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The Killing Habit: Mark Billingham (Tom Thorne Novels)

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One of DI Tom Thorne’s most harrowing cases begins with evidence that someone’s taken to slaughtering…cats. In many ways, D.I. Tom Thorne is one of a slew of “grumpy old coppers” in modern crime fiction. Forever at odds with the latest technology and modern police jargon and frequently fearing he’s lost his edge and is past his sell-by date. However, his dedication, experience and intuition always seem to pull him through. One area in which Tom is unique though is that, although straight himself, the majority of his small circle of friends are gay. Unsurprisingly, none of them share his passion for Country Music. As ever with Billingham, a rich cast of characters and tense situations are marshalled with panache, leading to a final terrifying encounter I am so glad that Mr. Billingham didn’t go into the cat killings in depth. If there is anything I cannot tolerate, it is the indiscriminate killing of helpless animals – especially cats. I was so glad that the investigation turned to the murders people. Not that people are less important than cats, but, oh, what am I trying to say?

The strength of the DI Thorne novels is in the knowledge that all of this could be real. The closing of the novel will please even the most discerning fan of the police procedural, and leave you yearning for more. DI Thorne doesn’t want to take it too seriously when his is assigned a case of someone who is killing cats. But he knows that killing animals is often one of the signs of a serial killer in the making. He takes the case to liaise with Detective Superintendent Fulton from his old stomping ground in Kentish Town. When he sees the horrific pictures of what was done to the animals, he knows that he is on to something. The series of cat killings mentioned in this book is based on a real and disturbing case that, at the time Billingham wrote The Killing Habit, remained unsolved. I sincerely hope that they have, by now, caught this maniac. If not, then the thought of what may lay ahead is chilling. . . Forget about solving all these crimes; the signal triumph here is (spoiler) the heroine’s survival. As most crime aficionados know, animal abuse can be a telltale starting point for serial killers. DI Tom Thorne feels the cat case may be a softening of the edges for an active murderer. An investigation into unsolved murders finds several cases with a similar theme propelling Thorne's suppositions forward. He just needs the brass to be on board to cough up some cash for a sting operation.Thorne is certain that a killer who tortures cats, skins them and leaves their bodies for their owners to find on the doorstep will inevitably go further, and may even have killed a person already. But he’s finding it hard to convince anyone in the Met. He finally takes the case to Detective Superintendent Fulton, at his old stomping ground in Kentish Town, to try to convince him to help. With Tanner investigating a different killing, he’s pretty much on his own, the butt of an almost unending string of cat jokes. His first book in the Tom Thorne series left a strong impact on me, and I think this is where I really developed a strong love for British crime novels. Happily – errrr, sorry – there was a sense of trouble-in-paradise here. It’s sort of resolved at the end but I am kinda hoping there’s a story arc afoot and Thorne moves on. Or at least their relationship becomes more affectionate / loving / believable (or one I could care about). I really like Nicola Tanner so am enjoying her increased role in this series. In fact, I’m possibly engaging more with her character than Thorne in many ways. That could – of course – be because I seem to struggle with Thorne’s girlfriend, Helen and I’ve mentioned my antipathy towards her in my review of Time of Death. I know I shouldn’t be as judge-y because – as a fellow cop – she often provides useful and insightful suggestions from time to time. The Killing Habit by Mark Billingham will be published by Atlantic Monthly Press on 19 June and in Australia by Hachette on 12 June 2018.

Interspersed with their investigations are creepy passages that are presumably about the killer. In fact, the book opens with one: Others are less convinced, so Thorne relies on DI Nicola Tanner to help him solve the case, before the culprit starts hunting people. The journey brings them face to face with a killer who will tear their lives apart. I find Mark Billingham a very capable author who never disappoints with each book he writes. Bring on the next, please.

And of course, then at the end we’re left wondering how correct Thorne’s ‘workout’ theory was anyway…. Each book in the series revolves around a case that is solved by the end of the book. However, if you get to like the rather flawed (damaged as some call him) character of Tom Thorne, you will want to follow his progress and learn more about him, without skipping a book here and there.

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