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98th out of 415 books
—
555 voters
Lazybones (Tom Thorne #3)
Thorne knew when he was looking at something out of the ordinary. This was a significant murder scene. This was the work of a killer driven by something special, something spectacular... He looked at the dead man on the bed -- the position of him, as if he were praying ... Thorne guessed that at the end, he probably had been.
The body is found in the grubbiest of North Lond...more
The body is found in the grubbiest of North Lond...more
Paperback, 436 pages
Published
2004
by Sphere
(first published 2003)
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LAZYBONES (Police Proc-Tom Thorne-England-Cont) – VG
Billingham, Mark – 3rd in series
Little, Brown, 2003, UK Hardcover – ISBN: 0316724939
First Sentence: 13 March Dearest Dougie, I’m sorry about this being another typed letter, but as I explained before, it’s difficult for me to write to you from home, so I do it at work when the boss isn’t looking, or in my lunch hour (like today!) or whatever.
*** When the brutally murdered body of an ex-con, just released for rape, is found, DI Tom Thorne and hi...more
Billingham, Mark – 3rd in series
Little, Brown, 2003, UK Hardcover – ISBN: 0316724939
First Sentence: 13 March Dearest Dougie, I’m sorry about this being another typed letter, but as I explained before, it’s difficult for me to write to you from home, so I do it at work when the boss isn’t looking, or in my lunch hour (like today!) or whatever.
*** When the brutally murdered body of an ex-con, just released for rape, is found, DI Tom Thorne and hi...more
I'll say from the get-go that at no point did I think this title was appropriate at all. The phrase "lazy bones" was mentioned once I think and it had nothing to do with anything. It's entirely possible I missed the point, but I thought this was poorly titled.
Luckily, this book was excellent in every other way. I've not read the two books that proceed this one (Scaredy Cat and Sleepyhead) so I wasn't familiar with the character of Detective Inspector Tom Thorne. Luckily, unlike the worst mystery...more
Luckily, this book was excellent in every other way. I've not read the two books that proceed this one (Scaredy Cat and Sleepyhead) so I wasn't familiar with the character of Detective Inspector Tom Thorne. Luckily, unlike the worst mystery...more
The third in the Thorne series concerns vigilantism and a horrific cold case with repercussions for the present.
Lazybones disturbs and entertains in equal measure. We also learn more about Billingham’s main character, Thorne. He is not the macho archetype of the first couple of novels, but rather a multi-layered and more complex individual. Here he is much more sensitive and vulnerable – has he found someone at last to share a solid relationship with?
Holland and Hendricks are both on fine form a...more
Lazybones disturbs and entertains in equal measure. We also learn more about Billingham’s main character, Thorne. He is not the macho archetype of the first couple of novels, but rather a multi-layered and more complex individual. Here he is much more sensitive and vulnerable – has he found someone at last to share a solid relationship with?
Holland and Hendricks are both on fine form a...more
Lazybones is the third book in the Tom Thorne series, a run of crime books usually concerned with improbable or bizarre killers. Lazybones is something of an oddball, being the last of Billingham's initial three books. These three carried similar branding and a playground slang theme to the titles, they also feel very much like the first three novels that the author scratched down at the early planning stage. They feel like a writer's first steps. This isn't a bad thing, but I think Billingham r...more
Maybe you need to be in the right mood to tolerate the volume of verbal violence and the never-ending angst -- I mean seriously, people, stop whinging and be a man -- of the characters, but I found it a little tedious. Maybe it helps too if your life is tickety-boo and not full of your own angst! So trying to set that aside, I still liked the book. The characters emerged from the book as fully-formed alive individuals, and the plot was suitably convoluted with wonderful huge, honking clues that...more
Jul 17, 2012
Linda Branham Greenwell
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
mystery-crime,
psychological-thriller
My 2nd Mark Billingham novel
The main character, Detective Inspector Tom Thorne, is investigating a series of murders involving men listed on the sex offender's list. The men have been raped and strangled with clothesline. Thorne is attracted to a florist, Eve Bloom, but for some reason, is in no hurry to consummate the relationship. Hence the title, LAZYBONES. A burglar has broken into Thorne's flat and defecated on his mattress and Thorne keeps putting off purchasing a new one. Although he does...more
The main character, Detective Inspector Tom Thorne, is investigating a series of murders involving men listed on the sex offender's list. The men have been raped and strangled with clothesline. Thorne is attracted to a florist, Eve Bloom, but for some reason, is in no hurry to consummate the relationship. Hence the title, LAZYBONES. A burglar has broken into Thorne's flat and defecated on his mattress and Thorne keeps putting off purchasing a new one. Although he does...more
I read this, the third in the Tom Thorne series, in less than 48 hours - a record for me. Having read the past two books in the series I already was familiar with the way in which the books are laid out, with Thorne as the main character but with a strong ensemble cast behind him including Holland, as well as the new additions of Kitson and Stone. Carol Chamberlain also joins in this book and looks like an interesting addition, especially given her role in the next book (The Burning Girl) judgin...more
I want to give this book two ratings. First I want to give the majority of the book three stars, but then I want to give the climactic ending Five Stars. I think that that is the best way that I can describe it. From what I can remember of my reviews for the previous books, I said that Thorne lacked that stand out factor, that it was just another police procedural. And to be honest, this book has not changed my mind - but the ending, oh Gods the ending, that was brilliantly done, that was unique...more
Another good read in the series of D.I.Thorne, each getting more exciting. This series is not only about murder cases but about the lives of the police officers involved. It explores the highs and the lows and how work impacts on their own relationship.
