Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

In the shadowed corridors of crime fiction, where detectives tread and secrets fester, Mark Billingham's latest offering, "The Last Dance," struts onto the stage. A tantalizing blend of suspense, wit, and unexpected twists, this novel introduces us to the enigmatic Detective Declan Miller—a man whose dance with danger is as graceful as it is perilous.

Billingham deftly sidesteps the well-worn path of detective tropes.

Miller isn't your typical gumshoe; he's a maverick, a rogue note in a symphony of predictability. His backstory—a murdered wife who was also his ballroom dancing partner—adds layers of melancholy and intrigue. As he waltzes back into the investigative fray, we're drawn into a world where the dance floor and the crime scene share more than just floorboards.

The Sands Hotel becomes the stage for a deadly performance. Gangland scion Adrian Cutler and IT consultant Barry Shepherd lie lifeless, their fates entwined like partners in a complex dance. Initial evidence hints to a hired gun and a bungled execution. But Miller, ever the improviser, begins to reconnect with his old network—ballroom dancing friends, a homeless informant named Finn, and even the ghostly presence of his late wife, Alex, who materializes in his kitchen. The plot thickens, and the danger looms closer.

Billingham's prose conjures the salty tang of the sea, the whisper of waves against the shore. The seaside hotel setting is both picturesque and ominous, like a tango in moonlight. As Miller and his new partner, DS Sara Xiu (a heavy metal enthusiast with her own rhythm), unravel the threads of deception, we're swept into a dance of shadows and secrets.

Miller's unorthodox methods raise eyebrows among his colleagues. But beneath the disheveled exterior lies a razor-sharp mind. His ballroom steps may be unconventional, but they lead him closer to the truth. And as the tempo quickens, danger inches toward his doorstep. The stakes are high, the choreography intricate, and the finale promises revelations that will leave you breathless.

"The Last Dance" is a symphony of suspense, a tango of intrigue, and a cha-cha of unexpected alliances. Mark Billingham has crafted a detective novel that twirls outside the lines, leaving footprints on the reader's imagination. So slip on your dancing shoes, step onto the floor, and let Detective Miller lead you through a dark and dazzling performance. Encore, please! 👏🕺💃.

New characters and the same good old humour in a solid murder mystery by Mark Billingham. Recommended for fans and those who don't know this excellent thriller writer.

This is my first book by Mark Billingham and I thought it was a really good police procedural murder mystery and a great start to a new series. The lead detective, DS Declan Miller, is unique and I found him quite amusing. A couple of his jokes made me laugh out loud. I look forward to the next book in the series and to discover who murdered his wife.

It's always a thrill to crack open the first book of a new series, especially one that sounds so juicy! "The Last Dance" is indeed juicy, with a plot that includes two men who apparently killed at the same time on the same floor of a hotel. The case is pretty good, but I wished another detective had been assigned to it. Mark Billingham's new protagonist is DC Declan Miller, returning to work following the unsolved murder of his wife. He's just so irritating, with a juvenile sense of humor that he just can't stop.

I'm giving three stars to the plot and one to Miller. I'll keep reading Billingham's older mysteries.

A dead wife whose ghost shows up in his kitchen and now the double killing of a gangland family heir. Detective Declan Miller is quite the character, part clown and part determined investigator

A fantastic start to a new series. Detective Miller is a little quirky but brilliant. I loved the characters and the banter.
Many thanks to Grove Atlantic and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I fell in love with this story since the beginning and I appreciated Billingham's storytelling and how he developed well rounded and quirky characters.
It's a fast paced, action packed and gripping story that kept me reading and entertained.
I loved it and can't wait to read the next one.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

4★
“The coloured lights from more than a million lamps seem to dance above the town’s main street and their reflections shimmer on the surface of the black sea just beyond. On the street itself, a thousand neon signs dazzle and buzz and the slow-moving traffic has become a pulsating necklace of red and white beads.

To the casual observer, gazing down from the top of the Tower perhaps, or from a penthouse apartment in one of the expensive blocks that have sprung up in recent years, this might be Las Vegas.

If that casual observer ‘really’ squinted.

And had never been to Las Vegas.”

