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Die of Shame
THE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLERYou never know who's watching . . .Every Monday evening, six people gather in a smart North London house to talk about addiction. There they share their deepest stories of lies, regret, and above all, shame.Then one of them is killed - and it's clear one of the circle was responsible.Detective Inspector Nicola Tanner quickly finds her investigation hampered by the strict confidentiality that binds these people and their therapist together. So what could be shameful enough to cost someone their life?And how do you find the truth when denial and deception are second nature to all of your suspects?Full of betrayal, deceit and suspense, Die of Shame is the spectacular thriller from Sunday Times bestseller Mark Billingham.'Mark Billingham is one of the greatest writers in any genre' Steve Cavanagh________________The outstanding new Tom Thorne thriller, THEIR LITTLE SECRET, is out now!
371 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 7, 2016
428 people are currently reading
2175 people want to read
About the author
Mark Billingham
104 books2,172 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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April 17, 2021
EXCERPT: The Visitor - The Final Visit
'I didn't think you were coming back,' the prisoner says. He had begun to roll a cigarette as soon as he'd sat down and now he licks the edge of the paper, his eyes fixed on the person in the chair opposite.
'I had a lot of running around to do.'
'Yeah?'
'A bit of detective work, after what you said last time.'
He is trying hard not to look nervous, or even particularly interested, struggling to remember exactly what he said all those weeks before. What he might have given away. He says, 'It's rubbish, isn't it? Everything you put in that first letter. The reason you've been coming.'
'Sorry about that.'
He slaps his hand on the table, but not in anger. He's just pleased to have been proved right. 'I knew it.'
'What do you care? You'll be out soon enough.'
'Yeah, I knew it first time I saw you.'
'Really?'
'You don't look like a student.'
'What do I look like?'
He shrugs, roll-up complete. 'Well, you're obviously some kind of nutter.'
The visitor nods. 'I can't really argue with that. Some kind.'
'So you know, if I see you once I'm out, I won't be quite so friendly.'
'There's no danger of that.'
'Just as long as we're clear.'
'I mean, we all know about that famous temper of yours, don't we?' A smile. 'The only reason I came back at all was to say thank you.'
'For what?'
'For giving me what I needed. For putting me on the right track.'
Now he doesn't much care whether he looks nervous or not. All these years saying nothing; not even then, after it had happened.
He hadn't let something slip, had he?
No, he can't have been that stupid.
He sits up straight and lays his hands flat on the table. He says, 'You hear stories about people like you.'
'Really? What kind of people is that?'
People who get off on all this. Who just like being close to it.' Now, he leans forward, confident that he's hit a nerve. That he's back in charge. 'All this shit you've been giving me, all those questions, and I reckon you just want to know what it's like.'
'What it's like?'
'To kill someone.'
The visitor's face breaks into a grin. 'Oh, I wouldn't worry too much about that. I'll know for myself soon enough.'
ABOUT 'DIE OF SHAME': Every Monday evening, six people gather in a smart North London house to talk about shame. Among them are a grieving surgeon, a betrayed housewife, a taunting gay model, a barely recovered heroin addict. All they have in common is a history of pain and compulsions—until they’re linked by the brutal murder of one of their members. Det. Inspector Nicola Tanner is drawn into this intimate circle to find the killer. Unfortunately, not a single one of them is willing to share.
Now it’s up to Tanner to delve into their pasts on her own. But what secret could be so shameful as to kill for it? Or die for it? And how can she possibly find the truth when lies and denial are second nature to her suspects?
MY THOUGHTS: I had absolutely no idea 'who dunnit'. Billingham adeptly casts suspicion on all of the remaining characters, so that I kept changing my mind. But the motive was the stumbling block, although all of the people are living on the edge, teetering between their pasts, and the future that lays ahead of them if they can only stay clean.
There's Robin, a respected doctor in his early sixties, with a marriage breakup and a history of addiction to a variety of easily obtainable medications behind him. But he's being blackmailed, threatened with exposure to the medical council.
Tony is the therapist, himself a recovered addict and ex-musician with a less than satisfying home life. His wife seems bored with him and is openly critical of his 'work', and his relationship with his clients. His daughter alternates between ignoring him, and openly flaunting her drug use.
Heather is a thirty two year old woman, once addicted to drugs and gambling. She is needy, the group peacemaker and has a 'thing' for Tony. She admits in a group session that she is the one she trusts least in the group.
Chris is a young gay man, living in hostels, shelters and anywhere else he can crash that won't cost him money. He has swapped his drug dependency for an addiction to computer games and online pornography. He is not comfortable in his own skin and enjoys shocking the other group members with tales of his sexuality.
Diana is a well to do housewife who became an alcoholic after her marriage disintegrated and her daughter rejected her. She too has swapped her addiction to alcohol for compulsive shopping.
Caroline is new to the group, obese, a compulsive overeater.
One of these people will be murdered. One of these people is a murderer.
Billingham has, as always, constructed a diabolically clever plot. His characters are a complex lot, but totally believable, an interesting mix of personalities. Put together in a room, ostensibly to support one another's recovery, there are conflicts and resentments, lies and betrayals, and occasionally outright hatred.
The ending is not going to suit everyone, but I liked it.
Although this is a stand alone novel, it amused me that Billingham was unable to resist inserting the characters of Phil Hendricks, a much-pierced medical examiner, and even that of Tom Thorne himself.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.4
#DieOfShame #NetGalley #MarkBillingham #GroveAtlantic
@MarkBillingham @groveatlantic
#contemporaryfiction #crime #detectivefiction #murdermystery
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.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Grove Atlantic via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Die of Shame by Mark Billingham for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
'I didn't think you were coming back,' the prisoner says. He had begun to roll a cigarette as soon as he'd sat down and now he licks the edge of the paper, his eyes fixed on the person in the chair opposite.
'I had a lot of running around to do.'
'Yeah?'
'A bit of detective work, after what you said last time.'
He is trying hard not to look nervous, or even particularly interested, struggling to remember exactly what he said all those weeks before. What he might have given away. He says, 'It's rubbish, isn't it? Everything you put in that first letter. The reason you've been coming.'
'Sorry about that.'
He slaps his hand on the table, but not in anger. He's just pleased to have been proved right. 'I knew it.'
'What do you care? You'll be out soon enough.'
'Yeah, I knew it first time I saw you.'
'Really?'
'You don't look like a student.'
'What do I look like?'
He shrugs, roll-up complete. 'Well, you're obviously some kind of nutter.'
The visitor nods. 'I can't really argue with that. Some kind.'
'So you know, if I see you once I'm out, I won't be quite so friendly.'
'There's no danger of that.'
'Just as long as we're clear.'
'I mean, we all know about that famous temper of yours, don't we?' A smile. 'The only reason I came back at all was to say thank you.'
'For what?'
'For giving me what I needed. For putting me on the right track.'
Now he doesn't much care whether he looks nervous or not. All these years saying nothing; not even then, after it had happened.
He hadn't let something slip, had he?
No, he can't have been that stupid.
He sits up straight and lays his hands flat on the table. He says, 'You hear stories about people like you.'
'Really? What kind of people is that?'
People who get off on all this. Who just like being close to it.' Now, he leans forward, confident that he's hit a nerve. That he's back in charge. 'All this shit you've been giving me, all those questions, and I reckon you just want to know what it's like.'
'What it's like?'
'To kill someone.'
The visitor's face breaks into a grin. 'Oh, I wouldn't worry too much about that. I'll know for myself soon enough.'
ABOUT 'DIE OF SHAME': Every Monday evening, six people gather in a smart North London house to talk about shame. Among them are a grieving surgeon, a betrayed housewife, a taunting gay model, a barely recovered heroin addict. All they have in common is a history of pain and compulsions—until they’re linked by the brutal murder of one of their members. Det. Inspector Nicola Tanner is drawn into this intimate circle to find the killer. Unfortunately, not a single one of them is willing to share.
Now it’s up to Tanner to delve into their pasts on her own. But what secret could be so shameful as to kill for it? Or die for it? And how can she possibly find the truth when lies and denial are second nature to her suspects?
MY THOUGHTS: I had absolutely no idea 'who dunnit'. Billingham adeptly casts suspicion on all of the remaining characters, so that I kept changing my mind. But the motive was the stumbling block, although all of the people are living on the edge, teetering between their pasts, and the future that lays ahead of them if they can only stay clean.
There's Robin, a respected doctor in his early sixties, with a marriage breakup and a history of addiction to a variety of easily obtainable medications behind him. But he's being blackmailed, threatened with exposure to the medical council.
Tony is the therapist, himself a recovered addict and ex-musician with a less than satisfying home life. His wife seems bored with him and is openly critical of his 'work', and his relationship with his clients. His daughter alternates between ignoring him, and openly flaunting her drug use.
Heather is a thirty two year old woman, once addicted to drugs and gambling. She is needy, the group peacemaker and has a 'thing' for Tony. She admits in a group session that she is the one she trusts least in the group.
