Good As Dead

Tom Thorne #10

by Mark Billingham

Police officer Helen Weeks walks into her local newsagent's on her way to work. It's the last place she expects to be met with violence, but she is about to come face to face with a gunman. The hostage-taker is desperate to know what happened to his beloved son, who died a year before in youth custody. By holding Helen at gunpoint, he will force a re-investigation into his son's death. And one man knows the case better than any other - DI Tom Thorne. As the body count rises, Thorne must race against time to bring a killer to justice and save a young mother's life.

Genres: Crime, Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, British Literature, Detective, Mystery Thriller

518 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Alan Cotterell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy 5 stars.
In my opinion, this is easily the best of the series so far. I have found this series a bit hit and miss, a few good or very good books, but most just about average.
However this one grips you from page 1 all the way through to the end, moves at a very fast pace. All the characters are well developed, especially Tom Thorne. Very intense and opinion splitting subjects, dealt with very well.

Onto book 11.

[[ J o ] · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the tenth instalment in the Tom Thorne detective novels and it was the first I've ever read. I've seen Tom Thorne adapted for TV, played by David Morrissey and I absolutely loved that, even though I've read that a lot of people don't think they're particularly true to the books. I didn't find anything particularly wrong with the adaptation, but I have only read one book.

This one starts off with a bang: a quiet shop keeper holds two people hostage in his corner shop, one being a police officer. He wants to speak to Tom Thorne only and it soon becomes apparent that Thorne is against the clock trying to save their lives whilst other bodies start turning up. It was a great, fast-paced read that takes place over three days, which can be unusual for a crime thriller.

There were a couple of things that annoyed me, like calling the characters by their surnames whilst the characters themselves use their first names, so one sentence could read, "What are you doing, Phil?" Thorne asked Hendricks. I found this more complicated than it needed to be, but I think I'm just being super picky as I really enjoyed the book as a whole and I will definitely be reading the rest of Mark Billingham's books.

[Vanessa Loockx · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spannend!!!

[Jane Fenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Mark Billingham, you made my dreams come true!! When I read Mark Billingham's stand-alone book 'In the Dark', I became really attached to the stubborn, determined and heavily pregnant police officer and heroine Helen Weeks. I couldn't help thinking what an interesting counterpoint she would be if she ever worked with Tom Thorne, hero of Billingham's other books. Then 'Good As Dead' came along.....Helen Weeks is taken hostage by her local newsagent whose son has supposedly committed suicide in a Young Offenders Institute, but he will not accept this explanation and demands that the only person he trusts to investigate is Thorne. I had worried that if Helen and Tom ever appeared together that Helen might just fade into the background, but she plays a pivotal role is keeping the situation as calm as is possible, despite all the odds. I don't care how 'realistic' the scenario might be, I loved reading it and could hardly put the book/kindle down. Excellent, only now I need more Tom and Helen stories!! :-)

[Craig Sisterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Few if any are better than Billingham when it comes to contemporary British crime. His tenth novel to feature DI Tom Thorne finds the gritty London copper in a race-against time to save police officer Helen Weeks, who’s being held hostage by a dairy owner who’s snapped. What does the gunman want? Not money or his personal safety, but for the Police to investigate the death of his son in custody; he’s sure it wasn’t suicide. Billingham marries an exciting plot with compelling characters, and salts in a few nuggets of social commentary amongst the thrills.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

For my money, the TV adaptation of Thorne got so very much wrong, that Billingham's dedication of this book to the team responsible worried me. The humour was missing, the relationship with Phil was totally wrong - hell, they even changed the identity of the killers! So would this first post-TV book reflect the influence of the TV show?

Well, the cover certainly does. No, it's not David Morrissey but it is a silhouette obviously designed to look as much like him as it can without getting into trouble. And the London skyline recalls the beauty shots of the city that graced the TV show. But given that Thorne remains, in print anyway, short and stout, and that this book takes place mostly in a small newsagent's, it's clear the cover was created to reflect the TV show not the book it adorns.

Happily, the content is as reliably good as ever. Even if Billingham's writing style, his technique, is perhaps becoming a little familiar. Slightly mannered.
A little repetitive, perhaps.

