"Mark Billingham is a first-rate British crime writer who is too little known in this country. . . . The police procedural is a deceptively simple genre. You need a crime, a cop, suspects, complications and finally a solution. The art, of course, lies in the ingenuity of the crime, the depth of the characterizations and the quality of the writing. Billingham excels in all regards." --Patrick Anderson, Washington Post

"Billingham's ninth Tom Thorne thriller sees our hero working on a case in which a man long dead appears to be very much alive--to the chagrin of his wife, who had paid to ensure his expiration."--Entertainment Weekly

"Once again, [Billingham] has written a deep police procedural with significant insights into the characters. . . . Written with smoothness and urbanity, the plot moves forward in unexpected ways. Recommended."--Theodore Feit, The Midwest Book Review

"[A] fine, well-plotted work . . . Billingham's dark humor, often shot through with irony, is in full play here."--Joe Hartlaub, Book Reporter

"A chillingly clever criminal boosts this intelligent procedural."--Publishers Weekly

"A nice mix of police procedure and chatty scenes, and some nice scenery."--Salem Macknee, Charlotte Observer

Praise for Mark Billingham

"With each of his books, Mark Billingham gets better and better. These are stories and characters you don't want to leave."--Michael Connelly

"Morse, Rebus, and now Thorne. The next superstar detective is already with us--don't miss him."--Lee Child

"Billingham is one of the most consistently entertaining, insightful crime writers working today."--Gillian Flynn

"Mark Billingham has brought a rare and welcome blend of humanity, dimension, and excitement to the genre."--George Pelecanos

"Billingham is a world-class crime writer and Tom Thorne is a wonderful creation. Rush to read these books."--Karin Slaughter

"Mark Billingham is one of my favorite new writers."--Harlan Coben

"Billingham leaps to the upper echelons of crime fiction in one bound."--John Harvey