The opening of the first of this new series by Mark Billingham gives a taste of the style of this book - serious and sardonic - and the setting for the double murders which take place at the Sands Hotel.

Detective Declan Miller returns to work early following the murder of his wife, Alex, also a police officer. He can’t sit still at home any longer, and he’s not allowed to be part of the team investigating her mysterious death. What he is greeted with, is the case described above. That, and a new partner.

While his conversation is full of banter, jokes, sarcasm, and taking the mickey out of people, he is not a shallow man, and we get the sense that Alex, who had her own wild years before they met, understood that.

Now he’s alone with a pair of pet rats (Fred and Ginger) and a new partner at work. He arrives at the office and clambers up to stand on his desk and call everyone’s attention to the fact he is back and doesn’t fancy having any sympathetic pats on the shoulder or the like.

“So, desk, mug, clink-clink with the spoon . . .
All heads turned and it went very quiet.

‘OK, well . . . thank you all for coming.’ He manufactured that smile he’d been practising in the mirror before leaving the house. ‘I’ll try to keep this brief because we’ve all got crimes to solve . . . alcohol habits to support, gambling debts to pay off, whatever. So, just to say, my wife Alex, who some of you knew, is dead. She’s . . . dead. It’s a pisser, but there you are.

‘Obviously, if you knew her, you’re well aware of the fact that she’s dead and you might well have been at the funeral, so I could probably have skipped that bit . . . but I suppose what I really want to say is . . . I’m dealing with it and if I am, then you lot should.’”

His new partner is a woman who looks Chinese, but he knows better than to ask. He’s not completely uncouth and generally his banter is offensive only when he intends to be. His relationship with her is more awkward than expected because she doesn’t get his humour or his jokes. Being silly doesn’t work with her.

He’s not all fun and games. He has mixed with some pretty scary characters, people in rival crime families, and one of the murder victims is a son from one. So is the other family responsible? And if so, what about the other murder – in the room next door in the hotel? A mistake?

The investigation moves around between people who are ‘known to police’ and others who turn up. While he and Xiu deal with their bosses and assignments, another team is looking into Alex’s murder. He misses her badly, listens to her voice and scrolls through her old phone messages. He’s not allowed to ask questions.

Alex appears to him now and then and has conversations with him, but as with the good ‘ghost’ stories I’ve read recently, nothing she says actually tells him anything he doesn’t already know. He knows he’s invented her, but he still enjoys her company and it does clarify his thinking.

He and Xiu each have back stories, although the focus is on him. They are an odd couple but an enjoyable one. Neither likes their boss, a man who was promoted above Miller while he was away, and Miller refers to him as “wankspangle” (among other things).

In the beginning, I was a little frustrated at Miller’s jokiness, that often seemed out of place (and was), but as I got to know him, I appreciated him and – dare I say it? – his professionalism. There is nothing slapdash about his attitude to crime. He’s a cop for the right reasons.

“. . . he enjoyed rocking up to play his small but significant part in making the ceremonial county of Lancashire, and this bit of it in particular, a slightly less horrible place to be.

Even if he often felt like a square peg in a round hole.

Or a peg with no discernible shape at all.”

I enjoyed the people and the story. I’ve never read Billingham before, but as this is obviously #1 in a new series, and as the author has left scope for continuing with these characters, I will be standing by for Miller’s next outing.

Thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the copy for review.

4.5

I absolutely loved this book. Declan Miller is a wonderful character and the story was excellent. I can't wait for the next detective Miller mystery!

Brilliant book.
It was refreshing to read about a new detective from Mark Billingham.
Lots of twists and turns. I can’t wait for the next one.

