In The Dark Mark Billingham Harper $25.95 HC Oct. 2008

On a rainy night in London some young gang bangers, out on an initiation, fire some shots at a car. The car swerves killing an innocent person. This seemingly random event upsets the lives of three people. Helen, a young pregnant woman, Theo, the trigger man and Frank, an organized crime boss willing to seek revenge. Mark Billingham has written a sure handed stand alone that will take you into the underbelly of London. In The Dark alternates between Helen, Theo and Frank and each of these characters comes alive for the reader. Mr.Billingham's title, In The Dark,
suggests that none of his characters know the full story. The twists and turns have the reader thinking along. Mr. Billingham cleverly, leaves us satisfied with the ending but perhaps still in the dark; wondering with his characters if we know everything Stand alones make a great introduction to readers unfamiliar with an author. In The Dark is a perfect pick up. Mr. Billingham is also famous for his Tom Thorne series. They too are tough, gritty, hard boiled reads that have become part of the essential reads of the genre.

David Biemann