Chris is a young gay man, living in hostels, shelters and anywhere else he can crash that won't cost him money. He has swapped his drug dependency for an addiction to computer games and online pornography. He is not comfortable in his own skin and enjoys shocking the other group members with tales of his sexuality.
Diana is a well to do housewife who became an alcoholic after her marriage disintegrated and her daughter rejected her. She too has swapped her addiction to alcohol for compulsive shopping.
Caroline is new to the group, obese, a compulsive overeater.
One of these people will be murdered. One of these people is a murderer.
Billingham has, as always, constructed a diabolically clever plot. His characters are a complex lot, but totally believable, an interesting mix of personalities. Put together in a room, ostensibly to support one another's recovery, there are conflicts and resentments, lies and betrayals, and occasionally outright hatred.
The ending is not going to suit everyone, but I liked it.
Although this is a stand alone novel, it amused me that Billingham was unable to resist inserting the characters of Phil Hendricks, a much-pierced medical examiner, and even that of Tom Thorne himself.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.4
#DieOfShame #NetGalley #MarkBillingham #GroveAtlantic
@MarkBillingham @groveatlantic
#contemporaryfiction #crime #detectivefiction #murdermystery
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.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Grove Atlantic via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Die of Shame by Mark Billingham for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
June 3, 2016
3 + stars. Die of Shame was a bit of a slug at times, and at other times it kept my interest. In other words, it was a mixed bag. It's a bit of a classic closed room mystery. The murder victim is a member of a 5 person addiction recovery therapy group. The investigation focuses on the members of the group and the therapist, and what happened during the sessions and between the different group members. The story alternates between two parallel timelines -- "then" and "now" -- before the murder and after the murder. I loved the concept and the structure. I didn't love the characters -- none of them made a huge impression on me -- including the detective. But the tension in the parallel timelines did build up, so by the end I definitely wanted to know who did it and why -- and it was a pretty surprising ending. Definitely a mixed bag. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an opportunity to read an advance copy.
June 28, 2016
I am a keen follower of Mark Billingham's books and have read all the Tom Thorne series so was looking forward to his latest stand alone novel 'Die of Shame'.
Six addicts meet every Monday in a North London house to talk about their shame in addiction. Each addict is very different in both their jobs, background and addiction. They do however share the common link of addiction. One of the group is murdered and the focus is on the group as it seems that one of them is responsible. Detective Inspector Nicola Tanner leads the hunt for the killer but is hampered by the unwillingness of the group to discuss things that may be seen as confidential.
I found this book a real page turner and a little different to the style of whodunits currently in demand. Great characters and well paced plot will have you guessing who the murderer is and if you are anything like me changing your mind again and again.
Six addicts meet every Monday in a North London house to talk about their shame in addiction. Each addict is very different in both their jobs, background and addiction. They do however share the common link of addiction. One of the group is murdered and the focus is on the group as it seems that one of them is responsible. Detective Inspector Nicola Tanner leads the hunt for the killer but is hampered by the unwillingness of the group to discuss things that may be seen as confidential.
I found this book a real page turner and a little different to the style of whodunits currently in demand. Great characters and well paced plot will have you guessing who the murderer is and if you are anything like me changing your mind again and again.
February 6, 2017
DIE OF SHAME BY MARK BILLINGHAM
I had to go back to the beginning and start reading over again because my kindle shut down automatically and all of my highlighting and the page I was on were wiped clear. In a way this turned out to be a good thing because I thought the way this was written, small details were forgotten. The book begins with a prologue called The Visitor which initially was confusing until the entire book is read. It is an unknown character visiting an unknown character in prison. The Prisoner says: " 'I didn't think you were coming back.'
'I had a lot of running around to do.'
'Yeah?'
'A bit of detective work, after what you said last time.'
'It's rubbish, isn't it? Everything you put in that first letter. The reason you've been coming.'
'Sorry about that."
'I knew it.'What do you care? You'll be out soon enough.'
'Yeah, I knew it first time I saw you."
'Really?'
'You don't look like a student.'
'What do I look like?'
'Well, you're obviously some kind of nutter.'
'I can't really argue with that. Some kind."
"So you know, if I see you once I'm out, I won't be quite so friendly.'
'There's no danger of that.'
'Just as long as we're clear.'
'I mean, we know all about that famous temper of yours, don't we?' A smile. 'The only reason I came back at all was to say thank you.'
'For what?'
'For giving me what I needed. For putting me on the right track.'
Now he doesn't much care whether he looks nervous or not. All these years saying nothing; not even THEN, after it happened.
He hadn't let something slip, had he?
No, he can't have been that stupid.
He sits up straight and lays his hands flat on the table. He says, "You hear stories inside about people like you."
'Really? What kind of people is that?'
'People who get off on all this. Who like being close to it.' Now he leans forward, confident that he's hit a nerve. That he's back in charge. 'All this shit you've been giving me, all those questions, and I reckon you just want to know what its like.'
'What it's like?' 'To kill someone.' The visitor's face breaks into a grin.
'Oh, I wouldn't worry too much about that. I'll know for myself soon enough.' "
Every Monday night at 6:00 PM psychologist Tony De Silva observes his client's fifteen minutes of socializing while they drink the coffee and eat the cookies he has prepared before their 6:00 PM session. He thinks that giving them time to converse makes the five individuals open up and share once the session begins. They sit in a circle and discuss their addictions. There is Robin who is in his early sixties who is on sabbatical from being an anesthesiologist. Robin started using what he gave to his patients, Sharing needles Robin volunteered to seek help for his addiction. Chris is already sitting down playing with his smart phone. Chris is addicted to online pornography and other addictions. Diana blames a younger woman for stealing her husband. Diana is divorced, but is a compulsive shopper. Heather's addiction is to drugs and alcohol. Caroline is a compulsive over eater. Tony De Silva brings up the topic of shame and wants the group to reflect about what each of them are ashamed of about themselves. He thinks shame is the root cause of all of their addictions.
One of the five is murdered. The body wasn't discovered for two weeks and is badly decomposed.
D.I. Nicola Tanner and her partner Dipak Chall get assigned the case. Having few leads this is going to be hard to verify alibi's since there is no way to pinpoint time of death, because of the condition of the body.
I very much enjoyed this and having to re-read this a second time made it easy for me to solve. It was just easier to re-read then flip 300 pages on my kindle after it shut down and did it's update or whatever caused it to shut down. I read and have reviewed The Many by this author and I liked this book much better. I would read this author's other work and I would recommend this.
Thank you to Net Galley, Mark Billingham and Grove Atlantic.
I had to go back to the beginning and start reading over again because my kindle shut down automatically and all of my highlighting and the page I was on were wiped clear. In a way this turned out to be a good thing because I thought the way this was written, small details were forgotten. The book begins with a prologue called The Visitor which initially was confusing until the entire book is read. It is an unknown character visiting an unknown character in prison. The Prisoner says: " 'I didn't think you were coming back.'
'I had a lot of running around to do.'
'Yeah?'
'A bit of detective work, after what you said last time.'
'It's rubbish, isn't it? Everything you put in that first letter. The reason you've been coming.'
'Sorry about that."
'I knew it.'What do you care? You'll be out soon enough.'
'Yeah, I knew it first time I saw you."
'Really?'
'You don't look like a student.'
'What do I look like?'
'Well, you're obviously some kind of nutter.'
'I can't really argue with that. Some kind."
"So you know, if I see you once I'm out, I won't be quite so friendly.'
'There's no danger of that.'
'Just as long as we're clear.'
'I mean, we know all about that famous temper of yours, don't we?' A smile. 'The only reason I came back at all was to say thank you.'
'For what?'
'For giving me what I needed. For putting me on the right track.'
Now he doesn't much care whether he looks nervous or not. All these years saying nothing; not even THEN, after it happened.
He hadn't let something slip, had he?
No, he can't have been that stupid.
He sits up straight and lays his hands flat on the table. He says, "You hear stories inside about people like you."
'Really? What kind of people is that?'
'People who get off on all this. Who like being close to it.' Now he leans forward, confident that he's hit a nerve. That he's back in charge. 'All this shit you've been giving me, all those questions, and I reckon you just want to know what its like.'
'What it's like?' 'To kill someone.' The visitor's face breaks into a grin.
'Oh, I wouldn't worry too much about that. I'll know for myself soon enough.' "
Every Monday night at 6:00 PM psychologist Tony De Silva observes his client's fifteen minutes of socializing while they drink the coffee and eat the cookies he has prepared before their 6:00 PM session. He thinks that giving them time to converse makes the five individuals open up and share once the session begins. They sit in a circle and discuss their addictions. There is Robin who is in his early sixties who is on sabbatical from being an anesthesiologist. Robin started using what he gave to his patients, Sharing needles Robin volunteered to seek help for his addiction. Chris is already sitting down playing with his smart phone. Chris is addicted to online pornography and other addictions. Diana blames a younger woman for stealing her husband. Diana is divorced, but is a compulsive shopper. Heather's addiction is to drugs and alcohol. Caroline is a compulsive over eater. Tony De Silva brings up the topic of shame and wants the group to reflect about what each of them are ashamed of about themselves. He thinks shame is the root cause of all of their addictions.
