His [Billingham's] storylines of murders that go unseen or unrecognised are chilling and moving, and Tom Thorne is on terrific form I get the whole serial killer indicator thing (the Macdonald triad – though hadn’t known it was called that so appreciate that info!) and know the torture and killing of animals is usually a hop skip and a jump to inflicting it on a person but Thorne’s gym analogy (I won’t say more cos that would mean it’s a spoiler) doesn’t entirely make sense. And the leap from cats to women and how they identify potential victims felt a bit tenuous. (Not to mention the fact the cat-killing / investigation seemed to get lost somewhere). As ever with Billingham, a rich cast of characters and tense situations are marshalled with panache, leading to a final terrifying encounter ( Financial Times) This book was remarkably well written and plotted as are all of Mark Billingham’s novels. It is written in linear fashion, following both investigations closely and painstakingly. I did not enjoy the interminable meeting and the political shenanigans between all the big wigs associated with the case. I was disturbed at Tom Thorne’s self-doubts. He seemed to be questioning his every move and wondering if he was in the wrong work. Is this a prelude to Tom’s retirement, I thought. This is an exciting and action-filled (political meeting among big wigs aside), nook. I enjoyed reading it. I very much look forward to Mark Billingham’s next novel. As ever with Billingham, a rich cast of characters and tense situations are marshalled with panache, leading to a final terrifying encounter' FINANCIAL TIMES

Interspersed with their investigations are creepy passages that are presumably about the killer. In fact, the book opens with one: Tom is put in charge of finding the person responsible for murdering and mutilating pet cats. Cue several remarks about Pussy and cans of cat food . Thank heavens,NO gruesome details are given,I must admit I had serious misgivings when I started this book. Thorne is certain that a killer who tortures cats, skins them and leaves their bodies for their owners to find on the doorstep will inevitably go further, and may even have killed a person already. But he’s finding it hard to convince anyone in the Met. He finally takes the case to Detective Superintendent Fulton, at his old stomping ground in Kentish Town, to try to convince him to help. With Tanner investigating a different killing, he’s pretty much on his own, the butt of an almost unending string of cat jokes.

Help

As most crime aficionados know, animal abuse can be a telltale starting point for serial killers. DI Tom Thorne feels the cat case may be a softening of the edges for an active murderer. An investigation into unsolved murders finds several cases with a similar theme propelling Thorne's suppositions forward. He just needs the brass to be on board to cough up some cash for a sting operation. A] sensitive topic delicately handled, with a perfectly executed and thoroughly unnerving twist at the end

A new Mark Billingham is always a treat and The Killing Habit hurls the reader straight into the action - the real mystery of the M25 cat killer. If you can judge a man's heart by his treatment of animals, then Tom Thorne has someone very dangerous on his hands. Thoroughly enjoyable for being so very real. And although a serious crime, Thorne is getting his share of kitty jokes. One person suggests maybe it's a copycat' killer. This case will take some thinking outside the (litter) 'box'. Maybe this is a grudge against the feline bird killers. With this in mind, Thorne heads off to Kentish Town station to coordinate with the police force he’d be working with on the case, knowing he’d have to do a bit of political maneuvering when it comes to DS Simon Fulton. Anyone that’s familiar with this series already knows how much Thorne hates political maneuvering, but it comes with the job.

Christmas Gifts

At the university, he graduated in drama, after which he co-founded a theater called Bread and Circuses.