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A review by gadrake
Rush of Blood by Mark Billingham
4.0
This stand-alone novel is my first Mark Billingham read and was all set to be absorbed by it, but struggled at first. Couldn't quite figure out why a reader I respect was all aglow.
Fortunately, things turned around...amazingly. The problem is that there are too many main characters. Six for sure and two more if you count law enforcement. Each section featured a different person, and each time that person was featured, new background info was included. For once, I wish I had taken notes as the story progressed because it was hard to keep track.
Billingham is a master at dropping in clues that shift perspective. Don't skip to the end. While I felt there was one clue that tipped the scales to much in one direction, this is all very subtle. Also, as a social statement, it shows that everyone is dealing with something and that others will have opinions about it and how you are handling it.
These characters are rather unlikable, but ultimately they 'fit' together along with a horrendous crime. Well done.
Fortunately, things turned around...amazingly. The problem is that there are too many main characters. Six for sure and two more if you count law enforcement. Each section featured a different person, and each time that person was featured, new background info was included. For once, I wish I had taken notes as the story progressed because it was hard to keep track.
Billingham is a master at dropping in clues that shift perspective. Don't skip to the end. While I felt there was one clue that tipped the scales to much in one direction, this is all very subtle. Also, as a social statement, it shows that everyone is dealing with something and that others will have opinions about it and how you are handling it.
These characters are rather unlikable, but ultimately they 'fit' together along with a horrendous crime. Well done.