In his second novel featuring DS Declan Miller, Billingham combines a mobster-style thriller with a hint of cosy crime. Most readers will be familiar with the author from his long-running Tom Thorne series, and although this new series seems to have a different tone, DS Declan Miller is undoubtedly a memorable character.

Full review: https://westwordsreviews.wordpress.com/2024/09/17/the-wrong-hands-mark-billingham/

Is Miller better than Thorne? He certainly has enough sad in his life, unfinished business and a varied cast of supporting friends. Still running around Blackpool trying to resolve his wife's murder and do a dayjob of all the other crime. Thoroughly enjoyable

I loved the first book in this series. The gritty setting and whimsical elements worked so well together. It was great to revisit this world but the second book didn’t feel quite complete as a story. Still keen to read more and I hope Mark Billingham continues with the series. Would love it as a TV show too!

The Wrong Hands is the second book with DI Declan Miller as the main character, but the first one I’ve read from the series. The sequel does a decent job on recapping the events from the first instalment, so the reader doesn’t feel too confused.

Without going into too much detail to avoid potential spoilers, I'll say that the plot revolves around DI Declan Miller who is investigating a murder which quickly turns into two. The catch is - he knows exactly who the culprit is, but the man is frustratingly elusive. Can Miller and his team get to the murderer in time, before more people get hurt? And, more importantly, will this arrest help him to learn the identity of his wife’s killer?

Personally, I think the book wasn’t bad, even though I thought that the logic of some of the characters started faltering after one crucial point in the investigation. As in, someone who we’ve been made to believe to be quite smart just ignored a very obvious lead? Didn’t investigate further? Didn’t do a more thorough background check? Weird. Additionally, some parts of the story felt unnecessarily long - sometimes it was hard to keep paying attention to what was happening or remember where we were supposed to be going next because the characters just. Went. On. And on. And on. And unfortunately I wasn’t a fan of the main character. I could sympathise with Miller’s grief over the dead wife, and I could understand the anger he felt over the fact that her murderer still wasn’t caught, but his behaviour was akin to bullying on more than a few occasions.

However, I’d still recommend this book to anyone who enjoys police procedurals. It has its fair share of mystery, drama, and iconic British humour.

Thank you, NetGalley and Grove Atlantic, for sending me the ARC for an honest review!

Second instalment in ongoing series.
Getting used to the ways of Detective Miller and his colleagues and the back drop of Blackpool
Although a detective story there is plenty of humour contained within this book also
Whether it's Miller or his series of books featuring Thorne, does Billingham write a bad book ?
Can see these Miller books being commissioned for tv just like the Thorne ones.
Keep them coming.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for a copy of this book!

I finished the first Detective Miller book and requested book 2 right away and it did not disappoint! I enjoyed seeing Miller and Xiu's relationship grow as they solved another case. While the first book ended on a cliffhanger, this one did not and we got to see the cliffhanger resolved. I like that it opens up the rest of the series to grow with the characters and whatever they may encounter. My only complaint is that even though I wanted to know what happened, it moved a tiny bit slow for me (or maybe I've just been in a summer reading slump). While I thought it was slow, I do think it needed all parts for the storyline if that makes sense. If you enjoyed the first book, you'll also enjoy this one! I can't wait until book 3 comes out!

Thanks to NetGalley, the Author and the Publisher for the ARC.

I liked this one better than the first one. Miller's character grows on you. It was funny and engaging.

This is the second book in the Detective Miller series, but I missed the first one. I have only read one other book by Mark Billingham, [book:Rabbit Hole|55894304], so I'm still learning his writing style.

Description:
This is one case Detective Miller won't want to open . . .

The second rip-roaring mystery from multi-award-winning number international bestseller Mark Billingham starring Detective unique, unconventional, and criminally underestimated...

Unconventional Detective Declan Miller has a problem. Well, two problems. First, there's his dead wife and her yet-to-be-solved murder. He really should stop talking to her ghosts...

Second, and most pressing, a young man has just appeared on his doorstep with a briefcase . . . containing a pair of severed hands. Miller knows this case is proof of a contract killing commissioned by local ne'er do well Wayne Cutler—a man he suspects might also be responsible for his wife's death. Now Miller has leverage, but unfortunately, he also has something that both Cutler and a villainous fast-food kingpin are desperate to get hold of.

Sprinkle in a Midsomer Murders-obsessed hitman, a psychotic welder, and a woman driven over the edge by a wayward Crème Egg, and Miller is in a mess that even he might not be able to dance his way out of.

