When a dead body is found in a North London flat, it seems like a straightforward domestic murder until a bloodstained sliver of X-ray is found clutched in the dead woman's fist - and it quickly becomes clear that this case is anything but ordinary. DI Thorne discovers that the victim's mother had herself been murdered fifteen years before by infamous serial killer Raymond Garvey. The hunt to catch Garvey was one of the biggest in the history of the Met, and ended with seven women dead. When more bodies and more fragments of X-ray are discovered, Thorne has a macabre jigsaw to piece together until the horrifying picture finally emerges. A killer is targeting the children of Raymond Garvey's victims. Thorne must move quickly to protect those still on the murderer's list, but nothing and nobody are what they seem. Not when Thorne is dealing with one of the most twisted killers he has ever hunted...
Bloodline
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle. Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Product Description
Review
An efficient and fast-paced police procedural, technically superb from its gripping opening to its climax. Billingham, who knows exactly what he's doing with his material, has the recipe just right Guardian Another fine addition to Billingham's formidably assured body of work Daily Mail The revelations about the killer are totally unexpected - and proof that Mark Billingham is still top of the tree Express I found my heart racing as I read the last few chapters. I cannot remember the last time that happened to me while reading crime fiction...Tom Thorne is now definitely one of my favourite modern fictional detectives The Bookbag.co.uk
About the Author
Mark Billingham is a stand-up comedian, appearing regularly at the Comedy Store. He has been awarded the 2003 Sherlock Award as the creator of the Best Detective created by a British writer and LAZYBONES won the Theakston's Old Peculier Award for best crime novel of the year. He has also been an award-winning children's writer.
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Ted Feit
TOP 100 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
Tom Thorne is a troubled protagonist. More so than customary in this novel, the latest in the Thorne series, an unusual story about a serial killer, as well as in his personal life. It begins with Tom and his partner learning that the latter's pregnancy is not viable and that she needs a D&C. Tom does not quite how to react to or address the situation.
However, a grisly murder soon comes to light, diverting him to another tough case. The victim is found with a piece of an x-ray in her hand, as well as some letters which eventually provide a clue. It quickly is learned that her mother was murdered 15 years before by an infamous serial killer who had murdered six others.
More bodies are found with pieces of x-rays in their fists, and it becomes apparent that the killer is targeting children of the original victims. Now the problem becomes not only catching the present-day murderer, but protecting the remaining potential victims. This novel encompasses what is perhaps Thorne's most complicated case.
The author's ability to provide graphic detail in simple but pungent prose is clear and compelling. The writing is smooth and the plot superb; the characterizations are poignant, and the insights into Thorne's personality incisive. Highly recommended.
However, a grisly murder soon comes to light, diverting him to another tough case. The victim is found with a piece of an x-ray in her hand, as well as some letters which eventually provide a clue. It quickly is learned that her mother was murdered 15 years before by an infamous serial killer who had murdered six others.
More bodies are found with pieces of x-rays in their fists, and it becomes apparent that the killer is targeting children of the original victims. Now the problem becomes not only catching the present-day murderer, but protecting the remaining potential victims. This novel encompasses what is perhaps Thorne's most complicated case.
The author's ability to provide graphic detail in simple but pungent prose is clear and compelling. The writing is smooth and the plot superb; the characterizations are poignant, and the insights into Thorne's personality incisive. Highly recommended.
Format:Paperback
Mark Billingham's new novel "Bloodline" is the latest in the DI Tom Thorne series. Thorne, a Detective Inspector, has already worked on - 15 years in the past - worked on the capture of a serial killer who killed seven women. The murderer, Raymond Garvey, died in prison a few years later of a brain tumor.
But the brutal killings didn't stop. A few years after Garvey's death, new bodies are being found in various parts of London, men this time as well as women victims, each clutching a piece of an X-ray. When police work turns up a definite link between the victims, Thorne is brought into the investigation; a hunt for a murderer undertaken while Thorne works on some sticky personal issues with his partner, Louise.
