Tom Thorne is a hard-bitten, cynical detective, hewn from similar material to Michael Connelly’s Hieronymus “Harry” Bosch or Ian Rankin’s John Rebus. He has put in long years on the job, honing his detection skills and cop’s intuition, while simultaneously developing a cynical carapace. Bosch’s mantra is that ‘everyone counts or no-one counts’ – if ever the police reach a point where the plights of powerless or status-less victims of crime are overlooked, or lost in the margins of cost-effectiveness spreadsheets, then they might as well stop bothering. Thorne follows a similar approach, never losing a degree of empathy with the victims of the crimes he finds himself investigating.

In this novel, there are several victims with whom to empathise, including fellow detective inspector, Nicola Tanner. She had been leading a unit looking into suspected honour killings among London’s Asian communities, and had felt that she was making headway, until her partner is murdered in their home Tanner is convinced that her girlfriend, who had borrowed Nicola’s car on that day, had been mistaken for her. Although she is ordered to take compassionate leave, she reaches out to Thorne and persuades him to help her out.

One of the aspects of Billingham’s novels that I have always enjoyed is his choice of locale. The action always takes place in North London, not far from the area where I live, and Billingham’s descriptions are always spot on. He captures the feel if the different areas, many of which have their own village-like feel (just villages with no open country between them). Tanner is another strong character – almost as taciturn as Thorne, but where he is a maverick, going his own way and following his intuition, wherever it might lead him, she is a stickler for procedure. Surprisingly, the two contrasting methods work well together.

This is a well-constructed and (sadly) all too plausible story. ( )

I'm surprised in this PC world we're living in now, he went there. Great read. Tough subject matter on several fronts. Surprise twist at the end. Billingham never fails to bring it. ( )

A very solid entry in the continuing series of crime thrillers featuring the detective Tom Thorne. Thorne is co-opted by a colleague for an off-the-books investigation into the death of her partner which she believes was intended for her. The pair focus on investigations into ‘honour’ killings in the Asian community, believing that a pair of professional assassins are responsible, working through a local middle man.

The culture clashes between Thorne and the Asian communities are both realistic and sensitively handled. Resolution comes through slow and painstaking police work rather than crash-bang violence and sudden bursts of investigative genius and is all the more real for that.

The final twist takes the story in a completely different and rather shocking direction. ( )

4.5 stars.

In Love Like Blood, DI Nicola Marsh turns to Tom Thorne for help following the murder of her girlfriend Susan Best. The investigation focuses on honour killings in this fourteenth installment of Mark Billingham’s Tom Thorne series.

Having ruffled quite a few feathers while working for the Honour Crimes Unit, Nicola is certain she, not Susan, was killer’s intended target. Currently on compassionate leave following Susan’s death, she enlists Tom’s help in an off the books investigation that might be linked to the four year old unsolved murder of Meena Athwal. Nicola’s theory that parents in the Muslim, Hindu, and Sikh communities are hiring hitmen to kill their daughters whose behavior brings shame to their families is plausible but it has made her some powerful enemies. Eager to solve his cold case, Thorne agrees to investigate Susan’s death but will they uncover the truth before it is too late?

Tom is never afraid to step on toes, but he is uncharacteristically diplomatic as he tries to convince his boss DCI Brigstocke to let him investigate the current case of a missing young couple, Amaya Shah and Kamal Azim. He is also surprisingly honest about the fact that he is looking into Susan’s murder but he is careful to downplay Nicola’s involvement in the investigation. Now he has Brigstocke’s blessing to look into the disappearance of Shah and Azim, Tom is deeply troubled after his interviews with the victims’ families. Fortunately CCTV footage gives Thorne and Marsh a strong lead that supports the hitman theory. When Amaya’s body is discovered, Tom is frustrated when his boss insists he concentrate on locating her boyfriend Kamal after strong evidence leads everyone to believe he is most likely her killer.

The various investigations unfold at a rather slow pace but Tom and Nicola have many intriguing leads to pursue. Nicola has uncovered a possible link to three leaders in the Muslim, Hindu, and Sikh communities who are working together to combat the hate crimes directed toward them. Arman Bannerjee is the most charismatic of the three leaders and at the urging of his son, Ravi, he previously lodged a complaint against Nicola. Needless to say, Bannerjee is less than enthused to see her and Thorne at their meetings. Tom and Nicola cannot help but wonder if Arman's animosity is an indication he is involved in the honour killings. When an attempt is made on Nicola’s life, Tom is certain they are the right track, but will he locate the suspected hitmen before they strike again?

Love Like Blood is a leisurely paced mystery with an refreshingly unique storyline. Nicola and Tom are a formidable team as they tenaciously pursue numerous leads in the investigation into the honour killings and Susan’s murder. Mark Billingham brings the novel to a jaw-dropping conclusion with a shocking plot twist that is impossible to predict. This latest release is another brilliant addition to the Tom Thorne series that old and new fans are going to love. ( )

An unusual police novel. Thoroughly enjoyable. ( )