My Thoughts:
The initial premise of the book was laughable with the thieves steal a briefcase in a pubic restroom, but when they open it they find two severed hands with some signet rings on some fingers. Not what they wanted to find, sor sure. So they get rid of it and it winds up with Detective Miller who begins the investigation. This is a mob type book with lots of bodies and thugs. I always like quirky characters and Detective Miller is one of those with his hobby being ballroom dancing and he keeps a couple of pet rats. This is not my favorite type of book, but it's not a bad story and I would recommend it to those who like reading about mob characters.

Thanks to Grove Atalantic through Netgalley for an advance copy.

D.S. Declan Miller's wife was murdered a few months ago. She was also a police officer who disappeared off the dance floor where Declan and she were competing in a dance contest. Declan has returned to dancing and uses his cronies to talk over his cases. He also talks to his dead wife, who shows up periodically to interject her own opinions on matters. There is a psychotic killer of the loose, who is obsessed with Midsomer Murders and Declan and his team need to find him before he murders more folks. An interesting take of a police procedural.

Another fabulous treat from this incredible author.

I loved 'The Last Dance' and I'd definitely recommend you read that before this one, although, this can absolutely be read as a standalone, it would just be a real shame not to read the lead up, as all the characters reappear in this one and I felt I was getting to know them.

Detective Sergeant Miller is a widower who talks to his dead wife and keeps pet rats. He's also a maverick with a cracking sense of humour. Both these books had me laughing out loud.

In addition to Miller working on his assigned cases, he's suspicious that his wife's murder investigation isn't progressing and so, keeps poking his nose into that as well. All of the characters are really well drawn. There's his dance team, with whom he shares some of his work. And then, there's his partner; Detective Sergeant Xiu, who has an interesting way to meet partners and who is a great foil to Miller.

Overall, this is an excellent, easy to read, fun, murder mystery and I hope there are more adventures to come.

Congratulations to the author and many thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown for the opportunity to preview. Fabulous 5 stars from me!

Mark Billingham introduced Detective Declan Miller in The Last Dance. He is still grieving the loss of his wife Alex, whose unsolved murder in an undercover operation leaves him bitter about the lack of progress. They enjoyed ballroom dancing and Miller has the support of the group of dancers who still regularly meet. He has two rats as pets named Fred and Ginger and holds regular conversations with his wife’s ghost. Miller believes that local mobster Wayne Cutler was responsible for Alex’s death, but there is no proof. A knock on his door may bring him closer to the truth. Andy, a friend of his stepdaughter Finn, has a briefcase containing two hands. They were supposed to be the proof that Draper, a killer for hire, had murdered someone for Cutler. Without that proof Draper will not be paid. He will stop at nothing to retrieve the briefcase, including murder and an attack on Finn. Miller and his partner, Detective Sara Xiu, must find Draper and the evidence tying him to Cutler.

Xiu is still getting used to Miller’s strange sense of humor. He worries about Xiu, who is into heavy metal and has had a series of one-night stands. They are a strange combination but support each other and work well together. Cutler has used intimidation, arson and murder to build his empire. He has, however, neglected and disrespected his wife. That may be his biggest mistake. Billingham’s story follows Draper ‘s search for the briefcase as well as Miller’s ongoing investigation into his wife’s murder. He has a surveillance video of her last meeting that he has watched hundreds of times without identifying the shadowy figure, always feeling that there is an answer that he is missing until something clicks. His scenes with Alex are touching and Billingham’s conclusion beautifully ends her story. I would like to thank NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for providing this book.

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 humour 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 humour alongside a very engaging crime novel.

The Wrong Hands by Mark Billingham is the second in the series featuring Declan Miller. I absolutely loved the first, The Last Dance, as Miller reminded me of wise-cracking gumshoes of the past. I adored Billingham (Declan's) fairly manic thought processes, his snark and the random sharing of facts he imparts on everyone and anyone. We were introduced to a few other players in the first book, including his partner DS Sara Xiu (aka Posh because her surname sounds like jus... posh gravy) in addition to his bosses (one of whom is supportive) as well as other less-supportive colleagues, ballroom dancing friends and a couple of mobsters or may or may not have been involved in Dec's wife murder. And then of course there's Alex, his aforementioned wife with whom he continues to share his thoughts. Despite her being dead 'n' all.

I probably didn't find Miller quite as witty and eccentric as I did in the first outing though the case is probably a little stronger here. Although this book DOES provide lots of hand-pun opportunities, so... bonus points for that.

Miller and Posh's colleagues are involved in a sting operation gone-wrong and, as it has links to those who MAY have been involved in his wife's death, Miller makes sure he's on the case.

