Lazy Bones

Tom Thorne #3

by Mark Billingham, Stephen Perrin (Narrator)

Someone - a woman or somebody pretending to be a woman - is writing to convicted rapists in prison, befriending them and then brutally killing them when they are released. DI Tom Thorne must discover the link between these killings and a murder/suicide that took place twenty-five years before; a tragedy to which the only witnesses were two small children, now adults and nowhere to be found. How can you escape a past that will do a lot more than just catch up with you? And how can Thorne catch a killer, when he doesn't really care about the victims?

Genres: Crime, Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Detective, Procedural, Audiobook

10 pages, Audio CD

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Also writes as Will Peterson with Peter Cocks.

Mark Billingham was born and brought up in Birmingham. Having worked for some years as an actor and more recently as a TV writer and stand-up comedian his first crime novel was published in 2001. Mark lives in North London with his wife and two children.

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tom Thorne book No. 3: Sees the vicious and brutal rape and murder of.. wait for it ...previously convicted rapists! Thorne, Holland, Kitson, Stone and co. struggle to get leads from completely sanitised crime scenes. Billingham weaves a brilliant story that has you gripping your seat in anticipation as it approaches it's end. This is this series at its very best! 8 out of 12, Four Star read.

2012 read

[Ken · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third book in the popular Thorne series made me warm towards the main detective more.

The ruggedness of forty year-old Tom Thorne with just his cat Elvis and an outdated music collection for company makes him a slightly different and unique character to like.

It certainly helps when the gritty case involves convicted rapists being murdered on release from prison.

Both the subject matter and language used are grim and realistic, which helps explain why this series is so well received.

[Jaksen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read from Mr. Billingham.

In this one, DI Tom Thorne is investigating the death – deaths – of several rapists, some of whom were recently released from prison. Their deaths, gruesomely detailed, but not dwelled upon, propel the story forward as Thorne and team are compelled to find who’s doing this, why and how to stop him.

There are side-currents here, too. Thorne’s growing romance with a somewhat mysterious, yet beguiling young woman. His partner Dave Holland’s growing home problem. Phil Hendricks, Thorne’s friend and a criminal pathologist, also gets fleshed-out a bit more. There are two new characters, as well, Yvonne Kitson and Andy Stone, members of the investigative team.

As clues are followed, witnesses interviewed, suspects interrogated, more murders occur, each one more horrible than the next. More than one character remarks that perhaps time could be better spent investigating ‘real’ crimes, because aren’t these victims just criminals themselves? And yes, even Thorne agrees, but not openly. It gives an interesting perspective to the entire premise: investigating the deaths of some pretty rotten people.

There are a couple of big twists in this one, and one I got – a few I didn’t. Anyhow, looking forward to the next book in the series.

Five stars

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

I randomly picked this up at the library thinking it was two books after the previous one I read in the series, thanks to the "also by this author"-page. It turns out that this one comes before the one I read last summer, which was the source of some timeline confusion for me.
Anywho, I enjoyed this one distinctly less than the next book in the series (Burning Girl), mainly due to this one just being thoroughly more dark, twisted, and depressing. I still found the writing interesting, which is why I can't give it the two stars I originally wanted to.

[Deb Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Billingham's Tom Thorne series doesn't go pussyfooting around the details of the crimes that Thorne and his tea investigate, but neither is there gratuitous violence. There is a psychological thriller aspect to the series and Lazybones is no exception.

Thorne and his team have difficulty mustering up the motivation to investigate the murders of men who have been released from prison, having served their sentences for rape. Even though murder is the most heinous crime, is the perpetrator(s) performing a community service via the killings?

Thorne becomes romantically involved with a woman who is an early witness in the first murder. He is ambivalent at best most of the time about the relationship but also chides himself for lacking the motivation to connect romantically with anyone.

I found this a good story. I've enjoyed all three of the Tom Thorne titles thus far with Lazybones at the top of the list for me.

