The Wrong Hands

DS Declan Miller is back in a new mystery. He is still grieving the killing of his wife Alex, also a detective during a covert operation she was carrying out. Although he is doing better and has re-joined his supportive ballroom dancing group, he is frustrated that the official investigation into her death seems to have stalled.

He sees Alex’s ghost all the time, discussing his cases with her while trying to puzzle out what she was doing the night she was shot so he can find her killer. 

In the meantime, a young man has turned up on his doorstep with a briefcase that he ineptly stole from a hired killer. He was hoping it would contain money or something of value but was shocked when he saw the most unsavoury contents and wants no part of it. The killer he stole it from is now hunting for him, as he needs the case as proof of the job he carried out before his client will cough up his large fee. 

Miller is an unconventional detective, not much liked or appreciated by his colleagues. It could be something to do with his silly quips and annoying humorous insults that he constantly throws at them, but his levity is merely an attempt to hide his broken heart and underneath it his sharp mind is ticking away making links that no one else sees. 

Miller’s new partner, DS Sara Xiu, is gradually getting used to Miller, although maybe not his sense of humour. She has her own idiosyncrasies as a leather wearing motorbike rider who loves death metal and picks up men for one-night stands at gigs. However, they are gradually melding together into a good team who work well together. Miller and Xiu will not only have to find the killer searching for the briefcase and killing those in his way, but also find out who commissioned the contents. This will take them to the local kingpins of crime in Blackpool, who Miller is sure also knows who killed his wife and why.

This is an excellent follow up to ‘The Last Dance’. Billingham writes with a light touch to provide plenty of humor alongside a well plotted mystery and a cast of interesting supporting characters. Recommended to all those who enjoy quirky characters and a touch of irreverent humor alongside a very engaging crime novel.   

With thanks to Grove Atlantic via Netgalley for a copy to read.