
Critic Reviews
Great
Based on 5 reviews on

In the latest Tom Thorne thriller from internationally bestselling author Mark Billingham, a seemingly straightforward suicide turns into a sinister story of obsession, deception, and murder.
"This is a fantastic thriller, combining a gripping plot and lead characters of remarkable depth. Billingham is a multiple-award winner, and his books have sold more than six million copies. Readers who grab this one but aren't familiar with its predecessors will be seeking them out. A series to savor." --Booklist (starred review)
"Billingham's outstanding 16th procedural featuring Det. Insp. Tom Thorne (after 2018's The Killing Habit) finds Thorne on duty with a team responsible for assessing whether sudden deaths are suspicious when Philippa Goodwin jumps in front of a train in the London Underground... The twisted plot unfolds gradually, with a maximum of suspense. Billingham never strains credulity in this thoughtful page-turner." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Mark Billingham's Detective Inspector Tom Thorne is akin to Ian Rankin's John Rebis and Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole: a deeply flawed character with a plethora of personal and professional problems, but a damned fine investigator in his own way...With lots of surprises and some very crisp, staccato storytelling, it's impossible to put down Their Little Secret." --BookPage
"Billingham does an exquisite job of keeping readers guessing...If you aren't familiar with the author or his protagonist, or if you have been away from the series for a bit, Their Little Secret is a terrific place to jump on the Billingham bandwagon." --Bookreporter
Praise for The Killing Habit:
"Another compulsively readable blend of satire, crime fiction motifs, and the occasional quirky, violent interlude in a tale that will satisfy [Billingham's] current fans and attract new ones."--Booklist "As ever with Billingham, a rich cast of characters and tense situations are marshalled with panache, leading to a final terrifying encounter."--Barry Forshaw, Financial Times "[The Killing Habit] shows why Billingham stands at the forefront of British crime authors." --Publishers Weekly "Mark Billingham has provided us with yet another temptation for a one-sit reading...If you're not already on board Billingham's (almost) annual visit to Thorne's world, you should jump on now." --Bookreporter "This is the 15th novel featuring Thorne, and neither he nor Billingham show signs of fatigue. One of the great series of British crime fiction continues."--Times (London) Praise for Mark Billingham and the Tom Thorne series:"Morse, Rebus, and now Thorne. The next superstar detective is already with us--don't miss him."--Lee Child
"Billingham is a world-class writer and Tom Thorne is a wonderful creation. Rush to read these books."--Karin Slaughter
"With each of his books, Mark Billingham gets better and better. These are stories and characters you don't want to leave."--Michael Connelly
"Mark Billingham has brought a rare and welcome blend of humanity, dimension, and excitement to the genre."--George Pelecanos