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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
It's the first book I read in this series and won't surely be the last as I thoroughly enjoyed.
The historical setting is vivid and realistic, the characters are well thought and interesting, the solid mystery kept me hooked.
I can't wait to read the other books in this series.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
The historical setting is vivid and realistic, the characters are well thought and interesting, the solid mystery kept me hooked.
I can't wait to read the other books in this series.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
This was my first time reading a book by Mark and I can't say that it will be the last!
I read this book on Pigeonhole and whilst some of my fellow Pigeonholers managed to figure out who had kidnapped Kieron I couldn't decide! At each turn of the page, I jumped from one character to the next!
I loved Tom, Hendricks and Paula, but really disliked Dean, Angie, and Boyle (another character in a recently read book that I really wanted to give a slap to!).
The book also made a good point of showing why it's never good to assume the guilt of a suspect without all the facts and the role the media can play in this! There was a classic case of why you should never judge a book by its cover!
Thank you to Mark and Pigeonhole for the chance to read this book.
I read this book on Pigeonhole and whilst some of my fellow Pigeonholers managed to figure out who had kidnapped Kieron I couldn't decide! At each turn of the page, I jumped from one character to the next!
I loved Tom, Hendricks and Paula, but really disliked Dean, Angie, and Boyle (another character in a recently read book that I really wanted to give a slap to!).
The book also made a good point of showing why it's never good to assume the guilt of a suspect without all the facts and the role the media can play in this! There was a classic case of why you should never judge a book by its cover!
Thank you to Mark and Pigeonhole for the chance to read this book.
Fabulous prequel to the Tom Thorne series whether you have read the other books or not. Great introductions to characters as they try to uncover the truth behind a child's disappearance from a game of hide and seek. The atmosphere and writing were spot on with the case being investigated, persuading your brain to think it could be anyone behind the crime.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via Netgalley.
It is a prequel to the Tom Thorne series, of which I have only read the most recent instalments, but stands perfectly well on its own. If you have read others in the series, you will enjoy Tom's first encounters with Phil. This was set very firmly in 1996, with many references to Euro 96, which I can actually remember, but also many perhaps slightly heavy handed references to enormous mobile phones and the beginnings of the internet, neither of which Tom can see catching on.
The plot was a bit leisurely for my liking - a child was missing after all. I thought the portrayal of the missing child's mother was very well done. The ending was a little abrupt and the motivation of the culprits was not (to me) satisfactorily explained, but I had been taken in by various red herrings along the way, and overall this was a good read.
It is a prequel to the Tom Thorne series, of which I have only read the most recent instalments, but stands perfectly well on its own. If you have read others in the series, you will enjoy Tom's first encounters with Phil. This was set very firmly in 1996, with many references to Euro 96, which I can actually remember, but also many perhaps slightly heavy handed references to enormous mobile phones and the beginnings of the internet, neither of which Tom can see catching on.
The plot was a bit leisurely for my liking - a child was missing after all. I thought the portrayal of the missing child's mother was very well done. The ending was a little abrupt and the motivation of the culprits was not (to me) satisfactorily explained, but I had been taken in by various red herrings along the way, and overall this was a good read.
dark
tense
fast-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I really enjoyed this book.
I loved the step back in time and all the mid nineties references.
Meeting early Thorne was a delight and to see what has changed in him over the years and what hasn't was really interesting.
The main plot is really solid and as always with Mark Billingham, the characters are what make the book stand head and shoulders above the rest of the pack. (I was 50% right in my deductions and had an inclining on the other 50%, so I'm feeling quite pleased with myself)
This could absolutely be read without having read any of the others.
It felt a little bit like a goodbye but I really hope I'm wrong.
I loved the step back in time and all the mid nineties references.
Meeting early Thorne was a delight and to see what has changed in him over the years and what hasn't was really interesting.
The main plot is really solid and as always with Mark Billingham, the characters are what make the book stand head and shoulders above the rest of the pack. (I was 50% right in my deductions and had an inclining on the other 50%, so I'm feeling quite pleased with myself)
This could absolutely be read without having read any of the others.
It felt a little bit like a goodbye but I really hope I'm wrong.