The Murder Book

A gripping, grisly read … Mark Billingham is a terrific crime writer * Anthony Horowitz *The sense of mounting dread would be unbearable were it not for Billingham’s black humour that somehow highlights rather than undermines his sensitive depiction of the consequences of crime. The Murder Book [is] a brilliant thriller by a writer at the top of his game – Mark Sanderson * The Times *This is Billingham at his most enjoyably melodramatic and you’ll be knocked sideways by the barrage of twists * Daily Mail *Another tense, taut and meticulously planned story, shimmering with edgy originality and depth. Crime fans know Billingham is a formidable talent * Adele Parks *A notable rival for the title of Britain’s leading male crime novelist * Financial Times *You’ll be knocked sideways by the twists * Daily Express *It’s Billingham at his most dramatic * Mirror *At the very least it should reach the shortlist of this year’s Booker prize * The Times (on Rabbit Hole) *Fast-paced and twisting * Paula Hawkins (on Rabbit Hole) *The most cunning, complex, claustrophobic mystery * Louise Candlish (on Rabbit Hole) *Tom Thorne is one of the most credible and engaging heroes in contemporary crime fiction. Mark Billingham is a master * Ian Rankin *Mark Billingham is one the biggest names in crime fiction and one the genre’s most formidable talents * Peter James *

Mark Billingham has twice won the Theakston Old Peculier Award for Crime Novel of the Year and the Sherlock Award for the best detective created by a British writer. In 2026, he was awarded the Crime Writers’ Association Diamond Dagger for an outstanding lifetime contribution to the genre.

His novels Sleepyhead and Scaredy Cat were adapted into a hit TV series on Sky 1, starring David Morrissey as Tom Thorne. A series based on his novels In the Dark and Time of Death was broadcast on BBC1.

Mark lives in north London with his wife and two children.