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Detective Miller #1
The Last Dance
THE FIRST NEW SERIES FROM #1 BESTSELLER MARK BILLINGHAM IN 20 YEARS.
Meet Detective Miller: unique, unconventional, and criminally underestimated...
A double murder in a seaside hotel sees grieving Detective Miller return to work to solve what appears to be a case of mistaken identity. Will this eccentric, offbeat sleuth find answers where more traditional police have found only a puzzle?
Meet Detective Miller: unique, unconventional, and criminally underestimated...
A double murder in a seaside hotel sees grieving Detective Miller return to work to solve what appears to be a case of mistaken identity. Will this eccentric, offbeat sleuth find answers where more traditional police have found only a puzzle?
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 25, 2023
711 people are currently reading
7230 people want to read
About the author
Mark Billingham
104 books2,166 followersAlso 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.
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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 839 reviews
May 26, 2023
It’s always fun to get in on the ground floor of a new series. And in this case, fun is the operative word. The Last Dance introduces us to DS Declan Miller. He’s unconventional, to say the least. “Were you like this before your wife died?” “You’ll need to be more specific,” Miller said. “Annoying.” Xiu paused, but only to take a deep breath. She’d obviously compiled a healthy list. “Bloody minded. childish…” “Are you actually doing them alphabetically?” “Insensitive, inappropriate, pig-headed, rude…stupidly over-confident and completely dismissive of authority…Inattentive, flippant, sarcastic, annoying, erratic, unreliable, flaky—“
Miller is all of those things. But he’s also smart.
It didn’t take me long to fall in love with Bellingham’s writing or his characters. Aficionados of our language or just plain grammar nerds will love this.
“…as he sauntered across the office. Sauntered, which was bloody ridiculous and only went to prove that he was brimming with misplaced confidence. Miller might have ambled now and again and may even have meandered on occasion, but he had never been one for sauntering anywhere. He was more of a lolloper.”
On top of all that is a bloody good plot. Two men are murdered on the same floor of the same hotel within minutes of each other. Was one the intended victim and the other a mistake? Which one was the intended victim? On top of that, Miller’s wife, also a police detective, was murdered just months before and her murder remains unsolved. In fact, it’s his first day back on the job when he’s handed these investigations and assigned a new partner, the enigmatic Sara Xiu.
This is the first in the series and I can hardly wait to see where the second book takes me.
My thanks to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for an advance copy of this book.
Miller is all of those things. But he’s also smart.
It didn’t take me long to fall in love with Bellingham’s writing or his characters. Aficionados of our language or just plain grammar nerds will love this.
“…as he sauntered across the office. Sauntered, which was bloody ridiculous and only went to prove that he was brimming with misplaced confidence. Miller might have ambled now and again and may even have meandered on occasion, but he had never been one for sauntering anywhere. He was more of a lolloper.”
On top of all that is a bloody good plot. Two men are murdered on the same floor of the same hotel within minutes of each other. Was one the intended victim and the other a mistake? Which one was the intended victim? On top of that, Miller’s wife, also a police detective, was murdered just months before and her murder remains unsolved. In fact, it’s his first day back on the job when he’s handed these investigations and assigned a new partner, the enigmatic Sara Xiu.
This is the first in the series and I can hardly wait to see where the second book takes me.
My thanks to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for an advance copy of this book.
July 8, 2023
EXCERPT: It was true that Miller wanted to be busy, but he hadn't been counting on picking up such a big case on his first day back. That was the way things went, though. You were desperate for a day or two to catch your breath or even just looking to recharge your batteries after a major inquiry and someone decided to poison their husband or stab a passer-by because they didn't like their trainers.
People were so bloody inconsiderate, sometimes.
ABOUT THE 'LAST DANCE': Meet Detective Miller: unique, unconventional, and criminally underestimated...
Maverick sleuth Declan Miller is back at work following the murder of his wife (and amateur ballroom dancing partner) Alex. Working with new partner and heavy metal enthusiast DS Sara Xiu, he is tasked with investigating the double killing of gangland family scion Adrian Cutler and IT consultant Barry Shepherd at the Sands Hotel. Initial evidence suggests a hired gun and a botched job. The search for the hitman begins and Miller begins to reconnect with his old network—his ballroom dancing friends, homeless informant Finn, and even the ghost of his wife who keeps showing up in his kitchen. The fact Alex had been investigating the Cutler family prior to her death complicates things, and as Miller gets closer to the truth, he realizes the danger is walking right up to his doorstep...
Will this eccentric, offbeat sleuth find answers where more traditional police have found only a puzzle?
MY THOUGHTS: I loved this introduction to Detective Miller. He's the sort of man who is always out of step with everyone else. His partner, Xiu, describes him as annoying, bloody-minded, childish, insensitive, inappropriate, pig-headed, rude, stupidly over-confident, and completely dismissive of authority. Not to mention inattentive, flippant, sarcastic, erratic, unreliable and flaky. Yes, he's all of those things, but he is also wildly entertaining and kind of lovable.
I almost choked at the reference to Funeral Sermons for Dummies.
I'm hooked.
Best gone into blind with no more information than is contained in the blurb.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#TheLastDance #NetGalley
I: : #markbillingham @groveatlantic
T: @MarkBillingham @groveatlantic
#contemporaryfiction #crime #detectivefiction #murdermystery #policeprocedural #suspense #thriller
THE AUTHOR: 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.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Grove Atlantic via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The Last Dance by Mark Billingham for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
People were so bloody inconsiderate, sometimes.
