Review: Lazybones

This is the third in the London based police procedural series featuring Detective Tom Thorne and his team. This is by far the darkest and most densly plotted book of the series. The complexity comes from Billinghams’s confidence as well as his mastery of character and plot. The book is somewhat of a paradox, as from one side we have his easy-going, almost conversational writing style, but in the other corner we have this monstrously fiendish tale of rapists and their pursuers. This contrast serves the book well, making a dark tale bearable, with a great deal of gallows humour.

The novel starts with a recently released rapist being discovered in a seedy hotel, murdered violently and anally raped. The killer sent his calling card - a wreath. More murders follow and soon Thorne, Hendricks, Holland and his team realise that a serial killer is on the loose. A serial killer that appears to be reducing the re-offending rate of sexual sadists. The ‘victims’ (and again this tale skirts around the issues of morality and vigilantism) appear to have been lured to their deaths by a woman named ‘Jane’. The trail leads to Soho, and a welcome return for ‘Kodak’ - the squeaky voiced, muscular pornographer from ‘SleepyHead’.

Like his previous work, sub-plots that impinge on the proceedings, such as Holland facing a mid-life crisis caused by the pregnancy of his wife, Thornes issues with his ill and aging father, as well as a new love interest all add an extra dimension to this tale. The book cranks up a gear at the halfway point just when Thorne reaches an impasse in the case. A former detective joins the team and finds the link to a tragedy dating back many years, and a case of rape, murder and lost innocence. While the case zigzags around North London and Essex, Thorne has his car stolen and his flat burgled, and wonders about the linkages that start to form like the cracks on an impacted windscreen. The climax is as violent as is it unexpected, and very disturbing both for the reader as well as Thorne. One wonders what Billingham will do to follow-up the climax, especially as Thorne has been nominated for a Sherlock Award this summer. The title is a very clever play on words, like his previous ones ‘SleepyHead’ and ‘ScaredyCat’, and perhaps he should have considered ‘Clever Dick’ as a possible alternative. Highly recommended, and not one for a late night alone.

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Ali Karim - RAM

Please Note: Books reviewed are usually provided by the publisher, author, or an agent. Reviewers usually get to keep the book.

Book Review: Lazybones

Please Note: Books reviewed are usually provided by the publisher, author, or an agent. Reviewers usually get to keep the book.