It's a rainy night in south London. A gun is fired into a car, which swerves onto the pavement and plows into a bus stop. It seems that a chilling ...
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May 22, 2010
Maddy
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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
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Apr 19, 2009
Michael
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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 als More...
Apr 16, 2009
Andrea
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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
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Sep 15, 2011
Alexandra
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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.
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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.
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Jan 11, 2010
Ayesha
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jan 26, 2009
Janine
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Dec 14, 2008
Marty
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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. More...
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. More...
Jun 30, 2011
Steve
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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
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Apr 25, 2008
Linda
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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
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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 w
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Jan 16, 2010
Caitlin
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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,
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Oct 27, 2010
Scott
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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 n More...
I reached the final page and felt deflated by n More...
Jun 14, 2010
Chris
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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 can More...
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 can More...
Jan 27, 2010
Durdles
rated it:
"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. More...
However I must have slept at some stage during the final couple of chapters because I think I missed someting. More...
Oct 12, 2011
Amy
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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 happe More...
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 happe More...
Jun 29, 2009
Barbara
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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
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Aug 05, 2011
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
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Oct 01, 2009
Lance Greenfield
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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 More...
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 More...
Apr 02, 2011
Sarah
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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
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Feb 12, 2012
Nuno
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My first book completely written in english!
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May 18, 2009
Andrés
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jun 04, 2010
Krait
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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 c
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Jun 03, 2010
Karen
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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 More...
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 More...
Nov 29, 2010
Stephen
rated it:
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.
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.
Jan 20, 2010
Anna
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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...
Aug 06, 2011
First book by this author and fairly impressed. Good writing and well constructed characters. For me the central part of the plot was shaky... would anyone seriously plot a murder that had so many elements that could go wrong? Don't think so, but it didn't detract from the overall book and everyone can have some poetic license!! Enjoyable
Dec 18, 2009
Eek-louisville
rated it:
Standalone tho Thorne is a minor character (though he solves the case)Paul Hopwood, cop, is killed in an "accident" and his pregnant girlfriend, also a cop oh, and is the baby really his, retraces his steps. Gangbangers never come up winners - the bottom line. The ending came quick and statisfactorily (but was it a boy or a girl? name?)
Go back and catch with Thorne, NOW.
Go back and catch with Thorne, NOW.
Aug 05, 2011
Jen
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Helen Weeks is 2 weeks off having her baby with her partner Paul. They are both police officers, but Paul has question marks hanging over his career - is he perhaps on the take from some shady businessmen. Helen begins investigating his past when he is killed by a car in an apparent accident. Quite good, an easy read, but not as gripping as other thrillers I have read.
Feb 16, 2010
THOMAS
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Nice. Kinda like a UK George Pelecanos. Corner boys, Cops, grizzled old gangsters. In fact - - wait - - it's like if a Mike Hodges character ran up against the Wire boys. Any doubt who would win? Yeah. Interesting people, unexpected twists. Good stuff here.
Aug 11, 2011
I didn't like this one at all and it's probably my least favorite book by Billingham so far. I found it erratic, without a good plot that kept me wanting to keep reading
