Mark Billingham, Sleepyhead

It's been quite a while since I read this, so I can't remember the details of it. But I remember being glued to my seat reading it. It's a very scary premise for a book.

Mark Billingham, Sleepyhead - Don't make any plans for the weekend when you buy this - because you won't be leaving the house until it's finished.

Sleepy Head is the first book in a series by Mark Billingham, which features Detective Tom Thorne. The blurb on the jacket warns that we are in for a disturbing experience and that is precisely what we get: "He doesn't want you alive. He doesn't want you dead. He wants you somewhere in between."

Tom Thorne is assigned to investigate a series of bizarre murders, which originally were thought to be deaths from natural causes. It is only when an eagle-eyed pathologist notices some discrepancies that it is discovered the 3 victims had not died from a stroke, but had actually been murdered. When a 4th victim turns up, Thorne thinks the murderer has made his first mistake as his victim Alison Willets is alive. Unfortunately though, she is unable to communicate as she is suffering from Lock-in Syndrome, aware of everything but completely paralysed.

Soon the dogged Thorne is playing a cat-and-mouse game with a psychopathic killer. The brilliant and sadistic killer is just as interested in leading Thorne in a merry dance as he is in fulfilling his degraded obsessions. Through correspondence from the killer Thorne discovers that Alison is not the killer's mistake, but his first success. The intention was never to actually kill his victims but to use his medical skills to induce Lock-in Syndrome.

Thorne quickly becomes convinced he knows who the killer is but proving it is another matter. He becomes obsessed, hearing the voices of the dead girls egging him on to solve the crime. Will he or won't he get the evidence in time to stop further attacks, and has his obsession blinded him to the possibility that Dr. Jeremy Bishop is not the killer?

Considering this is a first novel, it pretty much hits the mark as far as chiller thrillers are concerned. Impeccably researched and clearly told, 'Sleepyhead' is a sinister thriller with an excellent twist. Moving away from the contemporary crime novel style, Billingham delves deeper into the psychosis of his characters.

His style is similar to James Patterson, as alternative chapters are given to Tom Thorne and his thought and actions and then from the killer's perspective. An interesting addition at the end of some chapters are the thoughts of Alison Willets as she lies in her bed unable to communicate except by blinking. Billingham uses this to weave in some dark humour. He also gives Thorne a love interest, which contributes to his obsession with Dr. Bishop as Dr. Anne Coburn is an old flame of Bishop's and also godmother to his son.

Police characters are introduced who you guess appear throughout the series, like the young detective Holland. At first Thorne finds him annoying as he is always making notes in his notebook, but as the story unfolds he becomes aware that Holland is probably his only ally.

Although there is not a lot of background given on Thorne there is enough for you to understand his character and how he handles things the way he does.

Mark Billingham was born and brought up in Birmingham. Having worked for some years as an actor and more recently as a TV writer and stand-up comedian, his first crime novel "Sleepyhead" was published in 2001. Mark now concentrates on writing the series of crime novels featuring London-based detective Tom Thorne. The second novel, Scaredy Cat, was published in July 2002 and was followed a year later by Lazybones. The newest Tom Thorne novel, The Burning Girl, was published in July 2004. Mark is at work on a new novel, provisionally titled Lifeless.

Having read Sleepyhead, I just had to go out and get Scaredy Cat, Lazy Bone and Burning Girl. I would recommend this book to anyone who has read Patricia Cornwell, James Patterson or PJ Tracy and is looking for their next crime thriller series.

Sleepy Head is currently available in both hardback and paperback with an average price of £6.99.

ISBN: 0316856975

Amazon £6.99

WH Smith £6.99

Used on Ebay approx £2.00