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Time of Death: A Tom Thorne Novel

Review

Time of Death: A Tom Thorne Novel

The mystery and thriller genres are full of authors who write remarkable novels, but find that commercial success commensurate with their talents and efforts proves to be elusive. They certainly do well enough, and have a diehard and loyal fan base, but they aren’t household names. Then, after several efforts, they write a book that everyone talks about, and the degree of success that they have deserved all along is suddenly theirs.

For me, Mark Billingham is that author, and his newly published TIME OF DEATH may be that book. Billingham has seemed to be incapable of writing any way but wonderfully since SLEEPYHEAD, his first Tom Thorne novel published in 2002. While Billingham is well-known in his native England, his following in the United States is somewhat smaller, though certainly no less loyal. TIME OF DEATH is a quantum jump up from his other, excellent work, including the spellbinding THE BONES BENEATH, which was released in 2014 and should be the book that gains Billingham the recognition he deserves on this side of the ocean.

"Billingham is always spot on, but TIME OF DEATH is pitch-perfect, evenly balanced between plot and character. You won’t be able to read it without wondering why all books can’t be this good."

TIME OF DEATH, the 13th installment in the series, begins with Detective Inspector Thorne on holiday with his love interest, Detective Sergeant Helen Weeks. The couple is obtaining some well-needed rest and relaxation after the damaging events of THE BONES BENEATH when they learn via the news media that the body of one of two teenage girls, the victims of separate abductions, has been located. The kidnappings have taken place in Polesford, Warwickshire, Helen’s childhood home, and the suspect turns out to be Stephen Bates, the husband of Helen’s childhood friend, Linda.

Helen feels duty-bound to divert their vacation to the scene of the crime, a dreary village where people tend to leave rather than stay. The reason for Helen’s sudden feelings of duty is somewhat of a mystery, given that she has avoided returning to Polesford for decades and has hardly stayed in touch with Linda or anyone else from there. Thorne senses that there is more going on with Helen than meets the eye but is loathe to pry, particularly because of the manner in which she closes up when the conversation moves anywhere toward the past.

Things start moving quickly when the badly decomposed body of the first abduction victim is found. Forensic evidence links her and the second, still-missing teen to Bates, and he is quickly arrested and charged with murder. Interestingly enough, Thorne observes something that makes him doubt the rush to judgment and begins a bit of an investigation on his own, which becomes increasingly unwelcome to the local police. He is dogged in his pursuit of the truth, in part because he believes that the second victim is still alive.

Meanwhile, a teenage girl is held captive in a small room, knowing that her death is approaching, even as a person close to Thorne’s investigation unwittingly holds the key to her whereabouts. Thorne obtains some unexpected but very welcome help from an unlikely source, and slowly closes in on the remaining missing girl and the killer. Time, however, is running out.

Billingham is always spot on, but TIME OF DEATH is pitch-perfect, evenly balanced between plot and character. You won’t be able to read it without wondering why all books can’t be this good. If it isn’t shortlisted for several “Best of” awards for 2015, I’ll be amazed.

Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub on June 5, 2015

Time of Death: A Tom Thorne Novel
by Mark Billingham

  • Publication Date: June 2, 2015
  • Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
  • Hardcover: 448 pages
  • Publisher: Atlantic Monthly Press
  • ISBN-10: 0802123635
  • ISBN-13: 9780802123633