Good as Dead

Detective Sergeant Helen Weeks and another man have been taken captive at gun point by a newsagent, Javed Ahktar, in his south London shop.  The newsagent asks Helen to call the police and ask for DI Tom Thorne.  The newsagent's, son, Amin, had been jailed for murdering another boy.  Thorne  had been the officer responsible for gathering the evidence, which ensured the conviction.  The boy had then committed suicide while in prison.  When Thorne arrives with DS Holland, they find out that Ahktar wants Thorne to prove his son's death was a murder, not a suicide.  He threatens to kill his hostages.

Thorne proceeds to the prison where Amin died to begin his investigation, while DS Holland and another DS begin to investigate those involved in the original incident.  Throughout, author Mark Billingham, keeps the reader up-to-date on what is going on in the newsagent's shop.

Tensions build within the shop, and outside as the police negotiate with Ahktar.  Thorne's investigation seems to point the fact that Amin was indeed murdered, but can he gather enough evidence in time?  As his investigation progresses he discovers a conspiracy to commit murder and much more.  Author Mark Billingham draws the story to an exciting conclusion.  I thoroughly enjoyed the read and highly recommend it.