The Shadow Step - (Detective Miller Novels) by Mark Billingham (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

"Readers rejoice! A captivating new series from Mark Billingham--the very best in the business."--Richard Osman, #1 bestselling author of The Thursday Murder Club

Detective Miller is back and investigating his most perplexing case yet

The Shadow Step: One taken simultaneously by a pair of dancers facing the same direction, one of them behind and slightly shifted leftwards ("in the shadow")

A perfectly executed shadow step demonstrates synchronized elegance. It showcases a couple in near telepathic harmony with one another. It does not normally end with someone stone-dead in a lake.

DS Declan Miller is a magnet for strange cases, but an innocent man confessing to the crime? That's a first. Things rapidly escalate when the murder that isn't really a murder attracts the unwanted attention of a drug Queenpin, a deranged ex-squaddie, and a lovesick gangland enforcer. And when a real murder follows - and a student is kidnapped - all evidence points back to the same innocent man.

Throw in a wobbly dog, a pair of ceramic leopards, and the distracting smell from a biscuit factory, and Miller's only option to save a young man's life is to waltz all the way into the shadows.

Review Quotes

Praise for The Shadow Step:

"Combining humor, pathos, and genuine surprise, it's another home run from Billingham."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Recent widower DS Declan Miller, an amateur ballroom dancer prone to excellent comic wisecracking, trades eloquent barbs with his police partner, tangles with the local drug queenpin, and experiences his own real-life version of 1990s film 'Truly, Madly, Deeply.'"--Daneet Steffens, Boston Globe

"The third story featuring the clever and acerbic Declan Miller (following The Wrong Hands) is the latest in a long line of sharp and intelligent detective mysteries crafted by the immensely talented Billingham. His lead is a wonderfully enigmatic character whose idiosyncrasies mask deep emotional pain."--Philip Zozzaro, Library Journal

"The third mystery novel in author Mark Billingham's Detective Miller series, The Shadow Step will hold a very special appeal to readers with an interest in 'whodunnit' murder mysteries, police procedurals, and international crime. Once again with The Shadow Step Billingham demonstrates an effective flair for the kind of character and narrative driven storytelling style that keeps the reader fully engaged from start to finish . . . An unreservedly recommended pick."--Midwest Book Review

"This is one rambling and wildly funny tale . . . Not spiraling out of control, by any means, this is as carefully plotted as expected from Billingham."--Jane Murphy, Booklist

"Quirky humor, strongly developed characters, and plenty of exciting twists make this a refreshing read for fans of British crime fiction."--Willy Williams, firstCLUE

Praise for the Detective Miller Series:

"Edge-of-your-seat tension, wit and heart--fantastic."--Lisa Jewell. #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Family Upstairs

"A gritty, engaging novel that balances light with dark, offering wit and wisdom in equal measure. Billingham's new lead detective, DS Miller, may not be able to dance, but he never misses a step when it comes to solving crime."--Nita Prose, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maid

"Readers rejoice! A captivating new series from Mark Billingham--the very best in the business."--Richard Osman, #1 bestselling author of The Thursday Murder Club

"Brimming with wit, expertly paced, and wholly enjoyable--The Last Dance is a showcase of Billingham's exceptionally gifted storytelling. Mark Billingham is at his best!"--Karin Slaughter, New York Times bestselling author of the Will Trent series

"Hard-headed yet big-hearted, DS Declan Miller will have you on the edge of your seat--screaming with laughter one moment and surprise the next. Billingham blends caustic humor, raw emotion, and rollercoaster thrills. His new series is bursting with wit, charm and intriguing, complex characters. Save The Last Dance for when you want a fast, fresh, and totally absorbing read."--Janice Hallett, bestselling author of The Appeal

"Funny, moving, and full of surprises, The Last Dance will delight Mark Billingham's old readers, and have new ones flocking to him in droves. An absolute treat."--Mick Herron, #1 bestselling author of Slow Horses

About the Author

Mark Billingham has twice won the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award, the Sherlock Award for the best detective created by a British writer, and in 2026, he was awarded the Crime Writers' Association Diamond Dagger for an outstanding lifetime contribution to the genre. His books, which include the critically acclaimed Tom Thorne series, have been translated into twenty-five languages and have sold more than six million copies. He lives in London.