Other than The Singing Detective, one of the best television series I’ve seen is Blackpool, a musical murder mystery set in, you guessed it, Blackpool! Davids Morrisey and Tennant sing! There’s a seedy arcade, a dead body, illicit love affairs, and kitsch galore, it doesn’t get better than this. Or weirder. I didn’t think anything could top it until I read Billingham’s Blackpool-set The Last Dance. Like Blackpool, it’s an original, thanks to Billingham’s Detective Declan Miller. Miller is morbid, funny, buffoon-ish, but also epitomizes dogged, persistent, plugging-away-at-it police work. Miller’s voice and The Last Dance‘s premise are distinctive. The publisher’s blurb offers the gist of plot and character:

Maverick sleuth Declan Miller is back at work following the murder of his wife (and amateur ballroom dancing partner) Alex. Working with new partner and heavy metal enthusiast DS Sara Xiu, he is tasked with investigating the double killing of gangland family scion Adrian Cutler and IT consultant Barry Shepherd at the Sands Hotel. Initial evidence suggests a hired gun and a botched job. The search for the hitman begins and Miller begins to reconnect with his old network—his ballroom dancing friends, homeless informant Finn, and even the ghost of his wife who keeps showing up in his kitchen. The fact Alex had been investigating the Cutler family prior to her death complicates things, and as Miller gets closer to the truth, he realizes the danger is walking right up to his doorstep…

What makes The Last Dance unique is Miller’s peculiar combination of grief and humour. For example, a flashback to Alex’s funeral sees Miller cracking jokes in the midst of mourning his wife. And yet the grief is deep and near-unbearable; another beautiful scene, Miller reunites with their dancing gang (some former cops who comment on his present case most cleverly). After a waltz with one of them, he is awash with tears, not even realizing it. I was moved and also often laughed out loud throughout my reading of the novel.

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.

Billingham’s novel is also a compelling mystery and even more so, Miller’s method to reaching the truth of things. It’s not sensational: one particular scene is hilarious and it’s, as I said above, doggedly smart. Frankly, the final interrogation scene is a hoot. In solving the murder of these two disparate characters, the gangster and the seemingly ordinary-IT-guy, Billingham introduces us to fascinating, beautifully drawn characters: the career criminal who finds redemption through chess (the backstory is something else too), the are-they-or-aren’t-they grief-stricken wives, the seedy family-run criminal empire dude, even the hotel staff are memorable.

Characterization and a deceptively complex, labyrinthine plot make Billingham’s mystery a contender for my mystery of the year (were it not for Kestrel’s brilliant Five Decembers). To end my pleasure and leave it panting for more like a doggie before its bowl, Billingham leaves us with a humdinger of a cliffhanger about Alex’s still-unsolved murder. Grrr…and…yay!? I have grubbed into Fantastic Fiction and it looks like there will be a book #2, so phew. (The only thing I could ask for more of in the next book is a greatest sense of Blackpool.) Miss Austen and I see in Billingham’s The Last Dance “no charm equal to tenderness of heart,” Emma.

Mark Billingham’s The Last Dance is published by Grove Atlantic and was released earlier this month. I received an e-ARC from Grove Atlantic for the purpose of writing this review. This does not in any way impede the free expression of my opinion.

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.

The story is set in Blackpool, a town in Northwest England identified by its seafront, bright lights and the Blackpool Tower Ballroom. These days the Ballroom is often associated with the TV dance competition, Strictly Come Dancing. While the public enjoy the lights, the Blackpool police are focused on what goes on in the shadows but Declan has a foot both sides of the line. He is as passionate about competitive dancing as he is about breaking a case. He and his late wife Alex started dancing as a fun source of entertainment. Over time, as their dancing improved, they became interested in dance competitions.

The book opens with a murder at one of the hotels on the promenade. It is Declan’s first day back on the job after six weeks on leave. He has been mourning the loss of Alex who was also on the force. Letting go has been a challenge. He still converses with Alex on a daily basis. When the grief becomes too much, he dials her cell phone so that he can hear her voice one more time as it asks for a message. His grief is palpable as Billingham describes it in a touching and sometimes humorous way. He accurately portrays how happy moments can suddenly shift to tears and vice versa while a person is grieving.

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.

Most of Declan’s jokes fall flat with Sara, but humour is important to him. He uses it to mock those in in positions of authority or to deflect personal questions. He jokes with people to bond with them and also to push them away. It’s interesting to see the eccentric Declan in a variety of situations with different people to see how they respond to his humour. Not all of his jokes are seen as amusing or appropriate for the time and place.