Another fabulous Tom Thorne tale from Mark Billingham. It's a roller coaster ride from start to finish. And so, so hard to put down! Apart from an original and fast paced story, Mr Billngham has brought us the most wonderful and believable characters. Tom Thorne is stocky, angry and cynical, but so likeable. His sidekick, Dave Holland, is quickly losing his "wet behind the ears", but he hasn't lost his caring side. And Phil Hendricks, the gay pathologist, who has another body piercing for each f...more
Chosen - part of a series.
All a bit silly this one. A recently released from jail rapist is found in a shabby london hotel room, dead, bound and raped. Intertwined is a story from the past told in reverse order a couple of pages at a time of a woman who is raped in 70s but the perpretator is not found guilty. The husband of the victim is slowly convinced that she meant to sleep with him and kills her and herself, leaving two kids.
DI thorne is his usual shambolic self and sets out ot solve the cr...more
All a bit silly this one. A recently released from jail rapist is found in a shabby london hotel room, dead, bound and raped. Intertwined is a story from the past told in reverse order a couple of pages at a time of a woman who is raped in 70s but the perpretator is not found guilty. The husband of the victim is slowly convinced that she meant to sleep with him and kills her and herself, leaving two kids.
DI thorne is his usual shambolic self and sets out ot solve the cr...more
This was the first book I have read by Billingham and I have to say I really liked his style of writing. He describes the characters really well without boring you to tears about back stories that really have nothing to do with the plot. Just enough for you to sympathise with their flaws.
A great thriller with an unusual storyline that really intrigued me and of course the obligatory twist at the end was there but it was a bit more inventive than the usual. I definitely enjoyed it but gave it fo...more
A great thriller with an unusual storyline that really intrigued me and of course the obligatory twist at the end was there but it was a bit more inventive than the usual. I definitely enjoyed it but gave it fo...more
“Lazybones” is the 3rd book in the Tom Thorne series by Mark Billingham. Although not as engrossing as some of the other mystery/crime series that I’m reading I still find Billingham quite readable. The plot moves along quite quickly and Thorne’s character continues to develop. The ending is quite easy to figure out and that made it a bit disappointing as this happens about 100 pages before the end of the book actually arrives. Billingham is going to have to step it up a notch in the guessing ga...more
The third in the DI Tom Thorne series of novels that over the past decade has established Billingham as one of the true stars on the UK crime writing scene. Explosive, gritty, well-plotted and full of fascinating and realistic dialogue and absorbing characters.
In Lazy Bones, Tom Thorne and his London-based serious crimes unit must track down a serial killer who is targeting rapists. The book takes a look at how the killer came to be, not just who they are, delving into the ongoing effects of chi...more
In Lazy Bones, Tom Thorne and his London-based serious crimes unit must track down a serial killer who is targeting rapists. The book takes a look at how the killer came to be, not just who they are, delving into the ongoing effects of chi...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Mark Billingham, Lazybones (Morrow, 2003)
Morose wisecracking detective Tom Thorne is back in stand-up comic Billingham's third police procedural slash mystery, Lazybones, and his luck just isn't getting any better. This time, there's a serial killer preying on rapists who have recently been released from prison. And we plunge into a meditation on a classic cop conundrum: what do you do when someone out there is basically doing your job for you? How hard do you try to catch someone who's only kil...more
Morose wisecracking detective Tom Thorne is back in stand-up comic Billingham's third police procedural slash mystery, Lazybones, and his luck just isn't getting any better. This time, there's a serial killer preying on rapists who have recently been released from prison. And we plunge into a meditation on a classic cop conundrum: what do you do when someone out there is basically doing your job for you? How hard do you try to catch someone who's only kil...more
This is the third in Billingham's Tom Thorne series, which I've been reading in order. It's been a while, though, and Billingham really hit a home run with this creepy tale. At one point it became obvious what was afoot in a series of rape-murders of rapists just released from prison, but it took nothing away from the suspense. As usual, Billingham's characters, especially Tom Thorne and the detective staff, are very well drawn, as is his London landscape. Very good outing....I look forward to n...more
One doesn't read crime fiction to better understand the universe but rather as an escape from it. Why then would Mark Billingham spend greater than half the novel navel-gazing, with hero Thorne at a loss for what to do? Even better, why set up a conventional plot line and then bore me for a hundred pages prior to its denouement? Absolutely a waste of space. Thorne does have promise as a character, however. So, two stars instead of one. The only Lazy Bones here was the writer.
