Publishers Weekly
★ 04/17/2023
Billingham (Sleepyhead) launches a cracking new mystery series featuring the charming, sarcastic British Det. Sgt. Declan Miller. Miller’s wife, Alex—also a detective—was recently murdered on the job. Afternoons spent in the company of his pet rats and punctuated by visits from Alex’s ghost are not enough to keep Declan away from work for long, though, and he returns, grieving, after a six-week hiatus. The first case assigned to Miller and his new partner, Sara Xiu, is a double murder. It initially appears that the two victims—an organized crime heir and an IT consultant—have nothing in common, but after Declan taps into a network of sources spanning his and Alex’s ballroom dancing friends, an old informant, and Alex’s ghost, he starts to fear a complex conspiracy is at hand. Meanwhile, Declan’s friend, prison snitch Gary “Chesshead” Cole, tries to find Alex’s murderer, with tragic results. Billingham imbues Miller with a brilliant sense of humor and populates the margins of this well-paced mystery with lovable, fully fleshed characters whom readers will adore. This is the author at his best. Agent: David Forrer, InkWell Management. (July)
From the Publisher
Praise for The Last Dance:
“Billingham’s Tom Thorne series set the bar very high indeed, but The Last Dance is well up to standard—funny, moving and expertly plotted.”—The Guardian
"Billingham has plotted the book brilliantly and will keep even the most astute mystery reader baffled until the finale. . . There are plot twists galore here, and at least one of the cases will remain unsolved, leaving the door wide open for additional entries in the series. I just love Declan Miller and cannot wait to spend more time with him.”—Bookreporter
“[T]he launch of an intriguing series that melds humor with a hard-edged police procedural—and that also explores grief's vagaries. Billingham's brisk plotting and in-depth character studies elevate The Last Dance. Declan's grief over his wife is palpable, and he uses humor as his way to manage his emotions. . . Declan and Sara make a formidable team, despite their differences, especially in music. Readers will be eager to welcome Declan back.”—Shelf Awareness
“Billingham launches a cracking new mystery series featuring the charming, sarcastic British Det. Sgt. Declan Miller. . . Billingham imbues Miller with a brilliant sense of humor and populates the margins of this well-paced mystery with lovable, fully fleshed characters whom readers will adore. This is the author at his best.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Detective Sergeant Miller personifies the duality of comedy and tragedy within, all delivered with a cynical wit. . . VERDICT: Exuberant, apposite, and very amusing, Miller’s wit and his observations about modern life and policing will delight new fans.”—Library Journal
"A gritty, engaging novel that balances light with dark, offering wit and wisdom in equal measure. Billingham's new lead detective, DS Miller, may not be able to dance, but he never misses a step when it comes to solving crime. "—Nita Prose, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maid
“Readers rejoice! A captivating new series from Mark Billingham—the very best in the business.”—Richard Osman, #1 bestselling author of The Thursday Murder Club
“Brimming with wit, expertly paced, and wholly enjoyable—The Last Dance is a showcase of Billingham’s exceptionally gifted storytelling. Mark Billingham is at his best!” —Karin Slaughter, New York Times bestselling author of the Will Trent series
“Hard-headed yet big-hearted, DS Declan Miller will have you on the edge of your seat—screaming with laughter one moment and surprise the next. Billingham blends caustic humor, raw emotion and rollercoaster thrills. His new series is bursting with wit, charm and intriguing, complex characters. Save The Last Dance for when you want a fast, fresh and totally absorbing read.”—Janice Hallett, bestselling author of The Appeal
“Funny, moving, and full of surprises, The Last Dance will delight Mark Billingham’s old readers, and have new ones flocking to him in droves. An absolute treat.”—Mick Herron, #1 bestselling author of Slow Horses
Praise for Mark Billingham:
“Mark Billingham has brought a rare and welcome blend of humanity, dimension, and excitement to the genre.” —George Pelecanos
“Mark Billingham is one of my favorite new writers.” —Harlan Coben
“Billingham is a world-class writer and Thom Thorne is a wonderful creation. Rush to read these books.” —Karin Slaughter
“Billingham is one of the best crime novelists working today.” —Laura Lippman
“Morse, Rebus, and now Thorne. The next superstar detective is already with us—don’t miss him.” —Lee Child
“With each of his books, Mark Billingham gets better and better. These are stories and characters you don’t want to leave.” —Michael Connelly
“Mark Billingham’s Detective Inspector Tom Thorne books are consistently excellent: easily some of the best police procedurals in print, with a complicated lead sleuth at their heart.”—BookPage
Library Journal
06/01/2023
Readers looking for a fresh voice in the thriller genre might have found their man in Detective Sergeant Declan Miller, star of the first in a new series Billingham, author of the Tom Thorne series. Detective Sergeant Miller personifies the duality of comedy and tragedy within, all delivered with a cynical wit. After just six weeks and against all advice, DS Miller returns to work following the murder of his wife, Alex, a police officer and champion ballroom dancer. Alex had been investigating a local crime family—the Cutlers—when she died. Declan is teamed with DS Sara Xiu, a heavy-metal and motorcycle fan, who is utterly baffled by her new colleague as they investigate a double murder at a local hotel. As one of the victims is Adrian Cutler, son of the local gangster, they surmise it to be a contract killing gone wrong, but why two victims? Declan calls on all his resources, including retired police officers who share his love of dancing, to solve the case. VERDICT Exuberant, apposite, and very amusing, Miller's wit and his observations about modern life and policing will delight new fans.—Penelope J.M. Klein
