baby is all about a hunt for the man who abducted Keiron Coyne. Kieron was playing in some woods in a London park with friend Josh whilst Mum Cat went to the toilet and Mum of Josh, Maria, was busy smoking an illicit cigarette.
The book centres on the investigation and Tom's absolute determination to catch the culprit.
There is humour, courtesy of Hendricks, a very unconventional pathologist, but also from Thorne himself who does not get on with boss DI Boyle.
Suspicion is cast upon many characters, from Cat's next door neighbour, drug addict Grantleigh Figgis, to witness Felix Barratt and Keiron's teacher Simon Jenner, with more could-they-be-guilty characters interspersed along the way.
I found the plot to be well written and engaging as Tom Thorne is a very human police officer. He seems to care about the distress Cat is going through and, as he is separated from his wife and currently hating her sandalled lecturer lover, you can't help but love this man on a mission and want him to succeed.
There are plenty of bumps in the road to solving the crime and some great twists. The parts that give you a glimpse into the abduction from Kieron's perspective are a wonderful addition as is the way in which the clue is found to lead Thorne and associates to the man responsible.
I loved the book so much that I will definitely start back at the beginning getting to know Thorne and his cases.
I highly recommend the series to others.