Life Is So Good - Rated 
My first Mark Bllingham book. Where have I been?
So many more to read. Can't wait.
Dreary - Rated 
I'd heard so much good about this author that I thought I should give him a try so I bought this latest book in the hope that he would be another writer to add to my list of favourite crime writers. Unfortunately I couldn't really get into this book. Even though there were two murders by 100 pages or so, maybe less, I still found it slow moving and quite dull. I think maybe the subject matter of biker gangs didn't help, not really something I'm interested in, and certainly most of the reviews on here seem to rate this book quite highly so maybe it's just me, but there was certainly nothing to grip me and I was disappointed, I really thought from all his good reviews that I would enjoy this book but sadly not.
Gritty and recommended - Rated 
Until now I'd only read the previous book, 'Buried', and found that atmospheric, gritty, reflective but 'so so'. However, it was good enough for me to try the next volume, 'Death Message', and wow, this is so much better. I still get a bit muddled with all the names but by focussing on the ones that matter I can get over that. In this volume DI Thorne seemed so much move vivid and I particulary enjoyed the interaction between him and Louise (that made it for me). One thing I like with these books is the grey area of Thorne's actions. Like life, nothing is simply black and white. If you enjoy strong, realistic detective crime thrillers with angst-ridden characters, then I'd highly recommend this London-based series, though judging by reviews it might be better to start at the beginning: Sleepyhead; Scaredy Cat; Lazybones; The Burning Girl; Lifeless; Buried, and finally Death Message. I'm going to go back to the beginning (when will I learn to read a series in order?!).
As good as the others - Rated
I've enjoyed all of the Tom Thorne novels and this was no exception.
It's been a while since I read the Burning Girl, so I had forgotten some of the events referred to in this story. No matter though, as the story itself managed to dig them up from somewhere as it rattled along and, by the end, it was difficult to put down.
Death Message - A welcome return - Rated
A welcome return to the Tom Thorne series (who surely ranks up there with Rebus).
I was really looking forward to this book as I have read all of the previous books and on the whole enjoyed them all (apart from The Burning Girl which I felt is the weakest of the series).
And to be honmest I wasn't disappointed.
This book was a real page turner and I couldn't put it down. Thorne is a great character, very likeable but also prone to the same mistakes as are we all. The story moved at a good pace with a well thought out plot.
A good book indeed. It was good to see Thorne's relationship with Porter and Hendricks examined in more depth and the characters seemed to have taken a natural progression.
The actions taken by the killer is also thought provoking which leaves you showing empathy towards him and resentment towards some of those trying to catch him.
The book is also full of the standard twists and turns, leaving you guessing who is crooked and who is not.
However, I have been disappointed in the reduction in character development for Dave Holland in recent books and the trend followed here. Though to be fair it was commented on in the story of the deterioration in relationship between Thorne and Holland. I always found Holland quite an interesting character (the tug of war between his girlfiend and Thorne over his salvation, the way his character had grown through the books, how he has been influenced by Thorne) one who I thought could maybe carry the torch in the series when Thorne would eventually have to retire.
I was also a little disappointed in the ending as I do not believe that Thorne would have let things lie like he does in this book. I thought he would have shown more vengeance.
But apart from the two above points a good book, and one where Thorne appears to have found success in his love life (it's about time!!). Can't wait for the next book because Mark Billingham is a talented author and I believe there is still a lot of scope in this series.
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