Book Review: Scaredy Cat

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Scaredy Cat     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon UK PB Amazon UK HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Mark Billingham
Class/Genre:   Mystery
Series: Tom Thorne # 2
Morrow, Jun 2003, $23.95

London Detective Tom Thorne is churlish and depressing when he is in what he would consider a good mood, quite a rarity for this cop. However, when he becomes involved in a homicide the police receive the best out of him professionally, but his behavior turns atrocious. His current case leads him to suffer from the Grand Canyon of misery when two murders with the identical MO occurs at approximately the same time in different parts of the city. One of the victims is a mother whose three-year-old watched her die.

Tom and his team investigate the twin killings on the extraordinary concept that a pair of serial killers working in tandem committed the crimes. Forensics say the killers were radically different with one being a professional, smooth and experienced at the job while the other was an amateur. They believe the pro is teaching and leading the rookie and if the theory holds it is the accomplished killer who must be stopped fist. Tom will soon learn this individual is a master manipulator who learned his killing lessons two decades ago in school.

Readers who like a powerful police procedural with strong characters, including the secondary support cast, will want to read this superb tale. SCAREDY CAT develops the crime and the cast before going into hyperspeed as Tom digs deep into any clue he finds to insure no one else dies. This is a winner as was Tom’s first appearance in SLEEPYHEAD.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner