The early reviews are full of praise for Mark Billingham's new novel In the Dark -- his first outside of the DI Tom Thorne series:

‘In the Dark is Mark Billingham's first stand-alone novel, a contemporary tragedy whose characters could have come straight from today's newspaper headlines. Billingham's depiction of the daily lives of the youthful gang members, especially the boy who fired the gun, is believable and utterly depressing and he produces an astonishing final twist to complete his most ambitious and most accomplished book’ Susanna Yager, Sunday Telegraph

‘This is a cracking read where Billingham skilfully places layer upon layers of action into his readers’ mind, giving enough detail to tantalise, but not too much so that when the twist comes - as you know it will - you can’t help but read with your mouth wide open. Mark Billingham has taken a big chance in moving away from Tom Thorne, the central character on whom he has built a highly successful career, with this standalone novel. Was it worth it? Absolutely’ CrimeSquad.com

'Mark Billingham’s first ‘stand-alone’ thriller is far more ambitious... In The Dark is not only a top-notch mystery and a convincing portrait of crack-dealing on south London estates but a moving exploration of grief. Many so-called literary novels achieve far less and are by no means as impressive’ Mark Sanderson, Evening Standard

‘Just because Billingham doesn’t rely here on the cunning of his long-serving DI, Tom Thorne, for the leg work, it doesn’t mean that the plot is not stuffed with some fancy twists and turns. In fact, the departure has clearly given Billingham a shot in the arm... In The Dark is edgy, pacy and frighteningly plausible’ Henry Sutton, The Mirror - Book of the Week

‘Ian Rankin may be Britain’s best-selling male crime writer but he had better look to his laurels – Mark Billingham is biting at his heels... Unmissable though the Thorne books are, this is the writer’s most ambitious work yet... the resulting book is among the author’s most thought-provoking work... After In The Dark, many readers will be hoping that Billingham chooses to air his ideas in this way again’ Barry Forshaw, Daily Express

‘A story with a twist that I guarantee even veteran crime fiction afficionados won't see coming’ Evening Herald Dublin

Click on the audiobook to listen to an extract, read by Adjoa Andoh.

Watch Mark talk about the book on Meet the Author.