One of the five is murdered. The body wasn't discovered for two weeks and is badly decomposed.
D.I. Nicola Tanner and her partner Dipak Chall get assigned the case. Having few leads this is going to be hard to verify alibi's since there is no way to pinpoint time of death, because of the condition of the body.
I very much enjoyed this and having to re-read this a second time made it easy for me to solve. It was just easier to re-read then flip 300 pages on my kindle after it shut down and did it's update or whatever caused it to shut down. I read and have reviewed The Many by this author and I liked this book much better. I would read this author's other work and I would recommend this.
Thank you to Net Galley, Mark Billingham and Grove Atlantic.
May 29, 2016
I’m a bit of a closet fan of Mark Billingham (sometimes I’m shrieky other times I just quietly get on with reading everything an author has ever written) but I think I might get *slightly* shrieky over “Die of Shame” because it was bloody brilliant.
Mainly for me it worked because of the layered characters, all with a common thread but all so very very different, the interaction and relationship the group developed I found endlessly fascinating – the main premise of the plot dealing with addiction, a subject I am not unfamiliar with, was done in such an authentic fashion at times I forgot I was reading a crime novel – then ooh look big fat juicy murder. The mish mash of personal drama and dastardly deeds made this a bang on perfect read for me.
The investigative strand, the other side of the coin if you like, was also horrifically addictive (yes you see what I did there?) as the police mostly in the form of the highly intriguing Nicola Tanner attempt to drag secrets out of those who are secretive by nature. A natural part of the recovery process and one again that was done with a healthy dose of reality whilst still making it extremely entertaining. I was fond of Nicola – sharp around the edges, determined and refreshingly confident in her professional abilities – even though her home life is causing her somewhat of a challenge.
What else can I say? The point is its a blinking good read, plotted to perfection, entirely absorbing from the very first paragraph and as for the ending just really. Honestly. Clever. I sat there and went huh? Aaaah. Hmm. Interesting…..
Really good. Really VERY good. Mark Billingham is at the top of his game right now and lets face it he was hardly a lightweight to begin with.
Highly Recommended.
Mainly for me it worked because of the layered characters, all with a common thread but all so very very different, the interaction and relationship the group developed I found endlessly fascinating – the main premise of the plot dealing with addiction, a subject I am not unfamiliar with, was done in such an authentic fashion at times I forgot I was reading a crime novel – then ooh look big fat juicy murder. The mish mash of personal drama and dastardly deeds made this a bang on perfect read for me.
The investigative strand, the other side of the coin if you like, was also horrifically addictive (yes you see what I did there?) as the police mostly in the form of the highly intriguing Nicola Tanner attempt to drag secrets out of those who are secretive by nature. A natural part of the recovery process and one again that was done with a healthy dose of reality whilst still making it extremely entertaining. I was fond of Nicola – sharp around the edges, determined and refreshingly confident in her professional abilities – even though her home life is causing her somewhat of a challenge.
What else can I say? The point is its a blinking good read, plotted to perfection, entirely absorbing from the very first paragraph and as for the ending just really. Honestly. Clever. I sat there and went huh? Aaaah. Hmm. Interesting…..
Really good. Really VERY good. Mark Billingham is at the top of his game right now and lets face it he was hardly a lightweight to begin with.
Highly Recommended.
November 4, 2016
This is a very good mystery that had me guessing until the end (although the author did cheat with the facts a little). The characters are members of a support group for recovering addicts, including the leader of the group. The members have various addictions including drugs, alcohol, food and shopping. When one of the members of the group is brutally murdered, the police suspect that something that happened in the group led to the killing. In the group each member is encouraged to share a secret shame that contributed to their addiction.
The story is told from the point of view of each of the characters, and switches back and forth between the time before the murder ("then") and after the murder ("now"). I found that a little confusing at first, but I probably wasn't paying close enough attention to the headings. The characters weren't really a likable group, and I really hated the victim by the end of the book, but each of the characters held my attention and I was entertained by this story. I also like the sort of "open" ending.
The audiobook was read by the author and he did an excellent job with the narration.
I received a free copy of the e-book from the publisher, but I wound up borrowing and listening to the audiobook from the library.
The story is told from the point of view of each of the characters, and switches back and forth between the time before the murder ("then") and after the murder ("now"). I found that a little confusing at first, but I probably wasn't paying close enough attention to the headings. The characters weren't really a likable group, and I really hated the victim by the end of the book, but each of the characters held my attention and I was entertained by this story. I also like the sort of "open" ending.
The audiobook was read by the author and he did an excellent job with the narration.
I received a free copy of the e-book from the publisher, but I wound up borrowing and listening to the audiobook from the library.
April 22, 2016
This story is FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!
Tony De Silva, therapist of a Monday night 'addiction-recovery' group, gave everyone a short break to process their loss after one of their members is murdered. Tony didn't
feel as if he was able to carry on -himself immediately. I wondered if 'he' was the killer...but actually I couldn't for the life of me see a reason why anyone at the Monday night group would kill 'Heather'. If anything I wondered if maybe Tony's wife, Nina was the killer. Nina knew how to covertly kick her husband in the balls...( many times over). For example...
When Heather died ...( having just learned she had been killed), she tells Tony it's probably a good idea that his group take a break because "you're not a grief counsellor, are you?"
His wife took little interest in understanding his work....and was a little bossy & narcissistic IMO! Their one daughter had some problems too - having had bouts of bulimia at one time.. If Tony wanted to talk with Nina about their daughters problems together, Nina would say, "Your area, not mine". However... does that make 'her' the killer? I was guessing on and off the entire novel ...but it was the characters I had so much fun with. They were a textured - diverse set of personalities with varied voices.
The group members are as delicious as just picked ripe apricots directly from the tree.
You'll be able to dig your teeth right into these characters --- and have a glory field day with Tony, and his wild gang...( and their group dialogue cross-chat).
Dr. Robin Joffe....respected doctor in his 60's, turned to medical drugs after his son died.
Chris Clemence....Inflated- flowery -male model - tennis pro- part time racing driver- "rent boy".....addiction is computer games and online pornography.
Diana Knight....Once considered herself a classy housewife -drifted from alcoholism to shopping compulsively after her husband leaves for another woman.
Heather Finlay...her addiction is drugs and alcohol....has a sorry story past. Tony's wife remembers her as the woman who looks like a boy and had a crush on her husband.
Caroline Armitage....the newcomer of the group has problems with compulsive over eating.
Tony believes shame is at the root of many addictions - and wants his group to explore facing up to that shame - and take away its power....as its a key recovery tool.
RECOVERY???.....or DEATH????
As I thoroughly enjoyed this novel...I kept wondering who was shameful of who?
Was Heather killed because somebody was ashamed of her or themselves? Or Both?
Or....something all together different?
You'll meet DI Nicola Tunner ...who leads the murder investigation ...She's perfect for the role... Strong....but I'll be darn if I was able to figure out the ending. -- very few tips were dished out.
Mark Billingham seduces us to his characters --- so much so - that it just might keep you on the 'straight-and-arrow' when it comes to philosophy that "everything-in-moderation", is a wonderous high!!!
Thank You, Grove Atlantic, Netgalley, and Mark Billingham
Tony De Silva, therapist of a Monday night 'addiction-recovery' group, gave everyone a short break to process their loss after one of their members is murdered. Tony didn't
feel as if he was able to carry on -himself immediately. I wondered if 'he' was the killer...but actually I couldn't for the life of me see a reason why anyone at the Monday night group would kill 'Heather'. If anything I wondered if maybe Tony's wife, Nina was the killer. Nina knew how to covertly kick her husband in the balls...( many times over). For example...
When Heather died ...( having just learned she had been killed), she tells Tony it's probably a good idea that his group take a break because "you're not a grief counsellor, are you?"
His wife took little interest in understanding his work....and was a little bossy & narcissistic IMO! Their one daughter had some problems too - having had bouts of bulimia at one time.. If Tony wanted to talk with Nina about their daughters problems together, Nina would say, "Your area, not mine". However... does that make 'her' the killer? I was guessing on and off the entire novel ...but it was the characters I had so much fun with. They were a textured - diverse set of personalities with varied voices.
The group members are as delicious as just picked ripe apricots directly from the tree.
You'll be able to dig your teeth right into these characters --- and have a glory field day with Tony, and his wild gang...( and their group dialogue cross-chat).
Dr. Robin Joffe....respected doctor in his 60's, turned to medical drugs after his son died.
Chris Clemence....Inflated- flowery -male model - tennis pro- part time racing driver- "rent boy".....addiction is computer games and online pornography.
Diana Knight....Once considered herself a classy housewife -drifted from alcoholism to shopping compulsively after her husband leaves for another woman.
