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The Shadow Step: A Detective Miller Novel
Not yet published
Expected 21 Jul 26“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
Detective Miller is back and investigating his most perplexing case yet
The Shadow One taken simultaneously by a pair of dancers facing the same direction, one of them behind and slightly shifted leftwards ("in the shadow")
A perfectly executed shadow step demonstrates synchronized elegance. It showcases a couple in near telepathic harmony with one another. It does not normally end with someone stone-dead in a lake.
DS Declan Miller is a magnet for strange cases, but an innocent man confessing to the crime? That’s a first. Things rapidly escalate when the murder that isn’t really a murder attracts the unwanted attention of a drug Queenpin, a deranged ex-squaddie, and a lovesick gangland enforcer. And when a real murder follows – and a student is kidnapped – all evidence points back to the same innocent man.
Throw in a wobbly dog, a pair of ceramic leopards, and the distracting smell from a biscuit factory, and Miller’s only option to save a young man’s life is to waltz all the way into the shadows.
Detective Miller is back and investigating his most perplexing case yet
The Shadow One taken simultaneously by a pair of dancers facing the same direction, one of them behind and slightly shifted leftwards ("in the shadow")
A perfectly executed shadow step demonstrates synchronized elegance. It showcases a couple in near telepathic harmony with one another. It does not normally end with someone stone-dead in a lake.
DS Declan Miller is a magnet for strange cases, but an innocent man confessing to the crime? That’s a first. Things rapidly escalate when the murder that isn’t really a murder attracts the unwanted attention of a drug Queenpin, a deranged ex-squaddie, and a lovesick gangland enforcer. And when a real murder follows – and a student is kidnapped – all evidence points back to the same innocent man.
Throw in a wobbly dog, a pair of ceramic leopards, and the distracting smell from a biscuit factory, and Miller’s only option to save a young man’s life is to waltz all the way into the shadows.
- GenresCrime
416 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication July 21, 2026
4 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
Mark Billingham
105 books2,192 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 - 10 of 10 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Having read all the other books in this series and enjoyed them, I can say Shadow Step is another winner. I hadn't liked Miller much in the first book, but he is definitely growing on me. I agree completely with Xiu when she says: "Atrocious table manners, an annoyingly juvenile sense of humour and a complete inability to read a room … but good instincts." The character development is excellent, and the plot takes several interesting turns that kept me hooked throughout.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Detective Miller is a strong, engaging lead, and the investigation feels grounded and believable without getting bogged down in too much procedural detail.
It starts off a little slow, taking its time to set things up, but once the story picks up it really hooks you. From that point on, the tension builds nicely and the mystery keeps you invested all the way through. While it doesn’t reinvent the genre, it’s a solid, well-paced crime novel that delivers plenty of suspense and makes for a very satisfying read once it gets going.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
It starts off a little slow, taking its time to set things up, but once the story picks up it really hooks you. From that point on, the tension builds nicely and the mystery keeps you invested all the way through. While it doesn’t reinvent the genre, it’s a solid, well-paced crime novel that delivers plenty of suspense and makes for a very satisfying read once it gets going.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Detective Miller is back and investigating his most perplexing case yet
The Shadow One taken simultaneously by a pair of dancers facing the same direction, one of them behind and slightly shifted leftwards ("in the shadow")
A perfectly executed shadow step demonstrates synchronized elegance. It showcases a couple in near telepathic harmony with one another. It does not normally end with someone stone-dead in a lake.
DS Declan Miller is a magnet for strange cases, but an innocent man confessing to the crime? That’s a first. Things rapidly escalate when the murder that isn’t really a murder attracts the unwanted attention of a drug Queenpin, a deranged ex-squaddie, and a lovesick gangland enforcer. And when a real murder follows – and a student is kidnapped – all evidence points back to the same innocent man.
Throw in a wobbly dog, a pair of ceramic leopards, and the distracting smell from a biscuit factory, and Miller’s only option to save a young man’s life is to waltz all the way into the shadows.
This was my first foray into the world of DS Miller, not my first into the realm of Mark Billingham and his writing.
It took me a while to understand DS Miller and his personality and humour, what can i say....I'm hooked. I now need to read the first 2 books in this series.
I absolutely loved it. There was humour, inane questions, and endearing relationships.
The writing style flowed, the relationships between the characters were relatable. This felt like a modern day fusion between Columbo and A Touch of Frost.
I did not want the book to finish.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publishers and the author for this E-arc in exchange for an honest review.
The Shadow One taken simultaneously by a pair of dancers facing the same direction, one of them behind and slightly shifted leftwards ("in the shadow")
A perfectly executed shadow step demonstrates synchronized elegance. It showcases a couple in near telepathic harmony with one another. It does not normally end with someone stone-dead in a lake.
