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In The Dark

3.82 of 5 stars 3.82 · rating details · 1,043 ratings · 73 reviews

On a rainy city night, a handgun is fired at random. A struck car swerves and plows into a bus stop, killing an unsuspecting bystander. In an explosive instant, a cold-blooded gang initiation ends one life and forever changes three others: the desperate teenager who pulled the trigger . . . a policewoman on maternity leave . . . and an aging gangster plotting a terrifying...more

Hardcover, 384 pages

Published March 19th 2009 by Little, Brown (first published August 7th 2008)

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Jan 30, 2013 T.J. Cooke rated it 4 of 5 stars

I first came across Mark Billingham via his excellent Sleepyhead, the introduction to the D.I. Thorne series. I'm sure it's well reviewed here. But I'm always more interested when a crime fiction writer tries something 'stand alone'.

This book gives us more of an in-depth look at London's criminal hinterland and is not for the faint-hearted! A selection of newsreel clips of the last few years will give you the same incidents of drive-by shootings, drug deals and gangland crime, but it won't give...more

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May 22, 2010 Maddy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2008-reads

Detective Constable Helen Weeks and Detective Sergeant Paul Hopwood have a relationship that looks like it will be leading to marriage. Despite the fact that Helen is only 2 weeks away from delivering a child, there are difficulties between them. Paul is showing no interest in joining forces to buy a home together; he also is completely apathetic about the impending birth. As heartless as that seems, he actually has some reason to feel that way—several months earlier, Helen had a brief affair, a...more Detective Constable Helen Weeks and Detective Sergeant Paul Hopwood have a relationship that looks like it will be leading to marriage. Despite the fact that Helen is only 2 weeks away from delivering a child, there are difficulties between them. Paul is showing no interest in joining forces to buy a home together; he also is completely apathetic about the impending birth. As heartless as that seems, he actually has some reason to feel that way—several months earlier, Helen had a brief affair, and he is not convinced that the baby is his.

As it turns out, none of that matters. The city of London is experiencing a major gang problem. One of the gangs, led by a thug named “Wave”, is expanding its power. A young man named Theo is a low level member of the gang; he is convinced by one of his best friends, “Easy”, to elevate himself into the higher ranks so that he can score a larger share of the profits of the group. He has to prove himself through an initiation rite which involves firing a gun at the first car to be seen without headlights. Although not thrilled with the idea, Theo does as asked, with the result being that the car swerves and crashes into a bus stop and kills Paul Hopwood.

Helen is driven to uncover the truth of what happened. In doing so, she finds that Paul, who was assigned to the Intelligence division, may have been indulging in unethical behavior. As she unveils his secrets, she experiences several surprises about the man she thought she knew so well.

The plot is an interesting one, but the main appeal of this book is in its characterization. Helen is an outstanding creation who has courage in spades. Although she’s just about to give birth, she doesn’t hesitate to follow the truth, even when that leads her into the grimiest and most dangerous neighborhoods. But my favorite character of all was Theo. He’s part of the gang out of necessity and has an upstanding moral code. He’s living with his girlfriend and their son; his top priority is providing for and loving them. The gang membership is a means to an end; it’s the way that he can provide for them. I found myself rooting for Theo to overcome the odds facing him and to get his life in order.

In the Dark is a step above the average thriller. It is certainly suspenseful and well plotted. However, the real difference is that the author makes the reader care about the main characters in the book. Unfortunately, the secondary characters were less well drawn. Best known for his Tom Thorne series, Billingham has done an excellent job in his first standalone work.

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Apr 19, 2009 Michael rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: English Mystery Fans, Lee Child fans and police procedural fans.

Recommended to Michael by: Saw a write up in "Deadly Pleasures"

Billingham's first stand alone novel begins with five teenagers riding in a car on a hot August night in London. Their purpose is to find a car to shoot at in a gang initiation.

A woman sees the teenagers car without its lights and flicks hers, not knowing that this is the manner in which the teenagers targets are chosen. Shots are fired, the car crashes into a bus stop and off duty police officer Paul Hopoewood is killed.