As with In the Dark, to which this is a sequel of sorts, the marketing of it as a book with a shocking twist does Billingham a disservice. There is no twist - there's no Sixth Sense or Crying Game reveal here, but one isn't needed - it's a good case, well plotted and excitingly told. Which should be more than enough.

In summary - another great Thorne book, but the packaging and marketing seem at odds with the content.

[Andrew Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Billingham’s Tom Thorne novels. I make a point of listening to these on audiobook as I travel to/from work and I’ve loved the reading by Paul Thornley. I was nervous, therefore, when I realised this book was to be read by the author. In truth, Thornley does it better but Billingham doesn’t make a bad job of it either. In some sections it sounds like he’s badly in need of a drink as his voice starts to show the strain and his vocal ability to bring alive the characters is a little limited but that’s nit picking really. In terms of the plot, this story is quite different to the others in the series but none the worse for it. It’s centred around a siege in a small shop and has Thorne running around trying to find out if a suicide was really a murder in order ensure the siege doesn’t turn into a mini Waco. As always, the tale has great pace and the fast talking and irreverent Thorne is brilliant value. Not so much humour in this one, for me, but a great addition to a brilliant series.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good as Dead is a fast paced, can't put it down, read by Mark Billingham. London police officer Helen Weeks stops at her local corner store each morning for her daily supplies. Today will be different. As she chats with the proprietor, Javed Akhtar, a trio of young boys come in the door and start creating havoc. Akhtar is incensed and chases them out of the shop, locking the door behind them. As he turns back to his customers, he pulls a gun out of his pocket. Helen and the other customer, Stephen Mitchell, are now hostages. Akhar doesn't want money or publicity. He wants Tom Thorne to investigate the death of his son Amin who allegedly committed suicide in a youth facility. Akhar doesn't accept that conclusion. Over the next three days, Thorne is on a frenzied mission to discover the truth about Amin's death. Soon, he'll be stepping on some powerful toes.

I've enjoyed watching Thorne's character evolve over this series. This is Billingham's best and it showcases Tom Thorne in his finest moment.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I am a Tom Thorne fan, and I would read his laundry list and love it. This book grabbed me from the first chapter, good premise, well written (as is the par for Mr B) and I particularly liked the ending.

[Manogna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the way this book is written, story has subplots that progress in parallel to one or two other subplots, thus making it not monotonous and binding the reader to the story with intrigue. Though there are not many shocking twits and turns to this book, it's simple, and captured the essence of the theme it revolves around well.
There are a few parts to the story that aren't very convincing, like:
**SPOILERS**
1) Only Helen was spoken to during calls, and no one bothered about the other hostage.
2) Many times, even Thorne is depicted worrying just about Helen, though the author tried justifying this decision at the later chapters of the book, it didn't necessarily convince me completely.
3) The decision to use technology to tap into the store was taken about after 2 days of the kidnapping. Like, none of the officials thought of it earlier.
4) Prosser would take so much strain, risk and resources to kill Amin, just because he thought the boy recognized him, didn't really seem logical to me. Like, you go to a party with so many boys present, and weren't worried that someone might recognize him until the point he meets Amin at court.

Due to the above 4 reasons ,this book dropped from a 4 star one to a 3 star in my opinion

[Mysticpt · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 not a bad story just not a lot of believability to this one. Just a little more over-the-top than usual and it is getting a little annoying how the author keeps some stuff from the reader that his main character is aware of. Oh well.

[Paul Chafer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very different, Thorne at his best, incredibly tense and not too convoluted. I will read more of these books.

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Billingham has become one of my favourite authors and he doesn't disappoint with Good As Dead.
Tom Thorne is drawn into a case involving a hostage situation and with the clock ticking he must find the killer of a boy who was murdered in a Young Offenders Institution, and he approaches it in his own cavalier fashion. The pace was a little slower than some of Thorne's earlier outings, but there was still tension there, and the occasional flash of humour.
Altogether a great read.
I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series, but I'm pacing myself because I don't want to read them all to quickly so it might be a little while until I get to it.

[Redfox5 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not a massive fan of crime novels. I never buy them new & will rarely put one on my wishlist. I only tend to read them if someone has given them to me.