The what-went-wrong is akin to a comedy of errors as the police attempt to catch a mobster who ordered the murder of the trusted right hand (see what I did there?!) of a competitor. They attempt to intercept the killer handing (!) over a briefcase holding evidence of the contract-kill (severed hands) but are thwarted when the briefcase is stolen by thieves expecting a different kind of payday.

We spend time with both the thuggish low-level crims and the mobster-types and their hired hands (!!!). Obviously I very much appreciated the humour, not to mention the irony here with the reminder that sometimes people are brought down by those they least suspect. 

Again Miller uses his dance buddies (that includes a couple of ex-coppers) as sounding boards... as well as Alex. And while there's some resolution for Miller here, it leads to a new clue in the case of his wife's killer, requiring readers to wait (im)patiently for book three.

This second book in the Detective Declan Miller series I found was better than the first. Detective Miller's partnership with DS Sara Xiu is working well and both characters are written well. The book is written well and keeps throwing you a curve ball so does keep you on your toes and of course turning the pages. Definitely counting down to the 3rd book in the series.
My thanks as always to Netgalley and to Publisher Grove Atlantic /Atlantic Monthly Press for the early read .

A low-level heist gone wrong leads to mayhem

At a train station in Blackpool, Keith Slick and Andy Bagnall have worked out what they think will be an easy (if not particularly legal) way to make some money. Andy (the “muscle”) will target a man who has an expensive looking briefcase and distract him, and Keith (the “brains”) will snatch the briefcase and run while the victim’s attention (and, incidentally, both of his hands) are otherwise occupied. It works as planned…..but what they didn’t factor in to the equation was (a) their victim Dennis Draper was under police surveillance at the time, because (b) he’s a hitman who recently did a job for local crime boss Wayne Cutler. When the two unlucky thieves open the briefcase and discover it contains a pair of severed human hands, they know that they are in way over their heads. Andy may be “thick as mince”, as Keith is wont to say, but he’s smart enough to know that the sooner they offload the briefcase the better. He’s friendly with Finn, a young woman who is an addict and lives on the street but also happens to be the stepdaughter of DS Declan Miller. By the time Finn arranges an introduction between Miller and Andy, Miller (like every other cop in Blackpool) is aware of the major screwup at the train station and realizes that the briefcase Andy is giving him is, in fact, the missing briefcase the police hope can connect Cutler to the murder of George Panaides, a man who was using his boss’s business expansion in the area to try to muscle in on the drug trade. Miller is at the best of times a cop who gets the job done but seldom feels the need to stick to protocol, and these are not the best of times. He is still mourning the as yet unsolved murder of his wife Alex, a fellow cop who worked for the Serious & Organized Crime department, the same department that is investigating Cutler, his rival crime boss Ralph Massey and the Panaides murder. S & O isn’t doing enough to solve Alex’s murder to Miller’s way of thinking, and he has no problem in using the current case as leverage to identify who killed Alex, and why….but he’ll have to stay ahead of the hitman who needs to get the briefcase back in order to get his pay and is willing to kill anyone he thinks might have it, including Finn.
Darkly humorous and chock full of well-developed and wildly quirky characters, The Wrong Hands is the second mystery from author Mark Billingham to feature Declan Miller, a cop blissfully free of any and all filters, proud owner of a pair of rats named Fred and Ginger, and the source of continual frustration for those with whom he works (although his partner DS Sarah Xiu is starting to appreciate the solid cop beneath the annoying banter). Toss in a drag queen turned crime boss, a dead wife who shows up from time to time for a chat, members of the ballroom dance group to which Miller belongs who love to discuss his current cases over biscuits during dance practices, and the neglected wives of the two crime bosses who have just about had enough of their husbands’ antics, and you have a raucous but intriguing puzzler. Fans of authors like Mick Herron and Val McDermid as well as those who enjoyed the mystery series Cracker (featuring Robbie Coltrane in his pre-Hagrid days) will absolutely find a new series to love with the Declan Miller stories (which hopefully will not stop with this installment). Many thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic/Atlantic Monthly Press for allowing me early access to this madcap, thoroughly engaging novel.

This book also has the humour and wry sense of prose as the first book. Although I enjoyed it I would prefer it to be interspersed between Tom Thorne series rather than getting one every year.

4.5⭐

It's been years since I last read a Mark Billingham book. But I was super excited and intrigued by the synopsis of The Wrong Hands and so I just had to get my hands on this story.

And I'm so glad I did!

As The Wrong Hands is a clever, funny, engaging crime story. Featuring DS Declan Miller, who it's fair to say is the complete antithesis of Mark's other crime fighting hero Tom Thorne.