ABOUT THE 'LAST DANCE': Meet Detective Miller: unique, unconventional, and criminally underestimated...
Maverick sleuth Declan Miller is back at work following the murder of his wife (and amateur ballroom dancing partner) Alex. Working with new partner and heavy metal enthusiast DS Sara Xiu, he is tasked with investigating the double killing of gangland family scion Adrian Cutler and IT consultant Barry Shepherd at the Sands Hotel. Initial evidence suggests a hired gun and a botched job. The search for the hitman begins and Miller begins to reconnect with his old network—his ballroom dancing friends, homeless informant Finn, and even the ghost of his wife who keeps showing up in his kitchen. The fact Alex had been investigating the Cutler family prior to her death complicates things, and as Miller gets closer to the truth, he realizes the danger is walking right up to his doorstep...
Will this eccentric, offbeat sleuth find answers where more traditional police have found only a puzzle?
MY THOUGHTS: I loved this introduction to Detective Miller. He's the sort of man who is always out of step with everyone else. His partner, Xiu, describes him as annoying, bloody-minded, childish, insensitive, inappropriate, pig-headed, rude, stupidly over-confident, and completely dismissive of authority. Not to mention inattentive, flippant, sarcastic, erratic, unreliable and flaky. Yes, he's all of those things, but he is also wildly entertaining and kind of lovable.
I almost choked at the reference to Funeral Sermons for Dummies.
I'm hooked.
Best gone into blind with no more information than is contained in the blurb.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#TheLastDance #NetGalley
I: : #markbillingham @groveatlantic
T: @MarkBillingham @groveatlantic
#contemporaryfiction #crime #detectivefiction #murdermystery #policeprocedural #suspense #thriller
THE AUTHOR: 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.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Grove Atlantic via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The Last Dance by Mark Billingham for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
July 28, 2023
4★
“The coloured lights from more than a million lamps seem to dance above the town’s main street and their reflections shimmer on the surface of the black sea just beyond. On the street itself, a thousand neon signs dazzle and buzz and the slow-moving traffic has become a pulsating necklace of red and white beads.
To the casual observer, gazing down from the top of the Tower perhaps, or from a penthouse apartment in one of the expensive blocks that have sprung up in recent years, this might be Las Vegas.
If that casual observer ‘really’ squinted.
And had never been to Las Vegas.”
The opening of the first of this new series by Mark Billingham gives a taste of the style of this book - serious and sardonic - and the setting for the double murders which take place at the Sands Hotel.
Detective Declan Miller returns to work early following the murder of his wife, Alex, also a police officer. He can’t sit still at home any longer, and he’s not allowed to be part of the team investigating her mysterious death. What he is greeted with, is the case described above. That, and a new partner.
While his conversation is full of banter, jokes, sarcasm, and taking the mickey out of people, he is not a shallow man, and we get the sense that Alex, who had her own wild years before they met, understood that.
Now he’s alone with a pair of pet rats (Fred and Ginger) and a new partner at work. He arrives at the office and clambers up to stand on his desk and call everyone’s attention to the fact he is back and doesn’t fancy having any sympathetic pats on the shoulder or the like.
“So, desk, mug, clink-clink with the spoon . . .
All heads turned and it went very quiet.
‘OK, well . . . thank you all for coming.’ He manufactured that smile he’d been practising in the mirror before leaving the house. ‘I’ll try to keep this brief because we’ve all got crimes to solve . . . alcohol habits to support, gambling debts to pay off, whatever. So, just to say, my wife Alex, who some of you knew, is dead. She’s . . . dead. It’s a pisser, but there you are.
‘Obviously, if you knew her, you’re well aware of the fact that she’s dead and you might well have been at the funeral, so I could probably have skipped that bit . . . but I suppose what I really want to say is . . . I’m dealing with it and if I am, then you lot should.’”
His new partner is a woman who looks Chinese, but he knows better than to ask. He’s not completely uncouth and generally his banter is offensive only when he intends to be. His relationship with her is more awkward than expected because she doesn’t get his humour or his jokes. Being silly doesn’t work with her.
He’s not all fun and games. He has mixed with some pretty scary characters, people in rival crime families, and one of the murder victims is a son from one. So is the other family responsible? And if so, what about the other murder – in the room next door in the hotel? A mistake?
The investigation moves around between people who are ‘known to police’ and others who turn up. While he and Xiu deal with their bosses and assignments, another team is looking into Alex’s murder. He misses her badly, listens to her voice and scrolls through her old phone messages. He’s not allowed to ask questions.
Alex appears to him now and then and has conversations with him, but as with the good ‘ghost’ stories I’ve read recently, nothing she says actually tells him anything he doesn’t already know. He knows he’s invented her, but he still enjoys her company and it does clarify his thinking.
He and Xiu each have back stories, although the focus is on him. They are an odd couple but an enjoyable one. Neither likes their boss, a man who was promoted above Miller while he was away, and Miller refers to him as “wankspangle” (among other things).
In the beginning, I was a little frustrated at Miller’s jokiness, that often seemed out of place (and was), but as I got to know him, I appreciated him and – dare I say it? – his professionalism. There is nothing slapdash about his attitude to crime. He’s a cop for the right reasons.
“. . . he enjoyed rocking up to play his small but significant part in making the ceremonial county of Lancashire, and this bit of it in particular, a slightly less horrible place to be.
Even if he often felt like a square peg in a round hole.