Heather Finlay...her addiction is drugs and alcohol....has a sorry story past. Tony's wife remembers her as the woman who looks like a boy and had a crush on her husband.
Caroline Armitage....the newcomer of the group has problems with compulsive over eating.
Tony believes shame is at the root of many addictions - and wants his group to explore facing up to that shame - and take away its power....as its a key recovery tool.
RECOVERY???.....or DEATH????
As I thoroughly enjoyed this novel...I kept wondering who was shameful of who?
Was Heather killed because somebody was ashamed of her or themselves? Or Both?
Or....something all together different?
You'll meet DI Nicola Tunner ...who leads the murder investigation ...She's perfect for the role... Strong....but I'll be darn if I was able to figure out the ending. -- very few tips were dished out.
Mark Billingham seduces us to his characters --- so much so - that it just might keep you on the 'straight-and-arrow' when it comes to philosophy that "everything-in-moderation", is a wonderous high!!!
Thank You, Grove Atlantic, Netgalley, and Mark Billingham
June 1, 2016
Therapist Tony de Silva believes that shame can trigger addictive behaviors. In his Monday evening therapy group, he asks the five participants, all recovering addicts, to reveal their stories of shame in order to get to the root of their addictions and aid their recovery. However, one of the group is subsequently found murdered, and DI Nicola Tanner, charged with the investigation, soon realizes that the person responsible is likely to be connected to the therapy group. But with psychotherapy bound by strict confidentiality rules and with the group members as ex-addicts proficient at keeping secrets and distorting the truth, Tanner and her sidekick, Dipak Chall, are struggling to find sufficient evidence for their theory.
Die of Shame was an engrossing character-driven and well-paced mystery. From the respected older doctor to the young male prostitute to the middle-aged housewife who was left by her husband for a newer model, the five group members were so diverse in their backgrounds and their addictions, it was absolutely fascinating to learn their histories and observe their interactions. I wasn't particularly fond of any of the characters, that includes the rather aloof DI Tanner and the hazy therapist, but all of them were totally mesmerizing to follow. I ended up suspecting all of them at some stage.
The changes in the timeline and the alternating points of view were a little tricky to follow at times but the way all the information was gradually drip-fed until it all came together was done very effectively. It's obvious the author spent time researching addiction and therapy, as the sessions and the characters were very believable.
I have been aware of Mark Billingham's well-known Tom Thorne series although I have never read or watched any of it, so I went into this without any expectation. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Die of Shame, which is a stand-alone novel, and will now make an effort to become better acquainted with Mark Billingham's other work.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Die of Shame was an engrossing character-driven and well-paced mystery. From the respected older doctor to the young male prostitute to the middle-aged housewife who was left by her husband for a newer model, the five group members were so diverse in their backgrounds and their addictions, it was absolutely fascinating to learn their histories and observe their interactions. I wasn't particularly fond of any of the characters, that includes the rather aloof DI Tanner and the hazy therapist, but all of them were totally mesmerizing to follow. I ended up suspecting all of them at some stage.
The changes in the timeline and the alternating points of view were a little tricky to follow at times but the way all the information was gradually drip-fed until it all came together was done very effectively. It's obvious the author spent time researching addiction and therapy, as the sessions and the characters were very believable.
I have been aware of Mark Billingham's well-known Tom Thorne series although I have never read or watched any of it, so I went into this without any expectation. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Die of Shame, which is a stand-alone novel, and will now make an effort to become better acquainted with Mark Billingham's other work.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 7, 2016
My sincere thanks to NetGalley, Grove Atlantic and Mark Billingham for providing an advanced review copy of 'Die Of Shame' in exchange for an honest review.
Every Monday evening, six people gather in a smart North London house to talk about shame. A respected doctor, a well-heeled housewife, a young male prostitute . . . they could not be more different. All they have in common is a history of addiction. But when one of the group is murdered, it quickly becomes apparent that someone else in that circle is responsible. The investigation is hampered by the strict confidentiality that binds these individuals and their therapist together, which makes things difficult for Detective Inspector Nicola Tanner, a woman who can appreciate the desire to keep personal matters private. If she is to find the killer, she will need to use less obvious means. The question is: What could be shameful enough to cost someone their life? And how do you find the truth when secrets, lies, and denial are second nature to all of your suspects?
I have to be honest - I loved this book and I'm rather ashamed of why I did! I felt like such a voyeur, delving into the worlds of recovering addicts and accompanying them on their journey to recovery.
The book started off rather slow in my opinion. It's written from two perspectives - 'then' and 'now' - the time leading up to the crime and the aftermath. I found this very confusing to start with and had to keep checking back to remind myself whether I was in the 'then' or 'now'. However, I soon got to grips with the switch between perspectives and it settled down, to allow me to fully enjoy the story.
The characters were all an interesting bunch. I think at one point I suspected each and every one of them! This book is reminiscent of Mark Billingham's previous standalone novel 'Rush Of Blood' which I absolutely loved. I can't quite put my finger on why - again, I think (for me) it comes down to the voyeuristic aspect of being able to peek into the damaged lives of these tainted characters.
Whilst I loved the mish mash of characters that made up the therapy group, I just couldn't take to the cop in charge of the investigation, Tanner. I found her extremely cold and detached - a far cry from our beloved Tom Thorne. I tried to warm to Tanner but I just couldn't. She gave the impression that she just had no drive, no passion and I didn't like her character one bit. She never seemed to want to socialise or engage in conversation with anyone, including her partner and I found her attitude to be very standoffish and at times, downright cold. Perhaps if she was to feature in future novels, her character might be developed so that we get to see another side of her. I did, however, love the cameo appearance by Hendricks - the tattooed and pierced pathologist. I've loved the eccentricity of Hendricks throughout the Thorne novels and it was like being reunited with a familiar friend when he made an appearance in this novel.
Overall, I did enjoy this very much after the shaky start. It certainly kept me turning the pages and I was definitely intrigued enough to want to know whodunnit! I'd recommend this to all fans of thrillers. A solid 4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me.
Every Monday evening, six people gather in a smart North London house to talk about shame. A respected doctor, a well-heeled housewife, a young male prostitute . . . they could not be more different. All they have in common is a history of addiction. But when one of the group is murdered, it quickly becomes apparent that someone else in that circle is responsible. The investigation is hampered by the strict confidentiality that binds these individuals and their therapist together, which makes things difficult for Detective Inspector Nicola Tanner, a woman who can appreciate the desire to keep personal matters private. If she is to find the killer, she will need to use less obvious means. The question is: What could be shameful enough to cost someone their life? And how do you find the truth when secrets, lies, and denial are second nature to all of your suspects?
I have to be honest - I loved this book and I'm rather ashamed of why I did! I felt like such a voyeur, delving into the worlds of recovering addicts and accompanying them on their journey to recovery.
The book started off rather slow in my opinion. It's written from two perspectives - 'then' and 'now' - the time leading up to the crime and the aftermath. I found this very confusing to start with and had to keep checking back to remind myself whether I was in the 'then' or 'now'. However, I soon got to grips with the switch between perspectives and it settled down, to allow me to fully enjoy the story.
The characters were all an interesting bunch. I think at one point I suspected each and every one of them! This book is reminiscent of Mark Billingham's previous standalone novel 'Rush Of Blood' which I absolutely loved. I can't quite put my finger on why - again, I think (for me) it comes down to the voyeuristic aspect of being able to peek into the damaged lives of these tainted characters.
Whilst I loved the mish mash of characters that made up the therapy group, I just couldn't take to the cop in charge of the investigation, Tanner. I found her extremely cold and detached - a far cry from our beloved Tom Thorne. I tried to warm to Tanner but I just couldn't. She gave the impression that she just had no drive, no passion and I didn't like her character one bit. She never seemed to want to socialise or engage in conversation with anyone, including her partner and I found her attitude to be very standoffish and at times, downright cold. Perhaps if she was to feature in future novels, her character might be developed so that we get to see another side of her. I did, however, love the cameo appearance by Hendricks - the tattooed and pierced pathologist. I've loved the eccentricity of Hendricks throughout the Thorne novels and it was like being reunited with a familiar friend when he made an appearance in this novel.
Overall, I did enjoy this very much after the shaky start. It certainly kept me turning the pages and I was definitely intrigued enough to want to know whodunnit! I'd recommend this to all fans of thrillers. A solid 4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me.
June 2, 2016
Every Monday night, counsellor Tony de Silva opens his home for group therapy. His regulars are a bunch of misfits from different walks of life with only one thing in common. They are addicts. Their drug of choice may vary from food to heroin but each knows how far they've fallen & why.
Billingham gives us a seat in the room & over the next few weeks, we listen in as they tell their stories. The group is a snake pit of shifting alliances as they alternate between support & infighting. It's supposed to be a safe place to admit your failures & share your wins. Then one of them is brutally murdered.
In a separate story line a man in prison for murder receives an anonymous visitor with questions about his crime.
