The mind of Billingham is devious and twisted, he will take a common misconception in mental health and twist and turn it until it no longer resembles what it once was. I was an ex mental health worker am deliriously pleased with an accurate account of just how complex PTSD can be. Alice's voice: by turns funny, broken, chatty, defiant, bewildered-but always utterly convincing and compelling.

Guilt is a dominant theme within Rabbit Hole and the reader gets a real sense of how far it can drag someone down. But it is an uncommonly well-done book that lifts the lid off a dark corner of the world that we don’t like to think about. This was the first book that I have read by Mark Billingham and am intrigued to read more of his psychological thrillers.I loved the cast of characters that Billingham has cleverly constructed in this, very modern, locked room mystery – for those on Fleet Ward remain the suspects and the possible victims… I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review. When one of her fellow patients is murdered, Alice becomes convinced that she has identified the killer and that she can catch them.

She is an admittedly unreliable narrator, as the prescription medications make her woozy and unable to focus and then there are those disturbing blackouts. It's fresh and edgy but also addresses pressing social issues and is populated with characters ripe with idiosyncrasies and once again Billingham pushes the boundaries of crime writing shining a light into some of the darker corners of society. Told and thought in the first person by DCI Alice Armitage, working alone, she deep dig investigates the murder; I suppose that there's one thing I should also mention, Alice is also an in-patient in the Ward! When her new friend, Kevin, is brutally murdered on the ward, she decides to begin her own investigation into the case. The whole book is spent inside Alice’s head with her paranoia which made it a very dark and unrelenting read.The story was a bit tedious, and he hasn't mastered writing as a woman, Alice was much too masculine and unconvincing, and not very likable at all. It soon becomes clear that nothing Alice describes can be taken as fact as so many of her memories and experiences are affected by her illness. Alice is portrayed as being charming, articulate and likable, which makes her engaging as a character (and would make her very difficult to treat in real life). But when her prime suspect becomes the second victim, Alice’s life begins to unravel still further as she realizes that she cannot trust anyone, least of all herself.

The series of crime novels featuring London-based detective Tom Thornecontinued with Scaredy Catand was followed by Lazybones, The Burning Girl, Lifeless, Buried, Death Message, Bloodline, From The Dead, Good As Dead, The Dying Hours, The Bones Beneath, Time Of Death, Love Like Blood, The Killing Habit, Their Little Secretand the most recent Cry Baby. While we’re on the subject of Agatha Christie here, remember that she was one of the pioneers in using an unreliable narrator. Instead, go into Rabbit Hole with an open mind and be prepared to enjoy a 'locked room' murder-mystery set in a (supposedly) secure acute psychiatric ward told from the not always reliable point of view of one of the patients.Right then, with a body cooling just yards away, it was no more than a feeling and I try to steer clear of those, with good reason. Billingham's picture of the ward and its staff is full of humanity, leaving us with a clear sense that this kind of illness could affect any of us, and the story offers an excellent twist. Winner of this month’s contest for Most Unreliable Narrator (sorry, no prize) is Alice “Al” Armitage, who woozily guides readers down Rabbit Hole, a novel of suspense by English author Mark Billingham . A fantastic thriller, combining a gripping plot and lead characters of remarkable depth…Readers who grab this one but aren’t familiar with its predecessors will be seeking them out. And by the way, shame on all those authors who praised this stunningly bad book in back cover blurbs.

This is my first Billingham novel, but after reading this, I can definitely see why his Tom Thorne series is such a success. When a patient is found murdered, she becomes frustrated that she is not allowed to use her police skills and the detectives are not taking her seriously. A subtle, captivating and nuanced character study and a glimpse at the plight of those suffering from PTSD, psychosis and delusions.She has been confined in a mental hospital since she hit her boyfriend over the head with a wine bottle. Or did someone come in from the outside DC Alice Armitage is methodical, tireless, and she's quickly on the trail of the killer. Mark Billingham is a multi-million copy bestselling author who is best known for his gripping Tom Thorne crime series.