[For The Love of books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good book from Billingham in the Thorne series. The characters remain dependable in their roles as Thorne tries to uncover a killer who is bringing justice to victims who have been raped. Thorne starts a budding romance with Eve and his colleague Holland struggles with becoming a father. Billingham always manages to make an enticing storyline along with character development that makes you want to continue the series. I have never been disappointed with the Thorne storyline.

[Roisin Mooney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps my fave crime book I’ve ever read ? Kept me hooked at every turn! Really pleasantly surprised :)

[Best Crime Books & More · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read the first two in this series in succession, I was looking forward to the third. I really liked the first book, was kind of indifferent with the second and by the time I finished this latest book found myself wanting to get onto book 4! For those that maybe haven’t read the series, the lead character is DI Tom Thorne; a man with a cat called Elvis who supports Spurs and who is obsessed with his very outdated CD collection. I think the majority of fans love Tom Thorne and I have to say that after this 3d book I can see why. He’s a character that you don’t instantly love, but his grim and dark humour, along with a doggedly determined character makes him ‘oh-so’ likeable.

In addition to Thorne I really like his colleague Dave Holland and his friend the pathologist Phil Hendricks. We see Holland battling with his home life and I kind of like the fact we also get background on some of the other characters in a series of books. Both Thorne and Holland are working on a rather bizarre case which some of the public don’t feel warrant that much attention. In this case, the murder of a convicted rapist starts the story off and it doesn’t get much better before too long.

The nice part about this third book is the fact that we see Thorne’s personal life a little more (I like it when the author mixes it up). In addition to the horrendous case he is working on, Thorne tries to lead a somewhat average life outside of these parameters. Of course one murder is not where the story stops and in Billingham style the reader watches as the case becomes more and more complex, and frankly more bloody frightening! I found myself immersed in this book and as I thought I had it worked out. Turns out I was wrong, and it took me 85% of the book before the penny dropped (and only a chapter shy of it being revealed!).

I only have another 8 books in the series before I’m up to date and ready for the 12th in the series due for release in May 2014! In all honesty this series was a slow burner and is right about now making its was up to a rather large blazing fire….roll on book 4!

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this, the third in the Tom Thorne series, in less than 48 hours - a record for me. Having read the past two books in the series I already was familiar with the way in which the books are laid out, with Thorne as the main character but with a strong ensemble cast behind him including Holland, as well as the new additions of Kitson and Stone. Carol Chamberlain also joins in this book and looks like an interesting addition, especially given her role in the next book (The Burning Girl) judging by the first chapter - which was included at the back of this book.

Billingham teases the reader greatly, dropping clues and helping the reader to "get there" just slightly ahead of the coppers in the book which is very rewarding. He equally allows us to be led down the wrong path several times in the book, meaning we share the disappointment of the characters when a lead does not turn out to be promising. He also has a gift for perfectly describing the characters and bringing them to life, creating the especially rounded character of Thorne.

While I really enjoyed the premise of Sleephead, the first Thorne novel, the second book Scaredy Cat didn't appeal to me in the same way. However this book more than made up for it. One of the best books I've read all year.

[Millie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost gave up with this series but read this book in basically a day. End still seemed rush but the suspense kept me gripped all the way.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent page turner. Thorne and Holland investigate the murders of rapists released from prison. Thorne also meets Eva Bloom a florist but struggles to consummate their relationship as he is busy with the murder investigation.

A well written story with the characters developing into a good series. Thorne’s boss Brigstocke, Holland his partner with the pregnant wife Sophie, his father slowly getting worse with dementia and their fractious relationships.

SPOILERS AHEAD

Poor Thorne is not good at picking girlfriends. It turns out Eva and her flatmates boyfriend Ben were the children of a murder/suicide couple. Their mother was raped and the father went insane. They took their revenge and then targeted Thorne as a representative of the police who failed their parents in 1975.

The final scene was brilliant with Holland arriving in the nick of time.

