Helpful Score: 3
AWESOME - One of the best books in this genre that I've read lately. This is the first in a series with British DI Tom Thorne, whose prime suspect is the good friend of his new love interest. These serial crimes give new meaning to the word "twisted." The author was once a stand-up comic and occasionally his humor will come through, hilarious but subtle.Great, great writing! A chilling book which I read in one day and I've already ordered the 2nd book, Scaredy Cat.
Helpful Score: 1
A brillant dark and different new crime novel - an assured chiller!
I just couldn't get into this book, the characters just didn't impress me at all, it takes place in London(I think) which didn't interest me and it just didn't move along very fast. I will try another by Billingham and hope it might be better.
The bodies of young women are being found in London, only one of them survives. She is found to have experienced something similar to a stroke. The cop working on the case is Tom Thorne. The killer starts leaving Thorne clues and notes. At one point he attacks the cop at his home just to prove he is in control. Thorne soon learns that the dead women were mistakes. The killer wasn't trying to kill them, he was trying to free them from the weakness of the human body. His only success, is now experiencing "locked-in syndrome". She is fully aware of everything and her mind works completely, but her body will not respond. A killer with medical training is suspected, but evidence is almost non-existent. As the story unfolds and a few clues are found, the killer decides to take action against people close to Thorne. You won't be able to put the book down as the time is running out before there are two more victims!
A very interesting book, with a very creepy killer.
A British police procedural complete with serial killer. Set in London. The mystery portion was well done, keeping one guessing pretty much to the end. Found the writing style to be a bit choppy, but all in all enjoyed the book.
A psychological thriller where the killer is murdering his victims by inducing a stroke so that there bodies are basically dead, but their consciousness is still intact.
A mesmerizing, psychological thriller. A very tense and unnerving that is a must read......
Twisted and so good. Very well written and plotted. It had me guessing until the end. The "locked in" syndrome story line was engrossing and I absolutely love Tom Thorne. Very well done police procedural series that will leave you wanting for more. I've already requested the next book in the series. Highly recommend.
I could only stand this book up to page 88 or chapter 7. The lead cop, Thomas Thorne comes across as a brainless twit. He's just plain boring and the storyline drags on and on saying nothing and getting nowhere. The only part of the book that is semi-interesting is the stream of consciousness of the comatose victim, Alison Willetts. She's comical in a sarcastsic way. Unfortunately the plot doesn't grab you and draw you into the mystery. I found that I really didn't care who was doing it or even why. At that point, I gave up the ghost and moved on to another book.
Book Description
His first three victims ended up dead. His fourth was not so fortunate...
Alison Willetts is unlucky to be alive. She has survived a stroke, deliberately induced by a skilful manipulation of pressure points on the head and neck. She can see, hear and feel and is aware of everything going on around her, but is completely unable to move or communicate. Her condition is called Locked-In Syndrome. In leaving Alison Willetts alive, the police believe the killer made his first mistake.
Then D.I. Tom Thorne discovers the horrifying truth; it isn't Alison who is the mistake, it's the three women already dead. "An appropriate margin of error" is how their killer dismisses them, and Thorne knows they are unlikely to be the last. For the killer is smart, and he's getting his kicks out of toying with Thorne as much as he is pursuing his sick fantasy. Thorne knows immediately he's not going to catch the killer with simple procedure. But with little more than gut instinct and circumstantial evidence to damn his chief suspect, anesthetist Jeremy Bishop, his pursuit of him is soon bordering on the unprofessional. Especially considering his involvement with Anne Coburn, Alison's doctor and Jeremy's close friend.
Thorne must find a man whose agenda is terrifyingly unique, and Alison, the one person who holds the key to the killer's identity, is unable to speak...
My Review
I found the writing style a little awkward at times and find that I had to read slowly in order to concentrate on what the writer was trying to convey. The characters were all unlikeable and the police and doctors in the story were all unprofessional. The plot was good but the novel would be better if executed by a better writer. Not much suspension until the very end which had a good twist and a surprise. I will probably not be reading any more of Billingham's books as there are far better writers with far better books out there to read.
His first three victims ended up dead. His fourth was not so fortunate...
Alison Willetts is unlucky to be alive. She has survived a stroke, deliberately induced by a skilful manipulation of pressure points on the head and neck. She can see, hear and feel and is aware of everything going on around her, but is completely unable to move or communicate. Her condition is called Locked-In Syndrome. In leaving Alison Willetts alive, the police believe the killer made his first mistake.
Then D.I. Tom Thorne discovers the horrifying truth; it isn't Alison who is the mistake, it's the three women already dead. "An appropriate margin of error" is how their killer dismisses them, and Thorne knows they are unlikely to be the last. For the killer is smart, and he's getting his kicks out of toying with Thorne as much as he is pursuing his sick fantasy. Thorne knows immediately he's not going to catch the killer with simple procedure. But with little more than gut instinct and circumstantial evidence to damn his chief suspect, anesthetist Jeremy Bishop, his pursuit of him is soon bordering on the unprofessional. Especially considering his involvement with Anne Coburn, Alison's doctor and Jeremy's close friend.
Thorne must find a man whose agenda is terrifyingly unique, and Alison, the one person who holds the key to the killer's identity, is unable to speak...
My Review
I found the writing style a little awkward at times and find that I had to read slowly in order to concentrate on what the writer was trying to convey. The characters were all unlikeable and the police and doctors in the story were all unprofessional. The plot was good but the novel would be better if executed by a better writer. Not much suspension until the very end which had a good twist and a surprise. I will probably not be reading any more of Billingham's books as there are far better writers with far better books out there to read.
