Lazybones: Tom Thorne, Book 3 [Audio Download]

Another killer is stalking the streets of London only this time he seems to be targeting a section of society that perhaps deserves their comeuppance, convicted rapists. In what is also a large dose of their own medicine, the killer’s methods are violent and frightening in both their mode and severity.

DI Tom Thorne and his trusty sidekick DC Dave Holland are back to solve the case in a team that includes a couple of new members and also the appearance of ex-DCI Carol Chamberlain a member of a team of ex coppers who are sifting through the mountain of unsolved cases.

The book goes much in the way of fleshing out both Thorne’s character and that of Dave Holland. Thorne is having to cope with the slow fall of his father into senile dementure and Holland is coping with the thought that he’ll be a father in the not too distant future. Both sub-stories are good and go a long way to make this police duo stand out from the many that have gone before them. Carol Chamberlain, as I say, is a great addition to the fold, bringing a steely motherly touch to Thorne and if what I read in the taster for the next book in the series, “The Burning Girl” is true she’s due to appear again.

As in the other books, Billingham intersperses the “live action” with retrospective story telling of what has gone before or the inner thoughts of the killer. The description of the effects of the rape are extremely striking and although make for uncomfortable reading are very effective and thought provoking.

***Possible Spoilers***
The book does slightly suffer from that curse of all thrillers, pick the most unlikely character to have committed the crime and you guess the killer, but it’s still fun to watch Thorne interact with the killer.

Still a very good read regardless. The storyline keeps you guessing and I found myself deciding it was one character then another and then back to the first one again. I still wasn't quite right at the end but did have suspicions.

I would recommend it but read Sleepyhead and Scaredy Cat first and you will probably see what I mean!