[Mysticpt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series gets a bit better with this one, I am becoming more attached to the supporting cast, and the main story was a bit better this time. However, relying on super crazy and/or psychologically damaged villains with every book may get old at some point. I guess Rankin and Rebus are unique in that his books feature storylines much more grounded in reality without the race against time ending. Those kind of stories I do prefer reading, though I can see Rebus didn’t get 4 stars until book 4. 3.5 stars for this one.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third Thorne novel, following on from "Sleephead" and "Scaredy Cat". A body is found in a cheap hotel, kneeling on a mattress, hooded and strangled. Shortly afterwards a florist, Eve Bloom, calls - someone has ordered a wreath... The victim turns out to be a rapist, who was recently released from prison. During the last three months of his sentence he had received letters from a killer, pretending to be a woman romantically interested in him. Before long the killer has struck again and some people, including some of Thorne's colleagues, thinks the killer is doing them a favour. Yet, with no victim he can truly sympathise with, plus a growing interest in Eve and a sense of unease about their growing relationship, Thorne is short on leads. This story is interspersed with a crime which goes back to 1976, when the police force were much less sympathetic towards rape victims and about the fallout that crimes have on entire families.

The Tom Thorne series has good characters and fast moving plots. However, they are starting to feel a little formulaic in character, with crimes which have links to something which happened many years before. The next in the series, "The Burning Girl", is apparently a change from previous storylines, concerning gangsters. Despite my reservations, I found this a real page turner and will certainly give the next in the series a chance.

[Alma (retirement at last) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good one from Bellingham. He’s not let me down so far so will continue with the series.
I love Tom Thorne, he is my kind of police officer. Someone who went in to the police force hoping to change the world then realising he was hardly changing his small corner of it and seeing each set of new recruits coming in with the same ideas.
The storyline introduces many characters both old and new so it helped being an easy read with prose that flowed.
I know I will enjoy the read when I can’t determine who the killer is and I keep changing my mind.
There were a few unexpected twists to this one but none that were unrealistic or made you think that Billiningham was taking liberties with the readers intelligence. We all know serial killers have been and still are out there,killing for what ever warped meaning with appearances that make them fit in to our society.
So on to the next😊

[Ian Mapp · Rating 2 out of 5]

Chosen - part of a series.

All a bit silly this one. A recently released from jail rapist is found in a shabby london hotel room, dead, bound and raped. Intertwined is a story from the past told in reverse order a couple of pages at a time of a woman who is raped in 70s but the perpretator is not found guilty. The husband of the victim is slowly convinced that she meant to sleep with him and kills her and herself, leaving two kids.

DI thorne is his usual shambolic self and sets out ot solve the crime, who are of course committed by the the two kids who have grown up. To make things more stupid, the kids have targetted Thorne as a representative of the police as their next victim. Cue hero in peril.

All silly but I will continue with the series.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third book in the Tom Thorne series by Mark Billingham. Recently read the second novel in the series and now I am hooked, intend to read all these books and hopefully they will keep up the very high standard achieved so far. In this book you get to know more of Tom Thorne and this only improves the series and developes the characters. Now on to the next one

[Simon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ohh dear I seem to be on a downer with the last two books read causing me to challenge my own taste in books with authors I have enjoyed before. I found this one Book 3 in the DI Thorne series, first two 4/5 stars ! what's gone wrong for me ! flat, boring story stretched out boring full of padding zzzzz.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good read in this series. Thorne is investigating a series of vigilante killings - someone is murdering sex offenders when they are released from prison and the tension rises nicely as the book progresses.

[Lesley Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a typical Mark Billingham and DI Thorne novel - brilliant! From the start I had an idea of who and why - but couldn't work out which character that 'who' was.
There were plenty of possibilities and yet the denouement was still unexpected.

The idea of being on the side of the killer for most of the novel was uncomfortable, but I felt it was absolutely understandable. It underlined to me the difficult job for Thorne and his colleagues who have to stick to the law when the idea of real 'justice' for the victims is maybe harsher.

