Book Review: Lazybones

Reviewed By: Luke Croll - RAM

Lazybones     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon UK PB Amazon UK HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Mark Billingham
Class/Genre:   Mystery
Series: Tom Thorne # 3
2003, Little Brown and Company, 384 pages

In Mark Billingham's third Detective Inspector Tom Thorne novel, he is battling another cunning serial killer. Men are being found murdered in hotel rooms, having also been raped. What is the connection between them? How is the killer finding his victims? What is his motive? As the body count begins to rise, Thorne is thrown into his one of his most complex cases yet.

Once again, Mark Billingham has proven that he is capable of writing an excellent serial killer thriller. 'Lazybones' grabs your attention from the start of the novel and does not let you go, as Billingham mixes flashbacks with contemporary events to create a fast-paced, exciting and ultimately, thrilling novel.

Just as in his previous works, Billingham introduces some elements of humour into the story and allows his main characters to have lives outside of their job, as well as somewhat of a social life. This makes them seem more human and Tom Thorne becomes increasingly likeable with each book. The dialogue and the book as a whole feel authentic and 'Lazybones' is guaranteed to do just as well as its predecessors.

Mark Billingham is swiftly becoming a big name in the crime genre and 'Lazybones' will certainly serve to cement this reputation. Interesting, exciting and engaging, this is a thriller that no crime fan should miss.

Luke Croll - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Luke Croll - RAM

Luke Croll - Conference interpreter and translator
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