Although Declan may come across like a constant joker, there is substance to the man. He is a clever investigator. His investigation reveals that the case is actually a double murder and he sees a potential connection with his wife’s death – also a murder. As he is frustrated by the lack of police progress in resolving Alex’s murder, he begins to secretly conduct his own investigation. Declan ignores orders from his superiors along with standard police protocol and continues to dig deeper into Alex’s murder case.

Declan gathers information from some unexpected sources like Finn, a homeless addict; and Chesshead, a criminal with a passion for the game. Declan debriefs his discoveries with the members of his dance team. His approach may not be conventional but it works for him. It is the relationships between these characters that will draw you into the book.

In spite of the flippant jokes there are genuine moments that will pique your curiosity about the cast surrounding Declan and you will want to know more about them. As The Last Dance beings a new series, we’re pleased there will be opportunities to delve deeper into some of these characters. It’s obvious at the end of the book that Billingham is setting the stage for the next book.

Billingham writing a new British Crime story with a new detective- Miller. I really enjoyed the humour which was brought into this character. An enjoyable read with an interesting backstory regarding his wife- Alex. I like that my home town even got a mention! Will be looking out for the next in the series. Thank you for letting me read and review.

This is a new series from Mark Billingham and my first book from him - The Last Dance.

"Detective Miller cathches a double-murder on his first day back after his wife was murdered. It looks like a case of mistaken identity. Can he solve it with his new partner?

Miller is pretty annoying. Do you have that one guy that's always cracking jokes in every meeting? Always annoying? Doesn't ever seem serious? That's Miller. He does have some hilarious jabs at his supervisor.
One tough part was all of the English names for much of the story. I need to make a list and ask my UK friends.
Sometimes I can guess the killer - usually after many of the clues are revealed. I knew this right away. I kept telling Miller "Hey - didn't you hear that?" Eventually he does.

A good pick if you like British crime fiction and wisecracking detectives.

The protagonist is different from Thorne and the writing took some time to get used to. The jokes were good and some of them had me ROFL. The suspense was good and the police procedure was to the point. A series to look forward to.

This is the start of a new series by Billingham featuring DS Declan Miller, an unconventional policeman to say the least. Miller is returning to duty just six weeks following the death of his wife, Alex, who was also a police officer. He is still obsessed with her, often carrying on conversations with her as well as ringing her mobile just to hear her voice. Upon his return, he is partnered with Sara Xiu, a much younger cop and a total opposite to Miller. He is irreverent, says what’s on his mind, and he was a ballroom dancer with his wife. She is quiet, soft-spoken, totally focused on her work and their current case, and a heavy metal music fan. Their first case together is a double murder of two seemingly unrelated men in hotel rooms next to each other. Adrian Cutler is the son of a notorious crime scion while Barry Shepherd seems to be a random victim. The ensuing investigation provides insight into Miller in the police world, his candor, his irreverence, and his dedication to his job while taking the reader into a confounding case with a surprise ending.

Miller is certainly a different lead character, and his relationship with Xiu provides some entertaining situations and conversations. At first, I wasn’t sure about Miller - was this just going to be another story of a cop who isn’t into the mainstream of police work. Not. While some of his comments and conversations were a bit off the wall, it became very entertaining - especially some of the back and forth with his partner and his superiors. I have enjoyed a number of Billingham’s Tom Thorne books (there are about 20) and was eager to see what he now has in store. I look forward to the next chapter in this new series. My thanks to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

It's always fun to read what would be the start of a new series. The Last Dance introduced an interesting character in Detective Sergeant Declan Miller. He definitely grated on my nerves in some parts of the story but the writer was able to flesh him out by giving insight to the grief he carries due to personal loss. His off-key jokes and quips sometimes didn't land for me but when they did - boy were they a hit.

The mystery was pretty interesting and the twist in the end was pretty clever. However it's more of the characters that carried the storyline and investigation took a backseat. The pacing was good and the misdirection was used quite well. I do recommend giving this book a try.

4 stars out of 5 stars.