However, even although the idea of vigilantism is sometimes appealing, the premise of the novel for me is how the attitudes of the police - and indeed the public - has changed over the years ( but not enough yet!) to the victims of sexual abuse crimes.

As an older reader, the attitudes shown by the police and in court years ago were so horrendously real and recognisable. For younger readers they must be absolutely shocking - and rightly so.

As an older reader I also found the relationship between Thorne and his father with Alzheimer's very thought-provoking and realistic.

Overall, this was an enjoyable novel - great characters, narrative and plot which meant it was easy to read and yet still managed to shock.

[Tim Julian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third in his series of police procedurals set in London and starring DI Tom Thorne.
I read the first two a few years ago and, apart from the fact that I enjoyed them, didn't remember much, but that was no barrier to enjoying this one. Someone is brutally murdering (and raping) convicted rapists on their release from prison, and despite a fairly widespread feeling among the Old Bill that the scumbags are only getting what they deserve, Thorne feels duty-bound to do his utmost to bring the murderer to justice. The arc of the story extends back thirty years from the "present day" (2003) and the various strands are brought together in a most satisfying way. Initially I found Thorne himself a fairly colourless hero, if compared with, say, Bosch or Rebus, but part of that is down to his creator attempting to avoid the usual "hard-bitten cop with a drink problem" clichés, and how can you not love a greying forty-something with a love of  country music and a cat called Elvis. He supports the correct football team too. A slow-burn buildup but an explosive ending. 4 stars.

[Balthazar Lawson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was slow, drawn out and at times felt completely directionless. Was this a crime novel, an angst ridden romance or a bad combination of both. What ever it is I didn't enjoy this. I read a few books in this series many years ago and this book reminds me of why I stopped reading them.

I can see that the author is trying to show that crimes are not solved in a day and can be drawn out. But the time line in this is just all over the place and doesn't flow nicely as it takes big leaps in seconds. It all made for a drawn out experience.

I enjoy this author but not the early books of this series.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Someone is killing convicted rapists on their released from prison. Tom Thorne and his team have a very nasty serial killer on their hands. But not to worry, they're only killing vicious trash after all...aren't they?

Tom forgots the most important thing about looking into the abyss...sometimes it looks back at you.

Brilliant novel. Highly recommended.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Fluff, Hardcore

Intense, visceral writing. This is one to focus on as you read, because every scene from every new POV has a reason for being there. There is no fluff in this book.

[Bex Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading this book. The writing style at the end works really well to hold the tension. It was tempting to skip a few paragraphs to find out what happened as it flips between the different characters POVs - but I resisted!

I didn’t realise this book was part of a series when I started it, but I didn’t feel like I was missing much background as I was reading.

[Aundrea O'connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was extremely hard to put down. If I could rate this book more than 5 stars, I would.

[Chrissie · Rating 4 out of 5]

ATY 2021 Challenge - a book with a female criminal/villain.

Maybe 4.5

I can't figure out why I hadn't read any Tom Thorne books until 2020. They are exactly the kind of books I enjoy and they are very well written. who knows? Now I am a) grateful that there are still 14 more to go and b) on a mission to get my library order them all in.

[Annemarie Farthing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quote that made me giggle...
"He'd seen comedians on TV talking about how women could hold a hundred thoughts in their heads at one time and juggle an assortment of tasks, while men were incapable of doing even two things at once. Wanking and manoeuvring a mouse was as much as a man could manage."

😻

[Fairylights · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these Tom Thorne books. Can't put them down....

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best Tom Thorne thriller so far. I was reading faster and faster to get to the end, brilliant psychological thriller.

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s been a while since I’ve read a book straight through, but I couldn’t put this one down. Mark Billingham sends his world weary DI Thorn on another tricky case. The story moved along at a lively pace, leaving me, the reader, as frustrated as the police as they hit every dead end. I was kept guessing til the end.