Paul's girlfriend, Helen Weeks, is also a police officer. They are expec...more

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Apr 16, 2009 Andrea Howarth-Salazar rated it 3 of 5 stars

I can't say I actually enjoyed this book, although I couldn't stop reading! Much of the time, I found the characters and settings depressing and unpleasant - I really couldn't empathise with characters like Easy and even Theo and Javine. Helen was a realistic and likeable character, though. The choice of title was very fitting for the events of the novel, as most of the characters (and the reader) were 'in the dark' about reality for most of the novel. There are many twists and turns in the plot...more

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Sep 15, 2011 Alexandra rated it 4 of 5 stars

One of the things I absolutely love about Mark Billingham is that even if you read his books in the wrong order, they're still unexpected.

Having recently read his latest, Good As Dead, I realised I'd accidentally missed a Thorne book somewhere. That lead me back to In The Dark, which despite being categorised as a Thorne novel actually contains very little of the man himself, and all of his brief cameo appearances are through the lens of someone not yet very interested in him.

In Good As Dead, th...more

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Aug 05, 2012 Dan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: crime

This is a standalone book following heavily pregnant Helen Weeks as she copes with her husband's death and finds out more about his life. It all centres around a car crash where a gang shoots into a car which swerves off the road and into a bus stop, hitting and killing Helen's husband Paul.

In terms of plot, it's really quite disappointing. It's well structured, with the crash happening as a prologue then the first part of the book set before the crash. However, for a "thriller" it's pretty low...more

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Mar 26, 2012 Kevin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-suspense

In The Dark is Billingham's first stand-alone novel and although it was a bit difficult to get started I gave it four stars by the end. When I grabbed this at the library to take on vacation, I assumed that it was the next Tom Thorne novel. Boy, was I surprised, and, initially disappointed. Billingham created a new set of characters that are different enough from the Thorne books but still have the same flavor. He gives you Paul Hopgood, the detective who is a little bent and that appears to be...more In The Dark is Billingham's first stand-alone novel and although it was a bit difficult to get started I gave it four stars by the end. When I grabbed this at the library to take on vacation, I assumed that it was the next Tom Thorne novel. Boy, was I surprised, and, initially disappointed. Billingham created a new set of characters that are different enough from the Thorne books but still have the same flavor. He gives you Paul Hopgood, the detective who is a little bent and that appears to be intent on getting bent even more. Helen Weeks is Hopgood's pregnant cop girlfriend who happened to have a one-night stand - and got pregnant about the same time. Theo, the Jamaican gangbanger who is in the gang more as a way to make some money for him and his small family than as a way of life. Theo's friend and fellow gangbanger, Easy, who wants to be at the top of the gang pyramid. And lastly there is Frank, the contractor/builder that was one of Hopgood's friends and is connected.

The book begins with a gang initiation that results in the death of an innocent bystander. The death that happens wasn't intended. The initiation was only meant to scare the other driver. But, as a result of the tragedy, the lives of Hopgood, Weeks, Theo, Easy and Frank become intertwined in ways that couldn't be foreseen. Billingham presents characters that the reader identifies with and yet at the same time is able to screen their true character from the reader. As the story unfurls, Billilngham slowly teases the reader with twists, red herrings and surprises. Is that character good or bad? Was the accident what it seemed? Will the authorities discover who was responsible for the death before others do?

Billingham slowly resolves the issues in In The Dark in a manner that keeps the reader off balance and never knowing what will happen next. Just when the reader thinks that he knows something, Billingham shows the reader that what you thought you knew, you didn't. And the final surprise may just be the unkindest of all.

Readers of the Thorne series will thoroughly enjoy this book as a slight change of pace. And if this is your first Billingham novel, you should go out and get Sleepyhead, the first Tom Thorne book, just as soon as you finish In the Dark. You won't regret it.(less)

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Jan 11, 2010 Ayesha Chander rated it 5 of 5 stars

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Jan 26, 2009 Janine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009, thrillers, crime

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Oct 08, 2012 F.R. rated it 4 of 5 stars

