The Last Dance: 1 (Detective Miller Novels)

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Readers rejoice! A captivating new series from Mark Billingham—the very best in the business.”— Richard Osman, #1 bestselling author of The Thursday Murder Club As what is clearly the first book in a series, I will be more than happy to return to find out how Miller and Xiu are getting on.

The Last Dance by Mark Billingham publishes May 25th with Sphere Books. It is the first new series from Mark Billingham in 20 years introducing us to Detective Declan Miller, a man who has been through the ringer in recent times. A gritty, engaging novel that balances light with dark, offering wit and wisdom in equal measure. Billingham’s new lead detective, DS Miller, may not be able to dance, but he never misses a step when it comes to solving crime.”— Nita Prose, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maid Hard-headed yet big-hearted, DS Declan Miller will have you on the edge of your seat - screaming with laughter one moment and surprise the next. Billingham blends caustic humour, raw emotion and rollercoaster thrills. His new series is bursting with wit, charm and intriguing, complex characters. Save The Last Dance for when you want a fast, fresh and totally absorbing read. * Janice Hallett * Despite a somewhat dubious relationship with both reality and his new partner, can the eccentric, offbeat Miller find answers where his colleagues have found only an impossible puzzle?OK, well . . . thank you all for coming.’ He manufactured that smile he’d been practising in the mirror before leaving the house. ‘I’ll try to keep this brief because we’ve all got crimes to solve . . . alcohol habits to support, gambling debts to pay off, whatever. So, just to say, my wife Alex, who some of you knew, is dead. She’s . . . dead. It’s a pisser, but there you are.

The plot was flimsy, characters were flat. Miller is investigating organized crime but does not have a weapon to defend himself, not even a knife or a bullet proof vest. Knowing that his wife was assassinated or that Miller makes really bad jokes all the time, they should provided him with a vest for those reasons alone! A captivating combination of humour, emotion, mystery and tension, The Last Dance is everything you could wish for in a new detective series. Sharp and funny, with hidden layers, just like Detective Declan Miller himself. * Andrea Mara *A double murder in a seaside hotel sees a grieving Miller return to work to solve what appears to be a case of mistaken identity. Just why were two completely unconnected men taken out? The investigation moves around between people who are ‘known to police’ and others who turn up. While he and Xiu deal with their bosses and assignments, another team is looking into Alex’s murder. He misses her badly, listens to her voice and scrolls through her old phone messages. He’s not allowed to ask questions. Take a Look at Our Summary of November Highlights, Whether You're Looking for the Latest Releases or Gift Inspiration Obviously, if you knew her, you’re well aware of the fact that she’s dead and you might well have been at the funeral, so I could probably have skipped that bit . . . but I suppose what I really want to say is . . . I’m dealing with it and if I am, then you lot should.’” Not just a new, totally different, protagonist from Mark Billingham but also a massive change in writing style. The book is littered with constant corny, yet clever, jokes; some are laugh out loud funny. So very different from the Tom Thorne series.

Bob Mortimer wins 2023 Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction with The Satsuma Complex Despite a somewhat dubious relationship with both reality and his new partner, can the eccentric, offbeat Miller find answers where his colleagues have found only an impossible puzzle? [ My Review ] With a distinctly loose relationship with reality and a new partner to deal with, can eccentric, offbeat Miller find answers where more traditional police have found only an impossible puzzle?After 20 years and 18 Tom Thorne novels, Mark Billingham is going for a complete change of pace with this new series. Whereas Tom was a quite conventional character (although he had some weird friends), right from the first chapter we can see this new protagonist, Detective Sergeant and ballroom dancer Declan Miller is a total oddball. In the beginning, I was a little frustrated at Miller’s jokiness, that often seemed out of place (and was), but as I got to know him, I appreciated him and – dare I say it? – his professionalism. There is nothing slapdash about his attitude to crime. He’s a cop for the right reasons. The Last Dance by Mark Billingham will be published in Australia by Hachette and available in late May 2023.

Readers rejoice! A captivating new series from Mark Billingham, the very best in the business * Richard Osman * OK, that was a bit of a stab in the dark… let me have one more guess. Is it the fact that the man who invented Pringles had his ashes buried in a Pringles can? Original flavour, if you want to be precise.’ p162 The opening of the first of this new series by Mark Billingham gives a taste of the style of this book - serious and sardonic - and the setting for the double murders which take place at the Sands Hotel.

LoveReading Says

as he sauntered across the office. Sauntered, which was bloody ridiculous and only went to prove that he was brimming with misplaced confidence. Miller might have ambled now and again and may even have meandered on occasion, but he had never been one for sauntering anywhere. He was more of a lolloper.” Alex appears to him now and then and has conversations with him, but as with the good ‘ghost’ stories I’ve read recently, nothing she says actually tells him anything he doesn’t already know. He knows he’s invented her, but he still enjoys her company and it does clarify his thinking.