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LIFELESS
by Mark Billingham
William Morrow, August 2006
400 pages
$24.95
ISBN: 0060841664


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

Detective Inspector Tom Thorne's life is currently down in the pits. In BURNING GIRL, Thorne's father died in a fire. What he does not know, and may never find out, was if his father, who suffered from memory gaps, died accidentally by something he did or if he was made an example to Thorne after the events of the last case he worked on.

Not knowing is what is killing him and he cannot move forward. He has seen a lot of terrible things ever since his debut in SLEEPYHEAD and he does not know if he can take any more. This is why he is perfect for the next case, one where his grief may be used to his advantage.

Someone has been brutally murdering some of the city's homeless, but with a slight twist. With every death the killer has left a £20 note with each victim's body. The homeless are under the impression that a policeman is committing these murders and they are reluctant to talk to the authorities. Thorne volunteers to become a bum and sleep on the streets to see if he can get an insight into the problem (and get out of the office as well).

Thorne is already on a path of self-destruction. If he can manage to solve the case it might give him a chance to be a part of the world and not be on the sidelines as he has been ever since his father's death. He isn't prepared, though, for what he is getting himself into.

Billingham wakens readers to the problems of the homeless and gives a unique sociological insight as to what role they play in society and vice versa. Some of these people are former war veterans disenchanted with the way things have turned out for them before and after the war which in this case is the Iraq war.

LIFELESS is anything but dark or hopeless as Billingham introduces some of the denizens of the streets of London and shows how they survive. He develops each one of his characters and has them interact with Thorne as real people, something they already are. Thorne manages to get some information from the homeless as well as some well-earned respect from some of the most unlikeliest people giving him a new lease in life.

This book marks a change in Thorne's life that will carry on to the next book. Billingham has shown that he can write a good and thought-provoking story and this one is no different. One cannot always expect a happy ending to this, but here the author gives it a valiant effort that's worthy of respect even if it is only temporary. There will always be social problems wherever we go.

Reviewed by Angel L. Soto, July 2006

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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