The masterfully plotted, haunting prequel to Sleepyhead, Cry Baby charts the very first gripping case of Billingham’s iconic detective Tom Thorne. Powerful, taut and filled with tightly woven suspense, Billingham gifts his readers with another impeccable psychological thriller, full of measured, ingenious twists.
It's 1996. Detective Sergeant Tom Thorne is a haunted man. Haunted by the moment he ignored his instinct about a suspect, by the horrific crime that followed and by the memories that come day and night, in sunshine and shadow.
So when seven-year-old Kieron Coyne goes missing while playing in the woods with his best friend, Thorne vows he will not make the same mistake again. Cannot.
The solitary witness. The strange neighbour. The friendly teacher. All are in Thorne's sights.
This case will be the making of him . . . or the breaking.
The gripping prequel to Mark Billingham's acclaimed debut, Sleepyhead, Cry Baby is the shocking first case for one of British crime fiction's most iconic detectives.
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
ISBN: 9781408712412
Number of pages: 448
Weight: 800 g
Dimensions: 236 x 160 x 40 mm
Cry Baby is the perfect prequel to send us back to revel in Tom Thorne's twenty years. As if we needed reminding how good Mark Billingham is. - Val McDermid
Tom Thorne is one of the most credible and engaging heroes in contemporary crime fiction. Mark Billingham is a master of psychology, plotting and the contemporary scene - making the Thorne novels the complete package. Twenty years in and better than ever. - Ian Rankin
The tense, double-edged ending shows he has become one of Britain's best crime writers - The Times
Mark Billingham is one the biggest names in crime fiction and one the genre's most formidable talents. - Peter James
Billingham is always a must read - Harlan Coben
That rare beast: a series that only gets better as it goes on. Mark Billingham is one of the best - John Connolly
What a treat. Cry Baby works as a way into the series, but it's even more entertaining for us aficionados to see the origin story of Billingham's hero, watching him become the man who would make his debut in Sleepyhead - Observer
Written with Billingham's characteristic flair and drive, with a protagonist who stalks every page - Daily Mail
Established fans and newcomers alike will be thrilled - Publishers Weekly
Mark Billingham has created a backstory for Thorne that is every bit as engrossing as you can expect. For me, the best prequel in the business is Endeavour, which looks at the backstory and development of Inspector Morse. Cry Baby is that good - Globe and Mail
Billingham is an absolute crackerjack of a writer [...] Cry Baby is an exceptionally thrilling mystery - Winnipeg Free Press
For anyone that hasn't read a Thorne novel yet Cry Baby will show them what they have been missing for the past two decades - Daily Express
Thank you to the publishers for the rather lovely signed / dedicated early hardback review copy.
This was a treat to read, and it served to remind me that I do have some gaps in my mark Billingham collection - so...
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Absolutely fantastic. I had this on pre order and was lucky enough to get an ARC through Netgalley.
Our favourite grumpy, curry, country music and footy loving detective is back. I have read and loved all the Tom...
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3.5 stars
This series has been running for years & with the latest instalment, we get a look at how it all began.
It’s 1996. “Portable phones” are beginning to appear, John Major is PM & you can still enjoy...
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