I had a frisson of excitement reading this book. I live near Lewisham in South East London and large parts of it are set in the area. So there’s the Lewisham centre, there’s roads I walk down and parks I’m familiar with. All very thrilling for the local. Except the Lewisham of this book is not quite the Lewisham I know, Here it’s home to nothing but gangs of drug dealers and juvenile thugs, where violence is only ever seconds away from hitting the streets. Now I'm aware it’s not the most salubri...more I had a frisson of excitement reading this book. I live near Lewisham in South East London and large parts of it are set in the area. So there’s the Lewisham centre, there’s roads I walk down and parks I’m familiar with. All very thrilling for the local. Except the Lewisham of this book is not quite the Lewisham I know, Here it’s home to nothing but gangs of drug dealers and juvenile thugs, where violence is only ever seconds away from hitting the streets. Now I'm aware it’s not the most salubrious of neighbourhoods, that it’s a bit scruffy and run-down, but there’s no need to paint it as the British equivalent of streets of ‘The Wire’. For instance a park by my house is mentioned – the last time I was there I saw sunbathing students and mums with kids, rather than drug deals at every corner. And whenever I’ve been to the bar ‘Dirty South’ on Lee High Road, its clientele has been grizzled old locals and skinny Indie music fans, rather than teenage hoodlums. Billingham does know where things are in the area, but hasn’t captured the place at all. (Curiously though he comments on Lewisham’s Starbucks, while bemoaning the lack of a M&S. Lewisham doesn’t have a Starbucks [we recently got a Costa though], while the M&S has been there for years and years). Of course this Hertfordshire based author would no doubt say that he was exaggerating things for dramatic effect, but this book made me feel quite defensive and wanting to put my metaphoric arm around dear old Lewisham.

(Seriously, if you’re in the area, visit the fruit market on a Saturday. You can get some delicious and cheap produce.)

After a violent death, the orbits of a heavily pregnant WPC, a South London ‘businessman’ and the member of a teen gang are drawn closer together. This is a clever and well worked mystery/procedural/drama. Billingham gives himself a big canvas to work on and manages to fill it, making the most of even minor characters, I’m not sure the denouement satisfied me completely, but this is a novel which kept me intrigued and gripped throughout.

I’ve never read Billingham before (although I know of his character Tom Thorne, who makes a cameo here), but I will be checking him out again. (less)

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Dec 14, 2008 Marty rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: harpercollins, 2008

IN THE DARK was the first book that I got to review for HarperCollins. Woo hoo! I told the HarperCollins dude that I had a soft spot for mysteries, so I got this one as well as another into my hot little hands.

This mystery is the story of a cop who may or may not be crooked and his very pregnant girlfriend, whose baby may or may not be his. After a gang-related "accident," the mystery begins.

When I first started this one, I thought I was going to hate it. The mystery as such doesn't start until...more

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Jun 30, 2011 Steve Horsfall rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was my first Mark Billingham novel, having not yet read any of the Thorne series (I do intend to). It took me a few chapters to adapt to the writing style as it reads more like a movie script than a standard novel but as the plot takes hold and intrigues, it is this style that adds weight to the book and really does work. The plot itself is multilayered in presenting many different perspectives on the seemingly straightforward death of a police officer. Of course it is not straightforward a...more

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Apr 25, 2008 Linda rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: any crime fan

I didn't enjoy this book as much as the Tom Thorne series but i think this was to do with the characters not the writing. Set around gangs and drugs, and with a pregnant cop trying to solve the death of her husband, I just didn't warm to any of the characters. In the Dark was an apt title for the book as you are in the dark for the first half of the book.

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Feb 21, 2012 Sue rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Loved this book. I have so enjoyed all of Mark Billingham's books, and think that his creation, Tom Thorne, is one of the best fictional police detectives. This particular book is a stand alone book and is not in the Tom Thorne series - although Tom Thorne makes a minute cameo appearance. I expected to like this less than the other books, but found myself loving it just as much. Quite a departure for Mark Billingham to have as his protagonist a female detective on maternity leave - in fact withi...more

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Jan 16, 2010 Caitlin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010

This is a gripping thriller that is very difficult to put down. The book tells the story of a death that appears to be one thing (a gang initiation shooting), but is something else altogether. The author is not afraid to humanize all of his characters - from Helen, the pregnant cop trying to solve the mystery of her fiance's murder to Theo, a gangbanger who might decide to change his life. The characters and situations were compelling and readable and I empathized with just about all of them, ev...more

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Oct 27, 2010 Scott rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: crime

I liked this a lot. However the cover keeps going on about the 'stunning final twist' which kind of implied, to me, that there'd be some huge reveal on or near the last page. There isn't. There's a subtle reveal quite some time earlier. A good one, but not an absolute jaw to the floor, knock you out whopper. And that's fine, because this is a far more rewarding and subtle book than all the blaring about 'Shocking Twists!' would indicate.