Or a peg with no discernible shape at all.”
I enjoyed the people and the story. I’ve never read Billingham before, but as this is obviously #1 in a new series, and as the author has left scope for continuing with these characters, I will be standing by for Miller’s next outing.
Thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the copy for review.
“The coloured lights from more than a million lamps seem to dance above the town’s main street and their reflections shimmer on the surface of the black sea just beyond. On the street itself, a thousand neon signs dazzle and buzz and the slow-moving traffic has become a pulsating necklace of red and white beads.
To the casual observer, gazing down from the top of the Tower perhaps, or from a penthouse apartment in one of the expensive blocks that have sprung up in recent years, this might be Las Vegas.
If that casual observer ‘really’ squinted.
And had never been to Las Vegas.”
The opening of the first of this new series by Mark Billingham gives a taste of the style of this book - serious and sardonic - and the setting for the double murders which take place at the Sands Hotel.
Detective Declan Miller returns to work early following the murder of his wife, Alex, also a police officer. He can’t sit still at home any longer, and he’s not allowed to be part of the team investigating her mysterious death. What he is greeted with, is the case described above. That, and a new partner.
While his conversation is full of banter, jokes, sarcasm, and taking the mickey out of people, he is not a shallow man, and we get the sense that Alex, who had her own wild years before they met, understood that.
Now he’s alone with a pair of pet rats (Fred and Ginger) and a new partner at work. He arrives at the office and clambers up to stand on his desk and call everyone’s attention to the fact he is back and doesn’t fancy having any sympathetic pats on the shoulder or the like.
“So, desk, mug, clink-clink with the spoon . . .
All heads turned and it went very quiet.
‘OK, well . . . thank you all for coming.’ He manufactured that smile he’d been practising in the mirror before leaving the house. ‘I’ll try to keep this brief because we’ve all got crimes to solve . . . alcohol habits to support, gambling debts to pay off, whatever. So, just to say, my wife Alex, who some of you knew, is dead. She’s . . . dead. It’s a pisser, but there you are.
‘Obviously, if you knew her, you’re well aware of the fact that she’s dead and you might well have been at the funeral, so I could probably have skipped that bit . . . but I suppose what I really want to say is . . . I’m dealing with it and if I am, then you lot should.’”
His new partner is a woman who looks Chinese, but he knows better than to ask. He’s not completely uncouth and generally his banter is offensive only when he intends to be. His relationship with her is more awkward than expected because she doesn’t get his humour or his jokes. Being silly doesn’t work with her.
He’s not all fun and games. He has mixed with some pretty scary characters, people in rival crime families, and one of the murder victims is a son from one. So is the other family responsible? And if so, what about the other murder – in the room next door in the hotel? A mistake?
The investigation moves around between people who are ‘known to police’ and others who turn up. While he and Xiu deal with their bosses and assignments, another team is looking into Alex’s murder. He misses her badly, listens to her voice and scrolls through her old phone messages. He’s not allowed to ask questions.
Alex appears to him now and then and has conversations with him, but as with the good ‘ghost’ stories I’ve read recently, nothing she says actually tells him anything he doesn’t already know. He knows he’s invented her, but he still enjoys her company and it does clarify his thinking.
He and Xiu each have back stories, although the focus is on him. They are an odd couple but an enjoyable one. Neither likes their boss, a man who was promoted above Miller while he was away, and Miller refers to him as “wankspangle” (among other things).
In the beginning, I was a little frustrated at Miller’s jokiness, that often seemed out of place (and was), but as I got to know him, I appreciated him and – dare I say it? – his professionalism. There is nothing slapdash about his attitude to crime. He’s a cop for the right reasons.
“. . . he enjoyed rocking up to play his small but significant part in making the ceremonial county of Lancashire, and this bit of it in particular, a slightly less horrible place to be.
Even if he often felt like a square peg in a round hole.
Or a peg with no discernible shape at all.”
I enjoyed the people and the story. I’ve never read Billingham before, but as this is obviously #1 in a new series, and as the author has left scope for continuing with these characters, I will be standing by for Miller’s next outing.
Thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the copy for review.
August 9, 2023
2.5 Stars
A new detective series from a bestselling author (my first by him).
I knew I wanted to give it a try, but after pretty good start, it ended up in the lackluster pile.
The detective, Declan Miller, was likeable enough, but his humor got cheesy after a while. He is assigned to a new murder case while he is still recovering from the death of his wife (unsolved).
The mystery was middle of the road, but I did like the reveal of the killer. The wife's murder is unresolved though.
I'll wait to decide if I'll give book two a chance.
Published July 4, 2023
A new detective series from a bestselling author (my first by him).
I knew I wanted to give it a try, but after pretty good start, it ended up in the lackluster pile.
The detective, Declan Miller, was likeable enough, but his humor got cheesy after a while. He is assigned to a new murder case while he is still recovering from the death of his wife (unsolved).
The mystery was middle of the road, but I did like the reveal of the killer. The wife's murder is unresolved though.
I'll wait to decide if I'll give book two a chance.
Published July 4, 2023
March 20, 2025
This is a first in a series which features protagonist, widowed DS Declan Miller. He is a detective who appears emotionally unready to be back at work, but here he is, facing a case involving the murder of two men. Readers will recognize immediately his loss, as he has many mental discussions about the case with his late wife, Alex, a police officer that was killed in the line of duty.