DS Declan Miller is a magnet for strange cases, but an innocent man confessing to the crime? That’s a first. Things rapidly escalate when the murder that isn’t really a murder attracts the unwanted attention of a drug Queenpin, a deranged ex-squaddie, and a lovesick gangland enforcer. And when a real murder follows – and a student is kidnapped – all evidence points back to the same innocent man.
Throw in a wobbly dog, a pair of ceramic leopards, and the distracting smell from a biscuit factory, and Miller’s only option to save a young man’s life is to waltz all the way into the shadows.
This was my first foray into the world of DS Miller, not my first into the realm of Mark Billingham and his writing.
It took me a while to understand DS Miller and his personality and humour, what can i say....I'm hooked. I now need to read the first 2 books in this series.
I absolutely loved it. There was humour, inane questions, and endearing relationships.
The writing style flowed, the relationships between the characters were relatable. This felt like a modern day fusion between Columbo and A Touch of Frost.
I did not want the book to finish.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publishers and the author for this E-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Shadow Step - Mark Billingham ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Detective Miller is one of my top 5 series, so I was ecstatic to have been approved to read this book as an ARC, and once again did not disappoint.
The Shadow Step brings a case where DS Miller has an innocent man confessing to a crime that then rapidly escalates and gains the attention of a drug queenpin, a deranged ex-squaddie, and a lovesick gangland enforcer. When a real murder follows, everything points back to the same innocent man.
This was a mystery woven with upbeat humour and fell right into place as the next in the DS Miller series. Continuing plot lines from the previous two books made this fall naturally into rhythm and the plot line gave it the thrilling aspect.
DS Miller’s personality makes him a standout from all the other crime thrillers I’ve read. Witty and predictably unpredictable makes for a delightful light-hearted read without skipping the serious aspects of crime and brutality.
The recurring cast of characters as well as some new ones were well written and I loved the progression some characters made. The father / daughter relationship that Miller and Finn have will never not make me cry. I’m glad for the start of her happy ending.
Overall I enjoyed this next step of DS Miller’s story a lot and look forward to adding it onto my bookshelf along with its counterparts.
Thank you to Mark Billingham and Grove Atlantic for providing this book for review consideration via @NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
#theshadowstep #markbillingham #groveatlantic #netgalley #bookreview
Detective Miller is one of my top 5 series, so I was ecstatic to have been approved to read this book as an ARC, and once again did not disappoint.
The Shadow Step brings a case where DS Miller has an innocent man confessing to a crime that then rapidly escalates and gains the attention of a drug queenpin, a deranged ex-squaddie, and a lovesick gangland enforcer. When a real murder follows, everything points back to the same innocent man.
This was a mystery woven with upbeat humour and fell right into place as the next in the DS Miller series. Continuing plot lines from the previous two books made this fall naturally into rhythm and the plot line gave it the thrilling aspect.
DS Miller’s personality makes him a standout from all the other crime thrillers I’ve read. Witty and predictably unpredictable makes for a delightful light-hearted read without skipping the serious aspects of crime and brutality.
The recurring cast of characters as well as some new ones were well written and I loved the progression some characters made. The father / daughter relationship that Miller and Finn have will never not make me cry. I’m glad for the start of her happy ending.
Overall I enjoyed this next step of DS Miller’s story a lot and look forward to adding it onto my bookshelf along with its counterparts.
Thank you to Mark Billingham and Grove Atlantic for providing this book for review consideration via @NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
#theshadowstep #markbillingham #groveatlantic #netgalley #bookreview
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I absolutely love the Mark Bellingham’s Detective Miller series of books. Detective Miller is such an interesting complex character, he’s a murder detective with a penchant for ballroom dancing, he rides a moped around the streets of Blackpool and he tends to shoot from the hip saying what he thinks and is always up for some banter. He’s also recently widowed and getting over the loss of his wife, a fellow police officer who was murdered.
The Shadow Step is the third instalment in the series and does not disappoint. All the regulars make an appearance, Imran his childhood friend who now works for the parks service, Xiu his police colleague, his step-daughter Finn, Blackpool’s criminal underbelly, and his ballroom dancing family.
The book moves along at pace with a couple of murders, a kidnapping all blended together with Miller’s humour. There are some truly laugh out loud moments in the book, when I couldn’t quite believe what Miller had said. Despite Miller’s bravado, he cares deeply for his step-daughter, Xiu and the people who find themselves in the crosshairs of crime in Blackpool, which makes you only love him more.
