As the trail leads the team down multiple dead-ends, Xiu begins to realise that working with Miller will be quite the experience. Miller is not one to play by the rules and his unorthodox methods leave his superiors challenged. But Miller gets results, albeit using some alternative methods that skim the edges of the law. Miller is a non-conformist but it is his oddities and rule-bending that opens up investigations for him.

Behind his wry, witty and outwardly upbeat nature hides a tragic recent past, the aforementioned death of his wife. Alex was a fellow police detective who died in the line of duty. Her murder remains unsolved and this sits very badly with Miller - and he lets the team working the case know of his displeasure…with predictable results. ABOUT THE 'LAST DANCE': Meet Detective Miller: unique, unconventional, and criminally underestimated... In addition to the stress of returning to work after a leave of absence, Declan has a new partner whom he has never met. On the surface, they appear very different. DS Sara Xiu is smart and disciplined in her work style. She is also into heavy metal and casual hook-ups. In spite of their different personalities and work styles, they have been assigned to work together. The character dynamic between Declan and Sara is enjoyable. Despite a somewhat dubious relationship with both reality and his new partner, can the eccentric, offbeat Miller find answers where his colleagues have found only an impossible puzzle? [ My Review ] Dystopian Fiction Books Everyone Should Read: Explore The Darker Side of Possible Worlds and Alternative FuturesThe plot was flimsy, characters were flat. Miller is investigating organized crime but does not have a weapon to defend himself, not even a knife or a bullet proof vest. Knowing that his wife was assassinated or that Miller makes really bad jokes all the time, they should provided him with a vest for those reasons alone! Billingham has clearly enjoyed the challenge of exploring new territory and portraying new characters. His fans may rest assured that his highly accomplished performance deserves a big fat ten. * The Times * A gritty, engaging novel that balances light with dark, offering wit and wisdom in equal measure. Billingham's new lead detective, DS Miller, never misses a step when it comes to solving crime. * Nita Prose, author of The Maid * This ends with a cliffhanger of sorts, so readers are poised for the next in the series, but for me it also ended with a smidge of disappointment that I was saying goodbye to Dec Miller… even just for now.

as he sauntered across the office. Sauntered, which was bloody ridiculous and only went to prove that he was brimming with misplaced confidence. Miller might have ambled now and again and may even have meandered on occasion, but he had never been one for sauntering anywhere. He was more of a lolloper.” The cases themselves are interesting but the treat here is Miller – predominantly through the piquant prose penned by Billingham. It reminded me of slightly-darker Ted Lasso… that verbal diarrhoea that could be annoying but is endearing…Miller’s exchanges with everyone he encounters, his new partner Sara, the criminals he investigates and eventually questions, are imbued with sarcasm (testament to Billingham’s stint as a stand-up comic). And yet there’s a scene with Finn which broke my heart, for both of them. Equally masterful are Miller’s conversations with his wife’s ghost, conjured out of loneliness and heartache. Yet they’re witty and fun. How does he do that? This whiplash alternating between pathos and bathos makes Billingham’s novel memorable. Does it skirt tasteless? Not for this reader, who adores British comedy shows and humour. But for others? I don’t think so: Miller’s grief reads genuine; his moral core, believable.

Brimming with wit, expertly paced, and wholly enjoyable - The Last Dance is a showcase of Billingham's exceptionally gifted storytelling. Mark Billingham is at his best! * Karin Slaughter * Humor is essential in thrillers and crime books but face it this was no thriller or crime fiction, at best it was a cozy mystery. The book was not funny, the humor seemed forced throughout the story. The need for Miller to make “jokes” make me thought he had ADHD but the right term is Witzelsucht. Google it, it has a picture of Miller right next to it. See, this disease unfortunately is contagious. The jokes were unfortunately for this reader, not funny but horribly irritating. Declan Millar is a right pain to work with, seemingly taking nothing seriously, flouting authority and deliberately taking things the wrong way to wind up his senior colleagues. To start with I found him funny, then increasingly irritating and finally, when understanding it was a coping mechanism, growing to like him.

Take a Look at Our Summary of November Highlights, Whether You're Looking for the Latest Releases or Gift Inspiration I kept thinking of the quote by Fran Lebowitz while I read this book, “A book is not supposed to be a mirror. It’s supposed to be a door.” With that in mind, the fact that this author wanted to write a “humorous” book is not enough. I cannot believe the amount of stars this book has received. It is truly perplexing. A double murder in a seaside hotel sees a grieving Miller return to work to solve what appears to be a case of mistaken identity. Just why were two completely unconnected men taken out? Author Mark Billingham has been involved in many creative endeavors over the years. In his early days, he worked as an actor and as a stand-up comedian. These days he is known primarily for his successful DI Tom Thorne series along with standalones like Rabbit Hole. In his spare time, Billingham is a member of the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers, a band composed of several crime authors performing classics like ‘I Fought the Law’ by The Clash. These varied activities appear to have influenced The Last Dance, first in his proposed new series about Detective Sergeant Declan Miller.