Miller has a work partner, DS Sara Xiu. They seem completely mis-matched, but the chemistry still works as they tackle the case of the killings. There is also a memorable supporting cast of characters, and the mystery of Miller’s wife’s death that gives readers an interest in future books for this series.
The story is well-plotted, has some humor and also moving moments as it scurries quickly with its short chapters.
Miller has a work partner, DS Sara Xiu. They seem completely mis-matched, but the chemistry still works as they tackle the case of the killings. There is also a memorable supporting cast of characters, and the mystery of Miller’s wife’s death that gives readers an interest in future books for this series.
The story is well-plotted, has some humor and also moving moments as it scurries quickly with its short chapters.
October 13, 2023
I kept thinking of the quote by Fran Lebowitz while I read this book, “A book is not supposed to be a mirror. It’s supposed to be a door.” With that in mind, the fact that this author wanted to write a “humorous” book is not enough. I cannot believe the amount of stars this book has received. It is truly perplexing.
Humor is essential in thrillers and crime books but face it this was no thriller or crime fiction, at best it was a cozy mystery. The book was not funny, the humor seemed forced throughout the story. The need for Miller to make “jokes” make me thought he had ADHD but the right term is Witzelsucht. Google it, it has a picture of Miller right next to it. See, this disease unfortunately is contagious. The jokes were unfortunately for this reader, not funny but horribly irritating.
The plot was flimsy, characters were flat. Miller is investigating organized crime but does not have a weapon to defend himself, not even a knife or a bullet proof vest. Knowing that his wife was assassinated or that Miller makes really bad jokes all the time, they should provided him with a vest for those reasons alone!
I figured out early on who was the hired gun! I thought no, it cannot be….nobody will make that mistake so early into the book but there it was. It was a cozy mystery trying to pose as a crime fiction, even at the end when arrests had to be made, the author did a “Christie” and wrapped up his investigation by talking to the criminal like Poirot will summon a suspect to the parlor in order to relate the crime. I am not reading this series anymore but next year I will try my luck in reading his detective Thorne series. The prolific writing career of this author may explain why so many four or five stars. An unknown writer would have never received such generosity.
Humor is essential in thrillers and crime books but face it this was no thriller or crime fiction, at best it was a cozy mystery. The book was not funny, the humor seemed forced throughout the story. The need for Miller to make “jokes” make me thought he had ADHD but the right term is Witzelsucht. Google it, it has a picture of Miller right next to it. See, this disease unfortunately is contagious. The jokes were unfortunately for this reader, not funny but horribly irritating.
The plot was flimsy, characters were flat. Miller is investigating organized crime but does not have a weapon to defend himself, not even a knife or a bullet proof vest. Knowing that his wife was assassinated or that Miller makes really bad jokes all the time, they should provided him with a vest for those reasons alone!
I figured out early on who was the hired gun! I thought no, it cannot be….nobody will make that mistake so early into the book but there it was. It was a cozy mystery trying to pose as a crime fiction, even at the end when arrests had to be made, the author did a “Christie” and wrapped up his investigation by talking to the criminal like Poirot will summon a suspect to the parlor in order to relate the crime. I am not reading this series anymore but next year I will try my luck in reading his detective Thorne series. The prolific writing career of this author may explain why so many four or five stars. An unknown writer would have never received such generosity.
October 12, 2023
A new series from author Mark Billingham features sarcastic and irreverent DS Declan Miller. In this opening story, Miller is teamed up with a new partner, Xiu (which Miller will point out rhymes with Jus as in Au Jus). Xiu doesn’t know whether to take Miller seriously or not, and Miller, for his part, whether Xiu can be trusted. Miller and Xiu are assigned to a double murder case. Unofficially Millers’ friends also weigh in on the investigation whilst consuming many pork cracklings and libations at the local pub. Why were the victims killed, were these murders related, who is the likely hitman, all the usual queries, but with the added complexity of the recent murder of his wife, an undercover officer. Declan must confront those same suspects in solving the double murder. Will he also be able to discover his wife’s murderer? For fans of The Thursday Murder Club series. Read Mark Billinghams’ The Last Dance. It won’t be your last! -Amy O
June 25, 2023
Mark Billingham has come up with a particularly interesting, off-beat, not what you might expect kind of character in The Last Dance, the first of what appears to be a new series. This is a police procedural murder mystery that is greatly enhanced by the flip nature of the protagonist DS Declan Miller.
Miller has just returned to work six weeks after the death of his wife, Alex. He found he can no longer bear sitting at home moping about and needs to occupy his mind with work. He’s happy enough to occasionally ring Alex’s mobile phone just to hear her voicemail message and speak to her when she visits him in the kitchen late at night.
Almost immediately, he meets his new partner and is handed a double homicide case by his DI. The case takes him to a local motel where two men have been killed, shot in the head. They occupied adjacent rooms but were apparently unrelated and unknown to one another. The nature of the case leads them into a lion’s den because one of the dead men is a known gangster who could have any number of enemies willing to put a bullet in his head.
Miller is a refreshingly offbeat character who can be relied upon to speak his mind, usually with an outrageous comment or off-kilter joke. His new partner, Sara Xiu is the polar opposite who, determined to remain focused solely on the job, appears to be lacking a sense of humour. It’s a combination that shouldn’t succeed but, thanks to Miller’s ineffable likableness, slowly manages to win both her trust and respect. I liked the dynamic between the two characters, their differences and similarities ensure there’s always something interesting happening.
