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The Bones Beneath

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The Bones Beneath

By: Mark Billingham
Narrated by: Mark Billingham
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Summary

 The Deal
Tom Thorne is back in charge - but there's a terrifying price to pay. Stuart Nicklin, the most dangerous psychopath he has ever put behind bars, promises to reveal the whereabouts of a body he buried twenty-five years before. But only if Thorne agrees to escort him.

The Danger
Unable to refuse, Thorne gathers a team and travels to a remote Welsh island, at the mercy of the weather and cut off from the mainland. Thorne is determined to get the job done and return home before Nicklin can outwit them.

The Deaths
But Nicklin knows this island well and has had time to plan ahead. Soon, new bodies are added to the old, and Thorne finds himself facing the toughest decision he has ever had to make...

Tom Thorne returns in this utterly gripping, brilliantly plotted thriller. The Bones Beneath is Mark Billingham's most ambitious and accomplished work to date.©2014 Mark Billingham Ltd Crime Thrillers Modern Detectives Mystery Police Procedurals Thriller & Suspense Fiction Crime Suspense Exciting
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All stars
Most relevant

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

This wasn't up to his usual high standard. I have really enjoyed all of this authors previous work.
The author usually keeps the tension high and the action coming. The very end was the only time this book got going for me.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Predictable and ensures a further book with the same characters.

What aspect of Mark Billingham’s performance might you have changed?

Don't ever narrate your own books!

Do you think The Bones Beneath needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

It will get one without doubt due to the ending.

Any additional comments?

I was disappointed. Previous work has been exceptional.

Slow and ponderous

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Amazing writing from an island not far from where I grew up in north Wales A must listen

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I'm a great fan of Mark Billingham and read all his novels as soon after publication as possible. This is one of my favourites and wanted to revisit it but thought as a novelty I'd do so in audio format. I enjoyed it as much the second time round, the authors delivery is spot on.

Another great Billingham novel

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Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

It wasn't a bad book by any manner of means, and so no, the time wasn't wasted (I listen to audio books when I'm exercising to take my mind off the sheer misery of that particular activity), but it just went on too long. I think Mr Billingham is very taken with the Nicklin character and I feel he spends too long with him.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Just made it a bit shorter - missed out some of the extraneous stuff - the flashbacks weren't entirely necessary, or at least not so many of them. I realise that there was a build-up taking place, but it was too ponderous.

What about Mark Billingham’s performance did you like?

He obviously knows his characters and knows what they are thinking, and so he breathes life into them. I particularly like his Tom Thorne.

If this book were a film would you go see it?

Probably not. It doesn't lend itself to a film.

Any additional comments?

Overall what I've said sounds negative and it really isn't supposed to be. As I say, this is far from being bad. It's just a little over long and perhaps a little bit self-indulgent. I enjoy the Tom Thorne novels and this certainly won't stop me reading them again in the future. I just wonder if we're coming to the end of Tom as a character.

Too Long

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I like Mark billingham's writing and his narration. Sadly, as soon as I realised it was a return to the Stuart Nicklin character and that he was being taken put of prison, the broad brush of what would happen was obvious which is a shame. So not bad but not as enjoyable as plots where you really don't know what will happen.

Predictable plot

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