Taken from Fantastic Fiction:
"Someone - a woman or somebody pretending to be a woman, is writing to convicted rapists in prison, befriending them and then brutally killing them when they are released. DI Tom Thorne must discover the link between these killings and a murder/suicide that took place twenty-five years before; a tragedy to which the only witnesses were two small children, now adults and nowhere to be found. How can you escape a past that will do a lot more than just catch up with you...more
"Someone - a woman or somebody pretending to be a woman, is writing to convicted rapists in prison, befriending them and then brutally killing them when they are released. DI Tom Thorne must discover the link between these killings and a murder/suicide that took place twenty-five years before; a tragedy to which the only witnesses were two small children, now adults and nowhere to be found. How can you escape a past that will do a lot more than just catch up with you...more
Tom Thorne, a British police officer, tries to track the killer of newly released sex criminals. The police wonder how the killer finds and lures these men to their deaths. Then a break comes in from a cold case, and the police may be on the right track. Thorne finds himself attracted to a witness, the owner of a flower shop, but the case keeps him so busy and his inherent laziness might keep this relationship from going any further.
I was slightly disappointed in this book. Whilst I'm familiar with Mark Billinghams plots and the way he writes. This one was spoilt for me by poor formatting in the conversion to Kindle.
Scene changes would just happen with no change in the paragraph style, one minute you are reading about one person in the story, the next line you are with someone else... or you think you are.
Several times I had to go back and re-read sections to try and understand from which view point I was reading this sto...more
Scene changes would just happen with no change in the paragraph style, one minute you are reading about one person in the story, the next line you are with someone else... or you think you are.
Several times I had to go back and re-read sections to try and understand from which view point I was reading this sto...more
This is probably not really a four-star book. As crime fiction goes, it's fairly bog-standard, albeit with a protagonist different to most I'm used to (at times, I could practically feel the testosterone wafting out of the pages). But it got me. It well and truly got me - I did not see the ending coming, and while it seems completely obvious in retrospect, it makes sense of a lot of my early niggles with the book, and in a few years time might even bear a repeat reading. For easily two-thirds of...more
Heavy to get through, and not because it's difficult to read, it certainly isn't, but the story is improbable, and the leather jacketed Thorne character tiresome as is his pierced faggot friend Hendricks. What at first appeared fresh has become irritating and trite. In addition Billingham keeps using certain phrases over and over it makes my toes curl. Had too much, me.
Sleepyhead was a decent start - this book ios better. Billingham is gets properly into his stride with Lazybones and now I'm going looking forward to another of his. Generally American crime fiction is better than British (don't know why and I'd like it to be different, but let's be honest....) byt Billingham is equal in style, pace and plot to some well-known US authors.
I did like this one. Honestly, I did. But I've only given it 3/5 because for the first time in a Mark Billingham novel, I managed to work out the baddie halfway through the story. Now, I'm not saying that it was easy to spot who the villain was. I suppose I was looking out for someone not obvious and guessed correctly.
Still a good story and I look forward to reading more Billingham novels.
Still a good story and I look forward to reading more Billingham novels.
Tom Thorne is still my favourite fictional detective and this book was as good as the two previous Tom Thorne novels. It was scary and surprising. I found myself turning the pages rather quickly, especially towards the end whilst my heart raced rather quickly too. This book has made me very eager to read 'Burning Girl' to find out how my favourite DI is coping!
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11284311
Can't believe that I haven't read a book by Mark Billingham before. I loved this. Gritty, realistic, a real page turner. It showed that crimes aren't solved quickly and can drag on for weeks waiting for that vital bit of information.
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11284311
Can't believe that I haven't read a book by Mark Billingham before. I loved this. Gritty, realistic, a real page turner. It showed that crimes aren't solved quickly and can drag on for weeks waiting for that vital bit of information.
Another terrfic entry in the Tom Thorne series. What an imagination this author has. Spot on storyline and characterizations and the writing is so great. I'm on to the next one. Will be very sad when I'm up to date with the series and will have to wait for a new one like everybody else. Very highly recommend.
The third in the series of the Thorne series.
This book follows Thorne and the team trying to discover who is killing off rapists when they are released from prison. Thorne also finds a new love but what is his problem with intimacy with her.
A must read x
This book follows Thorne and the team trying to discover who is killing off rapists when they are released from prison. Thorne also finds a new love but what is his problem with intimacy with her.
A must read x
Book 3 in the Tom Thorne series
Sex offenders are turning up dead haveing been raped and then strangled. Twenty yrs earlier Jane Doe was raped, but the offender was let off in court her husband killed her then commited suicide
The author of these bokks keeps you rivetted
S
Sex offenders are turning up dead haveing been raped and then strangled. Twenty yrs earlier Jane Doe was raped, but the offender was let off in court her husband killed her then commited suicide
The author of these bokks keeps you rivetted
S
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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.
More about Mark Billingham...
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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