Behind his wry, witty and outwardly upbeat nature hides a tragic recent past, the aforementioned death of his wife. Alex was a fellow police detective who died in the line of duty. Her murder remains unsolved and this sits very badly with Miller - and he lets the team working the case know of his displeasure…with predictable results.
I found a lot to like with this new police detective series. Miller’s humorous approach to life resonated perfectly with me, his off-key jokes and quips are right up my alley. The actual murder investigation takes a bit of a back seat with more emphasis on the characters to carry off the storyline. When the focus returns to the murder, however, Billingham produces quite a clever twist and, not surprisingly, Miller plays a key role in its resolution.
As what is clearly the first book in a series, I will be more than happy to return to find out how Miller and Xiu are getting on.
My thanks to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for the digital ARC to allow me to read, enjoy and review this book.
Miller has just returned to work six weeks after the death of his wife, Alex. He found he can no longer bear sitting at home moping about and needs to occupy his mind with work. He’s happy enough to occasionally ring Alex’s mobile phone just to hear her voicemail message and speak to her when she visits him in the kitchen late at night.
Almost immediately, he meets his new partner and is handed a double homicide case by his DI. The case takes him to a local motel where two men have been killed, shot in the head. They occupied adjacent rooms but were apparently unrelated and unknown to one another. The nature of the case leads them into a lion’s den because one of the dead men is a known gangster who could have any number of enemies willing to put a bullet in his head.
Miller is a refreshingly offbeat character who can be relied upon to speak his mind, usually with an outrageous comment or off-kilter joke. His new partner, Sara Xiu is the polar opposite who, determined to remain focused solely on the job, appears to be lacking a sense of humour. It’s a combination that shouldn’t succeed but, thanks to Miller’s ineffable likableness, slowly manages to win both her trust and respect. I liked the dynamic between the two characters, their differences and similarities ensure there’s always something interesting happening.
Behind his wry, witty and outwardly upbeat nature hides a tragic recent past, the aforementioned death of his wife. Alex was a fellow police detective who died in the line of duty. Her murder remains unsolved and this sits very badly with Miller - and he lets the team working the case know of his displeasure…with predictable results.
I found a lot to like with this new police detective series. Miller’s humorous approach to life resonated perfectly with me, his off-key jokes and quips are right up my alley. The actual murder investigation takes a bit of a back seat with more emphasis on the characters to carry off the storyline. When the focus returns to the murder, however, Billingham produces quite a clever twist and, not surprisingly, Miller plays a key role in its resolution.
As what is clearly the first book in a series, I will be more than happy to return to find out how Miller and Xiu are getting on.
My thanks to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for the digital ARC to allow me to read, enjoy and review this book.
December 30, 2024
2.5 Stars
I’m so disappointed that this book isn’t for me.
I didn’t like the main character, Miller, from the beginning, and I didn’t even know who he was then. He talked a lot, and it was stupid comments that I would usually find funny, dry and sarcastic humour, but it just annoyed me.
I was never on the edge of my seat and I didn't find it entertaining.
I did love Fred and Ginger.
I’m so disappointed that this book isn’t for me.
I didn’t like the main character, Miller, from the beginning, and I didn’t even know who he was then. He talked a lot, and it was stupid comments that I would usually find funny, dry and sarcastic humour, but it just annoyed me.
I was never on the edge of my seat and I didn't find it entertaining.
I did love Fred and Ginger.
December 30, 2023
This is the first book in a new series by Mark Billingham.
Detective Declan Miller is returning to work after a leave following his wife Alex's murder. They both loved dancing and he misses her very much and spends his spare time looking through her mobile and calling it to hear her voice in a voicemail.
On his first day at work, he is paired with a new partner DS Sara Xiu and gets a case of double murder at the Sands Hotel.
Miller has a specific sense of humour and not everyone takes his jokes easy.
The plot has a lot of interesting moments and is a bit sad because of fresh memories about Alex and their happy life together.
Miller is a very likeable character and I hope that the series will be continued.
Detective Declan Miller is returning to work after a leave following his wife Alex's murder. They both loved dancing and he misses her very much and spends his spare time looking through her mobile and calling it to hear her voice in a voicemail.
On his first day at work, he is paired with a new partner DS Sara Xiu and gets a case of double murder at the Sands Hotel.
Miller has a specific sense of humour and not everyone takes his jokes easy.
The plot has a lot of interesting moments and is a bit sad because of fresh memories about Alex and their happy life together.
Miller is a very likeable character and I hope that the series will be continued.
March 15, 2023
This is my first full length novel by Mark Billingham, I have read only 1 Tom Thorne short story.
I don’t know whether to bucket this under detective mystery or humor. It was too flippant and irreverent for a detective novel.
AT times I liked Miller but most of the time he was irritating. I didn't warm up to other characters as well. Why was his partner Xiu even there?
The murder mystery was good though. I am kicking myself for missing the clue in the beginning. I thought it was an editing mistake because I was reading the ARC.
There was another murder which was not resolved (actually the 1st and 4th murders) I don't like loose ends, I know it is a hook to read the next book, but I am not sure if I will read the next one.
Thanks to Net Galley, the Publisher and the Author for the ARC
I don’t know whether to bucket this under detective mystery or humor. It was too flippant and irreverent for a detective novel.
AT times I liked Miller but most of the time he was irritating. I didn't warm up to other characters as well. Why was his partner Xiu even there?
The murder mystery was good though. I am kicking myself for missing the clue in the beginning. I thought it was an editing mistake because I was reading the ARC.