I'm really glad I read this one though. Struggled to put it down!

A desperate dad takes two people hostage, to force the police to look into the death of his son. A supposed suicide that happened in prison. Thorne is called to look into this and needs to do it quickly as fellow police office Helen, is one of the hostages.

As he starts to reinvestigate, he starts to unravel a web of lies, with some pretty important people being responsible.

Page turning stuff! I will keep an eye out for Billingham in future.

[Plum-crazy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know I've said this before but this REALLY could be the best book in the series (honest!) & it's another un-put-down-able tale.

Set over an eventful three days, Thorne is trying to discover the truth behind a young man's death in order to save a colleague trapped in a hostage situation....I swear my heart was pounding at the end, I was just waiting for someone to harmed but unsure of who it would be or how......so was I right? Sorry, my lips are sealed as I'm in no way spoiling this excellent tale for anyone.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the way a good crime/suspense should be written (and read). Others here have already praised it and I can't add anything more to what they've written.

The fact that another of my favourite authors (Karin Slaughter) gave it 5 stars says it all!

I wasn't able to find the version listed here, but wanted to mention that I listened to the Isis Audiobook version read by the author himself and it was flawless!

[Baba · Rating 3 out of 5]

An Asian newsagent suddenly takes a policewoman and a civilian hostage and calls for Thorne. For newly single Thorne, the clock is a ticking, he has to investigate an alleged miscarriage of justice, with the lives of the hostages at stake! Another compelling Thorne case. 7 out of 12.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as some of the others I've read. I felt the plot was way too out there to be believable.

Over the top plot counterbalanced, to a degree, by several extremely mordant pieces of humour.

Still well worth reading.

[Alex Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

A return to form for Tom Thorne after his last outing , nice to see a bit of an edge back and a few bits in the back story have moved on, a story set Over a 3 days hostage situation , at times tense. Always with bits of humour, and a good twist, much enjoyed and look forward to 11

[Katrina Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good addition to the Thorne series.

I liked this one a lot. It was a good, solid story in itself and it also moved on the over aching story of Thorne a fair bit.

Hope he stays happy - he deserves a break.

Looking forward to number 11.

[David Kovner · Rating 2 out of 5]

A step or two down from previous Billingham books I've read.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Number 10 in the series. A police woman detective called Helen is being held hostage by a newsagent who demands Thorne investigate his son’s death in a youth prison. Amin apparently committed suicide and Thorne is in a race against time to solve the mystery before Javid kills Helen and the other hostage.

The action takes place over three days and Thorne uncovers discrepancies in Amin’s suicide. Then another murder takes place and Thorne discovers a conspiracy with a good twist. I gave the story 3 as the ending is a little farfetched.

SPOILERS AHEAD

Thorne cut a few corners to get answers to who was responsible for Amin’s murder. The revelation that Javid was right and that his son was gay and selling himself for sex. The twist that it was the judge a surprise and that he was a predator who orchestrated the murder. We then get an unbelievable ending with Thorne taking the judge into the shop saving Helen. Javid’s wife stabs the judge. Thorne ends up with Helen in a relationship.

[Steve Munoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good As Dead, book 10 in Mark Billingham’s Tom Thorne series, starts like a firecracker as a once quiet shopkeeper unexpectedly takes two of his customers hostage. Thorne is drawn into the case in race against time trying to meet the impossible demands of the shopkeeper, uncovering ever deepening levels of crime in a tight, fast paced and gritty drama. This book is Billingham at his best, intermixing fascinating glimpses of character relationships, both good and evil, with what appears to be an unsolveable case, set in a London, both comforting and distant. Thorne’s memories of his mother, Helen Week’s thoughts of her child as she’s held hostage, Antoine Daniels in his cell, Mr. Akhtar and his besieged shop are all pieces of a tale which is reading at its finest...when the words on the page seemingly disappear and instead you are there, blue police lights flashing on you while you watch the actions unfold. I gave this book a 5.

[Colin Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

A crime novel that centers around an armed siege at a London newsagent and local shop where Detective Sergeant Helen Weeks and Stephen Mitchell are held hostage. Mr. Aktar is angry over the trial of his son Amin and the boy's death in custody and demands the DI Tom Thorne investigates. A conspiracy at a high level is uncovered but not before tragedy strikes.