I reached the final page and felt deflated by not recieving...more

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Jun 14, 2010 Chris Bridges rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Cops , drugs , Gangs , Murder, adultery and a great twist. This should have everything to make it five stars but it only just falls short for a reason I cant quite work out.

I'm a big fan of Mark Billingham and actually started to read this without realising it was a departure from Thorn.
It's a little darker in style than the Thorn novels but this just added to its page turning appeal. I did really enjoy the book as a whole, however I never really took to the characters and cant see them being on...more

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Jan 27, 2010 Durdles rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: crime

"The Wire", Series 1, set in Lewisham. I liked this book. In all Mark Billingham's tales the characters are recognisably individuals with the strengths and weaknesses familiar to the reader. Some are more sympathetic than others and my opinion of them changed constantly with the plot twists which were surprising enough to make me read on when I should have been in bed.
However I must have slept at some stage during the final couple of chapters because I think I missed someting. The blurb on the...more

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Oct 12, 2011 Amy Knarr rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a very action packed book set in London in some rough neighborhoods. A lot of very likable people in it, even the so called villians so it was easy to read it right to the very end in hopes of every thing coming out all right.
The main character is a very pregnant lady policeman whose boyfriend was killed in an auto accident. Or was it an accident?
Helen is not feeling her best because of her preganancy and her grief, but she delves into the case to see what on earth happened. The answer...more

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Jun 29, 2009 Barbara Elsborg rated it 2 of 5 stars

Oh how I love Mark Billingham - or rather Billingham and Tom Thorne. I had such high expectations for 'In the Dark' and I ended up disappointed. The hype on the front-back - about unexpected twists etc was just that - hype. Not difficult to spot what was coming. I didn't empathise with any of the characters. Was the guy a goodie or a baddie? I have no idea. His wife wasn't sure either and she hardly had an unblemished record. The relationship with the gangster grated and the end left me wonderin...more

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Jul 26, 2011 Jane Fenn added it

I enjoyed this book, however, I found it quite hard work to read, at times. I felt connected to both Helen, the heavily pregnant woman whose partner is killed in a tragic 'accident', and Theo, who is the perpetrator whose actions appear to have led to this accident. However, unlike the Tom Thorne novels, by Mark Billingham, I never really connected with the the supporting characters. I also found the plot quite complex as I'm not always good at remembering the names of characters when there's lo...more

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Oct 01, 2009 Lance Greenfield Mitchell rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Violent criminals, big and small; some of them teenagers believing that they are much bigger than they actually are. London police, some straight and some crooked. This book contains non-stop action from the beginning, and the reader is continually trying to separate the good guys from the bad.

It is easy to imagine that these are the sorts of events that are happening across London today. It certainly seems so from the news bulletins that I listen to, anyway.

The reality will grip your attentio...more

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Apr 02, 2011 Sarah (TotalTeenFiction) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: library-books, adult-or-non-blog

As the first stand alone novel by this author, I wasn't sure what to expect but was excited to see if it lived up to the brilliant Thorne novels. And it did in my opinion! The central character of Helen Weeks was likeable without being squeaky clean and boring, and the plot just as tense and dramatic. And the cameo of Thorne himself only added to the story. Giving it 4.5 really, only marking it down as I got a little lost and confused by the plot towards the end, it was wrapped up nicely though...more

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Feb 12, 2012 Nuno rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My first book completely written in english!

