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Night, night sleepyhead - a soothing reminder of childhood bedtime. But not here. Here, it is the prelude to an unspeakable horror which, if the perpetrator gets it right, leaves the victim alive but no longer in control or, if wrong, leaves the victim dead and the killer full of anger at his failing. This first crime novel from best-selling author Mark Billingham, introduces renegade cop, DI Tom Thorne and his sidekick DC David Holland. Thorne is taunted by the ghosts of those recently killed and, following his gut instinct, turns his back on standard police procedures to go it alone, putting himself and those closest to him in danger. Now the killer wants him. Thorne is the one who's attention he is after and whose intelligence he respects. As Thorne's personal life becomes inextricably linked to the murder hunt, the pressure mounts and the tension builds till the cataclysmic finale. Flicking between narratives of Thorne, the killer and the prone, surviving victim, Billingham holds the attention throughout and demonstrates his skill at writing a tight, fast-paced and increasingly horrific plot. This is an excellent novel showing all the signs of a talent that will become a major force in crime fiction. - Lucy Watson

Mark Billingham is a stand-up comedian, appearing regularly at the Comedy Store. He has also written drama for children's television, including Knight School which won the Royal Television Society Award for best children's drama.