Finished this one last night. I love the main character-Tom Thorne. He can really be such a jerk but it all works out for him in the end of this one. ( )

Death Message is easy to read without losing the ability to thrill. The grief of the murderer and the psychological state of DCI Thorne are written with a sensitivity and insight seldom seen in the genre. I was fascinated by the blurring of the line between ethical and corrupt policing, and the portrayal of how easy it is to overstep boundaries, particularly in that grey area where the law does not always equal justice. I will definitely be looking for more work by this author. ( )

This is the latest in the DI Thorne series and in my opinion, probably the best. Thornes character is developed superbly and whether you you like or dislike the awkward sod, its impossible to be neutral. As always, there are plenty of good jokes in the novel, and the grey areas between right and wrong, good and evil, are explored with a nice sense of irony. I cant wait for the next installment!

Great book, Tom Thorne is receiving pictures of dead bodies (or soon to be dead bodies). It doesn't take long to figure out who is behind it, but the chase is complicated. ( )

Detective Inspector Tom Thorne makes a welcome return just in time for Christmas in Death Message, the seventh book in the series, in which Thorne proves himself to be completely au fait with modern technology – for better or worse…

Billingham is never weak and even his pot boilers are of the gourmet variety: Tom is distracted from his internet gambling addiction by photographs and videos sent to him on his state of the art cell phone.

Old friends, old guilt, old enemies and old crimes are woven together in a nail biting thriller: literate, entertaining and witty, this is a must for all Billingham fans. ( )

Mark Billingham is one of the very best British crime writers ever -- and not at all in the tradition of Agatha Christie either. Think "Silence of the Lambs" with a sense of humor. I can't walk past the Bengal Lancer restaurant in Kentish Town without expecting to see DI Tom Thorne walking out, carrying his takeaway. ( )