The author uses flashbacks & alternating POV's to inform us of each characters's role in events leading up to the murder. As a result there are several credible candidates for killer. And when DI Nicola Tanner catches the case she quickly realizes it will not be an easy solve.
This is a departure from Billingham's "Tom Thorne" series & it's more of a psychological mystery than police procedural. The shifting time lines can be tricky to follow as your brain works to put events in chronological order. Characters are well defined & it's clear none are saints. They're not particularly likeable either as they scramble to keep their secrets from police. When the killer is revealed both story lines come together & a familiar face puts in an appearance.
So forget car chases & things that go boom. This is a stripped down & unflinching look at the lives of recovering addicts. The investigation may not end as expected but the intense therapy sessions & strong characterization make for an absorbing read.
Billingham gives us a seat in the room & over the next few weeks, we listen in as they tell their stories. The group is a snake pit of shifting alliances as they alternate between support & infighting. It's supposed to be a safe place to admit your failures & share your wins. Then one of them is brutally murdered.
In a separate story line a man in prison for murder receives an anonymous visitor with questions about his crime.
The author uses flashbacks & alternating POV's to inform us of each characters's role in events leading up to the murder. As a result there are several credible candidates for killer. And when DI Nicola Tanner catches the case she quickly realizes it will not be an easy solve.
This is a departure from Billingham's "Tom Thorne" series & it's more of a psychological mystery than police procedural. The shifting time lines can be tricky to follow as your brain works to put events in chronological order. Characters are well defined & it's clear none are saints. They're not particularly likeable either as they scramble to keep their secrets from police. When the killer is revealed both story lines come together & a familiar face puts in an appearance.
So forget car chases & things that go boom. This is a stripped down & unflinching look at the lives of recovering addicts. The investigation may not end as expected but the intense therapy sessions & strong characterization make for an absorbing read.
September 5, 2016
This is just my favorite kind of crime-mystery book.
A group of very dissimilar people have a weekly group therapy session. They talk about their addiction problems (eating, shopping, drugs) and the shameful things they have done because of it.
When one of them is murdered, it seems obvious the death is related to the group.
When DI Nicola Tanner starts investigating, it seems she will get nowhere as the confidentiality rules that the group has, give her no leads.
This is a fast paced very well written book. It's set in London, with a variety of well defined characters and has a strong female police investigator.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A group of very dissimilar people have a weekly group therapy session. They talk about their addiction problems (eating, shopping, drugs) and the shameful things they have done because of it.
When one of them is murdered, it seems obvious the death is related to the group.
When DI Nicola Tanner starts investigating, it seems she will get nowhere as the confidentiality rules that the group has, give her no leads.
This is a fast paced very well written book. It's set in London, with a variety of well defined characters and has a strong female police investigator.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 9, 2016
Mark Billingham has been on my must read list for many years. I love his DI Tom Thorne series. His newest book is a stand alone called Die of Shame.
Six recovering addicts meet on Monday nights in their therapist's home office. They are varied group - straight, gay, rich, poor, male, female, working, unemployed, young, old etc. But addiction doesn't discriminate.
Billingham employs a then and now format in his novel. (I always enjoy this style - two stories running concurrently until they inevitably collide.) Then is meeting the participants, sitting in on the group meeting, observing the interactions, the dynamics and the tensions. And Tony the therapist's questionable therapy method. He wants each member to expose the thing they are most ashamed of in front of the others.....
The now? One of the members is dead. Is it a random killing? Could it be one of the remaining five? The reader is privy to insider knowledge that the police don't have - what happens in the circle can't be repeated.
Spliced into the story are short meetings between a convict and an unknown visitor. " '...all those questions, and I reckon you just want to know what it's like.....To kill someone.' 'The visitor's face breaks into a grin. Oh I wouldn't worry too much about that. I'll know for myself soon enough."
Billingham has written a slower paced suspense novel this time 'round. The focus is more on the characters, their actions, reactions, mindsets, thoughts and judgements rather than on crime details. Die of Shame is more of a psychological mystery than a plot driven read.
I thought all of the players were extremely well drawn - none of them are very likable, but the reader still feels empathy. I thought Billingham did a good job of depicting recovering addicts. There was one character that I had my suspicions about. And I was proven right - but the reason behind it was a surprise. The investigating team of Tanner and Chall are also given a good backstory (especially Tanner - it would be nice to see more of her) and do their job well, but I wasn't as invested in them as Tom Thorne. (Yes, I miss him)
The last sentence of the book was absolutely perfect and had me exclaiming out loud. I'm very curious if this will go further or it was just a nice little ending to grab the reader.
Six recovering addicts meet on Monday nights in their therapist's home office. They are varied group - straight, gay, rich, poor, male, female, working, unemployed, young, old etc. But addiction doesn't discriminate.
Billingham employs a then and now format in his novel. (I always enjoy this style - two stories running concurrently until they inevitably collide.) Then is meeting the participants, sitting in on the group meeting, observing the interactions, the dynamics and the tensions. And Tony the therapist's questionable therapy method. He wants each member to expose the thing they are most ashamed of in front of the others.....
The now? One of the members is dead. Is it a random killing? Could it be one of the remaining five? The reader is privy to insider knowledge that the police don't have - what happens in the circle can't be repeated.
Spliced into the story are short meetings between a convict and an unknown visitor. " '...all those questions, and I reckon you just want to know what it's like.....To kill someone.' 'The visitor's face breaks into a grin. Oh I wouldn't worry too much about that. I'll know for myself soon enough."
Billingham has written a slower paced suspense novel this time 'round. The focus is more on the characters, their actions, reactions, mindsets, thoughts and judgements rather than on crime details. Die of Shame is more of a psychological mystery than a plot driven read.
I thought all of the players were extremely well drawn - none of them are very likable, but the reader still feels empathy. I thought Billingham did a good job of depicting recovering addicts. There was one character that I had my suspicions about. And I was proven right - but the reason behind it was a surprise. The investigating team of Tanner and Chall are also given a good backstory (especially Tanner - it would be nice to see more of her) and do their job well, but I wasn't as invested in them as Tom Thorne. (Yes, I miss him)
The last sentence of the book was absolutely perfect and had me exclaiming out loud. I'm very curious if this will go further or it was just a nice little ending to grab the reader.
September 11, 2017
At 150 pages in I stopped reading this book. There was far too much character interplay with characters whose character was weak and as thinly developed as tissue paper. I didn't care one iota about any of these people. As far as any story to the murder investigation portion, I haven't come across many books that were as boring and uninteresting.
April 21, 2017
I was bit disappointed with this one. I've read all his others - and kept them - but I don't think I'll keep this one. I didn't mind the subject matter - a group of individuals in therapy for addiction of one sort or another. I liked Chris as a character but sadly none of the others were actually likeable or very interesting. I'd hoped I like the new detective but I didn't. Though I think there was not enough about her, and too much about the others. The story was slow. It was a bit like an Agatha Christie whodunit type story. All the suspects laid out and the story gradually unfolding - forwards and back - which was confusing at times. I guessed who'd done it, though not why. I liked the surprise at the end! But overall - not one of his best for me.
November 26, 2024
⭐️4.5⭐️ stars
May 7, 2016
"Its never nice watching people tear each other to pieces" writes the therapist Tony De Silva at one point after his Monday night group have left their session but I have to disagree when it comes to this group of misfits! This standalone book by the Tom Thorne creator brings together a cast of incredibly unlikable but fascinating characters and puts them in a claustrophobic and highly combustible setting then stands back to watch them all explode!
The main thread running through this book is the weekly Monday meetings of a support group for those with addictions. The group is overseen by therapist Tony De Silva in his home and comprises of three women and two men. We realise at the start that one of the group has been murdered but we don't find out until a quarter of the way through which one. The group have been telling their "stories of shame", taking it in turns every Monday, and it looks like the latest tale may have got its storyteller killed. It's up to DI Nicola Tanner and her sidekick DC Dipak Chall to investigate the murder and the Monday group is going to be their first port of call.
I really enjoyed this book! In fact I'm hoping that instead of a standalone, Mark Billingham will make this the start of a series-maybe just an occasional one though as we do still need Tom Thorne in our lives (we actually meet a few familiar faces here as well!). When I got this book I hadn't even realised it was a standalone so was rather worried it wouldn't live up to expectations but it did and even surpassed them. I didn't even work out the "who"or "why" in this one and I was really convinced I had! I liked the way the story was told in the Then and Now headings once I had got used to them but most of all I just loved the simplicity of taking a group of people, all of whom had secrets and giving them all a motive for murder! This was a fabulous character driven murder mystery that would look brilliant played out in a television drama, an old-fashioned whodunit brought up to date with stories of addiction, sex, obsession and revenge. And that ending....loved it! I certainly feel Nicola Tanner has more to give so hopefully we will meet her again soon.
