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The Demands Audiobook
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(4.00) - 783 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
The Crime
The customers in a London convenience store are taken captive. Among them is young mother, Detective Helen Weeks. She is told her life depends on the co-operation of one of her colleagues - detective Tom Thorne.
The Demand
Akhtar is desperate to know what really happened to his beloved son, who died a year before in prison. He is convinced the death was not an accident and forces the one man who knows more about the case than any other, Thorne, to re-investigate.
The Twist
What Thorne discovers will upend everything he thought he knew about the fate of those he's put away...but will it be enough to fulfill the wishes of a grieving and potentially violent father?
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"I really enjoyed Good As Dead, and in fact would say it was one of my favourite Billingham books. Police Officer Helen Weeks (the central character from a previous Billingham tale, In The Dark) routinely walks into her local newsagents one morning and her whole world is turned upside down. The normally smiling and friendly owner, Mr Akhtar, produces a gun and takes Helen and another customer (Banker Stephen Mitchell) hostage. Mr Akhtar's demand is that DI Tom Thorne immediately investigates the death of his son, Amin, who has recently died in a Young Offenders institute. The verdict had been suicide but Mr Akhtar is convinced he was murdered. Thorne was involved in the original case when Amin was sentenced for manslaughter, although it was Amin and his friend who were attacked with one of the perpetrators taking a fatal blow from his own knife. The sentence was harsh and unexpected. The story becomes a race against time as Thorne uncovers the truth in his own inimitable maverick style, delving into a corrupt and shady world involving senior figures in society. Meanwhile, Billingham expertly describes the tensions in the shop as Mr Akhtar's mood swings from placid to combustible anger as Helen concentrates on staying alive in order to be reunited her son and Mitchell mainly panics and frets. Outside there is the contrast of the calm police hostage negotiator and the gung-ho cop ready to storm the building as soon as he is allowed. The book builds to a brilliant climax and my only quibble would be whether the events involving Stephen Mitchell were that believable. Excellent read."
— Steve (5 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 -
“With each of his books, Mark Billingham gets better and better. These are stories and characters you don’t want to leave.”
— Michael Connelly -
“One of the most consistently entertaining, insightful crime writers working today.”
— Gillian Flynn -
“A tightly plotted and suspenseful thriller sure to please fans of the genre.”
— Library Journal -
“Ingeniously constructed…This great novel should put Billingham in the same league as Ian Rankin, Peter Robinson, John Harvey, and Denise Mina. A breakthrough novel.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review) -
One of the most consistently entertaining, insightful crime writers working today.
— Gillian Flynn -
With each of his books, Mark Billingham gets better and better. These are stories and characters you don't want to leave.
— Michael Connelly -
Tom Thorne is the new superstar detective...Mark Billingham is the new-wave leader of crime fiction.
— Lee Child
The Demands Listener Reviews
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" Ending was exciting and unpredictable. Thorne is not your typical detective but his methods get results. Fast read with just enough action to keep the reader on high alert. "
— Colleen, 2/10/2014 -
" Another good gripping story from this author. "
— David, 12/24/2013 -
" Not as terrifying as some as the earlier Billingham books I had read but still a gripping read. An unusual basis for a story with a no-holds barred approach to the gritty, nasty side of life. Nice to have some crime fiction with a mainstream happy ending. Caught me by surprise! "
— Megan, 11/26/2013 -
" All through Billingahm tricks you into making incorrect assumptions about characters and he plays on our deep-seated prejudices. Very sad story - a good man becomes a killer. "
— L.A., 11/8/2013 -
" The events of this book take place over a small number of days which adds pace and urgency to the book. Thorne is a well drawn and consistent character. It is quite gruesome, though "
— Clbplym, 9/27/2013 -
" could not put this down. excellent story as always from mark billingham "
— Lynda, 8/31/2013 -
" Mark Billingham's character Thorne is well-rounded, doesn't moan about his private life. Best read in order, but will satisfy if one picked out of the lot. "
— Annie, 7/30/2013 -
" First I have read of Mark Billingham's but I enjoy his characters. Will read another for sure. "
— Louz, 6/15/2013 -
" It took quite a while for me to get into this book, but once I did... Wow! Seriously good! "
— Mia, 4/14/2013 -
" This is one I really liked. Fast moving British police drama that kept you guessing all along the way. First one of Billingham's books I have read but I will certainly look for another. "
— Bill, 4/4/2013 -
" The first book I've read in this series, though I did watch the recent tv adaptation. It's excellent, and the subject matter is pretty topical too... "
— AmbushPredator, 3/16/2013 -
" Good book, some of the leads were a bit hard to follow at some points, but mostly, I enjoyed the story line and some of the parts make you pay special attention to them as they're so gripping. "
— Kieran, 10/25/2012 -
" I'm a little on the shelf with this one I love Mark Billingham and I love Thorne but it felt like something was lacking. The storyline was interesting and I did stay up all night to finish it but I didn't get the same sense of satisfaction I usually do from a Thorne book. "
— Catrina, 10/2/2012 -
" My first Thorne -- liked it alot. Will continue with the series "
— Deborah, 9/10/2012 -
" Another great offering from Mark Billingham - love Thorne, great storyline, very well done. But why do I keep seeing david Morrisey in front of my eyes? I think its because its such a great portrayal. "
— Donna, 8/30/2012
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.