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(3.99) - 1,350 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
A killer is on the loose. The victims: children whose mothers can't protect them.
The past is coming back to haunt the people of London: a murderer is targeting the children of victims of Raymond Garvey, an infamous serial killer from London's past.
When Murder Squad veteran Detective Tom Thorne, who solves the London Police Department's most difficult cases, is called into what seems like, for once, an ordinary domestic murder, he thinks he's caught a break. A woman has been murdered by someone she knows. A positive pregnancy test found on the floor beside her. Thorne plans to question the husband, arrest him and return home to deal with his own deteriorating personal life.
But when a mysterious sliver of bloodstained X-ray that was found clutched in the victim's fist is replicated at other crime scenes around the city, Thorne realizes that this is not a simple case. As the bits of X-ray begin to come together to form a picture, it becomes clear that the killer knows his prey all too well and is moving through a list that was started long ago.
As Thorne attempts to protect those still alive, nothing and nobody are what they seem. Not when Thorne is dealing with one of the most twisted killers he has ever hunted.
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"Another book I found hard to put down. A killer leaves his victims with a scrap of an x-ray in their hand which eventually leads detectives to discover that the children of murdered women are being murdered 30 years later! I actually didn't guess who the murderer was and the twists got me - quite often I am on the ball but not this time. You also feel for the main detective as you are also drawn into his personal life."
— Den (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Tom Thorne is the new superstar detective…Mark Billingham is the new-wave leader of crime fiction.”
— Lee Child, #1 New York Times bestselling author -
“Psychologically twisted and strikingly original…The relentlessly swift pace and high emotional pitch of the narrative may say ‘thriller,’ but Billingham has become too sophisticated a writer to settle for the cheap theatrics that galvanized his early novels. Grim as it is, the violence serves a purpose, making us consider all the innocent people whose lives are touched and often crushed in the aftermath of a crime.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“Billingham’s serial killers are always more subtly drawn than most fictional psychopaths, who, with their elaborate schemes and neatly labelled mental disorders, bear little similarity to the terrifyingly normal-seeming multiple murderers of real life. Billingham stresses the unpalatable truth that, even once the case is solved, these people’s motives are murky and their actions inexplicable. He takes the same care with all his characterizations, notably his decent but troubled hero DI Tom Thorne—for my money, the most convincing cop in British crime fiction.”
— Telegraph (London) -
“Thrilling…Billingham continues to captivate with equal parts suspense, deduction, and heart.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Plot twists and red herrings abound.”
— Booklist -
Tom Thorne is the new superstar detective...Mark Billingham is the new-wave leader of crime fiction.
— Lee Child -
With each of his books, Mark Billingham gets better and better. These are stories and characters you don't want to leave.
— Michael Connelly -
Rich, heady, and gripping. A boss performance by Billingham, through and through.
— George Pelecanos -
Chilling, moody, humane, and very, very smart... Billingham is one of the most consistently entertaining, insightful crime writers working today.