I received a copy of this book via netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
The main thread running through this book is the weekly Monday meetings of a support group for those with addictions. The group is overseen by therapist Tony De Silva in his home and comprises of three women and two men. We realise at the start that one of the group has been murdered but we don't find out until a quarter of the way through which one. The group have been telling their "stories of shame", taking it in turns every Monday, and it looks like the latest tale may have got its storyteller killed. It's up to DI Nicola Tanner and her sidekick DC Dipak Chall to investigate the murder and the Monday group is going to be their first port of call.
I really enjoyed this book! In fact I'm hoping that instead of a standalone, Mark Billingham will make this the start of a series-maybe just an occasional one though as we do still need Tom Thorne in our lives (we actually meet a few familiar faces here as well!). When I got this book I hadn't even realised it was a standalone so was rather worried it wouldn't live up to expectations but it did and even surpassed them. I didn't even work out the "who"or "why" in this one and I was really convinced I had! I liked the way the story was told in the Then and Now headings once I had got used to them but most of all I just loved the simplicity of taking a group of people, all of whom had secrets and giving them all a motive for murder! This was a fabulous character driven murder mystery that would look brilliant played out in a television drama, an old-fashioned whodunit brought up to date with stories of addiction, sex, obsession and revenge. And that ending....loved it! I certainly feel Nicola Tanner has more to give so hopefully we will meet her again soon.
I received a copy of this book via netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
May 6, 2020
There's just something about a Mark Billingham book that makes it a smooth read for me and the time and pages just seem to fly by. I've read quite a few of the Tom Thorne books and some were more to my liking than others but they were all good books. This stand-alone was well written with interesting characters and a couple of threads that were easy to follow. I was suspecting everyone of being the murderer and found the ending to be quite an interesting twist. Tom Thorne made a cameo appearance near the end but we were left hanging as to the resolution of the case. There was an excerpt from Love Like Blood in the edition I was reading and, although I read it some time ago, I hadn't realized that the resolution to Die of Shame was covered in Love Like Blood and Nicola Tanner's story continues on in it as well. Very clever! Highly recommended.
October 2, 2019
The ending was good but nothing new from a great writer of thriller novels...
April 28, 2019
A solid 3 1/2 stars from me for this one. I enjoyed the plot line and I was kept guessing right till the end as to who dunnit ! Very enjoyable and interesting characters provided an easy read ... but could have done with a bit more excitement I suppose ! However I did enjoy it and I thought it was cleverly written.
April 12, 2016
Ok lets get one thing straight I am a big fan of Detective Inspector Tom Thorne and I think Mark Billingham has done a wonderful job in creating a flawed yet very likeable policeman. I also thought that Sleepyhead was a truly great debut story and good introduction to Thorne with his unenviable taste in music and his odd choice of friendship in the heavily tattooed pathologist Phil Hendricks. I recently reviewed and awarded 5 stars to From the Dead (Tom Thorne 9) and 4 stars to Time of Death (Tom Thorne 13)
Die of Shame is a departure from the Thorne series and is a standalone novel in its own right. Unfortunately it fails on many levels to make an impression on me and apart from the odd unexpected moment it will not be remembered by me as Mr Billinghams's finest hour.
The story revolves around the periodic meetings of a group of addicts at the home of their mentor and group leader Tony De Silva. One of the group meets an untimely and somewhat gruesome death and it is the task of DI Nicola Tanner to uncover the truth and bring the perpetrator to justice. Unfortunately we spend little time getting to know DI Tanner and indeed the investigation seems to be secondary to the ramblings and tedious intricacies of the various members who comprise the group meetings. The following is a typical example of the type of group exchanges that occur throughout and seem to me to be totally at odds with what we should be concerned with ie solving the murder!...."Can I suggest that rage is only part of it? It's needy, Heather says. I really don't mean that in a negative way. I promise. Obviously you feel angry, but I think you basically want to be reassured that it wasn't your fault. That's what the drinking was really about."
There are some high moments, I especially enjoyed when Tanner had to consult with pathologist Hendricks and I was eager to see what her first impressions would be and how she would react to his flamboyance "Phillip Hendricks was not Tanner's favourite pathologist. There was no question about his competence or diligence, but he could be a little....flashy. Quite literally sometimes, if one of his facial piercings caught the light in the post-mortem suite. Who knew how many piercings, tattoos everywhere, the shaved head. If felt showy to Tanner, unnecessary. It seemed wholly unsuitable considering the nature of his job."
I felt the author should have explored Tanner's personal and work life in greater detail following her thinking as she attempted to unravel and solve a complex investigation. That said the conclusion of the story was both exciting and totally unexpected, a masterstroke by Billingham who caught me totally unaware and made me smile in equal measure. I received a free copy of this book for and honest review and that is what I have written.
Die of Shame is a departure from the Thorne series and is a standalone novel in its own right. Unfortunately it fails on many levels to make an impression on me and apart from the odd unexpected moment it will not be remembered by me as Mr Billinghams's finest hour.
The story revolves around the periodic meetings of a group of addicts at the home of their mentor and group leader Tony De Silva. One of the group meets an untimely and somewhat gruesome death and it is the task of DI Nicola Tanner to uncover the truth and bring the perpetrator to justice. Unfortunately we spend little time getting to know DI Tanner and indeed the investigation seems to be secondary to the ramblings and tedious intricacies of the various members who comprise the group meetings. The following is a typical example of the type of group exchanges that occur throughout and seem to me to be totally at odds with what we should be concerned with ie solving the murder!...."Can I suggest that rage is only part of it? It's needy, Heather says. I really don't mean that in a negative way. I promise. Obviously you feel angry, but I think you basically want to be reassured that it wasn't your fault. That's what the drinking was really about."
There are some high moments, I especially enjoyed when Tanner had to consult with pathologist Hendricks and I was eager to see what her first impressions would be and how she would react to his flamboyance "Phillip Hendricks was not Tanner's favourite pathologist. There was no question about his competence or diligence, but he could be a little....flashy. Quite literally sometimes, if one of his facial piercings caught the light in the post-mortem suite. Who knew how many piercings, tattoos everywhere, the shaved head. If felt showy to Tanner, unnecessary. It seemed wholly unsuitable considering the nature of his job."
I felt the author should have explored Tanner's personal and work life in greater detail following her thinking as she attempted to unravel and solve a complex investigation. That said the conclusion of the story was both exciting and totally unexpected, a masterstroke by Billingham who caught me totally unaware and made me smile in equal measure. I received a free copy of this book for and honest review and that is what I have written.
June 24, 2016
This closely knit crime story brings together a group of recovering addicts - some doing better than others - who sit in a room in London to talk about their experiences and seem supportive. But one of the group is killed in her home and not found for a few weeks. Tragic enough, but to think that as she had no other circle of acquaintances, the killer must have been one of the group....
While Billingham has written some excellent DI Tom Thorne mysteries, this story introduces a new female DI with her own experiences and methods. Good to write about a lady with a senior police job and a girlfriend at home. Seasoned writers can get too formulaic and this character swap or series swap is a great way to break loose. On the other hand, I didn't get to know our DI that well and she seemed to have no real relationship dynamic as she and her partner split bills rather than sharing responsibilities; they might be just flat mates.
The main character work and tensions we find among the group who meet, sulk, criticise and share stories. The old familiars are there like a blackmailer, adulterer, gambler and more, with a facilitator, all on the same road like Canterbury pilgrims sharing tales. The creation and knitting of dynamics is well done. If I didn't love this part of the tale, which felt a little drawn out, heavy on conversation and light on setting or action, well, I knew it would be about an addiction support group, so it was my choice to read the book. The very end is nice, though it's still not properly concluded. Meat for the next book I expect.
I also felt that the tale could have been set almost anywhere in UK or America, with a light sprinkling of London locations name-checked and very occasionally visited. In the past Billingham has made the streets an integral part of the tale. Probably that sense of place was a large part of what I was missing.
An ARC was sent to me for unbiased review.
While Billingham has written some excellent DI Tom Thorne mysteries, this story introduces a new female DI with her own experiences and methods. Good to write about a lady with a senior police job and a girlfriend at home. Seasoned writers can get too formulaic and this character swap or series swap is a great way to break loose. On the other hand, I didn't get to know our DI that well and she seemed to have no real relationship dynamic as she and her partner split bills rather than sharing responsibilities; they might be just flat mates.
The main character work and tensions we find among the group who meet, sulk, criticise and share stories. The old familiars are there like a blackmailer, adulterer, gambler and more, with a facilitator, all on the same road like Canterbury pilgrims sharing tales. The creation and knitting of dynamics is well done. If I didn't love this part of the tale, which felt a little drawn out, heavy on conversation and light on setting or action, well, I knew it would be about an addiction support group, so it was my choice to read the book. The very end is nice, though it's still not properly concluded. Meat for the next book I expect.
I also felt that the tale could have been set almost anywhere in UK or America, with a light sprinkling of London locations name-checked and very occasionally visited. In the past Billingham has made the streets an integral part of the tale. Probably that sense of place was a large part of what I was missing.