There was another murder which was not resolved (actually the 1st and 4th murders) I don't like loose ends, I know it is a hook to read the next book, but I am not sure if I will read the next one.
Thanks to Net Galley, the Publisher and the Author for the ARC
August 9, 2023
After 20 years and 18 Tom Thorne novels, Mark Billingham is going for a complete change of pace with this new series. Whereas Tom was a quite conventional character (although he had some weird friends), right from the first chapter we can see this new protagonist, Detective Sergeant and ballroom dancer Declan Miller is a total oddball.
After bidding goodbye to his pet rats, Fred and Ginger, Declan returns to work after being put on paid leave following the murder of his wife, dancing partner and fellow detective Alex. Right away, he is plunged into investigating a double murder at a seedy Blackpool hotel. One victim is the youngest son of a local gang boss – no doubt, the sort of person who’d have a fair share of enemies – the other victim, however, is a seemingly harmless IT consultant.
The narrative follows Declan’s, often eccentric, investigation into the double murder, whilst, at the same time, he attempts to glean information from the team investigating Alex’s murder. He manages to obtain information pertaining to the latter, although it poses more questions than answers. Even conversations with Alex's "ghost" don't get him much further.
There is a fine assortment of supporting characters: Miller’s new partner, DS Sara Xiu, his homeless friend Finn and several old friends from the dancing world. The new central character and setting is also giving the author freer rein to use his biting sense of humour, which was only occasionally evident in the Thorne series. There is also, I suspect, a nod to his friend Elly Griffiths’ Ruth Galloway series, which, sadly, finished recently. Blackpool is, of course the home town of DCI Harry Nelson and there are a couple of detectives in this series called Clough and Fuller. For those of us who enjoy that mix of mystery and humour that the Ruth Galloway series delivered, this could well be the next go-to series.
After bidding goodbye to his pet rats, Fred and Ginger, Declan returns to work after being put on paid leave following the murder of his wife, dancing partner and fellow detective Alex. Right away, he is plunged into investigating a double murder at a seedy Blackpool hotel. One victim is the youngest son of a local gang boss – no doubt, the sort of person who’d have a fair share of enemies – the other victim, however, is a seemingly harmless IT consultant.
The narrative follows Declan’s, often eccentric, investigation into the double murder, whilst, at the same time, he attempts to glean information from the team investigating Alex’s murder. He manages to obtain information pertaining to the latter, although it poses more questions than answers. Even conversations with Alex's "ghost" don't get him much further.
There is a fine assortment of supporting characters: Miller’s new partner, DS Sara Xiu, his homeless friend Finn and several old friends from the dancing world. The new central character and setting is also giving the author freer rein to use his biting sense of humour, which was only occasionally evident in the Thorne series. There is also, I suspect, a nod to his friend Elly Griffiths’ Ruth Galloway series, which, sadly, finished recently. Blackpool is, of course the home town of DCI Harry Nelson and there are a couple of detectives in this series called Clough and Fuller. For those of us who enjoy that mix of mystery and humour that the Ruth Galloway series delivered, this could well be the next go-to series.
July 8, 2023
Average. I enjoy the Thorne series, so it’s hard to be unbiased about a new series from the same author. The main character is likeable and sympathetic but the humour is just too “try-hard” and self indulgent to be truly funny. Don’t know if I’ll bother with any more from this series.
March 18, 2023
It must be quite scary, writing a brand new series when you have a much loved series character waiting in the wings, judging, biding their time. Well, that and an audience of readers who love said judgy character and who may be wondering if the same magic can be captured with a new-cop-on-the-scene. But as this is a book by Mark Billingham we, as readers, have little to fear, and it's a case of sorry Tom Thorne, you'll have to wait your turn. It's Declan Millers time to shine, and shine he does. The Last Dance is a book packed with mystery, misdirection, tension, and the trademark Billingham humour, and I bloody loved it.
If you ever wondered what Mark Billingham may be like had he turned to a life of crime fighting rather than crime writing, then I'm pretty sure it would be close to Detective Declan Miller. I'm not sure about Mr B's actual opinion on, or engagement in, ballroom dancing of course, but the wit with which Miller approaches his everyday life is absolutely something I could see coming straight from the horse's (writer's) mouth.
I loved Miller as a character. He is steeped in grief, having recently become a widower, but his return to work marks a determination to find out what is happening in his wife's case and also, a distraction from his loss. I have double the respect for the guy, obviously given his aforementioned love of the ballroom, but also because he has pet rats. They make the best pets. He is also one heck of a Detective and, in spite of his ability to rub people up the wrong way, and being a constant source of frustration for his partner, DS Sara Xiu, aka 'Posh Gravy', he is very observant with a rather sharp mind. He's also very caring, even if the more emotional side of him can be hidden behind a veil of sarcasm. I really enjoyed the way in which the author explored his personal situation, the way in which Miller's thoughts turned often to his wife, and the way in which it informed the case and his investigation style.
But then, also, pet rats. What's not to love about a guy who loves rats?
Xiu is the perfect partner for Miller and there are many aspects to her character which may surprise readers. It makes her fascinating to read about and she is very much the straight partner to Miller's comedic turn. By her own admissions she doesn't understand jokes and even the way in which much of Miller's attempt at humour falls flat just added to the enjoyment factor for me. She may seem too cool or straight laced at the start, but there is a hidden spikiness to Xiu that really works. She is not your stereotypical copper and very much the Yin to Miller's Yang, in every possible way. Yet they make a brilliant partnership and I look forward to seeing this develop further over the course of the series.
