Scaredy Cat

What's scarier than one serial killer acting alone? Two acting in concert. It's also a much bigger challenge as DI Tom Thorne and his team need to spend twice as much time tracking down possible hiding places and figuring out perpetrator profiles. Along the way, there are other cases, such as the hotel killers, and personal issues affecting various members of the team. We see the most of Thorne's, naturally, but we also get glimpses into the lives of Dave Holland and Sarah McEvoy.

Once again Billingham delivers an intriguing story (very nicely bookended) and the horror and gore are limited to a couple of sentences rather than a couple of pages. In Billingham's hand the technical details of a coroner's report go much further than a show more drawn-out gorefest would. The description of the first strangulation victim's injuries, for example, is still giving me chills, and I read that scene several days ago. The story also kept me guessing. I was convinced I'd figured out who the killer was, but then it turned out to be someone else, which I realized at exactly the same time as Thorne.

There were some elements of the end that I might have to clarify with a reread, but overall I enjoyed this second entry in the Thorne series and have placed the next installment on the to-read list. show less

While investigating the deaths of two women who had been strangled, Thorne realises that he is looking for two serial killers who operate in tandem. Since there is no forensic evidence at all in any of the killings, finding the killers is a bit of a challenge.

The plot was interesting but I felt the f-word was overused. It was a bit too graphic for me as well, so not sure if I will read more in the series.

I found 'Scaredy Cat' a marked improvement on 'Sleepyhead', Mark Billingham's debut novel and the first appearance of his protagonist, Tom Thorne. He has again produced a well paced, engaging mystery, but many of the flaws of his earlier novel are now mitigated. The use of multiple perspectives is handled with more agility, and the reader gains a better understanding of the psychology and motivation of the killers. Billingham seems more comfortable with the character of Thorne, and less self-conscious about his place in the panoply of flawed but gritty detectives. There also seems to be a better balance between Thorne's maverick style and obstinacy as a detective, and the fact that he has managed to hold on to his position in the show more Metropolitan Police. The supporting cast is also fairly deftly handled, perhaps because this time it lacked young women, and Dave Holland's characterisation as a potential younger Thorne is more effective when less heavy handed. I found the character of Sarah McEvoy an interesting addition to the team, but unfortunately she quickly became a little too interesting: written in to be written out (with a sexual detour on route). show less

This second book in the Tom Thorne series is just as good as the first one. Don't get me wrong. This series is not for the faint of heart. It is as black as night, and the unexpected is always happening. Maybe after I read a few more books, I'll be able to clue in that something shocking is going to happen before it actually happens. This time DI Tom Thorne and his team are after a very prolific killer, and it appears that he does his killing in pairs. That is until they realize that the two people killed in each instance were each killed in a totally different way. Is this killer trying to play games with the police, or is there another reason? DI Tom Thorne comes to the conclusion that he will have to push the envelope far more than show more he ever has to discover who is committing these crimes. Mark Bellingham's special skill is that he is thinking outside the box all the time with his thrillers, and he does a great job of getting his story out through the eyes of his various characters, both good and bad. Different viewpoints, different motivations, different ways of thinking come up all the time during this book. It's enough to keep the reader guessing and trying (though not very successfully in my case) to figure out what is coming next. If you like your crime series to be hard-boiled and totally unpredictable, this is the series for you. show less

Billingham is a master of suspense. He always throws in red herrings without appearing to. He makes you question each person as being the perpetrator of the murders, but the final revelation is always a surprise.

A series of murders carried out simultaneously creates a real dilemma for D.I. Thorne and his team. Two murderers working apart connected to each other.

I can't wait to start the next in the series!

This is a well-written, well-paced police procedural with a cast of flawed characters, some so unlikeable that I was convinced several were good candidates for the at-large serial killer. And, as I raced through the pages despite facing 2 days before I could get to the library for my next batch of books, I was surprised by the final twist. I rate this 2002 Gold Dagger finalist at 8 out of 10 stars.

Scaredy Cat by Mark Billingham is a good, solid police procedural and was an enjoyable read for me with the right amount of jaded police attitude mixed with tension and an interesting story line involving two serial killers that work in tandem..

The downside of the book was the predictable ending especially the one involving Sarah McEvoy. Without going into details, I will just say I saw that one coming from miles away. I also thought the book could have been a little shorter and would have benefited from tighter editing.

This is the second book in the series featuring DI Tom Thorne, a brooding detective who knows how to doggedly work a case on his own terms, and I certainly intend on continuing on with the series. Groundbreaking and show more different? No, but if you’re looking for a realistic, slightly grim yet dependable police procedural this series could be your cup of tea. show less