The Last Dance by British author Mark Billingham (Rabbit Hole; Their Little Secret; Bloodline) marks the launch of an intriguing series that melds humor with a hard-edged police procedural--and that also explores grief's vagaries. Billingham, best known for his 18 novels about detective Tom Thorne, brings a fresh approach to crime detection and character development with detective sergeant Declan Miller. Long an anomaly in the Lancashire, England, police department, Declan is an insightful but unorthodox detective, prone to inappropriate humor, bad jokes, and generally antagonizing his superiors and colleagues. Co-workers aren't sure how to respond when Declan insists on returning to work just six weeks after his much-loved wife, Alex, also a detective, was murdered on the job. Consumed by grief though still cracking poor jokes, Declan and his new, much-younger partner, detective sergeant Sara Xiu, investigate the murders of an IT consultant and the heir to a crime family. They were killed in adjacent hotel rooms yet don't seem to have known each other. The detectives' investigation taps into Declan's sources--a young homeless woman, a criminal, and a group of ballroom dancing friends he and Alex had acquired as part of their favorite pastime.
Billingham's brisk plotting and in-depth character studies elevate The Last Dance. Declan's grief over his wife is palpable, and he uses humor as his way to manage his emotions. His frequent talks with Alex's ghost are heart-wrenchingly believable. Scenes with the murdered men's wives add to the strong plot. Declan and Sara make a formidable team, despite their differences, especially in music. Readers will be eager to welcome Declan back. --Oline H. Cogdill, freelance reviewer