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May 18, 2009 Andrés Franco Medina-Mora rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: on-the-plane-or-train

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jun 04, 2010 Krait rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: crime

Well, enjoyable as far as books of this genre go. Some lame elements include the pregnant mom deal, and what I would deam a rushed ending after the "twist" (which actually came as no surprise to me in spite of a blurb on the cover to the effect that the critic will "guarantee even veteran crime fiction aficionados won't see coming"). What was the killer's motivation? What was the real relationship between Paul and Frank? These and other questions are left unanswered. We can hazard guesses, but s...more

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Oct 28, 2012 Hazel rated it 2 of 5 stars

I will start by saying that I am a big fan of Mark Billingham books. I have read the first 7 of the Tom Thorne series and enjoyed every one of them in a different way. I also love the style of writing of this author. He does short, snappy chapters and has a "blokey" style that works for his stories and the characters. I like the way he throws a load of characters at you in most of his books and you almost learn about them backwards at times, I mean you start in the middle of their stories and th...more

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Jun 03, 2010 Karen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: crime, review-books, united-kingdom

If somebody could explain to me what I did with my common-sense I'd be very grateful. I have this list of favourite authors, and a tendency to hoard their books. Makes no sense whatsoever when I think about it, but IN THE DARK got caught in the daftness and lurked on the shelves here for much much longer than it should have.

A standalone novel, IN THE DARK is a thriller with an unexpected scenario and an interesting twist. As the blurb outlines, there's a car crash in the night. A driver is force...more If somebody could explain to me what I did with my common-sense I'd be very grateful. I have this list of favourite authors, and a tendency to hoard their books. Makes no sense whatsoever when I think about it, but IN THE DARK got caught in the daftness and lurked on the shelves here for much much longer than it should have.

A standalone novel, IN THE DARK is a thriller with an unexpected scenario and an interesting twist. As the blurb outlines, there's a car crash in the night. A driver is forced off the road, into a bus stop. A man (in this case a policeman) is dead. His partner, a policewoman, wants to know why. Why him, what was he doing just before he died, who on earth was the man she thought she knew, how will she explain who he was and what happened to their very soon to be born child.

IN THE DARK is not just the story of her investigation into her partner's death, it's also very much a story about relationships, complications, unfinished business and how people deal with grief. You can just about taste Helen's desperation to do something, investigate, find the truth, anything rather than just sit and grieve for her partner. As she acknowledges an affair she has had, and the affect that it had on their partnership, she also starts to realise that there are things about Paul that she may not know. Despite a very advanced pregnancy she doesn't want to let it go, let other's seek the truth, her policewoman's instinct is too strong, and her need to be involved overwhelming. What stays with me still after I've finished reading this book is the way that Billingham has written such a finally balanced portrayal of this woman. The other thing that has stayed is how sudden death can leave such an emotional minefield behind.

That's not to say that this book isn't a thriller at the same time. The investigation has a pace of it's own, which is enhanced by the knowledge that as Helen's baby is due very soon, her deadline is immovable. Interspersed with Helen's search for the truth there are other stories, other people involved that night. The impact of gangs and crime is an angle which is explored, but interestingly not completely demonised.

Combine a lot of elements that worked really well as the story progressed, with some final twists and turns as the book draws to a close, and this was one of those excellent thrillers that really makes you stop and think. Serves me right for taking so long to read IN THE DARK. Note to self: try not to make the same mistake with the next book - series or not.(less)

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Nov 29, 2010 Stephen Hayes rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: crime-fiction, our-books

A run-of-the-mill crime novel.

A pregnant London police officer is on maternity leave, and her boyfriend, also a police officer, is doing things that have little relation to his everyday duties. I found the first hundred pages, which set the scene, rather dull, and at several points contemplated abanding the book. But then the story picks up and becomes more interesting as one gets involved with the remaining characters. To say uch more would give away too much of the plot.

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Jan 20, 2010 Anna rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: crime-novels

I didn't particularly enjoy this, thought the plot was compelling so I kept reading. I really liked the way the teenagers were portrayed however, the lack of options and especially the way Theo got stuck in a role he didn't want and on a path he couldn't get off. other people have done that better, but it's a subject which interests me and a reason to remember the book. I liked how complex Helen was and her shock at discovering what her husband was up to...

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About Mark Billingham

Also writes as Will Peterson with Peter Cocks.

Mark Billingham was born and brought up in Birmingham. Having worked for some years as an actor and more recently as a TV writer and stand-up comedian his first crime novel was published in 2001. Mark lives in North London with his wife and two children.

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