Billingham does an excellent job telling of the non-CSI aspects of police work. Tracking down a killer is sort of like trying to do a jigsaw puzzle without having a picture of puzzle to work with. Leads come after much searching and a bad call can cause an investigation to veer off into a dead-end. Personality conflicts are ever present and can occur easily between cops, victims, and killers.
Mark Billingham has written several novels previous to "Bloodline". To those readers like me who have never read Billingham's work, reading this latest was sort of like walking into a movie in the middle and knowing the plot and the character. This is a hazard for an author-with-a-series; how to bring new readers up-to-speed about the main and secondary characters while keeping the book from being boring to those continuing readers. Billingham does a pretty good job at this, though I think I'd advise a novice-Billingham reader to start with the first book in his Thorne series. Though I found this book very good.
But the brutal killings didn't stop. A few years after Garvey's death, new bodies are being found in various parts of London, men this time as well as women victims, each clutching a piece of an X-ray. When police work turns up a definite link between the victims, Thorne is brought into the investigation; a hunt for a murderer undertaken while Thorne works on some sticky personal issues with his partner, Louise.
Billingham does an excellent job telling of the non-CSI aspects of police work. Tracking down a killer is sort of like trying to do a jigsaw puzzle without having a picture of puzzle to work with. Leads come after much searching and a bad call can cause an investigation to veer off into a dead-end. Personality conflicts are ever present and can occur easily between cops, victims, and killers.
Mark Billingham has written several novels previous to "Bloodline". To those readers like me who have never read Billingham's work, reading this latest was sort of like walking into a movie in the middle and knowing the plot and the character. This is a hazard for an author-with-a-series; how to bring new readers up-to-speed about the main and secondary characters while keeping the book from being boring to those continuing readers. Billingham does a pretty good job at this, though I think I'd advise a novice-Billingham reader to start with the first book in his Thorne series. Though I found this book very good.
Format:Hardcover
For the longest time Mark Billingham was my little secret. I had discovered a fantastic author from across the pond and delighted in letting my crime/thriller aficionados at the library know about this fantastic author. Billingham is definitely not a secret any longer.
Bloodline is the eighth book to feature Murder Squad Detective Tom Thorne. Thorne is a wonderfully conflicted, stubborn, clever man who sometimes makes the wrong choices...
Thorne is called out on what seems to be a domestic murder. It looks like the husband is the culprit and Thorne is happy to have a quick open and shut case. But when a piece of x-ray is found in the victim's fist, the case isn't as straight forward as he thought. Another crime victim is also found with a piece of x-ray that jigsaws the first piece. With those two clues, Thorne pieces together what the two victims have in common - and it isn't pretty. I don't want to spoil the plot - so I'm not going to let you know what it is!
Thorne has his hands full this time, facing a killer who is incredibly clever...and has his eye on Thorne.
I love this character. Billingham has slowly revealed more and more of him every book. His personal life seems to be coming together at last, but with Thorne you never know. I enjoy his taste in music as well!
The plot is very, very clever. As is the killer. Billingham had me guessing until the very end.
Bloodline is the eighth book to feature Murder Squad Detective Tom Thorne. Thorne is a wonderfully conflicted, stubborn, clever man who sometimes makes the wrong choices...
Thorne is called out on what seems to be a domestic murder. It looks like the husband is the culprit and Thorne is happy to have a quick open and shut case. But when a piece of x-ray is found in the victim's fist, the case isn't as straight forward as he thought. Another crime victim is also found with a piece of x-ray that jigsaws the first piece. With those two clues, Thorne pieces together what the two victims have in common - and it isn't pretty. I don't want to spoil the plot - so I'm not going to let you know what it is!
Thorne has his hands full this time, facing a killer who is incredibly clever...and has his eye on Thorne.
I love this character. Billingham has slowly revealed more and more of him every book. His personal life seems to be coming together at last, but with Thorne you never know. I enjoy his taste in music as well!
The plot is very, very clever. As is the killer. Billingham had me guessing until the very end.
Want to see more reviews on this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 25 reviews
4.4 out of 5 stars
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