I really can’t wait to read the next instalment of the Detective Miller series.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Grove Atlantic, for making this e-ARC available to me in exchange for a fair and honest review.
The Shadow Step is the third instalment in the series and does not disappoint. All the regulars make an appearance, Imran his childhood friend who now works for the parks service, Xiu his police colleague, his step-daughter Finn, Blackpool’s criminal underbelly, and his ballroom dancing family.
The book moves along at pace with a couple of murders, a kidnapping all blended together with Miller’s humour. There are some truly laugh out loud moments in the book, when I couldn’t quite believe what Miller had said. Despite Miller’s bravado, he cares deeply for his step-daughter, Xiu and the people who find themselves in the crosshairs of crime in Blackpool, which makes you only love him more.
I really can’t wait to read the next instalment of the Detective Miller series.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Grove Atlantic, for making this e-ARC available to me in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I'm a long-time fan of the Tom Thorne novels, so I was excited to dive into another Mark Billingham police procedural.
Declan Miller immediately won me over - he has that same dry sarcasm and world-weary edge as Thorne, paired with a cheeky sense of humour that masks someone far more vulnerable underneath. He's what we call in my house a worky-ticket.
One of the highlights for me was the banter, especially between Declan and Imran. I know this is a serious book, but the humour and turns of phrase genuinely had me chuckling out loud, which helped balance the darker moments of the story. Particularly, 'Florence Shitengale'.
The plot kicks off deceptively simply: an accident in a park involving one nervous dog and two aggressive ones. From there, everything spirals into a cacophony of crime: murders, a kidnapping, and a major drug seizure.
Poor bad luck Barry really stuck with me. I couldn’t help but feel for him as his life unravels. The poor sod accidentally pulls a loose thread and ends up caught in a storm of crime and chaos.
Overall, I really enjoyed Shadow Step. It has sharp character work, gripping twists, and just enough humour to keep things human. I’m looking forward to reading more in this series.
Declan Miller immediately won me over - he has that same dry sarcasm and world-weary edge as Thorne, paired with a cheeky sense of humour that masks someone far more vulnerable underneath. He's what we call in my house a worky-ticket.
One of the highlights for me was the banter, especially between Declan and Imran. I know this is a serious book, but the humour and turns of phrase genuinely had me chuckling out loud, which helped balance the darker moments of the story. Particularly, 'Florence Shitengale'.
The plot kicks off deceptively simply: an accident in a park involving one nervous dog and two aggressive ones. From there, everything spirals into a cacophony of crime: murders, a kidnapping, and a major drug seizure.
Poor bad luck Barry really stuck with me. I couldn’t help but feel for him as his life unravels. The poor sod accidentally pulls a loose thread and ends up caught in a storm of crime and chaos.
Overall, I really enjoyed Shadow Step. It has sharp character work, gripping twists, and just enough humour to keep things human. I’m looking forward to reading more in this series.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.
Here Miller continues to mourn his wife, while investigating the (possibly accidental) death of one of local drug kingpin Jacqui's minions. Then there is a definite murder, which might be an attempt at payback, and finally Jacqui's son is kidnapped.
I have enjoyed this series, mainly for the zany and irreverent humour - no one would describe these stories as gritty or true to life. Maybe I wasn't in the mood this time, but the disconnect between the absurdity and some of the more serious plot strands (PTSD or Finn, for example) grated on me. We didn't really care about any of the people who died, but I suppose the story demonstrated the senseless violence of the drug dealing culture. And there again was the disconnect...
Here Miller continues to mourn his wife, while investigating the (possibly accidental) death of one of local drug kingpin Jacqui's minions. Then there is a definite murder, which might be an attempt at payback, and finally Jacqui's son is kidnapped.
I have enjoyed this series, mainly for the zany and irreverent humour - no one would describe these stories as gritty or true to life. Maybe I wasn't in the mood this time, but the disconnect between the absurdity and some of the more serious plot strands (PTSD or Finn, for example) grated on me. We didn't really care about any of the people who died, but I suppose the story demonstrated the senseless violence of the drug dealing culture. And there again was the disconnect...
January 24, 2026
Another gloriously light hearted but also serious read from Mark Billingham! I love this character and find his humour and quirkiness such a refreshing difference to other books. I can’t wait for the next chapter in this series. #TheShadowStep #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Hugely entertaining laugh out loud English cop novel. Detective Miller is a gentle, gruff, bad jokes, sort of hero.Really enjoyed it and will be tracking the author’s previous works. Thank you to the author. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is the third in this series that I have read and love the wise cracking Detective Miller and will have to now go back and read Mark Billingham's other series..
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews