Meet Detective Miller: unique, unconventional, and criminally underestimated…
He’s a detective, a dancer, he has no respect for authority - and he’s the best hope Blackpool has for keeping criminals off the streets. Meet Detective Declan Miller.
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?
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?
I'm thrilled to be sharing my review of The Last Dance today. Huge thanks to Mark Billingham, Little, Brown Book Group and Laura Sherlock PR for sending me an advance copy of the novel.
Detective Declan Miller is not like any police detective I've ever read before. It's true that his history would suggest he joins that long list of crime fighters with troubled or tragic personal lives but even though the recent death of his wife, Alex plays a significant role in the plot, it's clear that Miller is perpetually different – when his new partner, DS Sara Xiu lists his many flaws and asks if he's always been like this, he admits that he just gets away with a bit more since Alex died. He makes terrible jokes and inappropriate comments, has a cavalier attitude towards authority and has long conversations with his dead wife. The Last Dance is the first book in a new series for Mark Billingham and it's a brilliant curtain-raiser.
After a brief but intriguing prologue, which deftly sets the scenes for a puzzling murder case, Declan Miller is introduced, alongside Fred and Ginger – crime fiction is never short of rats but this pair are definitely more appealing than most. This first look at the character is warm, funny and achingly poignant, and it beautifully establishes the tone for what follows. Miller's return to work is unexpected and it's clear his colleagues are surprised to see him back so soon. Anybody who has experienced loss, particularly if it has been unexpected or involving a younger person, will recognise the awkwardness of others towards the bereaved. Miller is such a singular character though and his response to the head tilts here is excruciatingly uncomfortable yet entirely understandable. Throughout the book, Mark Billingham ensures the line between laughing and crying is almost imperceptible and it means that while Miller's tragedy is undeniably heartbreaking, this never becomes a miserable read.
His new partnership with Sara Xiu doesn't perhaps have the most auspicious start, given the nickname he gives her. The contrast between the pair is a highlight of the novel; his constant, often inappropriate wise-cracking and her inability to understand his jokes results in several light-hearted moments. Although Miller is more obviously unconventional, Xiu has her secrets too, and the ups-and-downs of their pairing as they tentatively open up about their private lives and try to figure out how to work together promises so much for the series as it progresses. Meanwhile, Miller's life outside the job is as heartwarming as it is painful. Alex's voice is cleverly heard clearly throughout The Last Dance and it gives readers a moving picture of the sort of person she was, and of their marriage. As Miller returns to ballroom dancing – the hobby they shared a love of but which holds conflicting memories for him – he receives such love and support from his fellow amateur dancers and it's impossible not to fall in love with Mary, Howard, Gloria, Ransford, Nathan and Ruth. Blackpool is, of course, the home of ballroom dancing and I thought Mark Billingham wrote about the amateur sport with warmth and respect. The fiercely competitive aspect is acknowledged but its the friendships which develop which is most notable. There is so much scope for humour here but it's never mocking or mean-spirited and instead comes from the author's astute observations of human behaviour.
As much as this is frequently a humorous read, it doesn't shy away from exploring the darker side of life in this seaside town either; the shocking assassination of two apparently unconnected men in the same hotel brings Miller and Xiu into contact with the gritty underworld of gangsters and sex workers. With the risk of further violence if hostilities break out between rival gangs, the importance of solving the case is obvious. The undercurrent of menace is chilling, especially when Miller is taunted about the unsolved death of his wife. Although the main mystery in The Last Dance concerns the double murder investigation, it is also tantalisingly evident that the circumstances of Alex's murder will continue to be examined in the future. However, even though the threat of more bloodshed is never far away, the balance between light and shade is superb here too, perhaps especially when it comes to Chesshead. I won't spoil things by revealing much about this flawed yet multidimensional character, suffice to say he epitomises everything that makes The Last Dance such a sterling read.
This really is exceptional crime fiction; the blisteringly authentic characterisation drives the superbly plotted narrative and this unashamedly emotive novel made me laugh, cry and nervously hold my breath from start to finish. The Last Dance is one of my favourite reads of the year, it's an outstanding introduction to a series which will surely be a deservedly huge success. I cannot recommend it highly enough!
The Last Dance is published in the UK by Sphere, purchasing links can be found here.
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