DS Declan Miller is returning to work after the death of his wife Alex. A new partner, DS Sarah Xiu, and a double homicide are not what he expected to find. Adrian Cutler was murdered in his hotel room. While checking whether the other rooms on the floor are occupied, a second body is found, killed in the same manner. Miller is familiar with Cutler, the son of a gangland leader, but the second victim does not seem to be connected to him. He may have just been an unfortunate witness to the murder. It is up to Miller and Xiu to discover any connection. Alex was working under cover, investigating Cutler’s organization as well as his rival when she was murdered. Now Miller and Xiu must question both men, trying to discover just which victim was the actual target.

Miller can sometimes be annoying as he displays a sense of humor that is sometimes inappropriate in its’ timing. Xiu, on the other hand, has no sense of humor. Miller and Alex had been involved with ballroom dancing. It was during a competition that she disappeared before her murder. Now Miller has rejoined the group, which offers support and advice on his case. He still calls his wife’s phone to hear her voice and in the evenings he can still picture her in their home, offering her own advice for him. She may be gone, but she is still a presence in his life, creating some heartbreaking scenes. This is the first book in Mark Billingham’s wonderful new series. Alex’s murder remains unsolved, but he leaves you with a pice of evidence that will have you anxiously awaiting his next story. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book for my review.

I am sorry I think I am going to be one and done with this series. Totally out of the norm for me as even when I hate the lead character I usually always give them a second chance to settle in. To tone down what irks me. But I think that the things that irk me about Declan Miller are what makes him what he is and the author ain't about to change things for lil ol whiney me!
Sad though as I thought the case went well. Two men, both shot dead at the Sands Hotel. Hit man style. In adjoining rooms. Mistaken identity, coincidence, connected. Who knows...? And I loved his sidekick, now if she got her own book series...?!
But all that intrigue and interest I really had to work hard to get past Miller's annoyances. I know. I'm heartless. He's grieving his wife. Broken. And it's his way of coping. I know. I'm sorry. But oh my days there's humour and banter. And then there's what we have here. Flippant, puerile, and not on my wavelength of funny. Cringe...
Please don't hate me. I know it's me. I've seen LOADS of great reviews. Make your own mind up... I'm sure Mr Billingham won't lose any sleep over my opinion...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

EXCERPT: It was true that Miller wanted to be busy, but he hadn't been counting on picking up such a big case on his first day back. That was the way things went, though. You were desperate for a day or two to catch your breath or even just looking to recharge your batteries after a major inquiry and someone decided to poison their husband or stab a passer-by because they didn't like their trainers.
People were so bloody inconsiderate, sometimes.

ABOUT THE 'LAST DANCE': Meet Detective Miller: unique, unconventional, and criminally underestimated...
Maverick sleuth Declan Miller is back at work following the murder of his wife (and amateur ballroom dancing partner) Alex. Working with new partner and heavy metal enthusiast DS Sara Xiu, he is tasked with investigating the double killing of gangland family scion Adrian Cutler and IT consultant Barry Shepherd at the Sands Hotel. Initial evidence suggests a hired gun and a botched job. The search for the hitman begins and Miller begins to reconnect with his old network—his ballroom dancing friends, homeless informant Finn, and even the ghost of his wife who keeps showing up in his kitchen. The fact Alex had been investigating the Cutler family prior to her death complicates things, and as Miller gets closer to the truth, he realizes the danger is walking right up to his doorstep...
Will this eccentric, offbeat sleuth find answers where more traditional police have found only a puzzle?

MY THOUGHTS: I loved this introduction to Detective Miller. He's the sort of man who is always out of step with everyone else. His partner, Xiu, describes him as annoying, bloody-minded, childish, insensitive, inappropriate, pig-headed, rude, stupidly over-confident, and completely dismissive of authority. Not to mention inattentive, flippant, sarcastic, erratic, unreliable and flaky. Yes, he's all of those things, but he is also wildly entertaining and kind of lovable.

I almost choked at the reference to Funeral Sermons for Dummies.

I'm hooked.

Best gone into blind with no more information than is contained in the blurb.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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THE AUTHOR: Mark Billingham was born and brought up in Birmingham. Having worked for some years as an actor and more recently as a TV writer and stand-up comedian his first crime novel was published in 2001. Mark lives in North London with his wife and two children.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Grove Atlantic via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The Last Dance by Mark Billingham for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.