A well crafted plot that has you guessing about the outcome, which in the end is a little predictable. Tom Thorne's character is typical of the novelist's police officer as he is separated from his partner and often at loggerheads with the hierarchy.

In the end, I decided that, while this was a good read and it had been enjoyable, it was just that a 3 star enjoyable read.

[Hannah Polley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second Tom Thorne book I have read and I was pretty scathing on my review of 'Love Like Blood' and said I didn't want to read any others in the series. Little did I know I already had one in my waiting to be read pile! I didn't realise it was the same series until the book mentioned Tom, however, I must say this book was much better and I enjoyed it a lot more.

Thorne still has very questionable techniques to me and I just don't think he is that good a detective. For me, Helen Weeks was the main star of this book and I found those scenes much more gripping than Tom trying to throw his weight around.

I will say I was wrong about this series and it should be given a chance. This book certainly kept me gripped.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another quality addition to the Tom Thorne franchise.
The plotting in this book for me was excellent. Every character added something to the story and the last few chapters which explained what had happened were particularly excellent.
It all felt very realistic too and despite being nearly a decade old still felt timely in it's subject matter.
I could see what was going to happen with the Helen Weeks character quite early on and I'm glad that's the decision Billingham has made for her. Good to see Thorne get a nice ending for once. Well of sorts. Looking forward to the next installment of this excellent series.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s been awhile since I’ve read a Thorne book. I often confuse him with the Macbride character (not that I can remember his name at the moment). But Thorne always gets his man and usually falls into trouble while he’s at it. This tale is no different. He does things his way and gets the result he needs. With a few extra deaths along the way.

[Manuel · Rating 3 out of 5]

not as fast-paced as i thought it would be... neither Bourne-sque at all.

[Andrew Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first Mark Billingham book. Really enjoyed it. And look forward to reading more about Tom Thorne.

[Tyrone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Mark Billingham is a great writer and his creation, Thorne, a great character. That aside, I did have some reservations about reading this, mainly due to the experience I had with the DVD of the TV adaptation which pretty much everybody i knew had been raving about. Billingham seems to have been involved and was very positive about adaptation. I have to say I didn't like it. It changed important aspects of the books for which i can find no reasonable justification. It left me feeling a little burned so it was going to take a great Thorne book to take the unpleasant taste away.

I shouldn't have worried, because Billingham provides us with a great new Thorne story with real momentum and an urgency which is created by the hostage situation at the heart of the story. The hostage situation both serves to severely constrain Thorne's investigation but it also provides him with the motivation to cut through the usual red tape and barriers that surround a murder investigation, not least an investigation where everyone is convinced that no crime has been committed.

Billingham continues the deconstruction of Tom Thorne. In the last novel he had Tom questioning his career choice and now a slightly older and wiser character, Thorne has lost confidence in his 'gut'...his instinct, and he is more determined to follow investigative procedure and logic and the irony of this decision was not lost on me because Thorne is forced by the urgency of the hostage situation to take (somewhat implausible) life and career threatening action to bring the story to it's cracking climax. It's to Billingham's credit that his characters actions, which sometimes push the bounds of credibility, and his somewhat cookie cutter Met Police hostage team (the gung-ho firearms officer, the inexperienced scene commander and brilliant negotiator ignored by her fellow officers) continue to service the needs of the plot and do not derail the narrative.

I didn't read the Stand-alone novel which introduced Helen Weeks and had forgotton that it existed and certainly that Thorne had had a cameo in it, which had me scratching my head as i kept trying to owrk out, where, in the last Thorne novel, From The Dead, where Helen Weeks, may have cropped up and where the murder of her husband, another policeman, fitted into it. I couldn't (obviously) and i continued to be confused until a booksearch reminded me of In The Dark. Billingham does make the effort to provide you with the pertinent information about the events involving Helen weeks but I was confused for a period where I tried to remember which Thorne book she had appeared in. That confusion aside this was a great read and I look forward to seeing how Billingham will deal with the career and emotional fallout from the events in this novel.