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Content snapshot
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Violence
A lot
Graphic crime content; the locked-in premise is disturbing and the violence serious
Language
Some
Some strong language
Sexual Content
Barely any
Brief adult content
Substance Use
None
No substance use
Emotional Intensity
A lot
Psychological menace; the horror of locked-in syndrome as both subject and metaphor
What this book is about
Detective Inspector Tom Thorne investigates a serial killer whose method is to induce a stroke that leaves victims in locked-in syndrome — alive, aware, and unable to communicate. The killer made a mistake once: a victim survived. Billingham's debut is a distinctive British crime novel with a psychologically sophisticated antagonist and a grim premise executed with craft.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Graphic crime content
Locked-in syndrome premise
Psychological horror
Reader Verification
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