The case itself is perplexing, the opening chapter creating intrigue as we wait to learn the what and why of the whole story. Adding to the mystery itself is the fact that one of the victims has ties to one of two known crime families/gangs, operating in the Blackpool area, meaning the list of suspects could be infinite, family included. The suspect behaviour of the nearest and dearest adds to that sense of misdirection, whilst knowing that the killer is likely hiding in plain sight. It all adds to the tension and. along with the fast pacing and short nature of most of the chapters, means that it was really easy to devour this book in no time at all.
If you've come looking for the chilling darkness, and sometimes brooding tone, of a Tom Thorne novel, then you are not going to find it in this book. If you like a character who has made irreverent humour an art form, whilst still remaining and very adept, intuitive and engaging Detective, then I think you are going to love Declan Miller. I certainly did. Definitely recommended.
dnf
July 6, 2024As you may or may not know I very rarely dnf a book. I've come close a number of times but have only dnf'd 5 books of the 910 I've read. Unfortunately with this book I disliked Detective Miller immensely and his "quips" were mostly horrible. Once in a while I could've handled but they were pretty much constant and not at all funny to my way of thinking. One reviewer referred to it as Witzelsucht and when you look up what it means, she's right - his picture is (or should be) right next to the definition. I read a little more than 25% before giving up so I'm not giving it a star rating. At the end there's an excerpt from the second book in this series and, although Detective Miller hadn't put in an appearance yet, I don't think I'll chance it. I think I'll go back to the author's Tom Thorne series and hope this hasn't poisoned my enjoyment of those books.
June 13, 2023
I found the constant gags hard to take. They were all the time, not just occasionally. I hate people in real life like this so it was hard to warm to Miller. At one stage I was contemplating not finishing, but I kept going.
August 12, 2024
10% in and the main character Miller is really grating on me. If he is meant to be infuriating the author did a splendid job. Not funny, not charming or quirky. Just annoying.
September 28, 2024
DS Declan Miller is back at work...some say it's a little too early..but he's got a new partner and a new case..a double murder in adjoining hotel rooms.
Miller is also having long conversations with his dead wife ...who he's also seeing around his home.
His wife ..a cop herself was shot dead...the investigation dragging on...and it just may be linked to the characters involved in the hotel murders.
Fun initial book in a new series following DS Miller who has a way with words..a dead wife...and Fred & Ginger..
Miller is also having long conversations with his dead wife ...who he's also seeing around his home.
His wife ..a cop herself was shot dead...the investigation dragging on...and it just may be linked to the characters involved in the hotel murders.
Fun initial book in a new series following DS Miller who has a way with words..a dead wife...and Fred & Ginger..
January 30, 2023
Detective Declan Miller returns to work only 6 weeks after the murder of his wife, also a detective. He is partnered with new DS Sara Xiu, and their first case is the double murder of two seemingly unrelated men in a hotel. The men had rooms next door to each other and as far as the investigation goes, they didn’t know each other. It is surmised the intended target was Adrian Cutler, part of the local crime family, and the man next door, IT consultant Barry Shepherd was perhaps a case of mistaken identity. Both had been shot in the head with the same weapon.
To be honest I didn’t much warm to this new character of Marks. I love the Tom Thorne books so much that it will take a lot for another character to live up to him. A big part of it was the silly jokey nature of Miller. It is one of the reasons I gave up on Stuart MacBride as do people really talk and behave like that 24/7.
Miller has a lot of endearing traits including his pet rats and his friendship with Finn a young girl who lives on the streets. But for me he needs to dial back the jokes. Of course the book ended on wtf moment so I will be reading the next instalment, but unlike the Thorne books I don’t think I will be buying a print copy of this one.
Funnily I had notes here for the publishers about a big loophole I had found in the first few chapters, but by the end it turned out to be the twist to discovering who the killer was,
#TheLastDance. #NetGalley
To be honest I didn’t much warm to this new character of Marks. I love the Tom Thorne books so much that it will take a lot for another character to live up to him. A big part of it was the silly jokey nature of Miller. It is one of the reasons I gave up on Stuart MacBride as do people really talk and behave like that 24/7.
Miller has a lot of endearing traits including his pet rats and his friendship with Finn a young girl who lives on the streets. But for me he needs to dial back the jokes. Of course the book ended on wtf moment so I will be reading the next instalment, but unlike the Thorne books I don’t think I will be buying a print copy of this one.
Funnily I had notes here for the publishers about a big loophole I had found in the first few chapters, but by the end it turned out to be the twist to discovering who the killer was,
#TheLastDance. #NetGalley
September 15, 2025
Siamo davanti all'ennesimo thriller con protagonista un detective fuori come un balcone, con un passato difficile e dai guizzi geniali? Si. Mi è piaciuto? Non lo so. Il libro è troppo concentrato sulla presentazione (psicologica, famigliare ecc) del detective - e su chi gli gravita intorno - e poco sul caso da risolvere. Capisco che il fine sia fare una serie con lui come protagonista però mi è sembrato un po' eccessivo.
December 12, 2023
One word comes to mind, forced.
July 7, 2024
Well, this one was a bit different. I liked it, and liked the main characters, but the main character, Declan Miller, was a little over the top with his wisecracks at times, and there was too much talking to his dead wife, not to mention radio call-in idiots and his pet rats. I suppose this was somewhat a method to explain what he was thinking, or what happened previously.
