Finalist for the 2014 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award
Winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award
Newly demoted after stepping out of line once too often, and struggling to adjust, Detective Inspector Tom Thorne becomes convinced that a spate of suicides among the elderly in London is something
more sinister. His concerns are dismissed by the murder squad he was once part of and he is forced to investigate alone. Now, unable to trust anybody, Thorne risks losing those closest to him as
well as endangering those being targeted by a killer unlike any he has hunted before: a man with nothing to lose and a growing list of victims, a man who appears to have the power to make people
take their own lives.
Editorial Reviews
Editorial Reviews
“Even in
the best of times, Tom Thorne, the hero of a well-groomed series of police
procedurals by Mark Billingham, is a moody chap. But he’s hit rock bottom in The Dying Hours…The joy here comes from
watching Thorne work under the radar while on the hunt for a killer who proves
to be extremely clever and really, really mean.” —New York Times Book Review
“The Dying Hours is British author Mark
Billingham’s eleventh novel about Thorne, a prickly loner who is a relentless
investigator, often at the cost of his personal relationships…Billingham is
fiendishly clever about subverting our expectations, the book’s two-page prologue
being a bravura example. He’s also adept at sketching believable characters
very quickly, so that each of the killer’s very different victims are real to
us, not just corpses after the fact. Thorne’s friends and colleagues are even
more vivid…But the hunt is what drives The
Dying Hours, and it comes to a breathtaking and surprising climax, with the
last sharp twist saved for the final page.” —Tampa Bay Times
“It takes
but two short pages for the first twist to be revealed in Mark Billingham’s
latest Tom Thorne mystery, The Dying
Hours, and a very good twist it is…Thorne is an exceptionally well-drawn
character, ably supported by a cast of complex colleagues and truly
disagreeable villains, although at times you will have some question as to
which is which. The Dying Hours is a
fine addition to what is already one of the best crafted police procedural series
in contemporary fiction.” —BookPage
“Mark
Billingham’s troubled detective inspector is one of those riveting characters
who is almost likable in spite of himself, somewhat dour in personality but
possessed of a dry sense of humor, seemingly unable to close the deal on a
long-term relationship, an aficionado of American country music. Yes, complex
would be the word, just like a great number of us. It is these personality
elements of Thorne’s, combined with Billingham’s sharp plotting and extremely
interesting murderers, that keep readers on both sides of the Atlantic coming
back again and again…The Dying Hours
may be my favorite Thorne book to date…And the ending? Let’s just say that
there is good news and bad news for newcomers and longtime fans alike. Strongly
recommended for both.” —BookReporter
“No one currently working the British scene tops Billingham for mordant intensity.” —Kirkus Reviews
“In
Billingham’s absorbing eleventh novel…Billingham takes a chance by shaking up
Thorne’s career, but it pays off in this consistently tense thriller that’s as
much about Thorne as it is about solving the crimes.” —Publishers Weekly
“Born in
England’s West Midlands, Mark Billingham has a voice that is wonderfully
authentic for the task at hand. He delivers this well-written police procedural
with verve and storytelling skill. He’s good at emphasis, clear in his
characterizations, and flawless in his pacing. His experience as an actor,
stand-up comic, and screenwriter clearly informs his narration. As a tough,
put-upon cop bucks the authorities who are busily sweeping things under the
rug, the listener will find the plot extraordinarily believable. Billingha’s
Tom Thorne series has received numerous accolades in the UK with less attention
from American audiences. Although the eleventh in the series, this entry is a
good place for listeners to become acquainted with this crime writer as author
and narrator. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award.” —AudioFile
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.
Titles by Author
Details
Details
Format:
Retail CD
Format:
MP3 CD
Available Formats :
Retail CD, MP3 CD
Category:
Fiction/Thrillers
Publisher:
Highbridge Audio
Publisher:
Highbridge Audio
CDs:
8
CDs:
1
Runtime:
9.21
ISBN:
9781665158688
ISBN:
9781665158671
Audience:
Adult
Language:
English
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