An ARC was sent to me for unbiased review.
June 13, 2016
ARC for review - EPD - June 7, 2016
Left My Brilliant Friend in Virginia, so I guess it will be a couple of weeks before I get it back. Reading this one in the meantime.
Billingham is the author of the successful Tom Thorne detective series, but this book focuses on another British detective, Nicola Tanner as she tries to discover the murderer and the motive of the member of a support group for recovering addicts. The book is presented in alternating "then" and "now" sections so the reader sees all that lead up to the murder and then the investigation (culminating with a fun "now" twist). Tanner quickly sees that perhaps "addiction isn't the issue, but the group is." and we get to know each member of the group and what brings them to seek help from Tony, their therapist. Tony's (a former addict himself) method of treatment includes having each group member describe his or her moment of greatest shame, with the idea that "shame is primitive...that's why it's so powerful. It's all tied up with why we feel unworthy all the time, why we feel bad about who we are."
While I was a bit let down by the ending, overall this was good page turner - an excellent choice for those who enjoy the Susan Hill/Tana French brand of British detective stories. I quite enjoyed the one Tom Thorne novel I read ( Sleepyhead, the first in the series) and I liked this one too, as it kept me interested and engaged.
Left My Brilliant Friend in Virginia, so I guess it will be a couple of weeks before I get it back. Reading this one in the meantime.
Billingham is the author of the successful Tom Thorne detective series, but this book focuses on another British detective, Nicola Tanner as she tries to discover the murderer and the motive of the member of a support group for recovering addicts. The book is presented in alternating "then" and "now" sections so the reader sees all that lead up to the murder and then the investigation (culminating with a fun "now" twist). Tanner quickly sees that perhaps "addiction isn't the issue, but the group is." and we get to know each member of the group and what brings them to seek help from Tony, their therapist. Tony's (a former addict himself) method of treatment includes having each group member describe his or her moment of greatest shame, with the idea that "shame is primitive...that's why it's so powerful. It's all tied up with why we feel unworthy all the time, why we feel bad about who we are."
While I was a bit let down by the ending, overall this was good page turner - an excellent choice for those who enjoy the Susan Hill/Tana French brand of British detective stories. I quite enjoyed the one Tom Thorne novel I read ( Sleepyhead, the first in the series) and I liked this one too, as it kept me interested and engaged.
June 4, 2016
There's no serial killer at work here. It's just one murder. One mystery. But it's full of troubled characters and Billingham very cleverly ekes out the clues via a plot unfolding in two timeframes. Then and Now.
In the Then we meet the support group members and learn their stories. A new member's just joined, so the dynamics have changed a little, but it's also an opportunity for each of the members to connect with someone new and 'share' how far they've come.
And in the Now Tanner's forced to pick apart the group, one member at a time, to learn their secrets and tease anything at all from them which may assist in the case. And of course on top of the secrets that remain hidden, recent conflict means everyone seems to have a motive of sorts.
I guessed the whodunnit but had no idea of the why, so that was interesting.
Billingham basically gives all of the characters equal time so we're in the heads of every one them at one point or another. Some are likeable and some, well... not so much. But, we come to understand them nonetheless.
This is a very enjoyable novel by Billingham who deftly provides insight into the lives of our characters as they struggle with the anticlimax which sometimes comes from freeing oneself from the shackles of addition.
Read the full review on my blog: http://www.debbish.com/books-literatu...
3.5 stars
In the Then we meet the support group members and learn their stories. A new member's just joined, so the dynamics have changed a little, but it's also an opportunity for each of the members to connect with someone new and 'share' how far they've come.
And in the Now Tanner's forced to pick apart the group, one member at a time, to learn their secrets and tease anything at all from them which may assist in the case. And of course on top of the secrets that remain hidden, recent conflict means everyone seems to have a motive of sorts.
I guessed the whodunnit but had no idea of the why, so that was interesting.
Billingham basically gives all of the characters equal time so we're in the heads of every one them at one point or another. Some are likeable and some, well... not so much. But, we come to understand them nonetheless.
This is a very enjoyable novel by Billingham who deftly provides insight into the lives of our characters as they struggle with the anticlimax which sometimes comes from freeing oneself from the shackles of addition.
Read the full review on my blog: http://www.debbish.com/books-literatu...
3.5 stars
June 12, 2016
My View:
This is an interesting look at addictions, therapy, group dynamics and the odd murder - past and present. I really enjoyed being fly on the wall of the therapy sessions and learning more about the main characters in the “Then” and “Now” chapters. As you read you are fully aware that one of the group is a murderer – slowly hints and clues are gently dropped on the wayside but in this novel, the “who” isn’t such a mystery it is the “why”? And the why is very interesting indeed.
This book is touted as a standalone, Tom Thorne is only fleetingly mentioned, and the lead police investigators are DI Nicola Tanner and her assistant Dipak Chall. I did not warm to the character Nicola Tanner – I found her manner – on and off duty, to be rather severe and cold, lacking in personality/development. Even though I was already aware of her from a previous read, very little was added to that knowledge. Chall at least showed some sarcasm/wit/humour which made him a little more likeable. Luckily the characters of the therapy group were engaging and fleshed out and that became my focus in this read. Do you think this was a deliberate ploy to keep the attention on the suspects? Maybe…but I would still have liked to see the more personable side of Nicole Tanner.
An interesting psychological mystery.
This is an interesting look at addictions, therapy, group dynamics and the odd murder - past and present. I really enjoyed being fly on the wall of the therapy sessions and learning more about the main characters in the “Then” and “Now” chapters. As you read you are fully aware that one of the group is a murderer – slowly hints and clues are gently dropped on the wayside but in this novel, the “who” isn’t such a mystery it is the “why”? And the why is very interesting indeed.
This book is touted as a standalone, Tom Thorne is only fleetingly mentioned, and the lead police investigators are DI Nicola Tanner and her assistant Dipak Chall. I did not warm to the character Nicola Tanner – I found her manner – on and off duty, to be rather severe and cold, lacking in personality/development. Even though I was already aware of her from a previous read, very little was added to that knowledge. Chall at least showed some sarcasm/wit/humour which made him a little more likeable. Luckily the characters of the therapy group were engaging and fleshed out and that became my focus in this read. Do you think this was a deliberate ploy to keep the attention on the suspects? Maybe…but I would still have liked to see the more personable side of Nicole Tanner.
An interesting psychological mystery.
September 1, 2016
The normally excellent Mark Billingham steps out of his comfort zone with this story and, unfortunately, it shows all too well.
A member of an addicts' pyschotherapy group has been murdered and early on the police decide the killer must either be another member of the group or the therapist (although why is never made clear). The story veers between chapters on the investigation and those concerning various of the members before the murder. I found my attention wandering frequently reading these. Neither the victim, her fellow members nor the therapist are particularly likeable or interesting characters. Neither is the investigating detective Nicola Tanner, who takes interfering self-righteousness to a whole new level.
Billingham's usual protagonist Tom Thorne does make a very brief appearance towards the end. An ending which is only partially resolved. We do find out who the killer and what the motive is, but not how or even if the police solve the case. Although, by this stage, I'd long since given up caring.
A member of an addicts' pyschotherapy group has been murdered and early on the police decide the killer must either be another member of the group or the therapist (although why is never made clear). The story veers between chapters on the investigation and those concerning various of the members before the murder. I found my attention wandering frequently reading these. Neither the victim, her fellow members nor the therapist are particularly likeable or interesting characters. Neither is the investigating detective Nicola Tanner, who takes interfering self-righteousness to a whole new level.
Billingham's usual protagonist Tom Thorne does make a very brief appearance towards the end. An ending which is only partially resolved. We do find out who the killer and what the motive is, but not how or even if the police solve the case. Although, by this stage, I'd long since given up caring.
July 7, 2017
This was a stand-alone novel, barely featuring any of the characters in the DCI Tom Thorne series, and more of a psychological thriller/mystery than a police procedural in tone - and I think it benefitted from this in a sense, it felt different and fresh and interesting in a way that the slightly disappointing last book or two in the DCI Thorne series have been IMHO.
The story follows a group of addicts in group therapy and their therapist, and the suspicion which falls on them all when one of the group is murdered. The characterisation of these people, as well as the police detectives investigating the murder, is very well done, and the plot certainly kept me guessing right to the last few pages - which I can't remember happening all that often (not, admittedly, that I generally spend much time/effort trying to second-guess mystery authors and work out whodunnit in advance of the reveal). I'm not sure what makes Mark Billingham's style so easy and so pleasing to read - perhaps the perfect balance of pace and description - but this was a pleasure indeed.
The story follows a group of addicts in group therapy and their therapist, and the suspicion which falls on them all when one of the group is murdered. The characterisation of these people, as well as the police detectives investigating the murder, is very well done, and the plot certainly kept me guessing right to the last few pages - which I can't remember happening all that often (not, admittedly, that I generally spend much time/effort trying to second-guess mystery authors and work out whodunnit in advance of the reveal). I'm not sure what makes Mark Billingham's style so easy and so pleasing to read - perhaps the perfect balance of pace and description - but this was a pleasure indeed.