— Gillian Flynn
Bloodline Listener Reviews
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" Billingham never fails to entertain. "
— Tracy, 1/28/2014 -
" Tom Thorne ....painful the stuff w Louise - because he is so pathetic w emotions. The murders are interesting....this was a good pace. One of his better ones. "
— MJ, 1/25/2014 -
" Excellent mystery about the son of a serial killer--could not put it down--will read others by this author. "
— Barbara, 1/22/2014 -
" Like this series Never figured out the ending! this one better than the last. "
— Marianne, 1/12/2014 -
" Another enjoyable Tom Thorne book, with him tracking down a serial killer wanting revenge. Slightly predictable, but carried me along nicely to the conclusion "
— Sisterray, 1/12/2014 -
" crime stories always seem more interesting when set in the UK. "
— Edward, 12/22/2013 -
" First encounter with what is, apparently, an established British detective/murder mystery series. Don't know if it falls into the ranks of Best Ever, but certainly was hard to put down - and I'm looking into picking up some of the prior books in the series. "
— Sara, 12/18/2013 -
" Fun and dumb, just what I needed... "
— Jeremy, 12/3/2013 -
" Tom Thorne, my new favourite detective! "
— Julia, 11/22/2013 -
" Thorne is a fine protagonist. He's irascible and complex. The romantic storyline is as vital, interesting and well-constructed as the murder mystery. The other characters in the book, Hendricks, et al, make the series feel very comfortable. A well done piece of writing. "
— Herzog, 8/8/2013 -
" I normally love the police procedural but altho the plot was creative, it took me too long to read to give it a high rating. There's no humor in it, it somehow was tedious and I probably won't read any more of this author. I have other authors of this genre who I enjoy more. "
— Harriet, 7/2/2013 -
" Great stuff, a nicely convoluted plot, with plenty wry one- liners that are sure to raise a smile "
— Ted, 6/23/2013 -
" Good series - great plots and characters. "
— Sandra, 3/5/2013 -
" Very good plotting. This is a new author for me, and I'll definitely be looking out for more. "
— Sheila, 1/25/2013 -
" Another good Thorne book. Very similar now to previous books, a new direction may be required. "
— Andy, 1/23/2013 -
" I won this book through First Reads!! This is the first time that I have read a Mark Billingham thriller but it will not be last. It is a page turner that will keep you guessing to the very end. If you like serial killer stories, this book is for you!! "
— Patricia, 1/7/2013 -
" First book by this author I've read, and was hooked straight away. Wanting to read more of his now. Rolls along at a relentless pace and there's a great twist near the end as it is revealed how the killer manages to get close to his last few intended targets. "
— Mark, 12/10/2012 -
" A gripping story, with the attention on the career and personal lives of the characters perfectly balanced to make a great all round read. The story was brilliant, your curiosity sparked by the opening few pages, wanting to know the events leading up to it. Well paced and yet another favourite! "
— Sarah, 12/3/2011 -
" This was a charity shop buy (by someone else), I've read some of the others and although they are a compulsive read there is a certain similarity between them all. "
— John, 9/11/2011 -
" While I read this one of of order, it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book. Solid writing and storyline and a terrific addition to the series, some of which I like better than others. Highly recommend. "
— Vivian, 8/29/2011 -
" Enjoyed this novel. Keep my interest all the way through. Good surprise ending. "
— Leona, 7/30/2011 -
" This is only the second book I have read by this authour but it's a thrilling read, well put together, a gripping storyline and a good twist in the end. If you enjoy your crime thrillers pick it up. "
— Tom, 7/13/2011 -
" This book is great! <br/><br/>Filled with unexpected twists and turns, it will keep you up late<br/>as you try to figure out the next twist.<br/><br/>I had not heard of Mark Billingham prior to this book, I think<br/>I'm going to have to read his back catalog. "
— Amanda, 6/17/2011 -
" i'm really into this book .. the story line is clever , and the twists are unpredictable "
— Megan, 4/7/2011 -
" So far so good but I will comment more at the end "
— Geregn, 3/25/2011 -
" crime stories always seem more interesting when set in the UK. "
— Edward, 2/20/2011 -
" this is a good english police detective novel. the characters are quite good, but the plot is not quite as good....all in all though i enjoyed this book and would recomend to those readers of this genre... "
— Peter, 2/11/2011 -
" Really enjoyed this tight crime thriller. I guessed part of the plotline early on but was still surprised by a couple of the wrists near the end. Really pleased I discovered this author. "
— Alison, 12/30/2010 -
" Another enjoyable Tom Thorne book, with him tracking down a serial killer wanting revenge. Slightly predictable, but carried me along nicely to the conclusion "
— Sisterray, 11/30/2010
About Mark Billingham
Mark Billingham worked as an actor, a television writer, and a stand-up comedian before becoming one of the most critically acclaimed crime novelists in the world. He has written numerous bestsellers and has twice won the Theakstons Old Peculier prize for Best Novel of the Year. He lives in North London with his wife and two children.
About Paul Thornley
Paul Thornley is an actor who has appeared in several television shows, including Agatha Christie’s Poirot, Foyle’s War, and Ashes to Ashes, as well as the feature films Les Misérables and Alibi. He is also an audiobook narrator who is most noted for his reading of the Rojan Dizon series by Francis Knight.