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    Scaredy Cat
    Scaredy Cat
    Scaredy Cat
    Audiobook11 hours

    Scaredy Cat

    Written by Mark Billingham

    Narrated by Simon Prebble

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    It was a vicious, calculated murder. The killer selected his victim at London's Euston station, followed her home on the tube, strangled her to death in front of her child. At the same time, killed in the same way, a second body is discovered at the back of King's Cross station. It is a grisly coincidence that eerily echoes the murder of two other women, stabbed to death months before on the same day.It is Detective Inspector Tom Thorne who sees the link and comes to a horrifying conclusion. This is not a serial killer that the police are up against. This is two of them. Finding the body used to be the worst part of the job, but not any more. Now each time a body is found, Thorne must live with the knowledge that somewhere out there is a second victim, waiting to be discovered. But whilst the methods might be the same, the manner of the killings is strikingly different. Thorne comes to realize that he is hunting two very different killers. One is ruthless and in control, while his partner in crime is submissive, compliant, terrified.Thorne must catch a man whose need to manipulate is as great as his need to kill, a man who will threaten those closest to Thorne himself, a man who will show him that the ability to inspire terror is the deadliest weapon of all.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHighbridge Company
    Release dateNov 5, 2013
    ISBN9781622312917
    Author

    Mark Billingham

    Mark Billingham is the author of nine novels, including Sleepyhead, Scaredy Cat, Lazybones, The Burning Girl, Lifeless, and Buried—all Times (London) bestsellers—as well as the stand-alone thriller In the Dark. For the creation of the Tom Thorne character, Billingham received the 2003 Sherlock Award for Best Detective created by a British writer, and he has twice won the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award. He has previously worked as an actor and stand-up comedian on British television and still writes regularly for the BBC. He lives in London with his wife and two children.

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    Reviews for Scaredy Cat

    4/5

    12 ratings8 reviews

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    • 4/5
      I found 'Scaredy Cat' a marked improvement on 'Sleepyhead', Mark Billingham's debut novel and the first appearance of his protagonist, Tom Thorne. He has again produced a well paced, engaging mystery, but many of the flaws of his earlier novel are now mitigated. The use of multiple perspectives is handled with more agility, and the reader gains a better understanding of the psychology and motivation of the killers. Billingham seems more comfortable with the character of Thorne, and less self-conscious about his place in the panoply of flawed but gritty detectives. There also seems to be a better balance between Thorne's maverick style and obstinacy as a detective, and the fact that he has managed to hold on to his position in the Metropolitan Police. The supporting cast is also fairly deftly handled, perhaps because this time it lacked young women, and Dave Holland's characterisation as a potential younger Thorne is more effective when less heavy handed. I found the character of Sarah McEvoy an interesting addition to the team, but unfortunately she quickly became a little too interesting: written in to be written out (with a sexual detour on route).
    • 2/5
      Finally finished what should have been a page-turner but turned into a bit of a chore. Scaredy Cat was overly long and disappointing after Sleepy Head. I don't much like knowing who dun it all the way through, and the procedural bits weren't strong enough. I only stayed with it because one of the serial killers had changed identities and I knew he had to be one of the cast members, if not one of the police team itself. I should have just peeked at the end darn it.
    • 3/5
      Worthwhile second installment in the Tom Thorne series. The development of Thorne and DI Holland is solid. The plot is engaging for about three quarters of the novel. The plot twist at the end seemed forced, along with the killer's personal focus on Thorne. Regardless, Thorne and Holland still captured Y attention and plan to carry on with series.
    • 4/5
      It was a vicious calculated murder. The killer selected his victim at Euston station, followed her home on the tube and strangled her to death in front of her child. At the same time, killed the same way, a second body is discovered at the back of king's cross Station. It is a grisly coincidence that eerily echoes the murder of 2 other woman, stabbed to death months before on the same day... It is DI Tom Thorne who sees the link and comes to the horrifying conclusion. This is not a serial killer the police are up against. This is 2 of them. Finding the body used to be the worst part of the job. Not anymore. Now each time a body is found, Thorne must live with the knowledge that somewhere out there is a second victim, waiting to be discovered...
    • 4/5
      This book was going cheap so I bought it just to release. Though I'm not usually into crime novels, I thought I may as well read it while I had it. To my surprise, I actually enjoyed this novel quite a bit. I recommend it to anyone looking for their next fiction to read.
    • 4/5
      Scaredy Cat by Mark Billingham is a good, solid police procedural and was an enjoyable read for me with the right amount of jaded police attitude mixed with tension and an interesting story line involving two serial killers that work in tandem..The downside of the book was the predictable ending especially the one involving Sarah McEvoy. Without going into details, I will just say I saw that one coming from miles away. I also thought the book could have been a little shorter and would have benefited from tighter editing. This is the second book in the series featuring DI Tom Thorne, a brooding detective who knows how to doggedly work a case on his own terms, and I certainly intend on continuing on with the series. Groundbreaking and different? No, but if you’re looking for a realistic, slightly grim yet dependable police procedural this series could be your cup of tea.
    • 5/5
      Billingham is a master of suspense. He always throws in red herrings without appearing to. He makes you question each person as being the perpetrator of the murders, but the final revelation is always a surprise.

      A series of murders carried out simultaneously creates a real dilemma for D.I. Thorne and his team. Two murderers working apart connected to each other.

      I can't wait to start the next in the series!
    • 4/5
      This is a well-written, well-paced police procedural with a cast of flawed characters, some so unlikeable that I was convinced several were good candidates for the at-large serial killer. And, as I raced through the pages despite facing 2 days before I could get to the library for my next batch of books, I was surprised by the final twist. I rate this 2002 Gold Dagger finalist at 8 out of 10 stars.