January 3, 2018
Thoroughly enjoyed this!
September 12, 2022
Very good read. Couldn't put it down. Will probably read some more Mark Billingham books
May 11, 2016
I would like to thank Net Galley and publishers Grove Atlantic for my copy of ‘Die of Shame’ by Mark Billingham in exchange for my review.
Every Monday night, therapist Tony De Silva holds an addiction support group, playing host to a diverse mixture of recovering addicts whose addictions range from food to shopping to the typical wine and drugs. There is, as you would expect, an element of conflict amongst the group, not least of all because of the differences in their social standings.
As part of their therapy De Silva encourages each of them to open up about a moment in their lives which has brought them great shame in an aid to understand if it is shame which created their addiction or their addiction which is manifested in their shame. As each week one of the members of the group opens up about shame the past, the cracks begin to widen.
When one of them is found dead, DI Nicola Tanner is assigned to investigate. It is abundantly clear that any one of the remaining group members could be responsible, reports of major arguments in a post group meeting at the pub leading Tanner to believe that the answer lies there somewhere, but unable to establish a clear motive for any of them to have committed murder. Though each appears to have their own conflict with the victim, no one seems willing to tell the whole truth about what happened at the last session, the pact of secrecy between them the key to the success of the therapy – what happens in group, stays in group.
This is a standalone novel, and for anyone, like me, who has any of the Tom Thorne novels in their to-be-but-not- quite-read yet list, then it serves as a good introduction to the writers style and is easily accessible. The scene is set very well, the slow build to the understanding of each of the groups own personal addictions driving the story along and making the suspicion fall from one to the other quite quickly. Anyone of the group could easily be the killer, and as each story unfolds through a series of ‘then’ and ‘now’ chapters, allowing the reader to dip back into events leading up to that last fateful meeting, the tension builds nicely. When the victim’s story is finally unveiled, what drove them to addiction, as well as the indicator of the personality type gleaned from interactions with the group, especially De Silva, I kind of guessed who the killer might be and I wasn’t overly surprised by the big reveal. This didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story, if anything, my assertions about whodunit made me want to race on to prove myself right.
The descriptions of the characters and their fall into addiction was very well observed and described throughout. The whole complex nature of what drives addiction and the way in which the high of feeding that addiction is described makes the whole story believable and even if you can’t be fully sympathetic to the victim or the suspects, you can perhaps understand their behaviour a little more. No one deserves to be murdered, but there is a certain inevitability building throughout, the understanding that one of the group has done something so unforgiveable that no matter what, there is no going back for them.
Tanner is a difficult character to root for. Her investigations and manner are clinical and I can understand why some have struggled to get behind her as a character. In all honesty, I don’t believe you are meant to. This is not a story about a murder investigation as much as it is about addiction, a character driven narrative where the suspects are 100% the focus of the action. The story will not conclude to Tanner’s satisfaction but it will to the readers (guess what lads and lasses, real life doesn't work how we want - the Police don't always manage to catch the bad guy. Doesn't mean they stop trying...). For fans of the series, there are some familiar characters that make cameo appearances, including a very familiar face near the end.
I thoroughly enjoyed Die of Shame, perhaps because it was a step away from the usual police procedural, guaranteed to find the killer format, and give it a totally engrossing and highly recommended 5 stars.
Every Monday night, therapist Tony De Silva holds an addiction support group, playing host to a diverse mixture of recovering addicts whose addictions range from food to shopping to the typical wine and drugs. There is, as you would expect, an element of conflict amongst the group, not least of all because of the differences in their social standings.
As part of their therapy De Silva encourages each of them to open up about a moment in their lives which has brought them great shame in an aid to understand if it is shame which created their addiction or their addiction which is manifested in their shame. As each week one of the members of the group opens up about shame the past, the cracks begin to widen.
When one of them is found dead, DI Nicola Tanner is assigned to investigate. It is abundantly clear that any one of the remaining group members could be responsible, reports of major arguments in a post group meeting at the pub leading Tanner to believe that the answer lies there somewhere, but unable to establish a clear motive for any of them to have committed murder. Though each appears to have their own conflict with the victim, no one seems willing to tell the whole truth about what happened at the last session, the pact of secrecy between them the key to the success of the therapy – what happens in group, stays in group.
This is a standalone novel, and for anyone, like me, who has any of the Tom Thorne novels in their to-be-but-not- quite-read yet list, then it serves as a good introduction to the writers style and is easily accessible. The scene is set very well, the slow build to the understanding of each of the groups own personal addictions driving the story along and making the suspicion fall from one to the other quite quickly. Anyone of the group could easily be the killer, and as each story unfolds through a series of ‘then’ and ‘now’ chapters, allowing the reader to dip back into events leading up to that last fateful meeting, the tension builds nicely. When the victim’s story is finally unveiled, what drove them to addiction, as well as the indicator of the personality type gleaned from interactions with the group, especially De Silva, I kind of guessed who the killer might be and I wasn’t overly surprised by the big reveal. This didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story, if anything, my assertions about whodunit made me want to race on to prove myself right.
The descriptions of the characters and their fall into addiction was very well observed and described throughout. The whole complex nature of what drives addiction and the way in which the high of feeding that addiction is described makes the whole story believable and even if you can’t be fully sympathetic to the victim or the suspects, you can perhaps understand their behaviour a little more. No one deserves to be murdered, but there is a certain inevitability building throughout, the understanding that one of the group has done something so unforgiveable that no matter what, there is no going back for them.
Tanner is a difficult character to root for. Her investigations and manner are clinical and I can understand why some have struggled to get behind her as a character. In all honesty, I don’t believe you are meant to. This is not a story about a murder investigation as much as it is about addiction, a character driven narrative where the suspects are 100% the focus of the action. The story will not conclude to Tanner’s satisfaction but it will to the readers (guess what lads and lasses, real life doesn't work how we want - the Police don't always manage to catch the bad guy. Doesn't mean they stop trying...). For fans of the series, there are some familiar characters that make cameo appearances, including a very familiar face near the end.
I thoroughly enjoyed Die of Shame, perhaps because it was a step away from the usual police procedural, guaranteed to find the killer format, and give it a totally engrossing and highly recommended 5 stars.
May 25, 2016
Billingham's latest crime thriller focuses on a group of addicts. When one member of the group is killed detective Nicola Tanner investigates. Tanner quickly thinks that the group is the key to finding the killer but it's not an easy investigation as she has to deal with the confidentiality of what was said in the sessions and the fact that addicts are by their nature prone to lies and deceit.
This isn't your typical whodunnit though. It takes place over two timelines for a start. The first goes from months before the murder, when a new person joins the group, to the murder itself and follows the various group sessions and key moments in the addicts lives. The second deals with the investigation of the murder and the group members reactions and interactions about it. Although it is essentially a mystery it's done in a different way, by you as a reader seeing the events unfold.
There are two things that really worked well here. One was that format which I just talked about. It's clever plotting and I love the way Billingham drip feeds you information. I also liked the characters. Billingham is wonderful with characters, especially deeply flawed ones and by focusing on a group of addicts we get five of them, as well as the therapist and the detective. Few authors can tell seven character stories in one book but Billingham appears to do it with ease here.
My biggest issue was the plot itself. The books works because of the way it is told but the actual murder, the who and the why, is nothing particularly special. If it had followed the usual format of a murder mystery book using the same plot, it would have been uninspiring.
I loved the ending, though I suspect it wouldn't be quite the same for anyone who hasn't read a Mark Billingham book. Having read all his books, I saw exactly where it was going a pages before the end and I was delighted.
All in all, a really enjoyable read. I rarely read books as long as this so quickly which I think says everything you need to know!
This isn't your typical whodunnit though. It takes place over two timelines for a start. The first goes from months before the murder, when a new person joins the group, to the murder itself and follows the various group sessions and key moments in the addicts lives. The second deals with the investigation of the murder and the group members reactions and interactions about it. Although it is essentially a mystery it's done in a different way, by you as a reader seeing the events unfold.
There are two things that really worked well here. One was that format which I just talked about. It's clever plotting and I love the way Billingham drip feeds you information. I also liked the characters. Billingham is wonderful with characters, especially deeply flawed ones and by focusing on a group of addicts we get five of them, as well as the therapist and the detective. Few authors can tell seven character stories in one book but Billingham appears to do it with ease here.
My biggest issue was the plot itself. The books works because of the way it is told but the actual murder, the who and the why, is nothing particularly special. If it had followed the usual format of a murder mystery book using the same plot, it would have been uninspiring.
I loved the ending, though I suspect it wouldn't be quite the same for anyone who hasn't read a Mark Billingham book. Having read all his books, I saw exactly where it was going a pages before the end and I was delighted.
All in all, a really enjoyable read. I rarely read books as long as this so quickly which I think says everything you need to know!
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