As Declan Miller has an acerbic sense of humour, moves from one topic to another seemingly at random, likes to ballroom dance and has recently become a widow. After his wife Alex, another cop who worked for a team Declan likes to call serious and disorganised was murdered just a few months before.

And it's a case that hasn't been solved. Which has made Declan extremely frustrated. So he likes to make a nuisance of himself. Whilst also doing his job in another of Blackpool's homicide departments.

However, he soon finds himself with a chance to gain information about what happened to Alex if he can solve a murder or rather catch a hired killer.

A hired killer who has a penchant for Midsummer Murders and has rather carelessly allowed a briefcase with a pair of severed hands in to be stolen by two scallies whilst he's otherwise occupied in the gents toilets at the local train station.

And as the hit man tries to retrieve his briefcase. Miller and his partner Xiu try to catch him. Meanwhile, another team is also desperate to get their hands on the case and so is the villain the hit man was meeting.

But it's a race against time. With everyone willing to do whatever is necessary to get the result they want and I was gripped throughout. Not to mention laughing out loud and I really enjoyed the mix of humour, murder and mayhem.

And with great pacing, a colourful cast of characters and a big twist towards the end The Wrong Hands was a great read and really reminded me what a brilliant creative writer Mark Billingham is.

I'll now be reading The Last Dance which has been sitting on my bookshelf since Christmas 2023!

Detective Sergeant Declan Miller returns for a second outing in The Wrong Hands. The policeman is still mourning the death of his wife, Alex, and continues to hound the homicide team tasked with the job of finding the killer. In the meantime, he and his long-suffering partner Detective Sergeant Xiu are on the job solving murders.

A briefcase is stolen by a couple of opportunistic thieves at a train station. After they make their getaway they pop the locks only to make the grisly discovery of a couple of severed hands inside. It turns out the hands are essentially proof of an execution and the hitman who carried out the job wants his proof back so he can get paid.

You really don’t want an annoyed hitman on your trail.

This particular hitman likes to write lists and he’s got a list of people he thinks may have the briefcase he so desperately desires. The dudes who took the case, the people who may know the dudes, and so it goes.

When the briefcase is brought in to Miller and the contents are revealed, it suddenly becomes Miller’s case. Obviously, a couple of hands in a case means there has to be a body out there minus a couple of necessary appendages. But as the number of bodies mount up, each with their hands attached, it becomes increasingly necessary to work out who the hitman is, who hired the hitman and who the hands belong to.

With constant sly humorous references and sharp, witty observations from Miller, the overall tone of the book is quite light. Surprisingly so. This juxtaposes rather sharply with the criminal activity that takes place. And thanks to the many sharp one-liners, the story appears to unfold at a sharp pace.

But when you understand the reason behind Miller’s apparent good humour and bonhomie is actually an effort to cover the constant pain he feels for the loss of his wife, you get a real sense of the tragedy of the man.

Miller has regular conversations with his dead wife and they prove to be both revealing and heartbreaking. It’s a useful way of working through a difficult case, essentially being brought to task by his wife’s wisdom, even if it’s really his own thoughts making the points. But the man is clearly hurting and finding it difficult to move past Alex’s death.

As can be seen at the end of one such “conversation” : <i>‘now Miller wanted to do the one thing that was quite impossible. He wanted to pull his wife to him, hold her close and assure her that she could never be replaced. Not on a dance floor and never in his heart.’</i>

Now, some people are going to find Miller’s constant needling jokes and non-sequiturs extremely annoying. Knowing that it’s a coping mechanism probably won’t help but at least it’s a reasonable explanation for the barrage of weirdness. I found it amusing at first until it became borderline tiresome, but at least the quality of the joking around was high.

Mark Billingham has created a superb follow up to the very enjoyable opener to the series, The Last Dance. There’s great depth to the characters that appear throughout and a finely wrought line between aptitude and face, not to mention carefree happiness and heartbreak. I found this to be a particularly entertaining police procedural mystery that found me looking forward to sitting down and reading at every opportunity.

My thanks to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for the digital ARC that gave me the opportunity to read, enjoy and review this book.

wow this book kept me on my toes! one mad incident after another! i do love a happy ending though and after so much happening i was ready for it! fab page turner!

The Wrong Hands, the second book in the Miller series, deepens the story of the unconventional Detective Declan Miller. Still mourning his murdered wife, Miller is thrust into a new case when a young man appears with a briefcase containing severed hands…

This has the humour and suspense we can expect from Mark Billingham and was a really fun read. Thank you to both Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.