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Good As Dead cover art

Good As Dead

By: Mark Billingham
Narrated by: Mark Billingham
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Summary

The Hostage. Police officer Helen Weeks walks into her local newsagent's on her way to work. Little does she know that this simple daily ritual will change her life forever. It's the last place she expects to be met with violence, but as she waits innocently at the till, she comes face to face with a gunman.

The Demand. The crazed hostage-taker is desperate to know what really happened to his beloved son, who died a year before in youth custody. By holding a police officer at gunpoint, he will force the one man who knows more about the case than any other to re-investigate his son's death. That man is DI Tom Thorne.

The Twist. While Helen fights to stay alive and the body-count rises, Thorne must race against time if he is to bring a killer to justice and save a young mother's life.

©2011 Mark Billingham Ltd (P)2011 Hachette Digital

What listeners say about Good As Dead

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant story + outstanding narration

Until now, I thought that only Robert Glennister could convey Mark Billingham's stories in a compelling way (and I have to confess when I saw that the author was narrating the book, my heart sank a little, wondering whether it was some kind of ego project and thinking it would be a horribly wooden effort like some of the author-narrated stories I've listened to) but I was so so wrong... listening to Mark Billingham tell the story, with all the brilliant accents he can do, is a wonderful experience... a real treat.And the story itself is very gripping.

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16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Kept me listening

The Members' offer of this book at a knock-dawn price tempted me to try a new author. I was rewarded by a gripping and well-crafted story that was excellently read by the author himself. It felt as if I was following an actual siege as it unfolded, getting to know the various characters, I became eager to find out what happened next. The outcome was not predictable which added to the tension as the story came to an end. I'll be looking out for more of this author's books having had this taster. Recommended.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Undecided.

I have found Mark Billingham in the past to always produce superb 'hang on every word' crime fiction. I was disappointed with 'Good as Dead' as I felt it did not engage me in the same way as the others in this series.
Whether this was because the author was the narrator and despite his obvious talent for dialect, there were times when I found his delivery wooden and two dimensional, or that the plot seemed thin.
However I am the odd review out amongst the other reviews so it is ultimately up to the individual to decide.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Disappointed

Not a bad story, but it's the last time a purchase a book narrated by the author. Professional actors reading a book instil a sense of drama and create characters with different intonations and accents so the book almost becomes a 'play'. The author did not have this skill and therefore I felt I was missing something. Also, the speed of reading was fast and took some getting used to.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

OK, But...

This is a good story that sweeps you along, but you really do have to suspend belief because no siege is managed by the police in the way that this one is and no police officer would be allowed to conduct an investigation or treat witnesses and suspects in the way Tom Thorne does in this story.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Good As Deak - Mark Billingham

Having read all of Mark Billinghams books previously, I tried this and as it was narrated by Mark himself I thought I'd give it a go. The first attempt I thought Oh Dear not quite right and then I realised that as he wrote the book he new the characters and story line so well it allowed you to drift into the story as though you were taking part. Very brilliantly written yet again. Can't wait for the next book to be realeased.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

GOOD AS DEAD

A rather strange book that was so far removed from any realistic police procedure it became a chore to read. Bearing in mind this was a book about a hostage situation, for the most part is was slow going with only occasional flashes of urgency. Not a good read.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Could not Stop

This gripping story includes murder, hostage taking & yet another murder well told by the author Mark Billingham,complete with excellent accent changes. It just flows along from chapter to chapter that I could not stop listening, I finished this book in just 3 sittings. Can't wait for Mark's next book.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Non stop tension!

Thorn is back and like Jack Bauer, the next 24 hrs are going to be rough!

A grieving father takes a police woman hostage, refusing to release her until Thorn discovers the true reason behind his son's apparent suicide.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

I loved it - excellent narration!

I've read all of Mark Billingham's Tom Thorne novels and have also bought them as audio books. I have enjoyed them all and was a little disappointed when I learnt that Mark was to narrate Good as Dead rather than the excellent Robert Glennister. I need not have worried, Mark brings the characters to life like no-one else and his story telling was gripping and, at times, humorous! I smiled, cringed, shuddered, laughed and cried. I have listened to a lot of audiobooks and I have to say that this is my favourite so far. Well done Mark Billingham, I hope you will narrate all of your books in future!

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1 person found this helpful