He was pretty smart, but I'd like it more if he was a little stronger, being a policeman and all. When someone came to kill him, the best he could do was hide in a bedroom with furniture against the door. And when it came to protecting innocent civilians, he was only able to close his eyes. I think his female Asian partner may have been tougher than him.
Still, I may want to read further to see how things progress as he gets over his wife's death.
He was pretty smart, but I'd like it more if he was a little stronger, being a policeman and all. When someone came to kill him, the best he could do was hide in a bedroom with furniture against the door. And when it came to protecting innocent civilians, he was only able to close his eyes. I think his female Asian partner may have been tougher than him.
Still, I may want to read further to see how things progress as he gets over his wife's death.
August 11, 2023
Enjoyed this a lot. The main characters have some nice quirks and it wasn't immediately obvious who the killer was. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
July 27, 2023
4.5
I absolutely loved this book. Declan Miller is a wonderful character and the story was excellent. I can't wait for the next detective Miller mystery!
I absolutely loved this book. Declan Miller is a wonderful character and the story was excellent. I can't wait for the next detective Miller mystery!
June 7, 2023
Not just a new, totally different, protagonist from Mark Billingham but also a massive change in writing style. The book is littered with constant corny, yet clever, jokes; some are laugh out loud funny. So very different from the Tom Thorne series.
Declan Millar is a right pain to work with, seemingly taking nothing seriously, flouting authority and deliberately taking things the wrong way to wind up his senior colleagues. To start with I found him funny, then increasingly irritating and finally, when understanding it was a coping mechanism, growing to like him.
There are also a host of original supporting characters, many of whom have interesting back stories which are only just touched on in this first book. In addition Millar’s wife, also a detective, was murdered prior to the story’s start and getting to the bottom of this is sure to be a long running thread throughout the series.
The solving of the mystery itself was unspectacular but this didn’t detract from the story too much as there was already more than enough to introduce the reader to. Looking forward to the next one.
Declan Millar is a right pain to work with, seemingly taking nothing seriously, flouting authority and deliberately taking things the wrong way to wind up his senior colleagues. To start with I found him funny, then increasingly irritating and finally, when understanding it was a coping mechanism, growing to like him.
There are also a host of original supporting characters, many of whom have interesting back stories which are only just touched on in this first book. In addition Millar’s wife, also a detective, was murdered prior to the story’s start and getting to the bottom of this is sure to be a long running thread throughout the series.
The solving of the mystery itself was unspectacular but this didn’t detract from the story too much as there was already more than enough to introduce the reader to. Looking forward to the next one.
April 1, 2023
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.
This is the first in a new series featuring Declan Miller and his colleague Sara Xiu. Xiu has character quirks aplenty, but I particularly loved the way she never got Declan's (constant) jokes. To be fair, I think some of them went over my head. The blurb is correct in that this features ballroom dancing and Declan talking to his dead wife Alex, but the dancing bits are spaced out and the talking to a 'ghost' is in the context of a recent bereavement. This was basically a funny, well-paced police procedural about two contract killings, with the overarching mystery of what happened to Alex left to be continued into the rest of the series.
Highly recommended.
This is the first in a new series featuring Declan Miller and his colleague Sara Xiu. Xiu has character quirks aplenty, but I particularly loved the way she never got Declan's (constant) jokes. To be fair, I think some of them went over my head. The blurb is correct in that this features ballroom dancing and Declan talking to his dead wife Alex, but the dancing bits are spaced out and the talking to a 'ghost' is in the context of a recent bereavement. This was basically a funny, well-paced police procedural about two contract killings, with the overarching mystery of what happened to Alex left to be continued into the rest of the series.
Highly recommended.
February 12, 2024
I love the Tom Thorne series by Billingham, and I was looking forward to this new series with a new cast, but it doesn't hold a candle to Thorne and Co sadly.
DS Declan Miller, as the main protagonist, is very hard to take to. The constant 'jokes' after almost every comment become tiresome and just aren't funny most of the time.
The comedy villains don't get me started! A cross dressing drag queen and his rival who ends up doing a duet with him towards the end and crying (don't ask!).
I kept waiting for the story and characters to improve, but sadly, it never happened.
Don't think I'll waste my time with the next outing for Miller. There's far better books out there.
DS Declan Miller, as the main protagonist, is very hard to take to. The constant 'jokes' after almost every comment become tiresome and just aren't funny most of the time.
The comedy villains don't get me started! A cross dressing drag queen and his rival who ends up doing a duet with him towards the end and crying (don't ask!).
I kept waiting for the story and characters to improve, but sadly, it never happened.
Don't think I'll waste my time with the next outing for Miller. There's far better books out there.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2024
Apparently it's horribly offensive to guess where a person might be from based on their name and accent - you can't say anything these days - but you can write a best selling novel with an evil drag queen you call he/she, and a humourless Chinese woman your character's always talking over who you refer to as Posh Gravy because Xiu sounds a bit like jus, and sex workers and gay side characters can stay as punchlines while reminding the audience that - for reasons no characters know - we're not allowed to say prostitute now. Interminable.
September 29, 2024
I will admit to struggling to start off with. I mean it's a Mark Billingham book and, over the last 20ish years, he's developed quite the style with the Tom Thorne novels (which I adore). This, on the other hand, is very different. Very different indeed. But once I forgot who had written it and concentrated on the story and characters, I absolutely fell in love with it — so much so I was finding excuses to go off and read just a few more pages. I'm now gagging for the next one. Bravo
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