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Time of Death cover art

Time of Death

By: Mark Billingham
Narrated by: Mark Billingham
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Editor reviews

The chilling new release, Time of Death, by highly acclaimed crime writer Mark Billingham keeps listeners gripping the edge of their seats in this unabridged mystery crime thriller audiobook narrated brilliantly by Billingham himself. Enter the cold and secretive town of Polesford, Warwickshire. Long-buried secrets, community uprisings and grotesque evidence lurk around every corner of this eerie town. Join ex-local and police officer Helen Weeks in discovering the grisly truth and the real culprit of this shocking crime. Available now from Audible.

Summary

Now a major BBC Drama as part of the series In the Dark, this is a gripping, brilliantly plotted thriller from number one best-selling author Mark Billingham.

Discover one of the two masterful hit novels adapted for the massive new BBC One Drama series In The Dark, featuring brilliant heroine Helen Weeks.

Two schoolgirls are abducted in the small, dying Warwickshire town of Polesford, driving a knife into the heart of the community where police officer Helen Weeks grew up. But this is a place full of secrets, where dangerous truths lie buried.

When family man Stephen Bates has been arrested, Helen and her partner Tom Thorne head to the flooded town to support Bates' wife - an old school friend of Helen's - who is living under siege and convinced of her husband's innocence.

As residents and media bay for Bates' blood, a decomposing body is found. The police believe they have their murderer, but one man believes otherwise. With a girl still missing, Helen sets herself on a collision course with local police, townsfolk - and a merciless killer.

The hugely acclaimed latest novel in Mark Billingham's best-selling series, Love Like Blood, is out now.

©2015 Mark Billingham Ltd (P)2015 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"Clever and inventive." ( Financial Times )

What listeners say about Time of Death

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A Thorne Tour De Force

I've enjoyed Mark Billingham's work for many years now. I first found out about his detective thriller writing when I'd gone to listen to Christopher Brookmeyer talk at a Book Festival event and Mark happened to be on with him. Mark's transition from stand up comedy to thriller writing seemed odd and intriguing then. But reading the Tom Thorne series it seemed to make more sense - there was lots of observational detail and black humour peppers some of the characters core relationships. His research into the issues that are used in his books, especially around homelessness, abuse and drug use - marks him out as an author - lending sensitivity and realism. I really enjoyed Rush of Blood - one of his stand alone thrillers that I listened to. So I was excited at 'the new Tom Thorne book' and wondering where on earth it was going to go - in pretty much every sense of the word - after the mayhem on Bardsey Island in 'The Bones Beneath'.

Mark Billingham performs this book and how. I was gripped from the beginning, I was up all last night feeling emotionally wrenched around by the rollercoaster ending. I read and listen to so many thrillers that I'm amazed that I didn't see plot twists coming - I don't know if that was due to me be being so emotionally caught up in a harrowing story that seemed all to real. The pace and switching of narrative voices seemed just right to me - I wanted to know what was going on with each set of people and was worried about the other characters who were out of the action in the moment.

The story and the characters became more powerful, real, punchy and gripping the nearer it got to the conclusion. And I'd thought it was a bloody good book to start with. I purposely haven't mentioned anything - the directions the book takes, the how and the why of it, are part of the skill and the art. I wouldn't have liked to have missed any surprises or twists and turns. I'd just like to give the author a standing ovation. There's one other detective book that has left me this blown away - Angel's Flight by Michael Connelly - which had a powerful but gruesome ending, but that was number 6 in a detective series. For Billingham's 13th Thorne book to do some brave things and make some powerful new moves - well hats off to you sir.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Inventive and engrossing story

This is the latest and eleventh novel charting the career of detective Tom Thorne, and having read or listened to many of them, think this is one of the best in the series. The story is more inventive in the use of forensic science and Thorne seems a more nuanced character than in earlier books. The detective’s personal life is woven into the story which makes it more interesting. As par for the course of this genre the crimes are elaborate and somewhat contrived but it all adds up to an engrossing listen. A plus for me is that there aren't too many salivating descriptions of the violence perpetrated on the victims.

The author narrates the book even better than in the previous books.

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7 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great story

Good story line and Easy to listen to- voice just right- I only say that because some voices really grate.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Time of death

Great story kept me listening , I love Tom Thorne
Well written amusing in places
I would recommend this audio book to everyone.
Cy

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Bad dialogue.

No where near the best in the series, it's pretty shit actually, the dialogue between the characters is awful. & it's getting worse with each new book. Just a bunch of clichés threaded together like a human centipede of unoriginality, which just makes them all sound like boring personality spent robots of tedious platitudes. For great dialogue please read Palahniuk, Pratchett, Irvine Welsh, Stephen King & Richard Morgan.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A good substantial book!

What does Mark Billingham bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Excellent narration, but then of course he would know better than anyone, how it should be read!

Any additional comments?

My first book by this author. I really enjoyed it. I found it well written, absorbing and it bounced along nicely.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

As usual brilliant

Thrilling, humorous and very good entertainment with a twist at the end that signify Mark Billingham. Love his books very much

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good story, with a few twists to keep you gripped

This is a good book but more about Helen than Tom. Better than the TV drama too! Mark Billingham reads it very well and it's nice to hear a story set in the Midlands with a good Brummie accent for once!! A great relationship between Phil and Tom and the humour from Phil gives the book a bit of a lift at the right times.
It felt a bit slow and drawn out at times which is why I only gave it 4 on this occasion- but still worth a listen.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Good book


Very good book I have really enjoyed the eco thorn, and can't wait to listen to the next one

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Bring back Mr Glenister!

Story was a bit far fetched for me & I miss the Glenister voice for Tom. Enjoyed reading the books though.

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1 person found this helpful